University of Virginia Library

ARACHNE.


34

Thou that in knowledge dost excell,
Must humble be,
And think what on Arachne fell,
May fall on thee:
It was her pride did her undo,
And pride may overthrow thee too.
Let not the miser spend his strength,
And lose his health
To catch a silly Fly at length,
For such is wealth:
The carefull wretch at his last gasp
Shall finde that wealth is but a wasp.
Take heed thou do not use thy tongue
To sting the good;
For they that thus good men do wrong,
Are Spiders brood:
Nay worse; for bad tongues far surpasse
That poyson which cracks but a glasse.

35

Judges your Laws you must not make,
Like Spiders cords,
Which onely Pesants use to take
And passe by Lords:
This is indeed a powerfull Law,
Which keeps both rich and poor in awe.
But we must Spiders strive to be
In providence,
Where dangers are we must foresee,
And flye from thence;
Sea-men for want of good forecast,
Are soon surpris'd with every blast.