Identifier: storiesofoldgree00firt (find matches)
Title: Stories of old Greece
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Firth, Emma M
Subjects: Children's literature -- Mythology
Publisher: Boston, Heath
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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r head. It was unfortunate in-deed that a maiden so charming in most respects shouldnot be agreeable in all ; but the foolish little Arachne o was so much given to boasting of herself and of herskill that she was at times far from agreeable. Atsuch times the little nvinphs. who stole softly near to \j i i/ watch her as her slender finders flew deftly to and fro, O i ran back to their vines and streams, while her friendsgrew weary and left her alone. One day Arachne made a foolish boast. She de-clared that she excelled even Athene herself. 0 Arachne, Arachne. how wicked ! Why. Athenetaught you all you know, cried her friends. But the vain little maiden shook her pretty head,savins;, Athene taught me not. I taught myself. */ O O * Arachnes friends were shocked. They went home \j at once, while the naughty Arachne, with a toss of herproud little head, went on spinning and spinning. By and by a shadow fell across the snowy wool, andlooking up, Arachne saw an old woman leaning on herstaff.
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ARACHNE. GG STORIES OF OLD GREECE. ;i My daughter, I heard that remark. It was foolish ;but you are young, and perchance were jesting. Youdo not mean to compare yourself with Athene ? Yes, I do, said Araclme, still spinning. Then you have greatly offended the goddess, andshould beg her pardon. I do not care. Do you suppose that Athene couldweave a mantle finer than this? And Araclme heldup a soft scarf, rich with Tyrian purple and gold. Let Athene come and try, if she thinks she can dobetter. I will match my skill with hers. As Araclme said this, the cloak fell from the oldwomans shoulders, and the stately goddess Athenestood before her. But Araclme was not abashed. Sherefused to ask pardon, and insisted upon a trial of skill. They met on the shores of the sea, while the sea-nymphs, the tritons, and Arachnes friends watchedanxiously. Never before had a mortal dared to viewith a goddess; and every one knew that, shouldAraclme fail, her punishment would be severe. Sothey watched, almost

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