The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

14 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her
hands. She is like the merchant's ships ; she bringeth her
food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and
giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it ; with the fruit of her
hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with
strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that
her merchandise is good : her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the
distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the jjoor ; yea, she
reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of
the snow for her household : for all her household are clothed
with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry ; her
clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the
gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She
maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and deUvereth girdles unto
the merchant." (Prov. xxxi. 10-24.)
Hamilton and Wilkinson have already shown that many
of the descriptions of combats we meet in the Iliad appear to
have been derived from the battle pieces on the walls of the
Theban palaces, which the poet hiuuelf pretty plainly intimates
that he had visited. The same observation may be
applied to most of Homer's pictures of domestic life. We find
the lady of the mansion superintending the labors of her ser-
vants, and using the distaff herself. Her spindle made of
some precious material, richly ornamented, her beautiful
work-basket, or rather vase, and the wool dyed of some bright
hue to render it worthy of being touched by aristocratic fin-
gers, remind us of the appropriate present which the Egyp-
tian queen, Alcandra, made to the Spartan Helen ; for the
beauty of that frail fair one scarcely is less celebrated than her
skill in embroidery and every species of ornamental work.
After Polybus had given his presents to Menelaus, who stop-
ped at Egj^t on his return from Troy,
Alcandra, consort of liis high command,
A golden distaff gave to Helen's hand ;
And that rich vase, with living sculpture wrought,
Which, heap'd with wool, the beauteous Phylo brought;