Rev. Dr Scott on the Semamith of Sohtnon. 31 



To avoid these incongruities, lecourse has been had to the 

 spider, and certainly this insect can quote a host of names in its 

 favour. With a surprising uniformity, its cause has been sup- 

 ported by Levi, EHas, and Kimchi among the Jews ; by Santes, 

 Arias, Mercer, Munster, CastaHo, Junius and Tremellus among 

 Christians : in short by the English, Italian, and Geneva trans- 

 lators. 



That the spider is found in kings' palaces as well as in the 

 houses of meaner men, is unquestioned. The species of spiders 

 are numerous, and one of these has the peculiar attribute of the 

 house spider. 



This species of spider, however, is oftener in a cottage than 

 a palace, because there is less tolerance for such an insect in 

 those buildings where there is more scrubbing and sweeping. 

 In neglected forsaken apartments, containing useless or forgot- 

 ten lumber, they are most ready to take up their abode. - 



But granting that palaces were not kept so neat and clean in 

 ancient as in modern times, or that in warm climates it is more 

 difficult to free buildings even of the better sort from insects, 

 yet, we apprehend, that the spider, which is larger of size in 

 warmer climates, and multiplies faster, will neither be a welcome 

 nor a frequent guest in kings' palaces. It will oftener obtain an 

 entrance into mean houses. It is encouraged by the careless- 

 ness which prevails among the inmates, or the quietness which 

 reigns through the apartments. In this manner, at least, Plau- 

 tus, in the Aulalaria, talks of the dwelling of poor Euclio : 



" nihil est questi furibus, 



Ita inaniis sunt oppletae et araniis." 



Nay, when spiders abounded about one's house or furniture, 

 the circumstance was deemed a sign of poverty ; thus, Afranius, 

 quoted by Festus, 



" Tamque arciila tua plena est aranearum ;" 

 In these terms Catullus excuses the meanness of an entertain- 

 ment to a friend, 



" Tui Catulli plenus est sacculus aranearum ;" 

 And old Hesiod exhorts, in the 474th line of his works and days, 



" You must drive away spiders from your vessels," i. e. banish 

 poverty from your houses. 



