IDYLL XXVIII

The D ISTAFF

D ISTAFF , blithely whirling distaff, azure eyed Athena's gift
To the sex the aim and object of whose lives is house hold thrift,
Seek with me the gorgeous city raised by Neilus, where a plain
Roof of palm-green rush o'er arches Aphrodite's hallowed fane
Thither ask I Zeus to waft me, fain to see my old friend's face,
Nicias, o'er whose birth presided every passion breathing Grace;
Fain to meet his answering welcome; and anon deposit thee
In his lady's hands, thou marvel of laborious ivory
Many a manly robe ye'll fashion, much translucent maiden's gear;
Nay, should e'er the fleecy mothers twice within the selfsame year
Yield their wool in yonder pasture, Theugenis of the dainty feet
Would perform the double labour: matron's cares to her are sweet.
To an idler or a trifler I had verily been loth
To resign thee, O my distaff, for the same land bred us both:
In the land Corinthian Archias built aforetime, thou hadst birth,
In our island's core and marrow, whence have sprung the kings of earth:
To the home I now transfer thee of a man who knows full well
Every craft whereby men's bodies dire diseases may repel:
There to live in sweet Miletus. Lady of the Distaff she
Shall be named, and oft reminded of her poet friend by thee:
Men shall look on thee and murmur to each other, " Lo! how small
Was the gift, and yet how precious! Friendship's gifts are price less all. "