P. 85. l. [2969] froskes here = host of frogs.
[2977]-8
Pole-heads (tadpoles) and frogs, and sport of podes (toads),
Bound hard Egypt's wretched folk.
in sile = vn-sile = vn-sele, miserable, wretched. Stratmann says that sile = sele, epirhedium. Polheuedes (Provincial Eng. pole-head), a tadpole. Palsgrave has polet. Polly-wigs, tadpoles. "Tadpoles, pole-wigges, young frogs." (Florio, p. 212.) Pol-wygle, wyrme, occurs in the Prompt. Parv. (Hall.); pode = Prov. E. pode, paddock, a toad (Shakespeare); W. Prov. E. padstool = toadstool. (See King Alis. 6124.)
"ðare nakyn best of wenym may
Lywe, or lest atoure a day;
As ask, or eddyre, táde or pade,
Suppos þat þai be þiddyr hade."—(Wyntown, i. p. 15.)
[2988] up-wond = up-went, but literally up-wound. [2989] on bite, in their bite. [2990] smite, a blight, plague.