the golden asse-第24章

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usband　she　cast　her　eyes　after　him　into　the　aire；　weeping　and　lamenting　pitteously　：　　but　when　hee　was　gone　out　of　her　sight　shee　threw　her　selfe　into　the　next　running　river；　for　the　great　anguish　and　dolour　that　shee　was　in　for　the　lack　of　her　husband　；　howbeit　the　water　would　not　suffer　her　to　be　drowned；　but　tooke　pity　upon　her；　in　the　honour　of　Cupid　which　accustomed　to　broyle　and　burne　the　river；　and　threw　her　upon　the　bank　amongst　the　herbs。

Then　Pan　the　rusticall　god　sitting　on　the　river　side；　embracing　and　＇instructing＇　the　goddesse　Canna　to　tune　her　songs　and　pipes；　by　whom　were　feeding　the　young　and　tender　Goats；　after　that　he　perceived　Psyches　in　sorrowful　case；　not　ignorant　（I　know　not　by　what　meanes）　of　her　miserable　estate；　endeavored　to　pacific　her　in　this　sort　：　O　faire　maid；　I　am　a　rusticke　and　rude　heardsman；　howbeit　by　reason　of　my　old　age　expert　in　many　things；　for　as　farre　as　I　can　learnt　by　conjecture　（which　according　as　wise　men　doe　terme　is　called　divination）　I　perceive　by　your　uncertaine　gate；　your　pale　hew；　your　sobbing　sighes；　and　your　watery　eyes；　that　you　are　greatly　in　love。　　Wherefore　hearken　to　me；　and　goe　not　about　to　slay　your　selfe；　nor　weepe　not　at　all；　but　rather　adore　and　worship　the　great　god　Cupid；　and　winne　him　unto　you　by　your　gentle　promise　of　service。

When　the　god　of　Shepherds　had　spoken　these　words；　she　gave　no　answer；　but　made　reverence　to　him　as　to　a　god；　and　so　departed。

After　that　Psyches　had　gone　a　little　way；　she　fortuned　unawares　to　come　to　a　city　where　the　husband　of　one　of　her　Sisters　did　dwell。　Which　when　Psyches　did　understand；　shee　caused　that　her　sister　had　knowledge　of　her　comming；　and　so　they　met　together；　and　after　great　embracing　and　salutation；　the　sister　of　Psyches　demaunded　the　cause　of　her　travell　thither。　　Marry　（quoth　she）　doe　you　not　remember　the　counsell　you　gave　me；　whereby　you　would　that　I　should　kill　the　beast　which　under　colour　of　my　husband　did　lie　with　mee　every　night　i　　You　shall　understand；　that　as　soone　as　I　brought　forth　the　lampe　to　see　and　behold　his　shape；　I　perceived　that　he　was　the　sonne　of　　Venus；　even　Cupid　himselfe　　that　lay　with　mee。　Then　I　being　stricken　　with　great　pleasure；　and　desirous　to　embrace　him；　could　not　thoroughly　asswage　my　delight；　but　alas　by　evill　ill　chance　the　oyle　of　the　lampe　fortuned　to　fall　on　his　shoulder　which　caused　him　to　awake；　and　seeing　me　armed　with　fire　and　weapons；　gan　say；　How　darest　thou　be　so　bold　to　doe　so　great　a　mischiefe？　Depart　from　me　and　take　such　things　as　thou　didst　bring　：　for　I　will　have　thy　sister　（and　named　you）　to　my　wife；　and　she　shall　be　placed　in　thy　felicity；　and　by　and　by　hee　commaunded　Zephyrus　to　carry　me　away　from　the　bounds　of　his　house。

Psyches　had　scantly　finished　　her　tale　but　her　sister　pierced　with　the　pricke　of　carnall　desire　and　wicked　envy　ran　home；　and　feigning　to　her　husband　that　she　　had　heard　word　of　the　death　of　her　parents　tooke　shipping　and　came　to　the　mountaine。　　And　although　there　blew　a　contrary　winde；　yet　being　brought　in　a　vaine　hope　shee　cried　O　Cupid　take　me　a　more　worthy　wife；　and　thou　Zephyrus　beare　downe　thy　mistresse；　and　so　she　cast　her　selfe　headlong　from　the　mountaine　：　but　shee　fell　not　into　the　valley　neither　alive　nor　dead；　for　all　the　members　and　parts　of　her　body　were　torne　amongst　the　rockes；　wherby　she　was　made　prey　unto　the　birds　and　wild　beasts；　as　she　worthily　deserved。

Neither　was　the　vengeance　of　the　other　delayed；　for　Psyches　travelling　in　that　country；　fortuned　to　come　to　another　city　where　her　other　sister　did　dwel；　to　whom　when　shee　had　declared　all　such　things　as　she　told　to　her　other　sister　shee　　ran　likewise　unto　the　rock　and　was　slaine　in　like　sort　　Then　　Psyches　travelled　about　in　the　countrey　to　seeke　her　husband　Cupid；　hut　he　was　gotten　into　his　mothers　chamber　and　there　bewailed　the　sorrowful　wound　which　he　caught　by　the　oyle　of　a　burning　lamp。

Then　the　white　bird　the　Gull；　which　swims　on　the　waves　of　the　water；　flew　toward　the　Ocean　sea；　where　he　found　Venus　washing　and　bathing　her　selfe　：　to　whom　she　declared　that　her　son　was　burned　and　in　danger　of　death；　and　moreover　that　it　was　a　common　brute　in　the　mouth　of　every　person　（who　spake　evill　of　all　the　family　of　Venus）　that　her　son　doth　nothing　but　haunt　harlots　in　the　mountain；　and　she　her　self　lasciviously　use　to　ryot　in　the　sea　：　wherby　they　say　that　they　are　flow　become　no　more　gratious；　pleasant　nor　gentle；　but　incivile；　monstrous　and　horrible。　　Moreover；　that　marriages　are　not　for　any　amity；　or　for　love　of　procreation；　but　full　of　envy；　discord；　and　debate。　　This　the　curious　Gul　did　clatter　in　the　ears　of　Venus；　reprehending　her　son。　　But　Venus　began　to　cry　and　sayd；　What　hath　my　sonne　gotten　any　Love？　　I　pray　thee　gentle　bird　that　doest　serve　me　so　faithfully；　tell　me　what　she　is；　and　what　is　her　name　that　hath　troubled　my　son　in　such　sort？　whether　shee　be　any　of　the　Nymphs；　of　the　number　of　the　goddesses；　of　the　company　of　the　Muses；　or　of　the　mistery　of　the　Graces？　　To　whom　the　bird　answered；　Madam　I　know　not　what　shee　is；　but　this　I　know　that　she　is　called　Psyches。　　Then　Venus　with　indignation　cried　out；　What　is　it　she？　the　usurper　of　my　beauty；　the　Vicar　of　my　name？　What　did　he　think　that　I　was　a　bawd；　by　whose　shew　he　fell　acquainted　with　the　maid？　　And　immediately　she　departed　and　went　to　her　chamber；　where　she　found　her　son　wounded　as　it　was　told　unto　her；　whom　when　she　beheld　she　cries　out　in　this　sort。

Is　this　an　honest　thing；　is　this　honourable　to　thy　parents？　is　this　reason；　that　thou　hast　violated　and　broken　the　commandement　of　thy　mother　and　soveraign　mistresse　：　and　whereas　thou　shouldst　have　vexed　my　enemy　with　loathsom　love；　thou　hast　done　otherwise？

For　being　of　tender　and　unripe　yeares；　thou　hast　with　too　licentious　appetite　embraced　my　most　mortall　Foe；　to　whome　I　shall　bee　made　a　mother；　and　she　a　Daughter。

Thou　presumest　and　thinkest；　thou　trifling　boy；　thou　Varlet；　and　without　all　reverence；　that　thou　art　most　worthy　and　excellent；　and　that　I　am　not　able　by　reason　of　myne　age　to　have　another　son；　which　if　I　should　have；　thou　shouldst　well　understand　that　I　would　beare　a　more　worthier　than　thou。　　But　to　worke　thee　a　greater　despight；　I　do　determine　to　adopt　one　of　my　servants；　and　to　give　him　these　wings；　this　fire；　this　bow；　and　these　Arrowes；　and　all　other　furniture　which　I　gave　to　thee；　not　to　this　purpose；　neither　is　any　thing　given　thee　of　thy　father　for　this　intent　：　but　first　thou　hast　been　evill　brought　up　and　instructed　in　thy　youth　thou　hast　thy　hands　ready　and　sharpe。　　Thou　hast　often　offended　thy　antients；　and　especially　me　that　am　thy　mother；　thou　hast　pierced　mee　with　thy　darts　thou　contemnest　me　as　a　widow；　neither　dost　t　thou　regard　thy　valiant　and　invincible　father；　and　to　anger　me　more；　thou　art　amorous　of　harlots　and　wenches　：　hot　I　will　cause　that　thou　shalt　shortly　repent　thee；　and　that　this　marriage　shal　be　dearely　bought。　To　what　a　point　am　I　now　driven？　What　shall　I　do？　　Whither　shall　I　goe？　　How　shall　I　represse　this　beast？　　Shall　I　aske　ayd　of　myne　enemy　Sobriety；　whom　I　have　often　offended　to　engender　thee？　Or　shall　I　seeke　for　counsel　of　every　poore　rusticall　woman？　No；　no；　yet　had　I　rather　dye；　howbeit　I　will　not　cease　my　vengeance；　to　her　must　I　have　recourse　for　helpe；　and　to　none　other　（I　meane　to　Sobriety）；　who　may　correct　thee　sharpely；　take　away　thy　quiver；　deprive　thee　of　thy　arrowes；　unbend　thy　bow；　quench　thy　fire；　and　which　is　more　subdue　thy　body　with　punishment　：　and　when　that　l　have　rased　and　cut　off　this　thy　haire；　which　I　have　dressed　with　myne　owne　hands；　and　made　to　glitter　like　gold；　and　when　I　have　clipped　thy　wings；　which　I　my　selfe　have　caused　to　burgen；　then　shall　I　thinke　to　have　revenged　my　selfe　sufficiently　　upon　thee　for　the　injury　which　thou　hast　done。　　When　shee　had　spoken　these　words　shee　departed　in　a　great　rage　out　of　her　chamber。

Immediatelie　as　she　was　going　away　came　Juno　and　Ceres；　demaunding　the　cause　of　her　anger。　　Then　Venus　answered；　Verily　you　are　come　to　comfort　my　sorrow；　but　I　pray　you　with　all　diligence　to　seeke　out　one　whose　name　is　Psyches；　who　is　a　vagabond；　and　runneth　about　the　Countries；　and　　（as　I　thinke）　you　are　not　ignorant　of　the　brute　of　my　son　Cu