The Frogs, a freeborn people made,

From out their marsh with clamor pray’d

That Jove a monarch would assign

With power their manners to refine.

The sovereign smiled, and on their bog

Sent his petitioners a log,

Which, as it dash’d upon the place,

At first alarm’d the tim’rous race.

But ere it long had lain to cool,

One slily peep’d out of the pool,