Spin something good

Meaning

Spinning in the introductory verse describes the good that can be made with upright, devout and unboastful practitioners. The image appears after warnings against alchemists who drain purses and chests, so its force is collaborative and favourable: these are people with whom something good can be produced. The English deliberately retains “spin something good” rather than converting the phrase into a technical operation. It is not the same use as the Summary’s woman working beside the distaff while tending the work. Here the object is beneficial association with reliable people, and the surrounding verse stresses how rare they are.