Thither, would Jove kind breezes send,
I steer my course to meet my friend,
Nicias, the Graces' honor'd child,
Adorn'd with sweet persuasion mild,
That I his kindness may requite—
May be delighted, and delight.
Thee, ivory distaff, I provide,
A present for his blooming bride;
With her thou wilt sweet toil partake
And aid her various vests to make.
For Theugenis the shepherds shear
The sheep's soft fleeces twice a year,
So dearly industry she loves
And all that wisdom points, approves,
I ne'er design'd to bear thee hence
To the dull house of Indolence;
For, in that city thou wert framed
Which Archias built, Corinthian named,—
Fair Syracuse, Sicilia's pride,
Where troops of famous men abide.
Dwell thou with him whose art can cure
Each dire disease that men endure;
Thee to Miletus now I give,
Where pleasure-crown'd Ionians live;
That Theugenis by thee may gain
Fair honor with the female train;
And thou renew within her breast
Remembrance of her muse-charm'd guest.
Admiring thee, each maid will call
The favor great, the present small;
For love the smallest gift commends,
All things are valued by our friends.
Idyll, xxviii.
The Roman and Grecian ladies displayed not less taste in the decoration of their various spinning implements, than those of modern times in the ornaments of their work-table. The calathus or qualus was the basket in which the wool was kept for the fair spinsters. It was usually made of wicker-work. Thus Catullus in his description of the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis, says:
The softest fleeces, white as driven snow,
Beside their feet in osier baskets glow.
Poema, lxiv.
