Arachne and the Poets. 2 1 3 



her lap she filled had, that bred her spight 



she placed in her wings, for memorie 



of her pretended crime, though crime none were ; 



since which that I lie them in her wings doth beare. 



His breast plate first that was of substance pure 

 before his noble heart he firmely bound, 

 that mought his life from yron death assure, 

 and ward his gentle corps from cruell wound, 

 for it by arte was framed to endure 

 no lesse than that which vulcan mad e shield, 

 Achilles' life from fate of Troyan field. 



And then about his shoulders broad he threw 

 an hairie hide of some wilde beast, whom he 

 in salvage forest by adventure slew, 

 and reft the spoyle, his ornament to bee 

 which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull view 

 made all, that him so horrible did see 

 thinke him Alcides with the lyon's skin, 

 when the Ncemean conquest he did win. 



Upon his head his glittering burgamet, 



the which was wrought by wonderous device 



and curiously engravin, he did set, 



the metal was of rare and passing price ; 



Not Bilbo steele, nor brass from Corinth fet, 



Nor costly Aricalchi from strange Phcenicet, 



But such as could both Phoebus' arrowes ward, 



and th' hayling darts of heaven beating hard. 



Therein two deadly weapons fix'd he bore 

 strongly outlanced towards either side, 

 like two sharp speares, his enemies to gore 

 Like as a warlike brigandine, applyde 

 to fight, layes forth her tread full pike afore, 

 the engines which in them sad death doo-bayde ; 

 so did this flie outstretch his dreadful homes, 

 yet so as him their terror more adornes. 



Lastly, his shinie wings, as silver bright 

 painted with thousand colours, passing farre 

 all painters' skill, he did about him dight : 

 not half so manie sundrie colours arre 

 in Iris' bowe, ne heaven doth shine so bright 

 distinguished with manie a twinckling starre 

 nor Junoe's bird, in her ey-spotted traine 

 so many goodly colours doth containe." 



