Part 2 (1/2)
”They should be proud to die under the feet of such a king,” said the queen. ”How dare they complain?”
”Not so, Great Queen,” replied the king.
He turned his horse aside and all his followers did the same.
When the great company had pa.s.sed there was the ant hill unharmed in the path.
The Queen said, ”Happy indeed, must be your people, wise king. I shall remember the lesson.
”He only is n.o.ble and great who cares for the helpless and weak.”
ARACHNE.
Arachne was a beautiful maiden and the most wonderful weaver that ever lived. Her father was famed throughout the land for his great skill in coloring.
He dyed Arachne's wools in all the colors of the rainbow. People came from miles around to see and admire her work. They all agreed that Queen Athena must have been her teacher. Arachne proudly said that she had never been taught to weave. She said that she would be glad to weave with Athena to see which had the greater skill. In vain her father told her that perhaps Athena, unseen, guided her hand.
Arachne would not listen and would thank no one for her gift, believing only in herself. One day as she was boasting of her skill an old woman came to her. She kindly advised her to accept her rare gift humbly.
”Be thankful that you are so fortunate, Arachne,” said she.
”You may give great happiness to others by your beautiful work.
”Queen Athena longs to help you.
”But I warn you. She can do no more for you until you grow unselfish and kind.”
Arachne scorned this advice and said again that nothing would please her so much as to weave with Athena.
”If I fail,” she said, ”I will gladly take the punishment, but Athena is afraid to weave with me.”
Then the old woman threw aside her cloak and said, ”Athena is here.
”Come, foolish girl, you shall try your skill with hers.”
Both went quickly to work and for hours their shuttles flew swiftly in and out.
Athena, as usual, used the sky for her loom and in it she wove a picture too beautiful to describe.
If you wish to know more about it look at the western sky when the sun is setting.
Arachne's work, though her colors were in harmony and her weaving wonderfully fine, was full of spite and selfishness.
When the work was finished Arachne lifted her eyes to Athena's work.
Instantly she knew that she had failed.