Classic Poem

The Frogs, lamenting that they had no king,
Sent their ambassadors to mighty Zeus,
Beseeching. The Olympian God, who marked
Their green simplicity, in jest cast down
A ponderous log splashing into the lake.
The Frogs in terror hid their heads afar
Deep in the shadowy waters mid the roots
Of sallows and of flags. But when once more
The billows were composed and that great log
Lay motionless, they did despise their fears,
And swam about, or sat thereon asquat,
Until they came to feel the indignant blush
At such a lumpish sovereign, and sent
A second embassy to mighty Zeus.
The Olympian God appointed them an Eel,
For potentate. But when they saw how sleek,
How fat, how empty of all policy,
His Eelship was, they were aggrieved again
And sent again an embassy to Zeus:
The Olympian, ruffled from the Olympian calm
By foolish plaint reiterated, sent
In wrath the Heron of the stalking thighs
And long swift bill. And day by fatal day
This new king, like the King of Terrors, preyed
Upon the congregation of the Frogs,
Until the croaking in that ancient lake
Did cease forever, both at rising sun
And when the first star lies above the hill.

MORAL

O Mortals, O unhappy humankind,
Complain not overmuch unto the Gods.