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Simon Carnell

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The Spyder

from Thomas Muffet's Theater of Insects

If you will weigh and consider
the matter and substance of a Spyder’s body,
you shall find it to be light,
pertaking much of fire and ayre,
and having but little earthy draggines
and drossy refuse.
If you behold their figure,
they have eyther a Sphaericall and heavenly,
or at leastwise an Ovall form,
next to the perfectest of all other.
Besides, theyr substance is thinne, fine,
glystering and subtile.

Although they seeme now and then
to be fatted up with plenty of meate,
that they grow big in bulke as a Wallnut,
and if the learned Cardan can be credited
they grow otherwhiles as great as a Sparrow:
yet for all that, if you cast your eye
upon them against the light,
hanging in their web,
she glittereth like unto a Chrisolite,
which is a kind of precious stone,
causing to the eyes a pleasant reflection,
and piercing them with singular delight.

The colour of a Spyder is some-what pale,
such as Ovid ascribeth to Lovers...
The skinne of a Spyder is so soft,
smooth, exquisite, pure, cleane and neate,
that it far surpasseth by many degrees
that of those who spare no cost
to preserve their beauties.
Further, it hath fingers,
for all the world such as faire virgins desire,
that is to say long, round and slender,
being also endued with the most exquisite sense
of touching that can possibly be imagined...

 

Page(s) 31-32

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