“If I fail,” she said, “I will gladly take the punishment, but Athena is afraid to weave with me.”
Then the old woman threw aside her cloak and said, “Athena is here.
“Come, foolish girl, you shall try your skill with hers.”
Both went quickly to work and for hours their shuttles flew swiftly in and out.
Athena, as usual, used the sky for her loom and in it she wove a picture too beautiful to describe.
If you wish to know more about it look at the western sky when the sun is setting.
Arachne’s work, though her colors were in harmony and her weaving wonderfully fine, was full of spite and selfishness.
When the work was finished Arachne lifted her eyes to Athena’s work. Instantly she knew that she had failed.
Ashamed and miserable she tried to hang herself in her web.
Athena saw her and said in pity, “No, you shall not die; live and do the work for which you are best fitted.