the golden asse-第41部分

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o　Hell；　where　thou　shalt　see　me　shine　in　that　subterene　place；　shining　（as　thou　seest　me　now）　in　the　darkness　of　Acheron；　and　raigning　in　the　deepe　profundity　of　Stix；　thou　shalt　worship　me；　as　one　that　hath　bin　favourable　to　thee；　and　if　I　perceive　that　thou　art　obedient　to　my　commandement；　addict　to　my　religion；　and　merite　my　divine　grace；　know　thou；　that　I　will　prolong　thy　dales　above　the　time　that　the　fates　have　appointed；　and　the　celestial　Planets　ordeined。

When　the　divine　Image　had　spoken　these　words；　she　vanished　away　！　　By　and　by　when　I　awaked；　I　arose；　haveing　the　members　of　my　bodie　mixed　with　feare；　joy　and　sweate；　and　marvailed　at　the　cleare　presence　of　the　puissant　goddesse；　and　being　sprinkled　with　the　water　of　the　sea；　I　recounted　orderly　her　admonitions　and　divine　commandements。　　Soone　after；　the　darknes　chased　away；　and　the　cleare　and　golden　sunne　arose；　when　as　behold　I　saw　the　streets　replenished　with　people　going　in　a　religious　sort　and　in　great　triumph。　　All　things　seemed　that　day　to　be　joyfull；　as　well　all　manner　of　beasts　and　houses；　as　also　the　very　day　it　selfe　seemed　to　rejoyce。　　For　after　the　hore…frost；　ensued　the　hot　and　temperat　sun；　whereby　the　little　birds　weening　that　the　spring　time　had　bin　come；　did　chirp　and　sing　in　their　steven　melodiously　：　the　mother　of　stars；　the　parent　of　times；　and　mistres　of　all　the　world　：　The　fruitfull　trees　rejoyced　at　their　fertility　：　The　barren　and　sterill　were　contented　at　their　shadow；　rendering　sweete　and　pleasant　shrills　！　　The　seas　were　quiet　from　winds　and　tempests　：　the　heaven　had　chaced　away　the　clouds；　and　appeared　faire　and　cleare　with　his　proper　light。　Behold　then　more　and　more　appeared　the　pomps　and　processions；　attired　in　regall　manner　and　singing　joyfully　：　One　was　girded　about　the　middle　like　a　man　of　armes　：　Another　bare　and　spare；　and　had　a　cloake　and　high…shooes　like　a　hunter　！　another　was　attired　in　a　robe　of　silke；　and　socks　of　gold；　having　his　haire　laid　out；　and　dressed　in　forme　of　a　woman　！　　There　was　another　ware　legge…harnesse；　and　bare　a　target；　a　sallet；　and　a　speare　like　a　martial　souldier　：　after　him　marched　one　attired　in　purple　with　vergers　before　him　like　a　magistrate　！　after　him　followed　one　with　a　maurell；　a　staffe；　a　paire　of　pantofles；　and　with　a　gray　beard；　signifying　a　philosopher　：　after　him　went　one　with　lime；　betokening　a　fowler；　another　with　hookes　declaring　a　fisher：　I　saw　there　a　meeke　and　tame　beare；　which　in　matron　habite　was　carried　on　a　stoole　：　An　Ape　with　a　bonet　on　his　head；　and　covered　with　lawne；　resemling　a　shepheard；　and　bearing　a　cup　of　gold　in　his　hand：　an　Asse　which　had　wings　glewed　to　his　backe；　and　went　after　an　old　man；　whereby　you　would　judge　the　one　to　be　Pegasus；　and　the　other　Bellephoron。　　Amongst　the　pleasures　and　popular　delectations；　which　wandered　hither　and　thither；　you　might　see　the　pompe　of　the　goddesse　triumphantly　march　forward　：　The　woman　attired　in　white　vestiments；　and　rejoicing；　in　that　they　bare　garlands　and　flowers　upon　their　heads；　bedspread　the　waies　with　hearbes；　which　they　bare　in　their　aprons；　where　this　regall　and　devout　procession　should　passe　：　Other　caried　glasses　on　their　backes；　to　testifie　obeisance　to　the　goddess　which　came　after。　　Other　bare　combs　of　Ivory；　and　declared　by　their　gesture　and　motions　of　their　armes；　that　they　were　ordained　and　readie　to　dresse　the　goddesse　：　Others　dropped　in　the　wayes　as　they　went　Balme　and　other　pretious　ointments　：　Then　came　a　great　number；　as　well　of　men　as　women；　with　Candels；　torches；　and　other　lights；　doing　honour　to　the　celestiall　goddesse　：　　After　that　sounded　the　musical　harmony　of　instruments　：　then　came　a　faire　companie　of　youth；　apparelled　in　white　vestiments；　singing　both　meter　and　verse；　with　a　comely　grade　which　some　studious　Poet　had　made　in　honour　of　the　Muses　：　In　the　meane　season；　arrived　the　blowers　of　trumpets；　which　were　dedicated　unto　Serapes；　and　to　the　temple　before　them　were　officers　and　beadles；　preparing　roome　for　the　goddess　to　passe。　　Then　came　the　great　company　of　men　and　women；　which　had　taken　divine　orders；　whose　garments　glistered　all　the　streets　over。　　The　women　had　their　haire　annointed　and　their　heads　covered　with　linnen　：　but　the　men　had　their　crownes　shaven；　which　were　the　terrene　stars　of　the　goddesse；　holding　in　their　hand　instruments　of　brasse；　silver　and　gold；　which　rendered　a　pleasant　sound。

The　principall　Priests　which　were　apparelled　with　white　surplesses　hanging　downe　to　the　ground；　bare　the　relikes　of　the　puissant　goddesse。　　One　carried　in　his　hand　a　light；　not　unlike　to　those　which　we　used　in　our　houses；　saving　that　in　the　middle　thereof　appeared　a　bole　which　rendred　a　more　bright　flame。　　The　second　attired　hike　the　other　bare　in　his　hand　an　Altar；　which　the　goddesse　her　selfe　named　the　succor　of　nations。　　The　third　held　a　tree　of　palme　with　leaves　of　gold；　and　the　verge　of　Mercurie。　The　fourth　shewed　out　a　token　of　equitie　by　his　left　hand；　which　was　deformed　in　every　place；　signifiing　thereby　more　equitie　then　by　the　right　hand。　　The　same　Priest　carried　a　round　vessell　of　gold；　in　forme　of　a　cap。　　The　fifth　bare　a　van；　wrought　with　springs　of　gold；　and　another　carried　a　vessell　for　wine　：　By　and　by　after　the　goddesse　followed　a　foot　as　men　do；　and　specially　Mercurie；　the　messenger　of　the　goddesse　infernall　and　supernall；　with　his　face　sometime　blacke；　sometime　faire；　lifting　up　the　head　of　the　dogges　Annubis；　and　bearing　in　his　left　hand；　his　verge；　and　in　his　right　hand；　the　branches　of　a　palme　tree；　after　whom　followed　a　cow　with　an　upright　gate；　representing　the　figure　of　the　great　goddesse；　and　he　that　guided　her；　marched　on　with　much　gravity。　　Another　carried　after　the　secrets　of　their　religion；　closed　in　a　coffer。　　There　was　one　that　bare　on　his　stomacke　a　figure　of　his　god；　not　formed　like　any　beast；　bird；　savage　thing　or　humane　shape；　but　made　by　a　new　invention；　whereby　was　signified　that　such　a　religion　should　not　be　discovered　or　revealed　to　any　person。　　There　was　a　vessel　wrought　with　a　round　bottome；　haveing　on　the　one　side；　pictures　figured　like　unto　the　manner　of　the　Egyptians；　and　on　the　other　side　was　an　eare；　whereupon　stood　the　Serpent　Aspis；　holding　out　his　scaly　necke。　Finally；　came　he　which　was　appointed　to　my　good　fortun　according　to　the　promise　of　the　goddesse。　For　the　great　Priest　which　bare　the　restoration　of　my　human　shape；　by　the　commandement　of　the　goddes；　Approached　more　and　more；　bearing　in　his　left　hand　the　timbrill；　and　in　the　other　a　garland　of　Roses　to　give　me；　to　the　end　I　might　be　delivered　from　cruel　fortune；　which　was　alwaies　mine　enemie；　after　the　sufferance　of　so　much　calamitie　and　paine；　and　after　the　endurance　of　so　manie　perilles：　Then　I　not　returning　hastilie；　by　reason　of　sodaine　joye；　lest　I　should　disturbe　the　quiet　procession　with　mine　importunitie；　but　going　softly　through　the　prease　of　the　people；　which　gave　me　place　on　every　side；　went　after　the　Priest。　　The　priest　being　admonished　the　night　before；　as　I　might　well　perceive　stood　still　and　holding　out　his　hand；　thrust　out　the　garland　of　roses　into　my　mouth；　I　（trembling）　devoured　with　a　great　affection：　And　as　soone　as　I　had　eaten　them；　I　was　not　deceived　of　the　promise　made　unto　me。　For　my　deforme　and　Assie　face　abated；　and　first　the　rugged　haire　of　my　body　fell　off；　my　thick　skin　waxed　soft　and　tender；　the　hooves　of　my　feet　changed　into　toes；　my　hands　returned　againe；　my　neck　grew　short；　my　head　and　mouth　began　round；　my　long　eares　were　made　little；　my　great　and　stonie　teeth　waxed　lesse　like　the　teeth　of　men；　and　my　tayle　which　combred　me　most；　appeared　no　where：　then　the　people　began　to　marvaile；　and　the　religious　honoured　the　goddesse；　for　so　evident　a　miracle；　they　wondered　at　the　visions　which　they　saw　in　the　night；　and　the　facilitie　of　my　reformation；　whereby　they　rendered　testimonie　of　so　great　a　benefit　which　I　received　of　the　goddesse。　When　I　saw　my　selfe　in　such　estate；　I　stood　still　a　good　space　and　said　nothing；　for　I　could　not　tell　what　to　say；　nor　what　word　I　shoulde　first　speake；　nor　what　thanks　I　should　render　to　the　goddesse；　but　the　great　Priest　understanding　all　my　fortune　and　miserie；　by　divine　advertisement；　commanded　that　one　should　give　me　garments　to　cover　me：　Howbeit　as　soone　as　I　was　transformed　from　an　asse　to　my　humane　shape；　I　hid　the　privitie　of　my　body　with　my　hands　as　shame　and　necessity　compelled　mee。　　Then　one　of　the　company　put　off　his　upper　robe　and　put　it　on　my　backe：　which　done；　the　Priest　looked　upon　me；　with　a　sweete　and　benigne　voice；　gan　say　in　this　sort：　O　my　friend　Lucius；　after　the　endurance　of　so　many　labours；　and　the　escape　of　so　many　tempests　of　fortune；　thou　art　at　length　come　to　the　port　and　haven　of　rest　and　mercy：　neither　did　thy　noble　linage；　thy　dignity；　thy　doctrine；　or　any　thing　prevaile；　but　that　thou　hast　endured　so　many　servil　pleasures；　by　a　little　folly　of　thy　youthfullnes；　whereby　thou　hast　had　a　sinister　reward　for　thy　unprosperous　curiositie；　but　howsoever　the　blindnes　of　fortune　tormented　thee　in　divers　dangers　：　so　it　is；　that　now　unwares　to　her；　thou　art　come　to　this　present　felicitie　：　let　fortune　go；　and　fume　with　fury　in　another　place；　let　her　finde　some　other　matter　to　execute　her　cruelty；　for　fortune　hath　no　puissance　against　them　which　serve　and　honour　our　goddesse。　　For　what　availed　the　theeves　：　the　beasts　savage　：　thy　great　servitude　：　the　ill　and　dangerous　waits　：　the　long　passages　：　the　feare　of　death　every　day？　Know　thou；　that　now　thou　art　safe；　and　under　the　protection　of　her；　who　by　her　cleare　light　doth　lighten　the　other　gods　：　wherefore　rejoyce　and　take　a　convenable　countenance　to　thy　white　habit；　follow　the　pomp　of　this　devout　and　honorable　procession；　to　the　end　that　such　which　be　not　devout　to　the　Goddes；　may　see　and　acknowledge　their　errour。　　Behold　Lucius；　thou　art　delivered　from　so　great　miseries；　by　the　providence　of　the　goddesse　Isis；　rejoyce　therefore　and　triumph　of　the　victory　of　fortune；　to　the　end　thou　maist　live　more　safe　and　sure；　make　thy　selfe　one　of　this　holy　order；　dedicate　thy　minde　to　the　Obsequy　of　our　Religion；　and　take　upon　thee　a　a　voluntary　yoake　of　ministrie　：　And　when　thou　beginnest　to　serve　and　honour　the　goddes；　then　thou　shalt　feele　the　fruit　of　thy　liberty　：　After　that　the　great　Prie