the golden asse-第51章
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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： How
