Enrich the growing web. But say!
What ancient tale by each was told?
What legend of an earlier day?

Pallas her well-known triumph drew;
The gods assembled in their force,
And Neptune with his trident, too,
Exulting in the fiery horse,--

Which from the rock he made to bound:
But she herself, more deeply wise,
A greater blessing from the ground
The olive brought, and gain'd the prize.

The border of this main design
With Rhodope's sad tale was set;
And all who dared the gods divine
To rival--and the fate they met.

Meanwhile Arachne wove the wool:
The web with many a picture shone.
She drew Europa with her bull,
And Leda with her snow-white swan.

Deois with her snake display'd,
And Danaee with her shower of gold;
And many a tale besides the maid,
Had fate permitted, would have told.

But the dread goddess now no more
To check her rising envy strove;
The half-completed task she tore,
And all the pictured crimes of Jove.

The shuttle thrice the air did rend,
Thrice did the heaven-directed blow
Full on Arachne's head descend,
And made her purple blood to flow.

Arachne's soul was proud and high:
She drew a cruel cord around
Her tender neck--and, driven to die,
Was from a beam suspended found.

Her death the unpitying goddess stay'd;
"Henceforth, vain fool! for such a crime
For ever shall thou hang," she said;
"A warning to the end of time."

In scorn she spoke, and over all
Her rival's face and form she smear'd
A deadly drug. The head grew small,
And each fair feature disappear'd.

And off the beauteous tresses fell;
The tender waist that was so slim,
In loathly sort was seen to swell,
Shrivell'd and shrank each comely limb.

The spider's fingers still remain
To spin for ever.--We may vie
With fellow mortals, but 'tis vain
To struggle with the gods on high.

_January, 1885._ COWPER.

APPENDIX IV., TO PAGE 318.

_Extract from "History of Christian Art." By Lord Lindsay. Vol. i. pp.
136-139._

"But perhaps the noblest testimony to the revival under the Comneni is
afforded by the designs on the Dalmatic or sacerdotal robe, commonly
styled 'Di Papa San Leone,' preserved in the sacristy of St.
Peter's--said to have been