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Rosie Steinbach English 11 Mr. Thoma 4 June 2012 Ovids Metamorphoses: Arachne in the Style of Alighieri O folle Aragne, s vedea io te gi mezza ragna, trista in su li stracci de lopera che mal per te si f. Pallas, attending to the Muses tongue, is received with prophecy of Goddess scorn, and thus reflects: Here of the ingrate mortals sung whom I did with mine talent adorn, and now my own divinity affronted stands, whereto a vengeful bend is born. So was Arachnes skill that with her hand, whether the shapeless wool in balls it wound or nimbly turned the spindle, she did so command to draw the Nymphs and Naiads of riverd Pectolus round; and angers she fair Pallas on her throne: Nor accepts her gift, nor humble be her sound, but airy Queen in every thread is shone. Let us, she cries, but to a tryal come, so spin apiece that one will stand alone, and, if she conquers, let her fit my doom. The Goddess then a beldames form put on,

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and thither came to where her foe didst loom: Young maid attend these hoary admonitions tward thy song, for age, tho scornd, a ripe experience bears: still may fame your labours crown for long, and mortals your superior genius own; yet Goddess dares, do not thy yield and to her meek abase, a darting vengeance from you forte tears. With passion fird, Arachne took up artful lace and strewd it front of Pallas waxing frown: If your skilful Goddess better knows this grace, fell her from Olympus thus to try me whence shes down.