ΒΑΤΡΑΧΟΜΥΟΜΑΧΙΑ.
5
Seeing the safe harbors of the King so nere;And he, a swimmer so exempt from Pere.But when he sunke into the purple waue;He mournd extremely; and did much depraueVnprofitable penitence: His haireTore by the roots vp, labord for the aire,With his feet fetcht vp to his belly, close:His heart within him, panted out repose,For th'insolent plight, in which his state did stand:Sigh'd bitterly, and long'd to greete the land,Forc't by the dire Neede, of his freezing feare.First on the waters, he his taile did stereLike to a Sterne: then drew it like an ore,Still praying the Gods to set him safe ashore:Yet sunke he midst the red waues, more and more,And laid a throat out, to his vtmost height:Yet in forc'd speech, he made his perill sleight;And thus his glorie with his grieuance stroue;Not in such choice state was the charge of loueBorne by the Bull; when to the Cretane shoreHe swumme Europa through the wauie rore;As this Frog ferries me; His pallid brestBrauely aduancing; and his verdant crest(Submitted to my seat) made my support,Through his white waters, to his royall Court.But on the sudden did apparance makeAn horrid spectacle; a water-snakeThrusting his freckeld necke aboue the lake.
