Once upon a time it came to pass that a woman, being weary with much running to and fro, fell asleep and dreamed a dream.
And in her dream she beheld a mighty host, more than man could number. And of that host, all were women, and spake with varying tongues.
And they bent the body, and sitting on hard benches wailed mightily, so that the air was full of the sound of lamentation, like a garden that wooeth many bees.
And the woman who dreamed, being tender of heart and disposed kindly toward the suffering ones, lifted up her voice saying:
"Why bendest thou the body, oh, daughters of despair, and why art thine eyelids red with tears?
"Yea, why rockest thou like boats that find no anchor, and like poplars which the north wind smiteth?"
And one from among the host greater than man could number made answer, saying:
"Wouldst know who we are, and why we spend our days like a weaver's shuttle that flitteth to and fro in a web of tears?