the golden asse-第26章
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ich when she had spoken； she delivered unto him a libell； wherein was contained the name of Psyches； and the residue of his publication； which done； she departed away to her lodging。 By and by； Mercurius （not delaying the matter） proclaimed throughout all the world； that whatsoever hee were that could tell any tydings of a Kings fugitive Daughter； the servant of Venus； named Psyches； should bring word to Mercury； and for reward of his paines； he should receive。 seaven sweet kisses of Venus After that Mercury had pronounced。 these things； every man was enflamed with desire to search out Psyches。
This proclamation was the cause that put all doubt from Psyches； who was scantly come in the sight of the house of Venus； but one of her servants called Custome came out； who espying Psyches； cried with a loud voyce； saying： O wicked harlot as thou art； now at length thou shalt know that thou hast a mistresse above thee。 What； dost thou make thy selfe ignorant； as though thou didst not understand what travell wee have taken in searching for thee？ I am glad that thou art come into my hands； thou art now in the golfe of hell； and shalt abide the paine and punishment of thy great contumacy； and therewithall she tooke her by the haire； and brought her in； before the presence of the goddesse Venus。 When Venus spied her； shee began to laugh； and as angry persons accustome to doe； she shaked her head； and scratched her right eare saying； O goddesse； goddesse； you are now come at length to visit your husband that is in danger of death； by your meanes ： bee you assured； I will handle you like a daughter ： where be my maidens； Sorrow and Sadnesse？ To whom （when they came） she delivered Psyches to be cruelly tormented； then they fulfilled the commandement of their Mistresse； and after they had piteously scourged her with rods and whips； they presented her againe before Venus； then she began to laugh againe； saying ： Behold she thinketh （that by reason of her great belly； which she hath gotten by playing the whore） to move me to pitty； and to make me a grandmother to her childe。 Am not I happy； that in the flourishing time of al mine age； shall be called a grandmother； and the sonne of a vile harlot shall bee accounted the nephew of Venus ： howbeit I am a foole to tearm him by the name of my son； since as the marriage was made betweene unequall persons； in the field without witnesses； and not by the consent of parents； wherefore the marriage is illegitimate； and the childe （that shall be borne） a bastard； if we fortune to suffer thee to live so long till thou be delivered。 When Venus had spoken these words she leaped upon the face of poore Psyches； and （tearing her apparell） tooke her by the haire； and dashed her head upon the ground。 Then she tooke a great quantity of wheat； of barly； poppy seede； peason； lintles； and beanes； and mingled them altogether on a heape saying ： Thou evil favoured girle； thou seemest unable to get the grace of thy lover； by no other meanes； but only by diligent and painefull service； wherefore I will prove what thou canst doe ： see that thou separate all these graines one from another； disposing them orderly in their quantity； and let it be done before night。 When she had appointed this taske unto Psyches； she departed to a great banket that was prepared that day。 But Psyches went not about to dissever the graine； （as being a thing impossible to be brought to passe by reason it lay so confusedly scattered） but being astonyed at the cruell commandement of Venus； sate still and said nothing。 Then the little pismire the emote； taking pitty of her great difficulty and labour； cursing the cruellnesse of the daughter of Jupiter； and of so evill a mother； ran about； hither and thither； and called to all her friends； Yee quick sons of the ground； the mother of all things； take mercy on this poore maid； espouse to Cupid； who is in great danger of her person； I pray you helpe her with all diligence。 Incontinently one came after another； dissevering and dividing the graine； and after that they had put each kinde of corne in order； they ranne away againe in all haste。 When night came； Venus returned home from the banket wel tippled with wine； smelling of balme； and crowned with garlands of roses； who when shee had espied what Psyches had done； gan say； This is not the labour of thy hands； but rather of his that is amorous of thee ： then she gave her a morsel of brown bread； and went to sleep。 In the mean season； Cupid was closed fast in the surest chamber of the house； partly because he should not hurt himself with wanton dalliance； and partly because he should not speake with his love ： so these two lovers were divided one from another。 When night was passed Venus called Psyches； and said； Seest thou yonder Forest that extendeth out in length with the river？ there be great sheepe shining like gold； and kept by no manner of person。 I command thee that thou go thither and bring me home some of the wooll of their fleeces。 Psyches arose willingly not to do her commandement； but to throw her selfe headlong into water to end her sorrows。 Then a green reed inspired by divine inspiration； with a gratious tune and melody gan say； O Psyches I pray thee not to trouble or pollute my water by the death of thee； and yet beware that thou goe not towards the terrible sheepe of this coast； untill such time as the heat of the sunne be past； for when the sunne is in his force； then seeme they most dreadfull and furious； with their sharpe hornes； their stony foreheads and their gaping throats； wherewith they arme themselves to the destruction of mankinde。 But untill they have refreshed themselves in the river； thou must hide thy selfe here by me； under this great plaine tree； and as soone as their great fury is past； thou maist goe among the thickets and bushes under the wood side and gather the lockes their golden Fleeces； which thou shalt finde hanging upon the briers。 Then spake the gentle and benigne reed； shewing a mean to Psyches to save her life； which she bore well in memory； and with all diligence went and gathered up such lockes as shee found； and put them in her apron； and carried them home to Venus。 Howbeit the danger of this second labour did not please her； nor give her sufficient witnesse of the good service of Psyches； but with a sower resemblance of laughter； did say ： Of a certaine I know that this is not thy fact； but I will prove if that thou bee of so stout； so good a courage； and singular prudency as thou seemest to bee。 Then Venus spake unto Psyches againe saying ： Seest thou the toppe of yonder great Hill； from whence there runneth downe waters of blacke and deadly colour； which nourisheth the floods of Stix； Cocytus？ I charge thee to goe thither； and bring me a vessell of that water ： wherewithall she gave her a bottle of Christall； menacing and threatening her rigorously。 Then poor Psyches went in all haste to the top of the mountaine； rather to end her life； then to fetch any water； and when she was come up to the ridge of the hill； she perceived that it was impossible to bring it to passe ： for she saw a great rocke gushing out most horrible fountaines of waters； which ran downe and fell by many stops and passages into the valley beneath ： on each side shee did see great Dragons； which were stretching out their long and bloody Neckes； that did never sleepe； but appointed to keepe the river there ： the waters seemed to themselves likewise saying； Away； away； what wilt thou doe？ flie； flie； or else thou wilt be slaine。 Then Psyches （seeing the impossibility of this affaire） stood still as though she were transformed into a stone and although she was present in body； yet was she absent in spirit and sense； by reason of the great perill which she saw； insomuch that she could not comfort her self with weeping； such was the present danger that she was in。 But the royall bird of great Jupiter； the Eagle remembring his old service which he had done； when as by the pricke of Cupid he brought up the boy Ganimedes； to the heavens； to be made butler of Jupiter； and minding to shew the like service in the person of the wife of Cupid； came from the high…house of the Skies； and said unto Psyches； O simple woman without
