Homeric Apocrypha
ΓΑΛΕΟΜΥΟΜΑΧΙΑ
P. Mich. inv. 6946, ed. H. S. Schibli, ZPE 53 (1983), 1–25
Μοῦσά μοι ἔννεπ]ε εῖκο[ς] [πολέμ] [κρυ]ν[τ]ς ἦλθε μύεσσ᾿, οἳ] ᾿ τὶ λῆς ἔστ[σαν ἀολλεῖς [ ][ ] [ ] [ ]ωι πμάχιζετ[ ]ε Τρῖξος. χορ]δῆς ἁ[π]ακτὴ[ρ γ]έν᾿ ύ[σ] · 5ἀ]λλ᾿ οὔ μιν πάλιν αὖις ἐδέξατο πατρὶς ἄρουρα· πρῶτον γάρ μιν ἑλοῦσα γαλῆ μέσσον διέβρυξεν. οῦ δὲ καὶ ἀμφιδρυφὴς ἄλοχος οἴκωι ἐλέλειπτο, τρ]ωγαίωι {ἐν} θαλάμωι, φρεσὶν αἱμύλα πόλλ᾿ εἰδυῖα, Κνι]έωνος θ[υ]γάτ[ρ]· καὶ ἐλίσσεο πολλά Τ· 10“μῦ] ἤν[α]ντα λῆς, ᾿ μύ ώνει.” ()] ᾿ ἄγγελ[ος] ἦλθε θέ[ω] ποσὶ καρπαλίμοισι Ἁρ][αγίδ]ης, ὃς ἔν[α]ε Μ [ ] ἐνὶ δήμωι, καί [μι]ν φωνήσας ἔπ πτρ[όε]ντ ροση[δα· “τέθν]ηκεν δὴ Τρῖξο[ς] ἀμύμ[ν ἐ] ολέμ.” 15ἣ δ᾿ ὀξὺ] στενάχουα παρειάς τ᾿ [μφί]
- 7αλοχωι pap. oἴκοι Schibli
- 8] ωγιαιωι pap.
Weasel and the Mice
The Battle of the Weasel And the Mice
Michigan papyrus (second–first century bc)
[Tell me, Muse,] of how the contention of chilling war [came upon the mice, and they made a un]ited stand against a weasel . . . fought in the front . . . Squeakos. He was the finest filcher of [tri]pe among the mice, but his native soil did not receive him back again; for he was the first that the weasel seized and crunched through the middle.
His grieving wife was left at home7 in their [h]oley chamber, that creature of much cunning, the daughter of [Grav]yon; and often she used to beseech Squeakos, “[As a mou]se, speak aloud among mice, not in front of a weasel.” [ . . . ] came running on swift feet to bring the news, the so[n of Filcher], who dwelt in the parish of the My. . .ans,8 and he addressed her in winged words: “Noble Squeakos has [d]ied in battle.”
She, [shrilly] lamenting, [began to tear at] her cheeks