Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/93

Whether ye turn around the spacious wheel,
Or, patient-sitting, that revolve which forms
A narrower circle. On the brittle work 55
Point your quick eye, and let the hand assist
To guide and stretch the gently-lessening thread;
Even, unknotted, twine will praise your skill.
A diff'rent spinning every different web
Asks from your glowing fingers; some require 60
The more compact and some the looser wreath;
The last for softness, to delight the touch
Of chamber'd delicacy: scarce the cirque
Need turn around, or twine the length'ning flake.
There are, to speed their labour, who prefer 65
Wheels double spol'd, which yield to either hand
A sev'ral line; and many yet adhere
To th' ancient distaff, at the bosom fix'd,
Casting the whirling spindle as they walk:
At home, or in the sheepfold, or the mart, 70
Alike the work proceeds. This method still
Norvicum favours, and th' Icenian towns:
It yields their airy stuffs an apter thread.
This was of old, in no inglorious days,
The mode of spinning when th' Egyptian prince 75
A golden distaff gave that beauteous nymph,
Too-beauteous Helen! no uncourtly gift
Then, when each gay diversion of the fair
Led to ingenious use. But patient art,
That on experience works, from hour to hour, 80
Sagacious, has a spiral engine form'd,
Which on an hundred spoles, an hundred threads,
With one huge wheel, by lapse of water, twines,
Few hands requiring, easy-tended work,
That copiously supplies the greedy loom. 85
Nor hence, ye Nymphs! let anger cloud your brows;
The more is wrought the more is still requir'd: