“The Frogmousiad” is a humorous epic poem illustrated by Louis Wain that recounts a mock-heroic war between mice and frogs.

The Incident and Declaration of War

• A Fatal Meeting: The story begins when a mouse named Crumb-snatcher meets Puff-cheek, the King of the Frogs, at the edge of a pond.
• The Accidental Drowning: Puff-cheek offers the mouse a ride on his back to see the wonders of the pond. However, when a snake appears, the terrified frog dives underwater for safety, inadvertently leaving Crumb-snatcher to drown.
• The Call to Arms: A witness, Lick-trencher, reports the death to the other mice. Led by Crumb-snatcher’s father, Loaf-nibbler, the mice arm themselves with bean-pod greaves, walnut-shell helmets, and needle spears to seek vengeance.

The Battle and Divine Intervention

• Frog Mobilization: The frogs, hearing the mice’s defiance, prepare for war using mallow leaves for armor, cabbage leaves for shields, and bulrushes for spears.
• Gods’ Perspective: On Olympus, the gods debate whether to intervene. Minerva refuses to help either side, complaining that mice gnaw her sacred items and frogs keep her awake with their croaking.
• Violent Combat: A fierce battle ensues on the banks of the pond, with many heroes on both sides falling to spears and boulders.
• The Turning Point: A powerful young mouse named Bun-ravager begins a devastating charge, swearing to wipe out the entire frog race.

The Resolution

Conclusion: The battle ends at sunset, leaving the mice “mangled and maimed” and the conflict resolved by the superior force of the crabs

Heavenly Intervention: Alarmed by the potential genocide of the frogs, Jove (the King of the Gods) initially tries to stop the battle with thunder and lightning, but the mice remain undismayed.

The Crabs: To end the war, the gods send a “terrible host” of crabs. These eight-legged, nipper-armed creatures easily rout the mice, nipping their toes and tails and driving them back to their holes in a panic.