and bearest a great affection to the aduersities of the miserable as a louing mother thou takest no rest neyther arte thou idle at any time in giuinge thy benefites and succoringe all men aswell on lande as sea thou arte she that puttest away all stormes and daungers from mans life by thy right hande whereby likewise thou restraynest the fatall dispositions appeasest the great tempestes of fortunes and kéepest backe the course of the starres the Gods supernall doth honour thée the Gods infernall hath thée in reuerence thou enuironest al the worlde thou giuest light to the Sunne thou gouernest the world thou treadest downe the power of Hell By thy meane the times returne the Planets reioyse the Elementes serue at thy coÌ„mauÌ„dement the windes doo blowe the cloudes encrease the séedes prosper and the fruictes preuayle the birdes of the ayre the beastes of the hill the Serpentes of the denne and the fishes of the sea doo tremble at thy maiestie but my spirite is not able to giue thée sufficient prayse my patrimonie is vnable to satisfie thy sacrifice my voyce hath no power to vtter that which I thinke no if I had a thousande mouthes and so many tongues How be it as a good religious personne and according to my estate I wil alwaies kéepe thée in remembraunce and close thee within my brest When I had ended mine orayson I wente to embrase the great Prieste Mithra my spirituall Father and to demaunde his pardon considering I was vnable to recompence the good whiche he had done me After great gréetinges thankes I departed from him to visitte my parents fréendes And within a while after by the exhortatioÌ„ of the Goddesse I made vp my packquette and toke shippyng towardes y e Citie of Rome where with a prosperous winde I arriued about the twelfe day of December And the greatest desire which I had there was daily to make my praiers to y â— soueraigne Goddesse Isis who by reason of the place where her temple was builded was called CaÌ„pensis coÌ„tinually adored of the people of Rome Her minister woorshipper was I howbeit I was a straunger to her Church vnknowen to her religion there When the yeare was ended that the Goddesse warned me again to receaue this newe order consecration I merueled greatly what it should signifie what should happen considering that I was a sacred person already But it fortuned y t while I partly reasoned with my selfe and partely examined y e thing with the Priestes Bishops there came a newe meruelous thought to my minde that is to say I was onely religious to y e goddesse Isis but not sacred to the religion of great Osiris the soueraigne Father of all the Goddes betwéene whome although there was a religious vnitie and concorde yet there was a great difference of order and ceremonie And because it was necessary that I shoulde likewise be a minister vnto Osiris there was no longe delay For in the night after appered vnto me one of that order couered with linnen robes holding in his haÌ„des speares wrapped in yuâ—e and other thinges not conuenient to declare which he lefte in my chamber and sittinge in my seate 〈◊〉 to me suche thinges as were necessary for the sumptuons bankette of mine entry And to the ende I might knowe him againe he showed me how the ankle of his left foote was somewhat maymed whiche caused him a litle to halte After that I did manifestly knowe the will of the God Osiris when Mattins was ended I wente from one to an other to finde him out whiche had the haltinge marke of his foote accordinge as I learned by my vision at length I founde it true for I perceaued one of the company of the Priestes who had not onely the token of his foote but the stature and habite of his body resemblyng in euery point as he appeared in the night he was called Asinius Marcellus a name not muche disagreynge from my transformation by and by I weÌ„nte to him whiche knew well inough all the matter as beynge monished by like precept in the nighte for the night before as he dressed the flowres and garlandes about the head of y t God Osiris he vnderstoode by the mouth of his Image which tolde the predestinations of all men how he had sent a poore man of Madaura to whom he should minister his sacramentes to the ende y â— he should receaue a rewarde by diuine prouidence and the other glory for his vertuous studies when I sawe my selfe thus deputed vnto religion my desire was stopped by reason of pouertie for I had spente a great parte of my goodes in trauell and peregrination but most of all in the citie of Rome whereby my lowe estate withdrewe me a great while In the ende being oftentimes stirred forwarde not without great trouble of minde I was coÌ„streined to sel my roabe for a litle money howbeit sufficient for all my affaires Then the Prieste spake vnto me saiyng How is it that for a little pleasure thou art not aferde to sell thy vestimentes and entring into so great ceremonies dost feare to fall into pouertie â–ª prepare thy selfe and abstaine from all animall meates as beastes and fishe In the meane season I did frequent the sacrifices of Serapis whiche were done in y â— night which thing gaue me great comfort to my peregrination and ministred vnto me more plentifull liuing coÌ„sidering I gained some money in hauÌ„ting to the court by reason of my lattin tongue Immediatly after I was eftsones called and admonished by the god Osiris to receiue a thirde order of ReligioÌ„ Then I was greatly astonied because I coulde not tell what this newe vision signified or what the intent of the Celestiall Goddes was doubting least the former Priestes had giuen me ill councell and fearinge that they had not faithfully enstructed me beinge in this maner as it were incensed The God Osiris appeared to me the night folowing and geuing me admonition saiynge There is no occasion why thou shouldest be aferd with so often order of Religion as though there were somwhat omitted but that thou shouldest rather reioyse since as it hath pleased y e Goddes to cal thée thrée times when as there was neuer yet any persone that atchieued to the order but once Wherfore thou maist thinke thy selfe most happy for so great benefites And knowe thou that the Religion which thou must nowe receiue is right necessary if thou meane to perseuer in the woorshipping of the Goddesse and to make solempnitie on the festiual day with thy blessed habite which thing shalbe a glory and renoume to thée After this sorte the diuine maiestie perswaded me in my sléepe whereupoÌ„ by and by I went towardes the Priest and declared all that which I had séene then I fasted the space of tenne daies according to the custome and of mine own proper wil I abstained lenger then I was coÌ„maunded And verely I did nothing repent of the
my howe very stronge and now feare because it is bended so harde least the stringe should breake but that thou maist the better please me vndresse thy heare and come and embrase me louingly wherewithall she made no longe delaye but set aside all the meate and wine and then she vnapparelled her selfe and vnatired her heare presentinge her amiable bodie vnto me in manner of fayre Venus when she goeth vnder the waues of the sea Now ê™ she is come the howre of iustinge now is come the time of warre wherefore showe thy selfe like vnto a man for I will not retire I will not flie the fielde sée then thou be valiant sée thou be couragious since there is no time appointed when our skirmishe shal cease In saying these woordes she came to me to bedde and embrased me swéetely and so we passed all the night in pastime and pleasure and neuer slept till it was day but we would eftsoones refreshe our werines and prouoke our pleasure and renewe our Venerie by drinkinge of wine In whiche sorte we pleasauntly passed away many other nightes followinge ¶ How Apuleius supped with Birrhena and what a straunge tale Bellephoron tolde at the table Cap. 11. IT fortuned on a daie that Birrhena desired me earnestly to suppe with her and she woulde in no wise take any excusation Whereupon I went vnto Fotis to aske counsell of her as of some diuine who although she was vnwilling y â— I should departe one foote from her companie yet at length she gaue me licence to be absent for a while saying beware that you â—acry not longe at supper there for there is a rabblement of commoÌ„ barrators and disturbers of the publique peace that roueth about in the streates and murdreth al such as they may take neither can lawe nor iustice redresse them in any case And they will the sooner sette vpon you by reason of your comelines and audacitie in that you are not affeard at any time to walke in y e stréetes Then I answeared and saide haue no care of me Fotis for I estéeme the pleasure whiche I haue with thée aboue the deintie meates that I eate abroade therefore I will returne againe quickely Neuerthelesse I minde not to come without companie for I haue here my swoorde whereby I hope to defende my selfe And so in this sorte I went to supper and beholde I founde at Birrhenas house a great companie of straungers and of the chiefe and principall of the Citie the beddes made of Citorne and Yuorie were richly adornde and spredde with clothe of Golde the cuppes were garnished pretiously and there was diuers other thinges of sondrie fashion but of like estimation and price here stoode a glasse gorgeously wrought there stoode an other of Cristall finely painted there stoode a cuppe of glitteringe Siluer and here stoode a nother of shinyng Golde and here was an other of Ambre artificially carued and made with pretious stones Finally there was all thinges that might be desired the Seruiters waited orderly at the table in riche apparell the pages arrayed in silke robes did fill great gemmes pearles made in forme of cuppes with excellent wine then one brought in candelles and torches and when we weare sette downe and placed in order we began to talke to laugh and be merie And Birrhena spake vnto me and saide I pray you Cosin how like you our countrey Verely I thinke there is no other Citie which hath the like Temples Baynes and other commodities as we haue here Further we haue aboundance of household-stuffe we haue pleasure we haue ease and when the Romaine marchantes doo arriue in this Citie they are gentely and quietly entertained and all that dwell within this prouince when they purpose to solace and repose them selues doo come to this Citie Whereunto I answeared Verely ê™ I you tell truthe for I can finde no place in all the worlde whiche I like better then this but I greatly feare the blinde and incuitable trenches of Witchcrafte for they say that the dead bodies ar digged out of their graues the bones of theÌ„ that are burned be stolen away the toes fingers of such as are slaine be cut of to afflicte and torment such as liâ—e And the olde Witches assone as they heare of the death of any person doo foorthwith goe vncouer the hearse spoile the corpse to worke their enchauntmentes Then an other sittinge at the table spake and saide in faith you say true neither yet doo they spare or fauour the liuinge For I know one not farre hense that was cruelly handled by them who being not contented with cuttinge of his nose did likewise cut of his eares whereat all the companie laughed hartely and looked vpon one that satte at y e boordes ende who being amased at their gaâ—inge and somewhat angry withal would haue rysen from the table had not Birrhena spake vnto him saide I pray the fréende Telepheron sitte still and accordinge to thy accustomed curtesie declare vnto vs the losse of thy nose and eares to the ende that my cosin Lucius may be delighted with the pleasauntnes of the tale To whome he answeared a dame you in the office of your bountie shall preuaile herein but the insolencie of some is not to be supported This he spake very angerly but Birrhena was earnest vpon him assured him that he should haue no wronge at no mans hande whereby he was enforced to declare the same And so lappinge vp the ende of the table cloth and carpette together he leaned with his elbow thereon and helde out the thrée forefingers of his right hande in manner of an Oratour and saide When I was a yonge man I wente vnto a certayne Citie called Milet to sée the games and triuÌ„phes there called Olympia and beinge desirous to come into this famous prouince after that I had traueled ouer all Thessalie I fortuned in an euell houre to come to the Citie Larissa where while I went vp and downe to â—â—ewe the stréetes to séeke some reliefe for my poore estate for I had spent al my money I espied a talle old man standing vpon a stone in the middest of the markette place cryinge with a loude voice and sayinge that if any maÌ„ would watche a dead corpse that night he should be resonably rewarded for his paines which when I harde I said to one that passed by what is here to doo doo dead men vse to runne away in this countrie Then answeared he holde your peace for you are but a babe and a straunger here and not without cause you are ignorant how you are in Thessalie where the women Witches doo bite of by morselles the flâ—she of the faces of dead men and thereby woorke their Sorceries and enchauntmentes Then ê™ I in good fellowshippe tell me the order of this custodie and how it is Marry ê™ he first you must watche all the night with your eies bent continuallie vpon the corpse neuer lookinge of
showe her highe magnificencie and diuine power in earth to suche as earst did honour and woorshippe her was now conuersant emongst mortall men or els that the earth not the seas by a newe concurse and influence of the celestiall Planetes had budded and yelded foorth a newe Venus endewed with y â— flower of virginitie So dayly more and more encreased this opinion and now is her fliyng fame dispersed into the next Yslelonde and welnie into euery parte and prouince of the whole worlde Whereupon innumerable strauÌ„gers resorted from farre countreis aduenturinge them selues by longe iourneis on lande and by great perilles on water to beholde this glorious Virgin By occasion wherof suche a contempt grewe towardes the Goddesse Venus that no person trauelled vnto the towne Paphos nor to the ysle Gindos no nor to Cithera to woorshippe her Her ornamentes weare throwen out her TeÌ„ples defaced her pillowes and quishions torne her ceremonies neglected her Images and statues vncrowned her bare aulters vnswept and foule with the ashes of old burned sacrafice For why euery person honored worshipped this maiden in stéede of Venus And in the morninge at her first comminge abroade offered vnto her oblations prouided banquettes called her by the name of Venus whiche was not Venus in déede and in her honour presented flowers and garlaÌ„des in most reuerent fashion This sodeine chaunge and alteration of celestiall honour did greatly inflame kindle the minde of very Venus who vnable to temper her selfe from indignation shakinge her head in raginge sorte reasoned with her selfe in this manner Beholde the originall parent of all these elementes beholde the lady Venus renoumed thoroughout all the worlde with whome a mortall mayden is ioyned now partaker of honour my name registred in the Citie of heauen is prophaned and made vile by terrene absurdities if I shal suffer any mortall creature to present my Maiestie in earth or that any shall beare about a false surmised shape of my person then in vaine did Paris that sheaparde in whose iust iudgement and coÌ„fidence the great Iupiter had affiance preferre me aboue the residew of the Goddesses for the excellencie of my beautie but she what so euer she be that hath vsurped mine honour shall shortly repent her of her vnlawfull estate And by and by she called her winged sonne Cupide rashe inough and hardie who by his euil manners contemninge all publique iustice and lawe armed with fire arrowes runninge vp and downe in the nightes from house to house and corruptinge the lawfull marriages of euery person doth nothinge but that whiche is euill who although that he weare of his owne proper nature sufficient prone to woorke mischiefe yet she egged him forwarde with woordes and brought him to the Citie and shewed him Psyches for so the mayden was called and hauyng tolde the cause of her anger not without great rage I pray thée ê™ she my déere childe by motherly bonde of loue by the swéete woundes of thy percinge dartes by the pleasaunt heate of thy fire reuenge the iniurie which is done to thy mother by the false and disobedient beautie of a mortall mayden and I pray thée without delay y â— she may fall in loue with the moste miserablest creature liuinge the most poore the most crooked and the most vile that there may be none founde in all the worlde of like wretchednes When she had spoken these woordes she embrased and kissed her sonne toke her voiage towardes the sea When she was come to the sea she began to call the Goddes Goddesses who were obedient at her voyce For incontinent came y â— daughters of Nereus singing with tunes melodiously Portunus with his bristled rough bearde Salatia with her bosome ful of fish Palemon the driuer of the Dolphin the trumpetters of Triton leapinge hither and thither blowinge with heauenly noies Such was the coÌ„pany which followed Venus marchinge towardes the Occean sea In the meane season Psyches with al her beautie receaued no fruicte of her honour She was wondred at of al â–ª she was praised of al but she perceaued y â— no King nor Prince nor any of the inferiour sorte did repayre to woo her Euery one merueled at her diuine beautie as it were at some Image well painted sette out Her other twoo sisters which were nothinge so greatly exalted by the people were royally married to twoo Kinges but the virgin Psyches sittinge at home alone lamented her solitary life beinge disquieted both in minde and bodie although she pleased al the world yet hated she in her selfe her owne beautie Wherupon the miserable father of this vnfortunate daughter suspectyng that the Goddes powers of heauen did enuie her estate wente vnto the towne called Milet to receaue the oracle of Apollo where he made his prayers and offered sacrifice and desired a husband for his daughter but Apollo though he were a Grecian and of the countrie of Ionia because of the foundation of Milet yet he gaue answeare in Latine verse the sense whereof was this Let Psyches corps be cladd in mourninge weede And sette on rocke of yonder hill aloft Her husbande is no wight of humaine seede But Serpent dyre and fierce as may be thought Who flies with winges aboue in starry skies And doth subdew eche thinge with firy flight The Goddes them selues and powers that seeme so wise With mighty Ioue be subiect to his might The riuers blacke and deadly floodes of paine And darkenes eke as thrall to him remaine The Kyng somtimes happy when he harde the Prophecie of Apollo returned home sadde sorowfull and declared to his wife the miserable and vnhappy fate of his daughter then they began to lament and wéepe and passed ouer many daies in great sorrow but now the time approched of Psyches marriage preparation was made blacke torches were lighted the pleasaunt songes were turned into pitifull cries the melody of Hymeneus was ended with deadly howlinge the maiden that should be married did wipe her eies with her veile all the family and people of the Citie wéeped likewise and with great lamentation was ordained a remisse time for that day but necessitie compelled that Psyches should be brought to her appointed place accordinge to the diuine commaundement And when the solemnitie was ended they went to bringe this sorowfull spouse not to her marriage but to her finall ende and buriall And while the father and mother of Psyches did goe forwarde wepinge and criynge to doo this enterprise Psyches spake vnto them in this sorte why torment you your vnhappy age with continuall dolor why trouble you your spirites which are more rather mine then yours why soyle ye your faces with teares whiche I ought to adoure and woorshippe why teare you my eies in yours why pull you your hoare heares why knocke you your breastes for me now you sée the rewarde of my excellent beautie now now you perceaue but too late the plague of enuie When the
cruell visions that euen yet I thinke my selfe sprinkled wette with humaine bloud whereunto Socrates laughing made answeare and saide Nay thou arte not wette with the bloud of men but thou art embrued with stinkinge pisse and verely I my selfe dreamed this night that my throate was cutte and that I felt the paine of the wounde and that my harte was pulled out of my bellie and the remembrance thereof makes me nowe to feare for my knées doo tremble that I can vneth goe any further therefore I would faine eate somewhat to strengthen and reuiue my spirites then said I beholde here is thy breakefast and therwithall I opened my skrippe that hanged vpoÌ„ my shoulder and gaue him bread chéese and we satte downe vnder a great plane tróe and I eate parte with him And while I behelde him eatinge gréedely I perceaued that he waxed meigre and pale that his liuely colour vaded away in so much that beinge in great feare and remembringe those terrible furies of whome I lately dreamed the firste morsell of bread that I put in my mouth whiche was but very small did so sticke in my iawes that I could nether swallowe it downe nor yet yelde it vp and moreouer the small time of our beinge together encreased my feare and what is he that seinge his compaignion die in the high waie before his face will not greatly lameÌ„t and be sorie but when that Socrates had eaten sufficiently he wared very thirstie for in déede he had welnie deuoured all a whole chéese and beholde euill fortune there was behinde the plane trée a pleasant runninge water as cleere as Criâ—tall and I said vnto him come hither Socrates to this water and drinke thy fil And then he rose and came to the riuer and knéeled downe vpon the side of the banke to drinke but he had skase touched y â— water with his lippes wheÌ„ as behold the wouÌ„de of his throate opened wide and the sponge sodenly fell into the water and after issued out a litle remnant of bloud and his bodie beinge then without life had fallen into the riuer had not I caught him by the legge and so pulled him vp And after that I had lamented a good space the death of my wretched compaignioÌ„ I buried him in the sandes there by the riuer Which done in great feare I rode through many outwaies and deserte places and as culpable of the death of Socrates I forsoke my countrey my wife and my children and came to Aetolia where I maried an other wife This tale tolde Aristomenus and his fellowe whiche before obstinately would giue no credite vnto hi begaÌ„ to say Verely there was neuer so foolish a tale nor a more absurde lie tolde then this then he spake vnto me saiyng Ho sir what you are I know not but your habite and countenaÌ„ce declareth that you should be some honest gentleman doo you beléeue his tale yea verely ê™ I why not for what so euer the fates hath apointed to men that I beléeue shall happen For many thingès chaunce vnto me and vnto you and to diuers others which beinge declared vnto the ignorant be accompted as lies But verely I giue credite vnto his tale and render entier thankes vnto him in that by the pleasant relatioÌ„ thereof we haue quickly passed and shortned our iourney and I thinke that my horse also was delighted with the same and hath brought me to the gate of this Citie without any paine at all Thus ended both our talke and iourney for they twoo turned on the lefte hande to the next villages and I rode into the Citie ¶ How Apuleius came to a Citie called Hipate and was lodged in one Milâ—s house and brought him letters from Demea of Corinthe Cap. 6. AFter that those twoo compaignioÌ„s were departed I entred into the Citie where I espied an old woman of whome I enquired whether that Citie was called Hypata or no who answeared yeas Then I demaunded whether she knewe one Milo an Alderman of the Citie whereat she laughed and said verely it is not without cause that Milo is called an elder man and accompted as chiefe of those whiche dwel without the walles of the Citie To whome I saide againe I pray thée good mother doo not mocke but tell me what manner of man he is and where he dwelleth Marry ê™ she doo not you sée those baye windowes whiche on the one side abutte to the gate of the Citie and on the other side to the next lane there Milo dwelleth very riche both in money substance but by reason of his great Auarice and insatiable couetousnes he is euill spoken of he is a man that liueth all by Vsurie and lendinge his money vpon pledges Moreouer he dwelleth in a small house and is euer countinge his money and hath a wife that is a compaignioÌ„ of his extreme miserie neither kepeth he any more in his house then one onely maide who goeth appareled like vnto a begger which when I heard I laughed with my self thought in faith my fréende Demeas hath serued me well which hath sent me being a straunger vnto such a man in whose house I shall not be afearde either of smooke or of the sent of meate therewithall I rode to the doore whiche was fast barred and knocked aloude theÌ„n there came foorth a maide whiche saide Ho Sira that knockes so faste in what kinde of sorte will you borrow money know you not that we vse to take no gage vnlesse it be either plate or Iuelles To whome I answeared I pray thée maide speake more geÌ„tle tel me whether thy maister be within or no. Yes ê™ she that he is why doo you aske Marry said I I am come from Corinthe and haue brought him letters froÌ„ Demeas his fréende Then saide the maide I pray you tarry here till I tell him so and therewithall she closed faste the doores and went in and after a while she returned againe said my master desireth you to alight and come in and so I did whereas I found him sitting vpon a litle bedde goinge to supper and his wife satte at his féete but there was no meate vpon the table so by apointment of the maide I came to him and saluted him deliuered the letters whiche I brought from Demeas whiche when he had redde he said verely I thanke my fréende Demeas much in that he hath sent vnto me so woorthie a geâ—t as you are And therewithal he commaunded his wife to sitte away and bidde me sitte in her place whiche when I refused by reason of courtesie he pulled me by the garment and willed me to sitte downe for we haue ê™ he no other stoole here nor no other great store of household stuffe for feare of robbinge Then I accordinge to his commaundement sat downe and he fell in further communication with me and saide Verely I doo coniecte by the comely feature of your
nor mouinge aside For these Witches doo turne them selues into sundry kinde of beastes wherby they deceaue the eies of all men sometimes they are transformed into birdes sometimes into dogges and myce somtimes into flies moreouer they wil charme the keapers of the corpse a sleape neither caÌ„ it be declared what meanes and shiftes these wicked women doo vse to bring their purpose to passe and the rewarde for such daungerous watchinge is no more then fower or fire shillinges but herken further which I had welny forgotten if the keper of the dead bodie doo not render on the morninge following the corps whole sounde as he receaued y â— same he shalbe punished in this sorte That is if the corpse be diminished or spoyled in any parte of his face handes or toes the same shalbe diminished and spoyled in the keper Whiche when I harde I toke a good harte and went vnto the crier and bidde him ceasse for I would take the matter in hande and so I demaunded what I should haue Marry ê™ he a thousand pence but beware I say yonge man that you doo well defende the dead corps from the wicked Witches for he was the sonne of one of the chiefest of the Citie Tuâ—he said I you speake you can not tell what beholde I am a man made all of yron and haue neuer desire to sleape and am more quicke of sight then Lynx or Argus I had skarse spoken these woordes when he toke me by the hande and brought me to a certaine house the gate whereof was closed faste so that I went thorough the wicket then he brought me into a chamber somewhat darke and showed me a matron clothed in mourninge vesture and wepinge in lamentable wise And he spake vnto her and saide Beholde here is one that will enterprise to watche the corpse of your husbande this night whiche when she harde she turned her bloubered face couered with her heare vnto me saiyng I pray you yonge maÌ„ take good héede and sée well to your office haue no care ê™ I so that you will giue me any thinge aboue that which is dewe to be giuen wherewith she was contented And then she rose and brought me into a chamber whereas the corpse lay couered with white shéetes and she called seuen witnesses before whome she showed the dead bodie and euery parte and parcell thereof and with wéepinge eies desired them all to testifie the matter whiche done she saide these woordes of course as followe Beholde his nose is whole his eies salue his eares without scarre his lippes vntoucht his chinne sounde All whiche was written and noted in tables subscribed with the haÌ„des of the witnesses to confirme the same which done I said vnto the matron Madame I pray you that I may haue all thinges here necessarie what is that ê™ she marry saide I a great lampe replenished with oyle pottes of wine and water to delaye the same and some other drinke and deintie dishe that was lefte at supper then she shaked her head and saide Away foole as thou arte thinkest thou to playe the glutton here and to looke for deintie meates where so longe time hath not bene séene any smoke at all comest thou hither to eate where we should wéepe and lament and there withall she turned backe and commaunded her mayden Mirrhena to deliuer me a lampe with oyle which when she had done they closed the chamber doore and departed Nowe when I was alone I rubbed mine eies and armed my selfe to kéepe the corpse and to the intent I would not sleape I beganne to singe and so I passed the time till it was midnight when as beholde there crepte in a Weasell into the chamber and she came against me put me in very great feare in so muche that I marueled greatly of the audacitie of so little a beaste To whome I saide gette thée hence thou whore and hie thée to thy fellowes least thou féele my fingers why wilt not thou goe Then incontinently she ranne away and when she was gonne I fell on the grounde so faste a sléepe that Apollo him selfe could not discerne whether of vs twoo was the dead corpse for I lay prostrate as one without lyfe and néeded a keper likewise At length the cockes beganne to crowe declaring that it was daye wherewithall I waked and beynge greatly affeard ran vnto the dead bodie with the laÌ„pe in my hande and I viewed him rouÌ„de about And immediatly came in the Matron wéepinge with her witnesses ranne vnto the corpse eftsones kissinge him turned his body and found no parte diminished Then she commaunded one Philodespotus her stewarde to pay me my wages foorthwith which wheÌ„ he had done he saide we thanke you gentle yonge man for your paines and verely for your diligence herein we will accompte you as one of the familie Whereunto I beinge ioyeous of my vnhoped gaine and ratlinge my money in my hande did answeare I pray you madame estéeme me as one of your seruitours and if you néede my seruice at any time I am at your commauÌ„dement I had not fully declared these woordes when as beholde all the seruauntes of the house were assembled with weapoÌ„s to driue me away one buffeted me about the face an other about the shoulders some stroke me in the sides some kicked me and some tare my garmentes and so I was handled emongest them and driuen from the house as the proude yonge man Adonis who was torne by a Bore And when I was come into the next streate I mused with my selfe and remembred mine vnwise and vnaduised woordes which I had spoken whereby I coÌ„sidered that I had deserued much more punishmeÌ„t and that I was woorthely beaten for my follie And by and by the corpse came foorth whiche because it was the bodie of one of the chiefe of the Citie was carried in funerall pompe rounde aboute the markette place accordinge to the rite of the countrie there And foorthwith stepped out an olde man weping and lamentinge and ranne vnto the biere and embrased it and with déepe sighes sobbes cried out in this sorte O maisters I pray you by the faith whiche you professe and by the dutie whiche you owe vnto the weale publique take pitie and mercie vpon this dead corps who is miserablie murdred and doo vengeaunce on this wicked and cursed woman his wife whiche hath committed this facte For it is she and no other that hath poysoned her husbande my sisters sonne to the intent to maintaine her whoredome and to get his heritage In this sorte the olde man complained before the face of all the people Then they astonied at these sayinges and because the thing séemed to be true cried out burne her burne her and thei sought for stones to throwe at her and willed the boies in the streate to doo the same but she wepinge in lamentable wise did sweare by all the goddes that she was not culpable of this crime No ê™ the olde man
your selues vppon vs that doo you no harme what thinke you to gaine by vs you dwell not in caues or dennes you are no people barborous that you should delight in effusion of humaine bloudde At these woordes the tempest of stones did cease the storme of the dogges vanished away Then one standinge on the toppe of a great Cipresse trée spake vnto vs saying Thinke you not maisters that we doo this to the intent to rifle or take away any of your goodes but for the saluegarde of our selues and family now a Goddes name you may departe away So we weÌ„t forwarde some wounded with stones some bitten with dogges but generally there was none whiche escaped frée ¶ How the Shepeherdes determined to abide in a certaine woodde to cure their woundes Cap. 34. WHen we had gonne a good part of our way we came to a certayne woodde enuironed with great trées compassed about with pleasaunt medowes wheras the shéepeherdes apointed to continew a certaine space to cure their woundes and sores then they satte downe on the grounde to refresh their werie mindes and afterwardes they sought for medicines to heale their bodies some washed away their bloud with the water of the runninge riuer some stopped their woundes with sponges and cloutes in this maÌ„ner euery one prouided for his owne safety In the meane season we perceaued an old man who séemed to be a shéepeherde by reason of the goates and shéepe that fedde rouÌ„d about him Then one of our coÌ„pany demauÌ„ded whether he had any milke butter or chéese to sell To whom he made answeare shaking his head saying Doo you looke for any meat or drinke or any other refection here know you not in what place you be therwithal he toke his shéepe draue theÌ„ away as fast as he might possible This answere made our shéepeherdes greatly to feare that they thought of nothinge els butto enquire what countrey they weare in Howbeit they sawe no maner of persone of whome they might demaunde At length as they weare thus in doubte they â—erceiued an other olde man with a staffe in his hand very werie with trauell who approching nighe to our companie began to wéepe and complaine saiyng Alas maisters I praie you succour me miserable caitife and restore my neiphewe to me againe that by following a sparrowe that flewe before him is fallen into a ditche hereby and verely I thinke he is in daunger of death As for me I am not able to helpe him out by reason of my olde age but you that are so valiaÌ„t and lustie may easelie helpe me herein and deliuer me my boye my heire and guide of my life These woordes made vs all to pitie him And then the yongest and stoutest of our companie who alone escaped best the late skyrmishe of dogges and stones rose vp demauÌ„ding in what ditche the boie was fallen Mary ê™ he yonder and pointinge with his finger brought him to a great thicket of busshes and thorne where they both entred in In the meane season after y â— we had well refreshed our selues and cured our woundes we tooke vp our packes purposing to depart awaie And because we would not goe awaie without the yonge man our felowe The shepehardes whistled and called for him but wheÌ„ he gaue no answere they sent one of their companie to séeke him out who after a while returned againe with a pale face and sorowfull newes saiyng that he sawe a terrible Draggon eating and deuouring their compaignioÌ„ and as for the olde man he coulde sée him in no place When they hard this remeÌ„bring likewise the woordes of the first olde man that shaketh his head and draue away his sheepe they ranne away beatinge vs before them to flie from this desert and pestilent countrie ¶ How a woman killed her selfe and her childe because her husbande haunted harlottes Cap. 35. AFter that we had passed a great part of our iourney we came to a certaine village where we lay all night but herken and I will tell you a great mischiefe that happened there You shal vnderstande y â— there was a seruaunt to whome his maister had committed the whole gouermeÌ„t of his house and was maister of the lodginge where we lay this seruaunt had married a mayden of the same house how be it he was greatly in loue with a harlotte of the towne and accustomed to resorte vnto her wherewith his wife was so highly displeased and became so ielous that she gathered together all her husbandes substaÌ„ce with his tailes and bookes of accompte threwe them into a light fire she was not contented with this but she toke a corde bounde her childe which she had by her husband about her middle caste her selfe hedlonge into a déepe pitte The maister takinge in euill parte the death of these twaine toke his seruaunt whiche was the cause of this murder by his luxury and first after that he had put of all his apparell he annointed his body with hony and then bounde him sure to a figge trée where in a rotten stocke a great number of Pismares had builded their nestes the Pismares after they had felte the swéetnes of the hony came vpon his bodie and by litle and litle in continuance of time deuoured all his fleshe in such sorte that there remained on the trée nothinge els saue his bace bones this was declared vnto vs by the inhabitantes of the village there who greatly sorrowed for the death of this seruant then we auoidinge likewise from this dreadfull lodginge incontinently departed away ¶ Howe Apuleius was cheapened by diuers persons and how they loked in his mouth to know his age Cap. 36. AFter this we came to a fayre Citie very populous where our shéepeherdes determined to coÌ„tinew by reason y â— it séemed a place where they might liue vnknoweÌ„ farre from such as should pursue them and because it was a countrie very plentifull of corne and other victualles where when we had remained the space of thrée daies that I poore Asse and the other horses were fedde kept in the Stable to the intent we might séeme more saleable we were brought out at length to the market and by by a crier sounded with his horne to notifie y â— we were to be solde all my compaignioÌ„ horses were bought vp by gentlemen butas for me I stoode still forsaken of all men And when many biers came by and looked in my mouth to knowe mine age I was so werie with opening my iawes that at length vnable to endure any lenger wheÌ„ one came with a stinking payre of handes grated my gommes with his filthy fingers I bitte them cleane of whiche thing caused the standers by to forsake me as beinge a fierce and cruell beast the crier when he had gotten a hoarse voice with crying and sawe that no man would bie me began to mocke me saiyng To what end staÌ„de we here with this vile Asse this feble beast
so confusely scattered but beinge astonied at the cruel cōmaundement of Venus satte still saide nothing Then the litle Pismere the Emote takings pitie of her great difficultie labour cursing the cruelnes of the wyfe of Iupiter and of so euill a mother ranne aboute hither and thither and called to her all the Antes of the countrie sayinge I pray you my fréendes ye quicke sonnes of the grounde the mother of al thinges take mercie on this poore mayde espoused to Cupide who is in great daunger of her person I pray you helpe her withall diligence Incōtinently one came after an other disseueryng deuiding the graine after that they had put eche kinde of corne in order they ranne away againe in all haste When night came Venus retourned home from the banquet well tipled w t wyne smelling of balme crowned with garlādes of Roses who when she espied what Psyches had done gan say this is not the labour of thy hādes but rather of his that is amorous of thée then she gaue her a morsell of browne bread and went to sleape In the meane season Cupide was closed fast in the moste surest chamber of the house partly because he should not hurte him selfe with wanton dalliance and partly because he should not speake with his loue so these twoo louers weare deuided one from an other When night was passed Venus called Psyches sayde séest thou yonder forest that extendeth out in lengthe with the ryuer there be great shéepe shininge like golde and kepte by no maner of persone I commaunde thée that thou go thither and bringe me home some of the wool of their fléeces Psyches arose willingly not to doo her commaundement but to throwe her selfe hedlong into the water to ende her sorowe Then a gréene réede inspired by deuine inspiration with a gracious tune and melodie gan say O Psyches I pray thée not to trouble or pollute my water by the death of thée and yet beware that thou goe not towardes the terrible shéepe of this coast vntill suche tyme as the heate of the Sunne be past for when the Sunne is in his force then séeme they most dreadfull and furious with their sharpe hornes their stony forheads their gaping throtes wherwith thei arme them selues to the destruction of mankinde but vntill the midday is past and the heate asswaged and vntill they haue refreshed them selues in the ryuer thou maist hyde thy selfe here by me vnder this great plane trée and as sone as their great fury is past thou maist go among the thickettes and bushes vnder the wood syde and gather the lockes of their golden fléeces which thou shalt finde hāginge vpon the briers Thus spake the gentle and beninge Réede showinge a meane to Psyches to saue her life whiche she bare well in memory and with all diligēce went and gathered vp suche lockes as she founde put them in her apron and carried them home to Venus how be it the daunger of this seconde labour did not please her nor giue her sufficient witnesse of the good seruice of Psyches but with a sower resemblaunce of laughter she said Of certaintie I knowe y ◠this is not thy facte but I will proue if thou be of so stoute a courage and singuler prudencie as thou séemest Then Venus spake vnto Psyches againe saying Séest thou the toppe of yonder great hill from whense there ronneth downe water of blacke deadly colour whiche nourisheth the floodes of Stix and Cocitus I charge thée to goe thither and bring me a vessell of that water wherewithall she gaue her a bottell of Cristall menacinge and threatening her rigorously Then poore Psyches went in all hast to the toppe of the mountaine rather to ende hir life then to fetche any water and whē she was come vp to the ridge of the hill she perceaued that it was impossible to bringe it to passe For she sawe a great rocke gusshinge out moste horrible fountaines of waters whiche ranne downe fell by many stoppes and passages into the valley beneath on eche side she sawe great Dragons stretching out their longe and blouddy neckes that neuer slept but apointed to kéepe the riuer there the waters séemed to thē selues likewise saying Away away what wilt thou doo Fly fly or els thou wilt be slaine then Psiches séeing y ◠impossibilitie of this affaire stoode still as though she were trāsformed into a stone although she was present in body yet was she absent in spirite and sense by reason of the great perill which she sawe in so much that she could not cōfort her selfe with weping such was the present daunger that she was in But the royall bird of great Iupiter the Egle remēbring his old seruice which he had done whē as by the pricke of Cupide he brought vp the boy Ganimides to y e heauens to be made the buttler of Iupiter mindinge to show the like seruice in the person of the wife of Cupide came from the high house of the skies said vnto Psiches O simple woman without all experiēce doest thou thinke to get or dippe vp any droppe of this dredful water No no assure thy selfe thou arte neuer able to come nigh it for the Goddes them selues doo greatly feare at the sight therof what haue you not harde that it is a custome emonge men to sweare by the puissance of the Goddes And the Goddes doo sweare by the Maiestie of the riuer Stix but giue me thy bottle and sodenly he toke it and filled it with the water of the riuer and takinge his flight thorough those cruell and horrible Dragons brought it vnto Psyches who being very ioyfull thereof presented it to Venus who would not yet be appeased but menacinge more more said what thou séemest vnto me a very Witche Enchaunteresse that bringest these thinges to passe how be it thou shalt doo one thinge more Take this bore goe to hell to Proserpina and desire her to sende me a litle of her beautie as muche as will serue me the space of one day and say that suche as I had is consumed away since my sonne fell sicke but returne againe quickely for I must dresse my self therewithal withal goe to the threatre of the Gods thē poore Psiches perceaued the ende of al her fortune thinking verely y ◠she shoulde neuer returne not without cause when as she was cōpelled to goe to the goulfe furies of Hell Wherfore without any further delay she wēt vp to a high tower to throwe her selfe downe headlong thinkinge that it was the nexte and rediest waye to Hell but the towre as inspired spake vnto her saiynge O poore miser why goest thou about to slea thy selfe why doest thou rashly yéelde vnto thy laste perill and daunger know thou that if thy spirite be once seperate from thy bodie thou shalt surely goe to Hell but neuer to returne againe wherefore herken to me Lacedemon a Citie of Grece is not farre hense
Goe thou thither and enquire for the hill Tenarus whereas thou shalte finde a hole leadinge to Hell euen to the pallaice of Pluto but take héede that thou goe not with emptie handes to that place of darkenesse but carry twoo soppes sodden in the flower of barley and hony in thy handes twoo halfpens in thy mouth and when thou haste passed a good parte of that way thou shalt sée a lame Asse carriyng of woodde a lame fellowe driuinge him who will desire thée to giue him vp the stickes that fall downe but passe thou on and doo nothinge by and by thou shalt come vnto the riuer of Hell whereas Charon is Ferriman who will first haue his fare paide him before he will carry the soules ouer the riuer in his boate whereby you may sée that auarice raigneth emongst the dead neyther Charon nor Pluto will doo any thinge for nought For if it be a poore man that woulde passe ouer and lacketh money he shalbe compelled to die in his iourney before they will showe him any reliefe wherefore deliuer to carraine Charon one of the halfepens whiche thou bearest for thy passage lette him receaue it out of thy mouth And it shall come to passe as thou sittest in the boate thou shalte sée an olde man swimminge on the toppe of the riuer holdinge vp his deadly handes and desiringe thée to receaue him into the barke but haue no regarde to his piteous crie when thou arte passed ouer the floudde thou shalt espie old women spinninge who will desire thée to helpe them but beware thou doo not consent vnto them in any case for these and like baites and trappes wil Venus sette to make thée lette fall one of thy soppes and thinke not that the kéepinge of thy soppes is a light matter for if thou lese one of them thou shalt be assured neuer to retorne againe to this world Then thou shalt sée a great and meruelous dogge with thrée heades barkinge continually at the soules of such as enter in by reason he can doo them no other harme he lieth day and night before the gate of Proserpina and kéepeth the house of Pluto with great diligence to whome if thou cast one of thy soppes thou maist haue accesse to Proserpina without all daunger she will make thée good chéere and entertaine thée with delicate meate drinke but sitte thou vpon the ground and desire browne bread and then declare thy message vnto her and when thou hast receaued such beautie as she giueth in thy retorne appease the rage of the dogge with thy other soppe giue thy other halfepeny to couetous Charon and come the same way againe into the world as thou wentest but aboue all thinges haue a regarde that thou looke not in the boxe neither be not to curious about the treasure of the diuine beautie In this manner the towre spake vnto Psyches and aduertised her what she should doo and immediatly she tooke twoo halfpence twoo soppes and all thinges necessary and went to the mouÌ„taine Tenarus to goe towardes Hell After that Psiches had passed by the lamâ— Asse paide her halfpenny for passage neglected the old man in the riuer denied to helpe the wemen spinninge and filled the rauenous mouth of y â— dogge with a soppe she came to the chamber of Proserpina There Psyches would not sitte in any royall seate nor eate any delicate meates but kneelinge at the féete of Proserpina onely contented with course bread declared her message and after she had receaued a misticall secrete in the boxe she departed and stopped the mouth of the dogge with the other soppe and paied the boteman the other halfpeÌ„ny When Psyches was returned from hell to the light of y â— worlde she was rauished with great desire saying Am not I a foole that knowinge that I carry here the diuine beautie will not take a little thereof to garnish my face to please my louer withall and by and by she opened the boxe where she coulde perceaue no beautie nor any thinge els saue onely an infernall and deadly sléepe whiche immediatly inuaded all her members assone as the boxe was vncouered in such sort that she fel downe on the gronnde lay there as a sléepinge corps But Cupide beinge now healed of his wounde and maladie not able to endure the absence of Psyches gotte him secretely out at a windowe of the chamber where he was enclosed and receauinge his winges toke his flight towardes his louinge wife whome wheÌ„ he had founde he wiped away the sléepe from her face and put it againe into the boxe and awaked her with the tippe of one of his arrowes sayinge O wretched â—aytife beholde thou wearest welny perished againe with thy ouermuch curiositie well goe thou doo thy message to my mother and in the meane season I will prouide for all thinges accordingly wherewithall he toke his flight into the ayre and Psiches brought her present to Venus Cupide being more and more in loue with Psiches fearing the displeasure of his mother did perce into the heauens arriued before Iupiter to declare his cause then Iupiter after that he had eftsones embrased him gan say in this manner O my welbeloued sonne although thou hast not giuen due reuereÌ„ce honour vnto me as thou oughtest to doo but hast rather soyled wounded this my brest wherby the lawes and order of the elementes planetes be disposed with continuall assaultes of terren luxury against al lawes the discipline Iulia the vtilitie of y â— publique weale in traÌ„sforming my diuine beautie into serpentes fire sauage beastes birdes â–ª into bulles Howbeit remeÌ„bringe my modestie that I haue nourished thee with mine owne proper handes I wil doo accoÌ„plish al thy desire so that thou canst beware of spiteful enuious persons And if there be any excellent mayden of comely beautie in the world remeÌ„ber yet y â— benefite which I shall show vnto thée by recompence of her loue towardes me againe When he had spokeÌ„ these woordes he coÌ„maunded Mercurie to call al the Goddes to counsell and if any of the celestiall powers did fayle of appearance he should be condemned in ten thousande poundes which sentence was such a terrour vnto all the Goddes that the high Theatre was replenished Iupiter began to speake in this sorte O ye Goddes registred in the bookes of the Muses you all know this yonge man Cupide whome I haue nourished with mine owne handes whose raginge flames of his first youth I thought best to bridle and restraine It suffiseth in that he is diffamed in euery place for his adulterous liuinge wherefore all occasion ought to be taken away by meane of marriage he hath chosen a mayden that fancieth him well and hath beriued her of her virginitie lette him haue her still and possesse her according to his owne pleasure then he returned to Venus and said And you my daughter take you no care neither feare