the golden asse-第54章
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： By thy meane the times returne； the Planets rejoyce； the Elements serve： at thy commandment the winds do blow； the clouds increase； the seeds prosper； and the fruits prevaile； the birds of the aire； the beasts of the hill； the serpents of the den； and the fishes of the sea； do tremble at thy majesty； but my spirit is not able to give thee sufficient praise； my patrimonie is unable to satisfie thy sacrifice； my voice hath no power to utter that which I thinke； no if I had a thousand mouths and so many tongues： Howbeit as a good religious person； and according to my estate； I will alwaies keepe thee in remembrance and close thee within my breast。 When I had ended mine orison； I went to embrace the great Priest Mythra my spirituall father； and to demand his pardon； considering I was unable to recompence the good which he had done to me： after great greeting and thanks I departed from him to visit my parents and friends； and within a while after by the exhortation of the goddesse。 I made up my packet； and tooke shipping toward the Citie of Rome； where with a prosperous winde I arrived about the xii。 day of December。 And the greatest desire that I had there； was daily to make my praiers to the soveraigne goddesse Isis； who by reason of the place where her temple was builded； was called Campensis； and continually adored of the people of Rome。 Her minister and worshipper was I； howbeit I was a stranger to her Church； and unknowne to her religion there。
When the yeare was ended； and the goddesse warned me againe to receive this new order and consecration； I marvailed greatly what it should signifie； and what should happen； considering that I was a sacred。 person already。 but it fortuned that while I partly reasoned with my selfe； and partly examining the thing with the Priests and Bishops； there came a new and marvailous thought in my mind； that is to say； I was onely religious to the goddesse Isis； but not sacred to the religion of great Osiris the soveraigne father of all the goddesses； between whom； although there was a religious unitie and concord； yet there was a great difference of order and ceremony。 And because it was necessary that I should likewise be a minister unto Osiris； there was no long delay： for in the night after； appeared unto me one of that order； covered with linnen robes； holding in his hands speares wrapped in Ivie； and other things not convenient to declare； which then he left in my chamber； and sitting in my seate； recited to me such things as were necessary for the sumptuous banket of mine entrie。 And to the end I might know him againe； he shewed me how the ankle of his left foote was somewhat maimed； which caused him a little to halt。
After that I manifestly knew the will of the God Osiris； when mattins was ended； I went from one to another； to find him out which had the halting marke on his foote； according as I learned by my vision； at length I found it true： for I perceived one of the company of the Priests who had not onely the token of his foote； but the stature and habite of his body； resembling in every point as he appeared in the night： he was called Asinius Marcellus； a name not much disagreeing from my transformation。 By and by I went to him； which knew well enough all the matter； as being monished by like precept in the night： for the night before as he dressed the flowers and garlands about the head of the god Osiris； he understood by the mouth of the image which told the predestinations of all men； how he had sent a poore man of Madura； to whom he should minister his sacraments； to the end hee should receive a reward by divine providence； and the other glory； for his vertuous studies。 When I saw my selfe this deputed unto religion； my desire was stopped by reason of povertie； for I had spent a great part of my goods in travell and peregrination； but most of all in the Citie of Rome； whereby my low estate withdrew me a great while。
In the end being oft times stirred forward； not without great trouble of mind； I was constrained to sell my robe for a little money ： howbeit sufficient for all my affaires。 Then the Priest spake unto me saying； How is it that for a little pleasure thou art not afraid to sell thy vestiments； and entring into so great ceremonies； fearest to fall into povertie？ Prepare thy selfe； and abstaine from all animall meats； as beasts and fish。 In the meane season I frequented the sacrifices of Serapis； which were done in the night； which thing gave me great comfort to my peregrination； and ministred unto me more plentifull living； considering I gained some money in haunting the court； by reason of my Latin tongue。
Immediately after I was eftsoones called and admonished by the god Osiris； to receive a third order of religion。 Then I was greatly astonied； because I could not tell what this new vision signified； or what the intent of the celestiall god was； doubting least the former Priests had given me ill counsell； and fearing that they had not faithfully instructed me ： being in this manner as it were incensed the god Osiris appeared to me the night following； and giving me admonition said； There is no occasion why thou shouldest be afraid with so often order of religion； as though there were somewhat omitted； but that thou shouldest rather rejoyce； since as it hath pleased the gods to call thee three times； when as there was never yet any person that atchieved to the order but once ： wherefore thou maist thinke thy selfe happy for so great benefits。 And know thou that the religion which thou must now receive； is right necessary； if thou meane to persever in the worshipping of the goddesse； and to make solempnity on the festivall day with the blessed habite； which thing shalt be a glory and renowne to thee。
After this sort； the divine majesty perswaded me in my sleepe； whereupon by and by I went towards the Priest； and declared all that which I had seene； then I fasted ten dayes according to the custome； and of mine owne proper will I abstained longer then I was commanded ： and verely I did nothing repent of the paine which I had taken； and of the charges which I was at； considering that the divine providence had given me such an order； that I gained much money in pleading of causes ： Finally after a few dayes； the great god Osiris appeared to me in the night； not disguised in any other forme； but in his owne essence； commanding me that I should be an Advocate in the court； and not feare the slander and envie of ill persons ； which beare me stomacke and grudge by reason of my doctrine； which I had gotten by much labour ： moreover； he would not that I should be any longer of the number of his Priests； but he allotted me to be one of the Decurions and Senatours ： and after he appointed me a place within the ancient pallace； which was erected in the time of Silla； where I executed my office in great joy with a shaven Crowne。
End
