upon his
glittering helmet.

"Detested miscreants!" roared the knight; "avaunt! Enchanters dire and
goblins could alone this arduous task perform; to rout the knight of
Mancha, foul defeat, and war, even such as ne'er was known before. Then
hear, O del Toboso! hear my vows, that thus in anguish of my soul I
urge, midst frogs, Gridalbin, Hecaton, Kai, Talon, and the Rove! [for
such the names and definitions of their qualities, their separate
powers.] For Merlin plumed their airy flight, and then in watery
moonbeam dyed his rod eccentric. At the touch ten thousand frogs,
strange metamorphosed, croaked even thus: And here they come, on high
behest, to vilify the knight that erst defended famed virginity, and
matrons all bewronged, and pilgrims hoar, and courteous guise of all!
But the age of chivalry is gone, and the glory of Europe is extinguished
for ever?"

He spake, and sudden good Lord Whittington, at head of all his
raree-show, came forth, armour antique of chivalry, and helmets old, and
troops, all streamers, flags and banners glittering gay, red, gold, and
purple; and in every hand a square of gingerbread, all gilded nice,
was brandished awful. At a word, ten thousand thousand Naples biscuits,
crackers, buns, and flannel-cakes, and hats of gingerbread encountered
in mid air in glorious exaltation, like some huge storm of mill-stones,
or when it rains whole clouds of dogs and cats.

The frogs, astonished, thunderstruck, forgot their notes and music, that
before had seemed so terrible, and drowned the cries of knight
renown, and mute in wonder heard the words of Whittington, pronouncing
solemn:--"Goblins, chimeras dire, or frogs, or whatsoe'er enchantment
thus presents in antique shape, attend and hear the words of peace; and
thou, good herald, read aloud the Riot Act!"

He ceased, and dismal was the tone that softly breathed from all the
frogs in chorus, who quick had petrified with fright, unless redoubted
Gog and Magog, both with poles, high topped with airy bladders by a
string dependent, had not stormed against his lordship. Ever and anon
the bladders, loud resounding on his chaps, proclaimed their fury
against all potent law, coercive mayoralty; when he, submissive, thus
in cunning guile addressed the knights assailant:--"Gog, Magog, renowned
and famous! what, my sons, shall you assail your father, friend, and
chief confessed? Shall you, thus armed with bladders vile, attack my
title, eminence, and pomp s