Persistence
Jonathan >
Returning from the checking and feeding the sheep up on the common grazings, I was about to climb over the hill fence when I noticed this spider repairing its web, and returning to its central point. Spun between the wires of the fence – and across a gap where one wire was broken, the web was unusually large. And very effective – constantly catching small creatures caught on the wind blowing through the fence. The spider was feasting on midges, flies, small beetles. But the extra-large web, constantly buffeted by the wind and damaged by the insects it trapped, needed constant repair. No wonder that spiders provide the metaphors for persistence, as in the story of Robert the Bruce.
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The tensile strength of a spiders silk, which looks so thin and fragile, never ceases to amaze me
I have never heard of any connection between Robert the Bruce and spiders. Did a spider bite him? Did he try to kill a spider with his sword? Was he scared by a spider as a child and therefore became an arachnophobe?
So I was curious and clicked on the wikipedia link. It was a lot of reading. I learned a lot about Robert the Bruce. I found it fascinating! I never did come across any mention of spiders.
But somehow, the image of big strong heroic rough tough Bob Bruce freaking out doing “aerobics” after walking into a large spider web between 2 big bushes cracks me up!
J > Too much to read! If I knew how to I would have linked to ‘Legends’ – well down the page : “According to a legend, at some point while he was on the run during the winter of 1306–07, Bruce hid in a cave on Rathlin Islandoff the north coast of Ireland, where he observed a spider spinning a web, trying to make a connection from one area of the cave’s roof to another. It tried and failed twice, but began again and succeeded on the third attempt. Inspired by this, Bruce returned to inflict a series of defeats on the English, thus winning him more supporters and eventual victory. The story serves to illustrate the maxim: “if at first you don’t succeed, try try try again.” Other versions have Bruce in a small house watching the spider try to make its connection between two roof beams.”
Aha! Now that’s very different! 🙂 Thank you, Jonathon for informing me.
I am still spinning as much as possible for Spinzilla, so I will not stand corrected; I am sitting corrected.
😀
A memorable cartoon from Gary Larson involves the construction of a web across the bottom of a kiddies slide – “If this comes off we’re going to eat like kings!”
I didn’t know about the spider connection in the story of Robert the Bruce. Thanks for that! I’ve been watching the spiders here this week too.
Nothing like walking face first into such a well constructed web – simultaneously trying to make certain that architect was not in my hair and feeling remorse at destroying the result of his/her hard labor. There is a FB meme on the fastest way to get a full aerobic workout — walk into a big web! 😉 Thx for the link to Robert the Bruce — so much to read & never was mentioned in school… more to enjoy now.
Persistence and patience and tenacity
Persistence is right! Their lives depend on it.
Amazing architecture from such small creatures…and house repair as well!!
On of the pleasures of the season is finding spiders’ nests like this – a pleasure presumably completely lost on the arachnophobes …
I don’t much like spiders in my personal space, but in the wild they’re remarkable!