"But ought the virgin Athene to be blamed because she punished the weaver who, with all her skill, was only a mortal woman, for thus exposing her divine kindred ?" "Certainly not," replied Bias, and Stephanion went on eagerly: "And when the great Athene, who invented weaving and protects weavers, condescended to compete with Arachne, and was excelled by her, surely her gall must have overflowed.

Whoever is just will scarcely blame her for striking the audacious conqueror on the brow with the weaver's shuttle." "It is that very thing," replied Bias modestly, "which to a short-sighted fool like myself--may the great goddess not bear me a grudge for it!--never seemed just in her.

Even the mortal who succumbs in a fair fight ought not to be enraged against the victor.

At least, so I was taught.

But what, I ask myself, when I think of the stones which were flung at Hermon's struggling Maenads, could be less suited for imitation than two women, one of whom strikes the other ?" "The woman who in her desperation at that blow desires to hang herself, must produce a still more horrible impression," replied Stephanion.
"Probably she will be represented as Athene releases her from the noose rather than when, as a punishment for her insolence, she transforms Arachne into a spider." "That she might be permitted, in the form of an insect, to make artistic webs until the end of her life," the slave, now sufficiently well informed, added importantly.