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。　（1）　　In　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　be　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　（2）　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