Distaff, blithely whirling distaff, azure-eyed Athena's gift

To the sex the aim and object of whose lives is household thrift,

Seek with me the gorgeous city raised by Neilus, where a plain

Roof of pale-green rush o'er-arches AphroditÈ's hallowed fane.

Thither ask I Zeus to waft me, fain to see my old friend's face,

Nicias, o'er whose birth presided every passion-breathing Grace;

Fain to meet his answering welcome; and anon deposit thee

In his lady's hands, thou marvel of laborious ivory.

Many a manly robe ye'll fashion, much translucent maiden's gear;

Nay, should e'er the fleecy mothers twice within the selfsame year

Yield their wool in yonder pasture, Theugenis of the dainty feet

Would perform the double labour: matron's cares to her are sweet.

To an idler or a trifler I had verily been loth

To resign thee, O my distaff, for the same land bred us both:

In the land Corinthian Archias built aforetime, thou hadst birth,

In our island's core and marrow, whence have sprung the kings of earth:

To the home I now transfer thee of a man who knows full well

Every craft whereby men's bodies dire diseases may repel:

There to live in sweet Miletus. Lady of the Distaff she

Shall be named, and oft reminded of her poet-friend by thee:

Men shall look on thee and murmur to each other, 'Lo! how small

Was the gift, and yet how precious! Friendship's gifts are priceless all.'