Beginning from the first page, I wish the chorus from Helicon
to come into my heart for the sake of song,
which I've just set down in the tablets on my knees,
the infinite strife,
war-provoking work of Ares,
wishing to let everybody hear
how the Mice excelled in rampaging among the Frogs,
emulating the deeds of those earth-born men, the Giants,
as the story among the mortals went;
And it started in this way:
A thirsty mouse once, trying to escape a weasel,
put his muzzle to the surface of a lake,
enjoying the honey-sweet water;
but was spotted by a pond-lover of great fame,
who spoke as follows:
“Stranger, who are you?
Whence have you come to the shore?
Who was your father?"
