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Which dying Peleus gave to me his Heir,
Which erst our great Progenitors had bore,
Through Centuries of Years deliver'd down
260 From Hydrocætes[1] old, first Founder of our Throne.
Which erst our great Progenitors had bore,
Through Centuries of Years deliver'd down
260 From Hydrocætes[1] old, first Founder of our Throne.
XXVII.
Slain by himself[2] the Princely Mouse expir'd,
Nor fell untimely by your Monarch's Crime;
But near the Lake, while envious he admir'd
How youthful Tadpoles wanton'd in their prime,
265 Steer'd by their length of Tail; like them he sought
To swim, which Nature has to Mice deny'd;
Presumptuous Reptile! soon th' audacious Thought
Dear-rueing overwhelm'd in Waves he dy'd.
Slain by himself[2] the Princely Mouse expir'd,
Nor fell untimely by your Monarch's Crime;
But near the Lake, while envious he admir'd
How youthful Tadpoles wanton'd in their prime,
265 Steer'd by their length of Tail; like them he sought
To swim, which Nature has to Mice deny'd;
Presumptuous Reptile! soon th' audacious Thought
Dear-rueing overwhelm'd in Waves he dy'd.
- ↑ v. 260. Hydrocætes.] One who lies in the Waters.
- ↑ v. 261. Slain by himself.] It cannot be deny'd that Physignathus swears to a Lie; but it must be consider'd, says Bossu, The great Art of Kings is the Mystery of Dissimulation. This is the Charater which the Greek Poet gives Ulysses, and it is represented as a true and solid Virtue, and commended by Minerva herself.
Now
