No More Learning

In such perfumed garments is
Aphrodite clothed at all seasons.

((LACUNA))

(ll. 8-12) Then laughter-loving Aphrodite and her handmaidens wove
sweet-smelling crowns of flowers of the earth and put them upon their
heads--the bright-coiffed goddesses, the Nymphs and Graces, and golden
Aphrodite too, while they sang sweetly on the mount of many-fountained
Ida. '


Fragment #7--Clement of Alexandria, Protrept ii. 30. 5: 'Castor was
mortal, and the fate of death was destined for him; but Polydeuces,
scion of Ares, was immortal. '


Fragment #8--Athenaeus, viii. 334 B: 'And after them she bare a third
child, Helen, a marvel to men. Rich-tressed Nemesis once gave her birth
when she had been joined in love with Zeus the king of the gods by harsh
violence. For Nemesis tried to escape him and liked not to lie in love
with her father Zeus the Son of Cronos; for shame and indignation vexed
her heart: therefore she fled him over the land and fruitless dark
water. But Zeus ever pursued and longed in his heart to catch her. Now
she took the form of a fish and sped over the waves of the loud-roaring
sea, and now over Ocean's stream and the furthest bounds of Earth, and
now she sped over the furrowed land, always turning into such dread
creatures as the dry land nurtures, that she might escape him. '


Fragment #9--Scholiast on Euripides, Andr. 898: The writer [3003] of the
Cyprian histories says that (Helen's third child was) Pleisthenes
and that she took him with her to Cyprus, and that the child she bore
Alexandrus was Aganus.


Fragment #10--Herodotus, ii. 117: For it is said in the "Cypria" that
Alexandrus came with Helen to Ilium from Sparta in three days, enjoying
a favourable wind and calm sea.


Fragment #11--Scholiast on Homer, Il. iii. 242: For Helen had been
previously carried off by Theseus, and it was in consequence of this
earlier rape that Aphidna, a town in Attica, was sacked and Castor was
wounded in the right thigh by Aphidnus who was king at that time. Then
the Dioscuri, failing to find Theseus, sacked Athens. The story is in
the Cyclic writers.

Plutarch, Thes. 32: Hereas relates that Alycus was killed by Theseus
himself near Aphidna, and quotes the following verses in evidence: 'In
spacious Aphidna Theseus slew him in battle long ago for rich-haired
Helen's sake. ' [3004]


Fragment #12--Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. x. 114: (ll. 1-6) 'Straightway
Lynceus, trusting in his swift feet, made for Taygetus. He climbed its
highest peak and looked throughout the whole isle of Pelops, son
of Tantalus; and soon the glorious hero with his dread eyes saw
horse-taming Castor and athlete Polydeuces both hidden within a hollow
oak. '

Philodemus, On Piety: (Stasinus? ) writes that Castor was killed with a
spear shot by Idas the son of Aphareus.


Fragment #13--Athenaeus, 35 C: 'Menelaus, know that the gods made wine
the best thing for mortal man to scatter cares. '


Fragment #14--Laurentian Scholiast on Sophocles, Elect. 157: Either he
follows Homer who spoke of the three daughters of Agamemnon, or--like
the writer of the "Cypria"--he makes them four, (distinguishing)
Iphigeneia and Iphianassa.


Fragment #15--[3005] Contest of Homer and Hesiod: 'So they feasted all
day long, taking nothing from their own houses; for Agamemnon, king of
men, provided for them. '


Fragment #16--Louvre Papyrus: 'I never thought to enrage so terribly the
stout heart of Achilles, for very well I loved him. '


Fragment #17--Pausanias, iv. 2. 7: The poet of the "Cypria" says that
the wife of Protesilaus--who, when the Hellenes reached the Trojan
shore, first dared to land--was called Polydora, and was the daughter of
Meleager, the son of Oeneus.


Fragment #18--Eustathius, 119. 4: Some relate that Chryseis was taken
from Hypoplacian [3006] Thebes, and that she had not taken refuge there
nor gone there to sacrifice to Artemis, as the author of the "Cypria"
states, but was simply a fellow townswoman of Andromache.


Fragment #19--Pausanias, x. 31. 2: I know, because I have read it in the
epic "Cypria", that Palamedes was drowned when he had gone out fishing,
and that it was Diomedes and Odysseus who caused his death.


Fragment #20--Plato, Euthyphron, 12 A: 'That it is Zeus who has done
this, and brought all these things to pass, you do not like to say; for
where fear is, there too is shame. '


Fragment #21--Herodian, On Peculiar Diction: 'By him she conceived and
bare the Gorgons, fearful monsters who lived in Sarpedon, a rocky island
in deep-eddying Oceanus. '


Fragment #22--Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis vii. 2. 19: Again,
Stasinus says: 'He is a simple man who kills the father and lets the
children live. '




THE AETHIOPIS (fragments)

Fragment #1--Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: The "Cypria", described in
the preceding book, has its sequel in the "Iliad" of Homer, which is
followed in turn by the five books of the "Aethiopis", the work
of Arctinus of Miletus. Their contents are as follows. The Amazon
Penthesileia, the daughter of Ares and of Thracian race, comes to aid
the Trojans, and after showing great prowess, is killed by Achilles and
buried by the Trojans. Achilles then slays Thersites for abusing and
reviling him for his supposed love for Penthesileia. As a result a
dispute arises amongst the Achaeans over the killing of Thersites, and
Achilles sails to Lesbos and after sacrificing to Apollo, Artemis, and
Leto, is purified by Odysseus from bloodshed.

Then Memnon, the son of Eos, wearing armour made by Hephaestus, comes to
help the Trojans, and Thetis tells her son about Memnon.

A battle takes place in which Antilochus is slain by Memnon and
Memnon by Achilles. Eos then obtains of Zeus and bestows upon her son
immortality; but Achilles routs the Trojans, and, rushing into the city
with them, is killed by Paris and Apollo. A great struggle for the body
then follows, Aias taking up the body and carrying it to the ships,
while Odysseus drives off the Trojans behind. The Achaeans then bury
Antilochus and lay out the body of Achilles, while Thetis, arriving with
the Muses and her sisters, bewails her son, whom she afterwards catches
away from the pyre and transports to the White Island. After this, the
Achaeans pile him a cairn and hold games in his honour. Lastly a dispute
arises between Odysseus and Aias over the arms of Achilles.


Fragment #2--Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiv. 804: Some read: 'Thus they
performed the burial of Hector. Then came the Amazon, the daughter of
great-souled Ares the slayer of men. '


Fragment #3--Scholiast on Pindar, Isth. iii. 53: The author of the
"Aethiopis" says that Aias killed himself about dawn.




THE LITTLE ILIAD (fragments)

Fragment #1--Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: Next comes the "Little Iliad"
in four books by Lesches of Mitylene: its contents are as follows. The
adjudging of the arms of Achilles takes place, and Odysseus, by the
contriving of Athena, gains them. Aias then becomes mad and destroys the
herd of the Achaeans and kills himself. Next Odysseus lies in wait and
catches Helenus, who prophesies as to the taking of Troy, and Diomede
accordingly brings Philoctetes from Lemnos. Philoctetes is healed by
Machaon, fights in single combat with Alexandrus and kills him: the dead
body is outraged by Menelaus, but the Trojans recover and bury it. After
this Deiphobus marries Helen, Odysseus brings Neoptolemus from Scyros
and gives him his father's arms, and the ghost of Achilles appears to
him.

Eurypylus the son of Telephus arrives to aid the Trojans, shows his
prowess and is killed by Neoptolemus. The Trojans are now closely
besieged, and Epeius, by Athena's instruction, builds the wooden horse.
Odysseus disfigures himself and goes in to Ilium as a spy, and there
being recognized by Helen, plots with her for the taking of the city;
after killing certain of the Trojans, he returns to the ships. Next
he carries the Palladium out of Troy with help of Diomedes. Then after
putting their best men in the wooden horse and burning their huts, the
main body of the Hellenes sail to Tenedos. The Trojans, supposing their
troubles over, destroy a part of their city wall and take the wooden
horse into their city and feast as though they had conquered the
Hellenes.


Fragment #2--Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: 'I sing of Ilium and
Dardania, the land of fine horses, wherein the Danai, followers of Ares,
suffered many things. '


Fragment #3--Scholiast on Aristophanes, Knights 1056 and Aristophanes
ib: The story runs as follows: Aias and Odysseus were quarrelling as
to their achievements, says the poet of the "Little Iliad", and Nestor
advised the Hellenes to send some of their number to go to the foot
of the walls and overhear what was said about the valour of the heroes
named above. The eavesdroppers heard certain girls disputing, one
of them saying that Aias was by far a better man than Odysseus and
continuing as follows:

'For Aias took up and carried out of the strife the hero, Peleus' son:
this great Odysseus cared not to do. '

To this another replied by Athena's contrivance:

'Why, what is this you say? A thing against reason and untrue! Even a
woman could carry a load once a man had put it on her shoulder; but she
could not fight. For she would fail with fear if she should fight. '


Fragment #4--Eustathius, 285. 34: The writer of the "Little Iliad" says
that Aias was not buried in the usual way [3101], but was simply buried
in a coffin, because of the king's anger.


Fragment #5--Eustathius on Homer, Il. 326: The author of the "Little
Iliad" says that Achilles after putting out to sea from the country
of Telephus came to land there: 'The storm carried Achilles the son of
Peleus to Scyros, and he came into an uneasy harbour there in that same
night. '


Fragment #6--Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. vi. 85: 'About the spear-shaft
was a hoop of flashing gold, and a point was fitted to it at either
end. '


Fragment #7--Scholiast on Euripides Troades, 822: '. . . the vine which the
son of Cronos gave him as a recompense for his son. It bloomed richly
with soft leaves of gold and grape clusters; Hephaestus wrought it and
gave it to his father Zeus: and he bestowed it on Laomedon as a price
for Ganymedes. '


Fragment #8--Pausanias, iii. 26. 9: The writer of the epic "Little
Iliad" says that Machaon was killed by Eurypylus, the son of Telephus.


Fragment #9--Homer, Odyssey iv. 247 and Scholiast: 'He disguised
himself, and made himself like another person, a beggar, the like of
whom was not by the ships of the Achaeans. '

The Cyclic poet uses 'beggar' as a substantive, and so means to say that
when Odysseus had changed his clothes and put on rags, there was no one
so good for nothing at the ships as Odysseus.


Fragment #10--[3102] Plutarch, Moralia, p. 153 F: And Homer put forward
the following verses as Lesches gives them: 'Muse, tell me of those
things which neither happened before nor shall be hereafter. '

And Hesiod answered:

'But when horses with rattling hoofs wreck chariots, striving for
victory about the tomb of Zeus. '

And it is said that, because this reply was specially admired, Hesiod
won the tripod (at the funeral games of Amphidamas).


Fragment #11--Scholiast on Lycophr. , 344: Sinon, as it had been arranged
with him, secretly showed a signal-light to the Hellenes. Thus Lesches
writes:--'It was midnight, and the clear moon was rising. '


Fragment #12--Pausanias, x. 25. 5: Meges is represented [3103] wounded
in the arm just as Lescheos the son of Aeschylinus of Pyrrha describes
in his "Sack of Ilium" where it is said that he was wounded in the
battle which the Trojans fought in the night by Admetus, son of Augeias.
Lycomedes too is in the picture with a wound in the wrist, and Lescheos
says he was so wounded by Agenor. . .

Pausanias, x. 26. 4: Lescheos also mentions Astynous, and here he is,
fallen on one knee, while Neoptolemus strikes him with his sword. . .

Pausanias, x. 26. 8: The same writer says that Helicaon was wounded in
the night-battle, but was recognised by Odysseus and by him conducted
alive out of the fight. . .

Pausanias, x. 27. 1: Of them [3104], Lescheos says that Eion was killed
by Neoptolemus, and Admetus by Philoctetes. . . He also says that Priam
was not killed at the heart of Zeus Herceius, but was dragged away from
the altar and destroyed off hand by Neoptolemus at the doors of the
house. . . Lescheos says that Axion was the son of Priam and was slain by
Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon. Agenor--according to the same poet--was
butchered by Neoptolemus.


Fragment #13--Aristophanes, Lysistrata 155 and Scholiast: 'Menelaus at
least, when he caught a glimpse somehow of the breasts of Helen unclad,
cast away his sword, methinks. ' Lesches the Pyrrhaean also has the same
account in his "Little Iliad".

Pausanias, x. 25. 8: Concerning Aethra Lesches relates that when Ilium
was taken she stole out of the city and came to the Hellenic camp, where
she was recognised by the sons of Theseus; and that Demophon asked her
of Agamemnon. Agamemnon wished to grant him this favour, but he would
not do so until Helen consented. And when he sent a herald, Helen
granted his request.


Fragment #14--Scholiast on Lycophr. Alex. , 1268: 'Then the bright son of
bold Achilles led the wife of Hector to the hollow ships; but her son he
snatched from the bosom of his rich-haired nurse and seized him by the
foot and cast him from a tower. So when he had fallen bloody death and
hard fate seized on Astyanax. And Neoptolemus chose out Andromache,
Hector's well-girded wife, and the chiefs of all the Achaeans gave
her to him to hold requiting him with a welcome prize. And he put
Aeneas[3105], the famous son of horse-taming Anchises, on board his
sea-faring ships, a prize surpassing those of all the Danaans. '




THE SACK OF ILIUM (fragments)

Fragment #1--Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: Next come two books of the
"Sack of Ilium", by Arctinus of Miletus with the following contents.
The Trojans were suspicious of the wooden horse and standing round it
debated what they ought to do. Some thought they ought to hurl it down
from the rocks, others to burn it up, while others said they ought to
dedicate it to Athena. At last this third opinion prevailed. Then they
turned to mirth and feasting believing the war was at an end. But at
this very time two serpents appeared and destroyed Laocoon and one of
his two sons, a portent which so alarmed the followers of Aeneas that
they withdrew to Ida. Sinon then raised the fire-signal to the Achaeans,
having previously got into the city by pretence. The Greeks then sailed
in from Tenedos, and those in the wooden horse came out and fell upon
their enemies, killing many and storming the city. Neoptolemus kills
Priam who had fled to the altar of Zeus Herceius (1); Menelaus finds
Helen and takes her to the ships, after killing Deiphobus; and Aias the
son of Ileus, while trying to drag Cassandra away by force, tears away
with her the image of Athena. At this the Greeks are so enraged
that they determine to stone Aias, who only escapes from the danger
threatening him by taking refuge at the altar of Athena. The Greeks,
after burning the city, sacrifice Polyxena at the tomb of Achilles:
Odysseus murders Astyanax; Neoptolemus takes Andromache as his prize,
and the remaining spoils are divided. Demophon and Acamas find Aethra
and take her with them. Lastly the Greeks sail away and Athena plans to
destroy them on the high seas.


Fragment #2--Dionysus Halicarn, Rom. Antiq. i. 68: According to
Arctinus, one Palladium was given to Dardanus by Zeus, and this was in
Ilium until the city was taken. It was hidden in a secret place, and a
copy was made resembling the original in all points and set up for all
to see, in order to deceive those who might have designs against it.
This copy the Achaeans took as a result of their plots.


Fragment #3--Scholiast on Euripedes, Andromache 10: The Cyclic poet who
composed the "Sack" says that Astyanax was also hurled from the city
wall.


Fragment #4--Scholiast on Euripedes, Troades 31: For the followers of
Acamus and Demophon took no share--it is said--of the spoils, but only
Aethra, for whose sake, indeed, they came to Ilium with Menestheus
to lead them. Lysimachus, however, says that the author of the "Sack"
writes as follows: 'The lord Agamemnon gave gifts to the Sons of Theseus
and to bold Menestheus, shepherd of hosts. '


Fragment #5--Eustathius on Iliad, xiii. 515: Some say that such praise
as this [3201] does not apply to physicians generally, but only to
Machaon: and some say that he only practised surgery, while Podaleirius
treated sicknesses. Arctinus in the "Sack of Ilium" seems to be of this
opinion when he says:

(ll. 1-8) 'For their father the famous Earth-Shaker gave both of them
gifts, making each more glorious than the other. To the one he gave
hands more light to draw or cut out missiles from the flesh and to
heal all kinds of wounds; but in the heart of the other he put full and
perfect knowledge to tell hidden diseases and cure desperate sicknesses.
It was he who first noticed Aias' flashing eyes and clouded mind when he
was enraged. '


Fragment #6--Diomedes in Gramm. , Lat. i. 477: 'Iambus stood a little
while astride with foot advanced, that so his strained limbs might get
power and have a show of ready strength. '




THE RETURNS (fragments)

Fragment #1--Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: After the "Sack of Ilium"
follow the "Returns" in five books by Agias of Troezen. Their contents
are as follows. Athena causes a quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus
about the voyage from Troy. Agamemnon then stays on to appease the anger
of Athena. Diomedes and Nestor put out to sea and get safely home.
After them Menelaus sets out and reaches Egypt with five ships, the rest
having been destroyed on the high seas. Those with Calchas, Leontes,
and Polypoetes go by land to Colophon and bury Teiresias who died
there. When Agamemnon and his followers were sailing away, the ghost of
Achilles appeared and tried to prevent them by foretelling what should
befall them. The storm at the rocks called Capherides is then described,
with the end of Locrian Aias. Neoptolemus, warned by Thetis, journeys
overland and, coming into Thrace, meets Odysseus at Maronea, and then
finishes the rest of his journey after burying Phoenix who dies on the
way. He himself is recognized by Peleus on reaching the Molossi.

Then comes the murder of Agamemnon by Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra,
followed by the vengeance of Orestes and Pylades. Finally, Menelaus
returns home.


Fragment #2--Argument to Euripides Medea: 'Forthwith Medea made Aeson a
sweet young boy and stripped his old age from him by her cunning skill,
when she had made a brew of many herbs in her golden cauldrons. '


Fragment #3--Pausanias, i. 2: The story goes that Heracles was besieging
Themiscyra on the Thermodon and could not take it; but Antiope, being in
love with Theseus who was with Heracles on this expedition, betrayed the
place. Hegias gives this account in his poem.


Fragment #4--Eustathius, 1796.
45: The Colophonian author of the
"Returns" says that Telemachus afterwards married Circe, while Telegonus
the son of Circe correspondingly married Penelope.


Fragment #5--Clement of Alex. Strom. , vi. 2. 12. 8: 'For gifts beguile
men's minds and their deeds as well. ' [3301]


Fragment #6--Pausanias, x. 28. 7: The poetry of Homer and the
"Returns"--for here too there is an account of Hades and the terrors
there--know of no spirit named Eurynomus.

Athenaeus, 281 B: The writer of the "Return of the Atreidae" [3302] says
that Tantalus came and lived with the gods, and was permitted to ask for
whatever he desired. But the man was so immoderately given to pleasures
that he asked for these and for a life like that of the gods. At this
Zeus was annoyed, but fulfilled his prayer because of his own promise;
but to prevent him from enjoying any of the pleasures provided, and
to keep him continually harassed, he hung a stone over his head which
prevents him from ever reaching any of the pleasant things near by.




THE TELEGONY (fragments)

Fragment #1--Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: After the "Returns" comes the
"Odyssey" of Homer, and then the "Telegony" in two books by Eugammon of
Cyrene, which contain the following matters. The suitors of Penelope are
buried by their kinsmen, and Odysseus, after sacrificing to the Nymphs,
sails to Elis to inspect his herds. He is entertained there by Polyxenus
and receives a mixing bowl as a gift; the story of Trophonius and
Agamedes and Augeas then follows. He next sails back to Ithaca
and performs the sacrifices ordered by Teiresias, and then goes to
Thesprotis where he marries Callidice, queen of the Thesprotians. A
war then breaks out between the Thesprotians, led by Odysseus, and the
Brygi. Ares routs the army of Odysseus and Athena engages with Ares,
until Apollo separates them. After the death of Callidice Polypoetes,
the son of Odysseus, succeeds to the kingdom, while Odysseus himself
returns to Ithaca. In the meantime Telegonus, while travelling in search
of his father, lands on Ithaca and ravages the island: Odysseus comes
out to defend his country, but is killed by his son unwittingly.
Telegonus, on learning his mistake, transports his father's body with
Penelope and Telemachus to his mother's island, where Circe makes them
immortal, and Telegonus marries Penelope, and Telemachus Circe.


Fragment #2--Eustathias, 1796. 35: The author of the "Telegony", a
Cyrenaean, relates that Odysseus had by Calypso a son Telegonus or
Teledamus, and by Penelope Telemachus and Acusilaus.




NON-CYCLIC POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO HOMER




THE EXPEDITION OF AMPHIARAUS (fragments)

Fragment #1--Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: Sitting there in the
tanner's yard, Homer recited his poetry to them, the "Expedition of
Amphiarus to Thebes" and the "Hymns to the Gods" composed by him.




THE TAKING OF OECHALIA (fragments)

Fragment #1--Eustathius, 330. 41: An account has there been given of
Eurytus and his daughter Iole, for whose sake Heracles sacked Oechalia.
Homer also seems to have written on this subject, as that historian
shows who relates that Creophylus of Samos once had Homer for his guest
and for a reward received the attribution of the poem which they call
the "Taking of Oechalia". Some, however, assert the opposite; that
Creophylus wrote the poem, and that Homer lent his name in return for
his entertainment. And so Callimachus writes: 'I am the work of that
Samian who once received divine Homer in his house. I sing of Eurytus
and all his woes and of golden-haired Ioleia, and am reputed one of
Homer's works. Dear Heaven! how great an honour this for Creophylus! '


Fragment #2--Cramer, Anec. Oxon. i. 327: 'Ragged garments, even those
which now you see. ' This verse ("Odyssey" xiv. 343) we shall also find
in the "Taking of Oechalia".


Fragment #3--Scholaist on Sophocles Trach. , 266: There is a disagreement
as to the number of the sons of Eurytus. For Hesiod says Eurytus and
Antioche had as many as four sons; but Creophylus says two.


Fragment #4--Scholiast on Euripides Medea, 273: Didymus contrasts the
following account given by Creophylus, which is as follows: while Medea
was living in Corinth, she poisoned Creon, who was ruler of the city
at that time, and because she feared his friends and kinsfolk, fled to
Athens. However, since her sons were too young to go along with her, she
left them at the altar of Hera Acraea, thinking that their father would
see to their safety. But the relatives of Creon killed them and spread
the story that Medea had killed her own children as well as Creon.




THE PHOCAIS (fragments)

Fragment #1--Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: While living with
Thestorides, Homer composed the "Lesser Iliad" and the "Phocais"; though
the Phocaeans say that he composed the latter among them.




THE MARGITES (fragments)

Fragment #1--Suidas, s. v. : Pigres. A Carian of Halicarnassus and brother
of Artemisia, wife of Mausolus, who distinguished herself in war. . .
[3401] He also wrote the "Margites" attributed to Homer and the "Battle
of the Frogs and Mice".


Fragment #2--Atilius Fortunatianus, p. 286, Keil: 'There came to
Colophon an old man and divine singer, a servant of the Muses and of
far-shooting Apollo. In his dear hands he held a sweet-toned lyre. '


Fragment #3--Plato, Alcib. ii. p. 147 A: 'He knew many things but knew
all badly. . . '

Aristotle, Nic. Eth. vi. 7, 1141: 'The gods had taught him neither to
dig nor to plough, nor any other skill; he failed in every craft. '


Fragment #4--Scholiast on Aeschines in Ctes. , sec. 160: He refers to
Margites, a man who, though well grown up, did not know whether it was
his father or his mother who gave him birth, and would not lie with his
wife, saying that he was afraid she might give a bad account of him to
her mother.


Fragment #5--Zenobius, v. 68: 'The fox knows many a wile; but the
hedge-hog's one trick [3402] can beat them all. ' [3403]




THE CERCOPES (fragments)

Fragment #1--Suidas, s. v. : Cercopes. These were two brothers living upon
the earth who practised every kind of knavery. They were called Cercopes
[3501] because of their cunning doings: one of them was named Passalus
and the other Acmon. Their mother, a daughter of Memnon, seeing their
tricks, told them to keep clear of Black-bottom, that is, of Heracles.
These Cercopes were sons of Theia and Ocean, and are said to have been
turned to stone for trying to deceive Zeus.

'Liars and cheats, skilled in deeds irremediable, accomplished
knaves. Far over the world they roamed deceiving men as they wandered
continually. '




THE BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE (303 lines)

(ll. 1-8) Here I begin: and first I pray the choir of the Muses to
come down from Helicon into my heart to aid the lay which I have newly
written in tablets upon my knee. Fain would I sound in all men's ears
that awful strife, that clamorous deed of war, and tell how the Mice
proved their valour on the Frogs and rivalled the exploits of the
Giants, those earth-born men, as the tale was told among mortals. Thus
did the war begin.

(ll. 9-12) One day a thirsty Mouse who had escaped the ferret, dangerous
foe, set his soft muzzle to the lake's brink and revelled in the sweet
water. There a loud-voiced pond-larker spied him: and uttered such words
as these.

(ll. 13-23) 'Stranger, who are you? Whence come you to this shore, and
who is he who begot you? Tell me all this truly and let me not find you
lying. For if I find you worthy to be my friend, I will take you to my
house and give you many noble gifts such as men give to their guests.
I am the king Puff-jaw, and am honoured in all the pond, being ruler
of the Frogs continually. The father that brought me up was Mud-man who
mated with Waterlady by the banks of Eridanus. I see, indeed, that you
are well-looking and stouter than the ordinary, a sceptred king and a
warrior in fight; but, come, make haste and tell me your descent. '

(ll. 24-55) Then Crumb-snatcher answered him and said: 'Why do you ask
my race, which is well-known amongst all, both men and gods and the
birds of heaven? Crumb-snatcher am I called, and I am the son of
Bread-nibbler--he was my stout-hearted father--and my mother was
Quern-licker, the daughter of Ham-gnawer the king: she bare me in the
mouse-hole and nourished me with food, figs and nuts and dainties of
all kinds. But how are you to make me your friend, who am altogether
different in nature? For you get your living in the water, but I am used
to each such foods as men have: I never miss the thrice-kneaded loaf
in its neat, round basket, or the thin-wrapped cake full of sesame and
cheese, or the slice of ham, or liver vested in white fat, or cheese
just curdled from sweet milk, or delicious honey-cake which even the
blessed gods long for, or any of all those cates which cooks make for
the feasts of mortal men, larding their pots and pans with spices of all
kinds. In battle I have never flinched from the cruel onset, but plunged
straight into the fray and fought among the foremost. I fear not man
though he has a big body, but run along his bed and bite the tip of
his toe and nibble at his heel; and the man feels no hurt and his sweet
sleep is not broken by my biting. But there are two things I fear above
all else the whole world over, the hawk and the ferret--for these bring
great grief on me--and the piteous trap wherein is treacherous death.
Most of all I fear the ferret of the keener sort which follows you still
even when you dive down your hole. [3601] I gnaw no radishes and cabbages
and pumpkins, nor feed on green leeks and parsley; for these are food
for you who live in the lake. '

(ll. 56-64) Then Puff-jaw answered him with a smile: 'Stranger you boast
too much of belly-matters: we too have many marvels to be seen both in
the lake and on the shore. For the Son of Chronos has given us Frogs the
power to lead a double life, dwelling at will in two separate elements;
and so we both leap on land and plunge beneath the water. If you would
learn of all these things, 'tis easy done: just mount upon my back and
hold me tight lest you be lost, and so you shall come rejoicing to my
house. '

(ll. 65-81) So said he, and offered his back. And the Mouse mounted at
once, putting his paws upon the other's sleek neck and vaulting nimbly.
Now at first, while he still saw the land near by, he was pleased, and
was delighted with Puff-jaw's swimming; but when dark waves began to
wash over him, he wept loudly and blamed his unlucky change of mind: he
tore his fur and tucked his paws in against his belly, while within him
his heart quaked by reason of the strangeness: and he longed to get to
land, groaning terribly through the stress of chilling fear. He put out
his tail upon the water and worked it like a steering oar, and prayed
to heaven that he might get to land. But when the dark waves washed over
him he cried aloud and said: 'Not in such wise did the bull bear on his
back the beloved load, when he brought Europa across the sea to Crete,
as this Frog carries me over the water to his house, raising his yellow
back in the pale water. '

(ll. 82-92) Then suddenly a water-snake appeared, a horrid sight for
both alike, and held his neck upright above the water. And when he saw
it, Puff-jaw dived at once, and never thought how helpless a friend he
would leave perishing; but down to the bottom of the lake he went, and
escaped black death. But the Mouse, so deserted, at once fell on his
back, in the water. He wrung his paws and squeaked in agony of death:
many times he sank beneath the water and many times he rose up again
kicking. But he could not escape his doom, for his wet fur weighed him
down heavily. Then at the last, as he was dying, he uttered these words.

(ll. 93-98) 'Ah, Puff-jaw, you shall not go unpunished for this
treachery! You threw me, a castaway, off your body as from a rock.
Vile coward! On land you would not have been the better man, boxing, or
wrestling, or running; but now you have tricked me and cast me in the
water. Heaven has an avenging eye, and surely the host of Mice will
punish you and not let you escape. '

(ll. 99-109) With these words he breathed out his soul upon the water.
But Lick-platter as he sat upon the soft bank saw him die and, raising
a dreadful cry, ran and told the Mice. And when they heard of his fate,
all the Mice were seized with fierce anger, and bade their
heralds summon the people to assemble towards dawn at the house of
Bread-nibbler, the father of hapless Crumb-snatcher who lay outstretched
on the water face up, a lifeless corpse, and no longer near the bank,
poor wretch, but floating in the midst of the deep. And when the Mice
came in haste at dawn, Bread-nibbler stood up first, enraged at his
son's death, and thus he spoke.

(ll. 110-121) 'Friends, even if I alone had suffered great wrong from
the Frogs, assuredly this is a first essay at mischief for you all. And
now I am pitiable, for I have lost three sons. First the abhorred ferret
seized and killed one of them, catching him outside the hole; then
ruthless men dragged another to his doom when by unheard-of arts they
had contrived a wooden snare, a destroyer of Mice, which they call a
trap. There was a third whom I and his dear mother loved well, and him
Puff-jaw has carried out into the deep and drowned. Come, then, and let
us arm ourselves and go out against them when we have arrayed ourselves
in rich-wrought arms. '

(ll. 122-131) With such words he persuaded them all to gird themselves.
And Ares who has charge of war equipped them. First they fastened on
greaves and covered their shins with green bean-pods broken into two
parts which they had gnawed out, standing over them all night. Their
breast plates were of skin stretched on reeds, skilfully made from a
ferret they had flayed. For shields each had the centre-piece of a lamp,
and their spears were long needles all of bronze, the work of Ares, and
the helmets upon their temples were pea-nut shells.

(ll. 132-138) So the Mice armed themselves. But when the Frogs were
aware of it, they rose up out of the water and coming together to one
place gathered a council of grievous war. And while they were asking
whence the quarrel arose, and what the cause of this anger, a
herald drew near bearing a wand in his paws, Pot-visitor the son
of great-hearted Cheese-carver. He brought the grim message of war,
speaking thus:

(ll. 139-143) 'Frogs, the Mice have sent me with their threats against
you, and bid you arm yourselves for war and battle; for they have seen
Crumb-snatcher in the water whom your king Puff-jaw slew. Fight, then,
as many of you as are warriors among the Frogs. '

(ll. 144-146) With these words he explained the matter. So when this
blameless speech came to their ears, the proud Frogs were disturbed in
their hearts and began to blame Puff-jaw. But he rose up and said:

(ll. 147-159) 'Friends, I killed no Mouse, nor did I see one perishing.
Surely he was drowned while playing by the lake and imitating the
swimming of the Frogs, and now these wretches blame me who am guiltless.
Come then; let us take counsel how we may utterly destroy the wily Mice.
Moreover, I will tell you what I think to be the best. Let us all gird
on our armour and take our stand on the very brink of the lake, where
the ground breaks down sheer: then when they come out and charge upon
us, let each seize by the crest the Mouse who attacks him, and cast them
with their helmets into the lake; for so we shall drown these dry-hobs
[3602] in the water, and merrily set up here a trophy of victory over the
slaughtered Mice. '

(ll. 160-167) By this speech he persuaded them to arm themselves.

They covered their shins with leaves of mallows, and had breastplates
made of fine green beet-leaves, and cabbage-leaves, skilfully fashioned,
for shields. Each one was equipped with a long, pointed rush for a
spear, and smooth snail-shells to cover their heads. Then they stood
in close-locked ranks upon the high bank, waving their spears, and were
filled, each of them, with courage.

(ll. 168-173) Now Zeus called the gods to starry heaven and showed them
the martial throng and the stout warriors so many and so great, all
bearing long spears; for they were as the host of the Centaurs and the
Giants. Then he asked with a sly smile; 'Who of the deathless gods will
help the Frogs and who the Mice? '

And he said to Athena;

(ll. 174-176) 'My daughter, will you go aid the Mice? For they all
frolic about your temple continually, delighting in the fat of sacrifice
and in all kinds of food. '

(ll. 177-196) So then said the son of Cronos. But Athena answered him:
'I would never go to help the Mice when they are hard pressed, for they
have done me much mischief, spoiling my garlands and my lamps too,
to get the oil. And this thing that they have done vexes my heart
exceedingly: they have eaten holes in my sacred robe, which I wove
painfully spinning a fine woof on a fine warp, and made it full of
holes. And now the money-lender is at me and charges me interest which
is a bitter thing for immortals. For I borrowed to do my weaving, and
have nothing with which to repay. Yet even so I will not help the Frogs;
for they also are not considerable: once, when I was returning early
from war, I was very tired, and though I wanted to sleep, they would not
let me even doze a little for their outcry; and so I lay sleepless with
a headache until cock-crow. No, gods, let us refrain from helping these
hosts, or one of us may get wounded with a sharp spear; for they fight
hand to hand, even if a god comes against them. Let us rather all amuse
ourselves watching the fight from heaven. '

(ll. 197-198) So said Athena. And the other gods agreed with her, and
all went in a body to one place.

(ll. 199-201) Then gnats with great trumpets sounded the fell note
of war, and Zeus the son of Cronos thundered from heaven, a sign of
grievous battle.

(ll. 202-223) First Loud-croaker wounded Lickman in the belly, right
through the midriff. Down fell he on his face and soiled his soft fur
in the dust: he fell with a thud and his armour clashed about him. Next
Troglodyte shot at the son of Mudman, and drove the strong spear deep
into his breast; so he fell, and black death seized him and his spirit
flitted forth from his mouth. Then Beety struck Pot-visitor to the heart
and killed him, and Bread-nibbler hit Loud-crier in the belly, so that
he fell on his face and his spirit flitted forth from his limbs. Now
when Pond-larker saw Loud-crier perishing, he struck in quickly and
wounded Troglodyte in his soft neck with a rock like a mill-stone, so
that darkness veiled his eyes. Thereat Ocimides was seized with grief,
and struck out with his sharp reed and did not draw his spear back to
him again, but felled his enemy there and then. And Lickman shot at him
with a bright spear and hit him unerringly in the midriff. And as he
marked Cabbage-eater running away, he fell on the steep bank, yet even
so did not cease fighting but smote that other so that he fell and
did not rise again; and the lake was dyed with red blood as he lay
outstretched along the shore, pierced through the guts and shining
flanks. Also he slew Cheese-eater on the very brink. . . .

((LACUNA))

(ll. 224-251) But Reedy took to flight when he saw Ham-nibbler,
and fled, plunging into the lake and throwing away his shield.