1When

royal Fergus’1

Line did rule this Realm,

2My Father had the Third place at the Helme.

3Out of the Privie Kitchin came his Meat;

4Of sixteen Dishes hee might dayly Eat.

5All things that were in Season out were Sought.

6Amongst the rest they

Welfleet Oysters2

Brought,

7Which being set ready till my Father Comes,

8A Mous leaps on the Table for the Crumbs,

9Then Skipping up and down, her Tayl did Glide

10By chance betwixt the shells. T’was then full Tide.

11The Oyster, Feeling one within her Hous,

12Clapt close her doors, and thus shee Catch’d the Mous.

13Oh, that I now could speak the

Mecian Tongues3

,

14Or Frogian Language! But I want such Lungs

15As hee that writ the dismale bloody Fights

16

Betwixt the Frogian and the Mecian Knights4

.

17Surely noe Weomen, and I think few Men,

18Can dance soe well as hee with feet and Pen.

19But hee those Tongues as I have heard did Seek

20Before hee Learnd

the Latin or the Greek5

.

21But now the Captive Mous her dubious Fate

22In my own Mother Tongue I must relate.

23As her imprisonment came by A Flow,

24Soe the next happy Tide did let her goe.

25O wonderfull! who would have ever thought

26That from the

Deliane6

Twins help should bee brought?

27Then let us learn, while Flesh doth here immure

28Our Sinfull Souls, not think our Selves Secure.

29As this dul Fish was Torn up from A Rock,

30This Spritely Mous in Prison thus to Lock,

31Soe from A

vulgar7

one may rise to Raign

32That many a Noble Spirit may Restrain.

33This is too true; yet let them patient bee

34For Tide, or Time, or Death, will set them free.

35Then trust in God, Extoll Him Day and Night:

36For Sun and Moon and Stars, shall for thee Fight.