KAMBROMYOMAXIA
:
OR
THE
MOUSE-TRAP
;
Being
a
Translation
of
Mr.
HOLDSWORTH'S
Of
this
translation
Mr.
Holdsworth
declar'd
his
entire
approbation
in
a
letter
,
by
giving
it
this
short
character
,
that
it
was
exceedingly
well
done
.
See
preface
to
a
dis
sertation
upon
eight
verses
in
the
second
book
of
Virgil's
Georgies
.
1749.
MUSCIPULA
,
1737.
By
****
.
THE
Mountain-Briton
,
first
of
men
who
fram'd
Bonds
for
the
Mouse
,
first
who
the
tiny
thief
In
prison
clos'd
vexatious
—
fatal
wiles
,
And
death
inextricate
—
sing
,
heav'nly
Muse
.
Thou
PHOEBUS
,
(
for
to
Mice
thyself
wast
erst
A
foe
,
in
antique
lore
thence
SMINTHEUS
A
title
of
APOLLO
,
given
him
for
freeing
Smintha
,
a
colony
of
the
Cretans
near
the
Hellespont
,
from
Mice
,
which
much
infested
them
,
OVID
.
MET
.
xii
.
585.
A
foreign
,
quae
Cretensium
linguâ
murem
domesticum
sign
.
AINSWORTH
.
call'd
,
)
Inspire
the
Song
;
and
'mongst
the
Cambrian
Hills
Thy
Pindus
choosing
,
smile
upon
the
Muse
,
Whom
lowly
themes
and
humble
verse
delight
.
The
Mouse
,
an
hostile
Animal
,
enur'd
To
live
by
rapine
,
now
long
time
had
rov'd
Where'er
his
lust
innate
of
spoil
led
on
;
And
unaveng'd
his
wicked
craft
pursu'd
;
Long
fearless
,
unaveng'd
—
All
things
on
earth
Felt
his
fell
tooth
,
while
safe
in
nimble
speed
Evasive
,
he
in
ev'ry
dainty
dish
His
revels
held
secure
.
Nought
was
untouch'd
,
But
ev'ry
feast
wail'd
the
domestic
foe
,
A
constant
guest
unbidden
.
Nor
strong
walls
His
thefts
obstruct
,
nor
massy
bars
avail
,
Nor
doors
robust
,
to
save
the
luscious
cates
:
Through
walls
,
and
bars
,
and
doors
he
eats
his
way
Contemptuous
,
and
regales
with
unbought
fare
.
Thus
wail'd
the
helpless
world
the
general
foe
,
But
Cambria
most
;
for
Cambria's
od'rous
stores
Most
stimulate
the
curious
taste
of
Mouse
:
Not
with
a
taste
content
,
or
lambent
kiss
,
(
The
fate
of
common
cheese
,
)
he
undermines
And
hollows
with
reiterated
tooth
Eatable
Palaces
.
The
Nation
saw
,
And
rag'd
—
Revenge
and
grief
distract
their
minds
—
What
shou'd
they
do
?
They
foam
,
they
gnash
their
teeth
,
And
o'er
their
pendant
rocks
in
fury
rove
,
Restless
with
rage
—
for
Nature
prone
to
rage
The
Cambrians
form'd
,
and
bade
their
fiery
breasts
Burst
into
sudden
flame
—
that
men
would
deem
Their
souls
were
with
their
fingers
sulphur-ting'd
.
It
is
decreed
—
Rage
prompts
them
to
revenge
Unsated
but
with
blood
—
Yet
by
what
means
,
What
art
the
cautious
felon
to
ensnare
,
They
doubt
:
for
,
Cambria
,
thy
Grimalkin
race
Nor
to
the
house
defence
,
nor
in
distress
So
imminent
,
cou'd
aught
of
succour
bring
.
Oft
had
the
Cat
plac'd
at
the
cavern's
mouth
The
various
ambuscade
;
as
oft
with
paw
Soft-silent
creeping
,
near
the
hollow
cell
Kept
wary
watch
—
In
vain
—
The
little
Mouse
In
little
bulk
secure
,
(
advantage
great
Over
a
Giant
Foe
!
)
if
chance
he
spy
Her
watching
at
his
door
intent
on
prey
,
Inward
he
flies
,
his
serpentine
recess
Pursues
,
and
caves
impervious
to
Cat
:
Nor
dares
again
thrust
out
his
head
in
air
,
Nor
form
new
sallies
,
till
the
siege
be
rais'd
,
And
danger
with
the
watchful
foe
withdrawn
.
The
Cambrians
thus
,
(
if
Cambrians
with
the
Mouse
We
may
compare
,
)
when
Roman
JULIUS
sought
To
join
the
Britons
to
the
world
subdu'd
,
Eluded
his
vain
toil
.
—
To
their
retreat
At
once
a
nation
vanish'd
;
in
their
rocks
,
Rampires
impregnable
,
lay
safe
obscur'd
'
Mid
circling
ruin
;
and
of
conquest
though
Despairing
,
to
be
conquerable
scorn'd
.
Their
long
,
unbroken
lineage
hence
they
boast
,
Their
country
unsubdued
,
and
ancient
tongue
.
Thus
did
the
Mouse
,
by
custom
tutor'd
,
oft
Evade
the
hostile
paw
;
nor
Cambria's
sons
Had
hope
from
their
confederate
of
the
war
:
When
strait
,
on
th'
utmost
frontiers
of
their
Land
,
Where
now
Menevia
the
shrunk
honours
mourns
Of
her
divided
mitre
,
of
whose
walls
Half-buried
but
an
empty
name
remains
,
Behold
a
Council
summons'd
.
From
each
side
See
Nobles
,
Fathers
,
and
the
vulgar
throng
Of
stench
sulphureous
,
mix
.
An
ancient
Sage
,
Whose
length
of
beard
oft
from
his
native
hills
The
goat
with
envy
ey'd
;
his
hands
,
his
face
With
scurf
of
ancient
growth
encrusted
o'er
;
Broken
with
years
,
against
a
post
reclin'd
,
(
By
Cambrian
backs
still
shaken
)
in
the
midst
Stood
visible
to
all
,
and
with
deep
tone
These
words
precipitating
,
gutt'ral
spake
.
"
Of
open
war
we
treat
not
,
but
sly
theft
—
"
No
foreign
foe
,
but
a
too
inmate
guest
"
(
That
heavier
evil
)
summons
us
to
meet
.
"
Still
shall
the
bold
insulter
lord
it
thus
,
"
The
tyrant
Mouse
?
Rouse
,
aweful
Fathers
,
rouse
;
"
Ye
,
to
whose
breasts
your
country's
good
is
dear
,
"
By
counsel
end
these
horrors
;
and
if
aught
"
Of
hope
remain
,
now
lend
propitious
aid
:
"
So
shall
your
glory
grow
,
your
names
be
known
"
Immortal
as
CAIDWALADER'S
in
fame
.
"
He
spake
,
and
strait
the
fragments
,
mouldy
scraps
,
Reliques
of
rapine
,
monuments
of
theft
,
High
in
their
sight
uprearing
,
rous'd
their
rage
.
Now
thirst
of
dire
revenge
,
now
lust
of
fame
Burns
emulous
,
and
fires
each
Patriot
breast
;
Each
meditates
to
Mouse
unheard
of
fate
,
And
ev'ry
brain
is
hamm'ring
on
a
TRAP
.
But
one
'bove
all
by
th'
honour-added
name
Of
TAFFY
fam'd
,
far
more
for
wit
renown'd
:
Cambria
ne'er
bred
his
peer
,
whether
at
forge
,
Or
council
;
Senator
and
Blacksmith
He
.
Thus
'gan
the
Sage
—
"
Should
Cheese
,
our
Nation's
boast
,
"
In
Cambria
be
extinct
,
I
fear
our
hinds
"
Wou'd
mourn
their
whole
meals
sunk
,
and
Nobles
grieve
"
The
honours
lost
,
that
crown'd
the
second
course
.
"
Since
then
nor
Cambria's
courage
,
nor
her
Cats
"
Against
the
monsters
can
prevail
,
we'll
try
"
If
this
mechanic
hand
,
if
craft
,
deceit
,
"
Can
aught
advantage
:
in
a
foe
none
asks
"
If
force
prevail
,
or
fraud
.
"
Strait
at
this
boast
,
All
fix
on
TAFFY
their
expecting
eyes
,
All
in
glad
murmurs
speak
their
promis'd
joy
,
Wait
whence
the
bliss
;
question
,
and
burn
to
know
.
Scratching
his
head
,
(
as
British
heads
demand
,
)
He
ghastly
smil'd
,
and
strait
with
freer
air
Proceeded
thus
—
"
When
wearied
,
at
the
close
"
Of
yester
sun
I
gave
my
limbs
to
rest
,
"
And
slumber
deep
my
eyes
had
quench'd
;
a
Mouse
"
Bold
and
pursuing
,
as
I
guess
,
the
trail
,
"
Which
unconnected
Cheese
recent
exhal'd
"
From
out
my
viscous
jaws
,
stole
down
my
mouth
"
Then
discontinuous
;
and
reaching
now
"
My
very
entrails
,
strait
their
crude
contents
"
'Gan
gnaw
,
and
through
my
throat
ill-fortified
"
My
yester's
meal
,
alas
!
triumphant
drags
.
"
When
sudden
rous'd
from
sleep
,
in
his
retreat
"
I
'twixt
my
teeth
the
felon
snap'd
,
and
bound
"
Vainly
rebellious
in
the
biting
chain
.
"
Instructed
thus
that
Mouse
might
be
enthrall'd
,
"
New
visionary
prison-houses
rise
"
In
my
revolving
mind
,
and
such
restraints
,
"
As
the
late
captive
of
my
jaws
suggests
.
"
By
what
mysterious
laws
the
hand
of
JOVE
"
Moves
sublunary
things
!
By
what
hid
rules
"
The
chain
of
causes
acts
!
the
Mouse
himself
"
To
us
involuntary
succour
brings
,
"
And
for
the
wounds
he
gave
himself
prescribes
.
"
Blush
not
by
such
a
master
to
improve
;
"
From
foes
to
learn
,
honour
nor
right
forbids
.
"
These
said
,
homeward
he
his
.
Th'
applauding
throng
Accompany
his
route
,
and
to
his
toil
Propitious
omens
beg
.
Each
to
his
house
Bends
his
swift
course
;
each
to
his
Lares
flies
,
Glad
harbinger
of
this
expected
birth
From
TAFFY'S
brain
:
and
whilst
they
tell
the
tale
,
Whilst
to
the
Gods
for
glad
event
they
bend
Of
the
great
enterprize
,
the
Mousing
Kind
(
Prophetic
instinct
!
)
shew
unwonted
joy
Gamesome
;
and
(
if
we
credit
Fame
)
beneath
The
matron's
hand
dances
the
embryo
cheese
.
TAFFY
mean
while
with
head
,
and
hand
,
and
heart
,
Plies
his
great
work
,
with
PALLAS'
aid
divine
The
MOUSE-TRAP
builds
.
A
wonderful
machine
Now
stood
confess'd
;
and
form
'till
then
unknown
The
Tragi-comic
edifice
indu'd
.
Now
smile
,
sweet
Muse
,
and
to
our
sight
disclose
The
infant
fabric
;
each
particular
Dilate
,
and
join
them
in
the
finish'd
pile
.
Of
oblong
form
twin
planks
of
wood
compose
The
base
and
roof
;
a
wiry
palisade
Fences
each
side
,
on
whose
small
columns
rais'd
The
fabric
stands
:
th'
insi'dious
gate
invites
With
friendly-seeming
welcome
;
but
on
high
,
Depending
from
a
slender
thread
,
the
vast
Portcullis
threats
,
to
thoughtless
Mice
sure
death
.
(
Such
is
the
thread
of
life
,
spun
by
the
FATES
To
Mouse
and
Man
—
All
on
a
thread
depend
.
)
Amidst
the
level
roof
shoots
up
a
mast
Erect
,
in
whose
cleft
head
a
slender
beam
Transverse
inserted
plays
,
and
on
each
side
Extends
its
poised
arms
;
whose
one
extreme
Depress'd
,
one
equally
the
pendent
door
Exalts
.
Within
,
let
through
a
slender
bore
,
A
wire
depends
that
fluctuates
with
a
touch
;
The
lower
part
is
cramp'd
into
a
hook
,
Tenacious
of
the
bait
;
while
th'
upper
gripes
Th'
extremest
handle
of
the
treach'rous
beam
.
But
soon
as
e'er
it
feels
the
foe
to
've
touch'd
The
fatal
food
,
the
loosen'd
portal
strait
Lets
fall
,
and
speaks
the
first
attack
reveng'd
.
Things
thus
dispos'd
,
instant
the
pendent
hook
TAFFY
with
treason
cloaths
,
and
turns
to
death
The
very
food
of
Mouse
:
but
,
that
his
cheese
More
fragrant
may
from
far
the
Foe
invite
,
Toasts
the
fell
bait
,
and
strengthens
the
perfume
.
And
now
appear'd
the
memorable
night
,
When
on
his
bed
TAFFY
his
limbs
fatigu'd
Reposing
,
near
his
pillow's
downy
side
His
Minion
MOUSE-TRAP
set
,
and
all-secure
I'
th'
faithful
centry
,
slumber
sweet
indulg'd
.
The
frolic
Mice
,
(
a
tribe
audacious
they
)
Safe
in
the
covert
of
the
silent
night
,
Now
sport
abroad
:
when
one
,
a
leader
Mouse
,
Of
nose
sagacious
,
born
the
Gods
his
foes
,
The
hostile
ambush
seeks
,
led
by
the
scent
Of
toasted
cheese
delicious
.
The
Grate
resists
His
swift
career
,
and
entrance
first
denies
—
But
he
,
to
suffer
such
severe
repulse
Indignant
,
round
the
wiry
fortress
scours
,
And
crisps
his
nose
,
and
with
sagacious
beard
A
pass
explores
;
and
enter'd
now
the
lines
,
Impassable
again
,
of
all
his
wish
At
length
possess'd
,
the
deadly
bait
secures
,
Feasts
on
his
ruin
,
and
enjoys
his
fate
.
TAFFY
,
whom
strait
the
pendulous
door
,
scarce
drop'd
,
With
sudden
clap
had
wak'd
,
you
might
behold
Now
on
his
elbow
prop'd
,
now
from
his
bed
Skipping
triumphant
,
fir'd
with
thirst
to
know
What
new-come
guest
.
The
Mouse
ridiculous
Rages
within
,
batters
with
front
and
foot
,
Proves
with
his
head
each
wiry
interval
,
And
wears
with
raging
tooth
his
iron
hold
.
Driv'n
to
the
toils
so
raves
the
Marsian
boar
Horrid
,
and
shakes
his
waving
bonds
,
the
sport
Of
circling
dogs
;
he
flings
about
his
foam
,
And
on
his
front
erect
the
bristles
stare
.
The
morrow
came
,
and
from
her
rocky
highths
,
Precipitant
,
whole
Cambria
pours
;
for
strait
In
ev'ry
ear
the
novel
tale
was
rife
—
Nor
wonder
,
for
the
Ass
,
his
solemn
wont
Relax'd
,
nor
mindful
of
his
late
slow
pace
,
The
mountain
climbs
more
wanton
than
the
kid
:
Thence
with
sonorous
din
from
rusty
throat
,
(
The
Cambrian
Herald
simulating
,
)
thrice
Thee
,
TAFFY
,
bray'd
;
thrice
told
the
public
joy
.
Nor
less
the
Owl
;
(
from
that
great
Aera
term'd
Cambria's
Embassador
:
)
for
through
her
towns
,
And
utmost
limits
wand'ring
wild
that
night
,
She
scratch'd
the
windows
with
her
ominous
beak
,
Grating
harsh
dissonance
,
and
sung
in
shrieks
The
instant
fate
of
Mouse
.
The
lab'ring
rocks
Bring
forth
,
and
Pembroke's
,
and
Mervinia's
sons
In
swarms
condens'd
rush
down
;
and
whom
the
walls
Of
Bonium
hold
,
and
Maridunum
fam'd
For
their
prophetic
bard
,
MERLIN
;
and
whom
Fruitful
Glamorgan
feeds
,
and
he
that
drinks
Of
Vaga's
stream
,
with
the
rough
hardy
clown
Montgomery
manures
.
—
Then
TAFFY
,
'midst
The
crowded
ring
,
his
raging
prey
insults
.
"
Vain
are
thy
efforts
—
fix'd
thy
doom
of
death
,
"
On
this
my
altar
the
first
victim
thou
,
"
To
dye
with
memorable
blood
the
frame
.
"
No
hope
remains
:
thy
flight
these
wiry
posts
"
Inexorable
bar
—
Dread
,
wicked
wight
,
"
The
fate
thy
merits
ask
;
for
these
thy
bonds
"
Thou
quit'st
not
but
with
life
.
"
The
fatal
words
Scarce
had
he
spoke
,
when
from
the
sunny
thatch
,
(
Her
wonted
haunt
,
when
with
extended
limbs
She
basks
luxurious
,
winking
in
soft
ease
,
)
Down
leap'd
the
playful
Cat
.
—
Her
swift
approach
The
captive
eyes
,
and
pricks
his
ears
,
and
stiff
Bristles
his
gibbous
back
,
nor
dares
attempt
The
portal
now
up-drawn
;
but
his
sole
hope
Of
freedom
only
in
his
prison
fix'd
,
With
hooked
talons
grasps
his
bonds
,
and
hangs
Tenacious
by
his
feet
—
At
length
he
drops
Out-shaken
:
instant
to
her
prey
the
Cat
Flies
rapid
,
and
With
rude
,
embrace
enfolds
,
And
savage
kisses
on
her
struggling
foe
(
Vain
efforts
!
)
cruelly
imprints
.
No
pause
Her
rage
admits
;
her
sinuous-twirling
tail
Denotes
the
Victor's
joy
;
her
body
moves
Agil
in
wanton
frolicks
,
watching
now
Prone
on
the
earth
intent
the
destin'd
Mouse
;
His
neck
now
lightly
pats
with
hurtless
paw
,
Dissembling
love
;
but
ruminates
the
while
To
tear
him
limb
from
limb
.
The
Mouser
thus
,
Witty
in
tyranny
,
with
various
art
Wanton
barbarity
enjoys
:
but
now
,
Tir'd
with
the
sportive
mockery
,
no
more
Conceals
her
rage
,
but
o'er
her
trembling
prey
Like
the
starv'd
lion
hangs
,
and
growling
tears
His
gory
entrails
,
and
convulsive
limbs
.
The
circling
croud
,
soon
as
his
hated
blood
Sprinkled
they
spy
,
fill
with
glad
shouts
the
air
;
And
ECHO
,
tenant
of
the
Cambrian
hills
,
Their
clam'rous
joy
repeats
;
Plinlimmon's
highth
,
And
Brechin
with
the
loftier
Snowdon
join
:
To
th'
neighb'ring
stars
the
loud
acclaim
ascends
,
And
OFFA'S
Ditch
rebellows
to
the
din
.
TAFFY
,
for
ever
live
—
Ev'n
to
this
day
Thy
gift
the
Cambrian
celebrates
;
and
Thee
Commemorates
each
circling
year
.
The
land
Grateful
,
its
native
honours
to
maintain
,
Each
joyful
head
crowns
redolent
with
Leek
.