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Poems, and phancies

written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected

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Of a Spider's Webb.

The Spider's Huswifry no VVebs doth Spin
To make her Cloath, but Ropes to hang Flies in;
Her Bowels are the Shop where Flax is found,
Her Body is the VVheel that goeth round;
Her Distaff, where she sticks the Thread, 's a VVall,
Her Feet the Fingers are she pulls withall;
She's Busie at all times, not Idle lies,
An House she Builds with Nets to catch the Flies,
Though it be not so strong as Brick and Stone,
Yet strong enough to bear light Bodies on;
VVithin this House the Female Spider lies,
The whilst the Male doth hunt abroad for Flies,
Ne're leaving till he Flies gets in, which are
Intangled soon within his subtile Snare;
Like treacherous Hosts, which do much welcome make
Their Guests, yet watch how they their Lives may take.