Ancient Verses; The Battle of Frogs and Mice Part 2

When we left off, the king of the frogs Bellowmouth, had offered to take king Crumbtheif to his kingdom on the other side of the stream. This mirrors the homeric institution of Guest-Friendship or ξενίᾱ and now we will see what the consequences are in myth for inappropriate conduct surrounding this formal system of hospitality.

 

Remember that in the story of how Paris abducted Helen, Paris was at the time Menelaus' guest, and Menelaus got his brother Agamemnon to enforce the oath made by all Helen's suitors to help him wage war against the Trojans, which dragged all the Achaeans to war. Zeus was seen as the protector of strangers and harming strangers invited the wrath of Zeus.

 

Also notice later the comedic effect of Athena's speech and how common items are extolled as deadly works of Ares. If you know the story of the Iliad, you might also be able to see how Achilles' funeral oration for Patroclus is parodied in the speech of Breadmuncher.

 

Link to Part 1: https://www.minds.com/blog/view/698048388494532609

 

The Betrayal:

 

Suddenly, a water snake appeared, a bitter sight to both,

who held his throat up straight out of the water.

When he saw him, Bellowmouth went under water, considering not

what sort of friend he was about to abandon to death.

He submerged in the depth of the pond, and avoided black death.

But the mouse, as he let go, fell straight down into the water,

clenched his hands, and squeaked as he was dying.

Several times he went down below the water, and several times                                   90

He kicked and came back up. But it was not possible to ward off fate.

His wet hair took on more weight,

And dying in the water, he shouted out these words:

“You won’t get away with doing these deceitful things,

Tossing your passenger from your body as if off a cliff.

You rotten bastard, you were no better than me upon land

At fighting or wrestling or running, so you brought me to the water

And hurled me into it! God has an eye for vengeance.

And you will not avoid paying a penalty and

Righteous payback from the host of mice who honor me!”                                             100

As he said this he gasped in the water. And Plate-licker

Saw him as he sat upon the luxuriant banks.

Then he wailed terribly, ran and informed the mice.

A dread wrath fell upon them as they learned his fate,

And they ordered their heralds to summon their kin

To the assembly at the home of Breadmuncher at dawn.

He was the pitiful father of Crumbthief who floated on the pond

high up in a corpse’s form, no longer still alive

on the banks but raised up in the middle of the sea.

And so they came hurrying at dawn and among them first                                            110

Breadmuncher rose enraged over his son to make this speech:

 

“Friends, even if I alone of the mice suffered these many evils

it would be still be a vile crime against us all.

I am wretched because I have lost three children:

A most hateful weasel snatched up the first and killed him

as she dragged him from his hole.

Harsh men dragged the second to his doom

once they designed a wooded trick with their newfangled arts

That thing they call the trap, the destroyer of mice.

The third was beloved by me and his prized mother,                                                       120

Bellowmouth drowned him once he dragged him to the deep.

Come, let us arm ourselves and go out to face them

Once we’ve arrayed our bodies in our well-worked arms.”

“In saying this he persuaded everyone to arm themselves

And Ares who loves war armed them.

First they fit their greaves to their two legs

After breaking some pale beans and fitting them well,

beans they nibbled clean by working on them all night.

They had chest pieces made of reed-bound hides

which they made skillfully after flaying a weasel.                                                 130

Their shield was the middle-section of a lamp. And their spear

Was a well-measured needle, a completely bronze work of Ares.

The helmet on their temples was the husk of chick pea.

And this is the way the mice were armed. When the frogs noticed

They rose up from the water: and once they gathered in same place

They summoned a council for wicked war.

While they were examining the conflict and noise,

A herald approached carrying a staff in his hand:

Dish-diver, the son of great-hearted Cheese-borer

Announcing the evil report of war said these kind of things:                              140

“The mice threaten you and send me

To tell you to arms yourselves for war and battle.

They know about Crumbthief whom your king

Bellowmouth killed in the water. But fight

All of you who were born best among the frogs.”

The report once it entered everyone’s ears

disturbed the minds of the gathered frogs.

While they were reproaching, Bellowmouth stood and said.

“Friends, I didn’t kill the mouse, nor did I witness him dying.

He drowned because he was playing near the shore                                            150

Trying to mimic the swimming of frogs. These villains

Are blaming me when I am not at fault. But let us seek

a plan so that we may kill those treacherous mice.

I will announce the plan that seems best to me.

Let all of us stand after adorning ourselves in arms

On the top of the banks where the land is steep.

Whenever they come rushing against us

Once we have snatched them by their helmets as each approaches

We will throw them straight into the water with them.

As we drown those unaccustomed to the water in this way                                160

We will happily dedicate a trophy to the murder of mice.”

 

**Dish-diver the herald delivers his message to the frogs

 

So speaking he persuaded everyone to arm themselves.

First, they covered their shins with the leaves of reeds

and they had breastplates from fine yellow beets

while they fitted the leaves of cabbage into shields

and a great sharp reed was worked as a spear for each.

Horns of polished snails covered their heads.

They stood on the high banks defending themselves

As they brandished their spears, the heart of each puffed up.

Zeus called the gods to starry heaven                                                                     170

and showed them the mass of war and strong warriors

so many, so great, carrying enormous spears

just as the army of Centaurs or giants had approached them.

Then laughing sweetly he asked who among the immortals

were supporters for the frogs or mice? And he addressed Athena:

“Daughter, won’t you go forth to help the mice?

For they always dance around your temple

Delighting in the smell and every kind of treat.”

So Kronos’ son said and Athena responded:        

“Father I would never come to the aid of the distressed mice                            180

because they have done me many evils

by ruining my garlands and lamps to get at the oil.

The things they do really wear at my thoughts.

They eat away at the robe which I wore myself out weaving

from tender wool and which I spun on a great warp–

they fill it with holes. The lender entrusted it to me

and it makes me his debtor, a thing horrible for the gods.

For I spun it in debt and I can’t pay it back.

But there is no way I want to help the frogs.

For these creatures are not of sound mind, but yesterday                                  190

When I was returning from war and really worn out

and needing sleep, they didn’t allow me even to snooze

because of their croaking. And I laid there sleepless,

with a headache until the rooster crowed.

Come on, let the gods avoid helping them,

lest one of them get wounded by a sharp missile.

For they are fighting in close ranks, even if a god should near them.

Let’s instead enjoy watching this battle from heaven.”

 

**With permission of sententiaeantiquae.com