HO can find a virtuous woman?

For her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband can safely trust in her
And he shall have no lack of gain.

She seeketh out the wool and flax,

And worketh willingly with her hands.

She layeth her hands to the distaff,

And her hands hold the spindle.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household;

For all her household are clothed with double garments.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates

When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them,
And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Her children arise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, even he praiseth her.

Proverbs, Chap. 31.

,(SOLOMON) שלמה

EAR thou what device

The God himself breathed in my soul, I reared
Here in these halls a mighty loom of price,

Anon before the suitors I appeared

And said, young men, my suitors, what I feared

Is come, divine Odysseus is no more;

Woo ye, but leave my widowhood revered,

Lest my long-purposed work fall void for ever more.

I for Laertes weave a funeral sheet
Against the final debt that he must pay,

And I were shamed the Achaian dames to meet
Should the long slumber find but shroudless clay
Of one who owned much lordship in his day.
So did I speak amid the suitor throng,
And so persuaded their proud hearts gave way.
Daily I weaved, and then, to work them wrong,
By night the woof unwound with torches ranged along.
Όμηρος (HOMER).

& Capper

By night the weef unwound with torches ranged along.

OTH take their stations and the piece prepare,

And order ev'ry slender thread with care;

The web enwraps, the beam the reed divides, While thro' the wid'ning space the shuttle glides Which their swift hands receive; then poised with lead. The swinging weight strikes close th' inserted thread; Each girds her flowing garments round her waist, And plies her feet and arms with dextrous haste.

Metamorphoses, Book VI. (OVID) PVELIVS OVIDIVS NASO.

"The Trial of Arachne and the Goddess Pallas."