LEADER. Shall we pause in our strain, Now the months bring again The pipe and the minstrel to gladden the folk? Rather strike on the ear With a note strong and clear, A chant corresponding of-- _Chorus_. Croak, croak. BACCHUS (_mimicking_.) Croak, croak, by the gods I shall choke, If you pester and bore my ears any more With your croak, croak, croak. LEADER. Rude companion and vain, Thus to carp at my strain; (_To Chor_) But keep in the vein, And attack him again With a croak, croak, croak. _Chorus (crescendo.)_ Croak, croak, croak. BACCHUS (_mimicking._) Croak, croak, vapour and smoke, Never think it, old Huff, That I care for such stuff, As your croak, croak, croak. _Chorus (fortissimo.)_ Croak, croak, croak. BACCHUS. Now fires light on thee, And waters soak; And March winds catch thee Without any cloak. For within and without, From the tail to the snout, Thou'rt nothing but croak, croak, croak. LEADER. And what else, captious Newcomer, say, should I be? But you know not to whom you are talking, I see: (_With dignity_) I'm the friend of the Muses, and Pan with his pipe, Holds me dearer by far than a cherry that's ripe: For the reed and the cane which his music supply, Who gives them their tone and their moisture but I? And therefore for ever I'll utter my cry Of-- _Chorus._ Croak, croak, croak. BACCHUS. I'm blister'd, I'm fluster'd, I'm sick, I'm ill-- _Chorus._ Croak, croak. BACCHUS. My dear little bull-frog, do prithee be still. 'Tis a sorry vocation--that reiteration, (I speak on, my honour, most musical nation,) Of croak, croak. LEADER (_maestoso._) When the sun rides in glory and makes a bright day, Mid lilies and plants of the water I stray; Or when the sky darkens with tempest and rain, I sink like a pearl in my watery domain: Yet, sinking or swimming. I lift up a song, Or I drive a gay dance with my eloquent throng, Then hey bubble, bubble-- For a knave's petty trouble, Shall I my high charter and birth-right revoke? Nay, my efforts I'll double, And drive him like stubbie Before me, with-- _Chorus_. Croak, croak, croak. BACCHUS. I'm ribs of steel, I'm heart of oak, Let us see if a note May be found in this throat To answer their croak, croak, croak. (_Croaks loudly_.) LEADER. Poor vanity's son-- And dost think me outdone, With a clamour no bigger Than a maiden's first snigger? (_To Chorus_) But strike up a tune, He shall not forget soon (_Chorus_.) Of our croak, croak, croak, (_Croak, with a discordant crash of music_.) BACCHUS. I'm cinder, I'm coke, I have had my death-stroke; O, that ever I woke To be gall'd by the yoke Of this croak, croak, croak, croak.