FLAX, OR LINE. l. ( )J) 



" Oft to admire the niceness of her skill, 



The nymphs would quit their fountain, shade, or hill." 



After Minerva had accepted the challenge 

 of Arachne, the poet thus elegantly describes 

 their work : 



" Straight to their posts appointed both repair, 

 And fix their threaded looms with equal care : 

 Around the solid beam the web is tied, 

 While hollow canes the parting warp divide ; 

 Through which with nimble flight the shuttles play, 

 And for the woof prepare a ready way ; 

 The woof and warp unite, press'd by the toothy slay. 



Thus both, their mantles button'd to their breast, 

 Their skilful fingers ply with willing haste, 

 And work'd with pleasure : while they cheer the eye 

 With glowing purple of the Tyrian dye : 

 Or, justly intermixing shades with light, 

 Their colouring insensibly unite. 

 As when a shower transpierced with sunny rays 

 Its mighty arch along the heaven displays ; 

 From whence a thousand different colours rise, 

 Whose fine transition cheats the clearest eyes : 

 So like the intermingled shading seems, 

 And only differs in the last extremes. 

 Then threads of gold both artfully dispose, 

 And, as each part in just proportion rose, 

 Some antique fable in their work disclose." 



The Greeks made a linen of so fine a 

 fabric, from the flax which they cultivated 

 near Elis, (now Belvedere,) that it sold by 

 weight, at the price of gold. This is the 



