the golden asse-第15章

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When　she　came　upon　the　sea　she　began　to　cal　the　gods　and　goddesses；　who　were　obedient　at　her　voyce。　　For　incontinent　came　the　daughters　of　Nereus；　singing　with　tunes　melodiously　：　Portunus　with　his　bristled　and　rough　beard；　Salita　with　her　bosome　full　of　fish；　Palemon　the　driver　of　the　Dolphine；　the　Trumpetters　of　Tryton；　leaping　hither　and　thither；　and　blowing　with　heavenly　noyse　：　such　was　the　company　which　followed　Venus；　marching　towards　the　ocean　sea。

In　the　meane　season　Psyches　with　all　her　beauty　received　no　fruit　of　honor。　　She　was　wondred　at　of　all；　she　was　praised　of　all；　but　she　perceived　that　no　King　nor　Prince；　nor　any　one　of　the　superiour　sort　did　repaire　to　wooe　her。　　Every　one　marvelled　at　her　divine　beauty；　as　it　were　some　Image　well　painted　and　set　out。　　Her　other　two　sisters；　which　were　nothing　so　greatly　exalted　by　the　people；　were　royally　married　to　two　Kings　：　but　the　virgin　Psyches；　sitting　alone　at　home。　lamented　her　solitary　life；　and　being　disquieted　both　in　mind　and　body；　although　she　pleased　all　the　world；　yet　hated　shee　in　her　selfe　her　owne　beauty。　　Whereupon　the　miserable　father　of　this　unfortunate　daughter；　suspecting　that　the　gods　and　powers　of　heaven　did　envy　her　estate；　went　to　the　town　called　Milet　to　receive　the　Oracle　of　Apollo；　where　he　made　his　prayers　and　offered　sacrifice；　and　desired　a　husband　for　his　daughter　：　but　Apollo　though　he　were　a　Grecian；　and　of　the　country　of　Ionia；　because　of　the　foundation　of　Milet；　yet　hee　gave　answer　in　Latine　verse；　the　sence　whereof　was　this　：…

　　　　　Let　Psyches　corps　be　clad　in　mourning　weed；　　　　　　And　set　on　rock　of　yonder　hill　aloft　：　　　　　　Her　husband　is　no　wight　of　humane　seed；　　　　　　But　Serpent　dire　and　fierce　as　might　be　thought。　　　　　　Who　flies　with　wings　above　in　starry　skies；　　　　　　And　doth　subdue　each　thing　with　firie　flight。　　　　　　The　gods　themselves；　and　powers　that　seem　so　wise；　　　　　　With　mighty　Jove；　be　subject　to　his　might；　　　　　　The　rivers　blacke；　and　deadly　flouds　of　paine　　　　　　And　darkness　eke；　as　thrall　to　him　remaine。

The　King；　sometimes　happy　when　he　heard　the　prophesie　of　Apollo；　returned　home　sad　and　sorrowful；　and　declared　to　his　wife　the　miserable　and　unhappy　fate　of　　his　daughter。　　Then　they　began　to　lament　and　weep；　and　passed　over　many　dayes　in　great　sorrow。　But　now　the　time　approached　of　Psyches　marriage；　　preparation　was　made；　blacke　torches　were　lighted；　the　pleasant　songs　were　turned　into　pittifull　cries；　the　melody　of　Hymeneus　was　ended　with　deadly　howling；　the　maid　that　should　be　married　did　wipe　her　eyes　with　her　vaile。　　All　the　family　and　people　of　the　city　weeped　likewise；　and　with　great　lamentation　was　ordained　a　remisse　time　for　that　day；　but　necessity　compelled　that　Psyches　should　be　brought　to　her　appointed　place；　according　to　the　divine　appointment。

And　when　the　solemnity　was　ended；　they　went　to　bring　the　sorrowful　spowse；　not　to　her　marriage；　but　to　her　final　end　and　burial。　　And　while　the　father　and　mother　of　Psyches　did　go　forward　weeping　and　crying　unto　this　enterprise；　Psyches　spake　unto　them　in　this　sort　：　　Why　torment　your　unhappy　age　with　continuall　dolour？　Why　trouble　you　your　spirits；　which　are　more　rather　mine　than　yours？　　Why　soyle　ye　your　faces　with　teares；　which　I　ought　to　adore　and　worship？　　Why　teare　you　my　eyes　in　yours？　　why　pull　you　your　hory　haires？　　Why　knocke　ye　your　breasts　for　me？　Now　you　see　the　reward　of　my　excellent　beauty　：　　now；　now　you　perceive；　but　too　late；　the　plague　of　envy。　　When　the　people　did　honour　me；　and　call　me　new　Venus；　then　yee　should　have　wept；　then　　you　should　have　sorrowed　as　though　I　had　been　dead　：　for　now　I　see　and　perceive　that　I　am　come　to　this　misery　by　the　only　name　of　Venus；　bring　mee；　and　as　fortune　has　appointed；　place　me　on　the　top　of　the　rocke；　I　greatly　desire　to　end　my　marriage；　I　greatly　covet　to　see　my　husband。　　Why　doe　I　delay？　　why　should　I　refuse　him　that　is　appointed　to　destroy　all　the　world。

Thus　ended　she　her　words；　and　thrust　her　selfe　among　the　people　that　followed。　　Then　they　brought　her　to　the　appointed　rocke　of　the　high　hill；　and　set　＇her＇　hereon；　and　so　departed。　　The　Torches　and　lights　were　put　out　with　the　teares　of　the　people；　and　every　man　gone　home；　the　miserable　Parents　well　nigh　consumed　with　sorrow；　gave　themselves　to　everlasting　darknes。

Thus　poore　Psyches　being　left　alone；　weeping　and　trembling　on　the　toppe　of　the　rocke；　was　blowne　by　the　gentle　aire　and　of　shrilling　Zephyrus；　and　carried　from　the　hill　with　a　meek　winde；　which　retained　her　garments　up；；　and　by　little　and　little　bought　her　downe　into　a　deepe　valley；　where　she　was　laid　in　a　bed　of　most　sweet　and　fragrant　flowers。

Thus　faire　Psyches　being　sweetly　couched　among　the　soft　and　tender　hearbs；　as　in　a　bed　of　sweet　and　fragrant　floures；　and　having　qualified　the　thoughts　and　troubles　of　her　restlesse　minde；　was　now　well　reposed。　　　And　when　she　had　refreshed　her　selfe　sufficiently　with　sleepe；　she　rose　with　a　more　quiet　and　pacified　minde；　and　fortuned　to　espy　a　pleasant　wood　invironed　with　great　and　mighty　trees。　　Shee　espied　likewise　a　running　river　as　cleare　as　crystall　：　in　the　midst　of　the　wood　well　nigh　at　the　fall　of　the　river　was　a　princely　Edifice；　wrought　and　builded　not　by　the　art　or　hand　of　man；　but　by　the　mighty　power　of　God　：　and　you　would　judge　at　the　first　entry　therin；　that　it　were　some　pleasant　and　worthy　mansion　for　the　powers　of　　heaven。　　For　the　embowings　above　were　of　Citron　and　Ivory；　propped　and　undermined　with　pillars　of　gold；　the　walls　covered　and　seeled　with　silver；　divers　sorts　of　beasts　were　graven　and　carved；　that　seemed　to　encounter　with　such　as　entered　in。　　All　things　were　so　curiously　and　finely　wrought；　that　it　seemed　either　to　be　the　worke　of　some　Demy　god；　or　of　God　himselfe。　　The　pavement　was　all　of　pretious　stones；　divided　and　cut　one　from　another；　whereon　was　carved　divers　kindes　of　pictures；　in　such　sort　that　blessed　and　thrice　blessed　were　they　that　might　goe　upon　such　a　pavement　：　Every　part　and　angle　of　the　house　was　so　well　adorned；　that　by　reason　of　the　pretious　stones　and　inestimable　treasure　there；　it　glittered　and　shone　in　such　sort；　that　the　chambers；　porches；　and　doores　gave　light　as　it　had　beene　the　Sunne。　　Neither　otherwise　did　the　other　treasure　of　the　house　disagree　unto　so　great　a　majesty；　that　verily　it　seemed　in　every　point　an　heavenly　Palace；　fabricate　and　built　for　Jupiter　himselfe。

Then　Psyches　moved　with　delectation　approched　nigh　and　taking　a　bold　heart　entred　into　the　house；　and　beheld　every　thing　there　with　great　affection；　she　saw　storehouses　wrought　exceedingly　fine；　and　replenished　with　aboundance　of　riches。　　Finally；　there　could　nothing　be　devised　which　lacked　there　：　but　among　such　great　store　of　treasure　this　was　most　marvellous；　that　there　was　no　closure；　bolt；　nor　locke　to　keepe　the　same。　　And　when　with　great　pleasure　shee　had　viewed　all　these　things；　she　heard　a　voyce　without　any　body；　that　sayd；　Why　doe　you　marvell　Madame　at　so　great　riches？　behold；　all　that　you　see　is　at　your　commandement；　wherefore　goe　you　into　the　chamber；　and　repose　your　selfe　upon　the　bed；　and　desire　what　bath　you　will　have；　and　wee　whose　voyces　you　heare　bee　your　servants；　and　ready　to　minister　unto　you　according　to　your　desire。　　In　the　meane　season；　royall　meats　and　dainty　dishes　shall　be　prepared　for　you。

Then　Psyches　perceived　the　felicity　of　divine　providence；　and　according　　to　the　advertisement　of　the　incorporeall　voyces　she　first　reposed　her　selfe　upon　the　bed；　and　then　refreshed　her　body　in　the　baines。　　This　done；　shee　saw　the　table　garnished　with　meats；　and　a　chaire　to　sit　downe。

When　Psyches　was　set　downe；　all　sorts　of　divine　meats　and　wines　were　brought　in；　not　by　any　body；　but　as　it　were　with　a　winde；　for　she　saw　no　person　before　her；　but　only　heard　voyces　on　every　side。　After　that　all　the　services　were　brought　to　the　table；　one　came　in　and　sung　invisibly；　another　played　on　the　harpe；　but　she　saw　no　man。　　The　harmony　of　the　Instruments　did　so　greatly　shrill　in　her　eares；　that　though　there　were　no　manner　of　person；　yet　seemed　she　in　the　midst　of　a　multitude　of　people。

All　these　pleasures　finished；　when　night　aproched　Psyches　went　to　bed；　and　when　she　was　layd；　that　the　sweet　sleep　came　upon　her；　she　greatly　feared　her　virginity；　because　shee　was　alone。　　Then　came　her　unknowne　husband　and　lay　with　her　：　and　after　that　hee　had　made　a　perfect　consummation　of　the　marriage；　he　rose　in　the　morning　before　day；　and　departed。　　Soone　after　came　her　invisible　servants；　and　presented　to　her　such　things　as　were　necessary　for　her　defloration。　　And　thus　she　passed　forth　a　great　while；　and　as　it　happeneth；　the　novelty　of　the　things　by　continuall　custome　did　encrease　her　pleasure；　but　especially　the　sound　of　the　instruments　was　a　comfort　to　her　being　alone。

During　this　time　that　Psyches　was　in　this　place　of　pleasures；　her　father　and　mother　did　nothing　but　weepe　and　lament；　and　her　two　sisters　hearing　of　her　most　miserable　fortune；　came　with　great　dolour　and　sorrow　to　comfort　and　speake　with　her　parents。

The　night　following　；　Psyches　husband　spake　unto　her　（for　she　might　feele　his　eyes；　his　hands；　and　his　ears）　and　sayd；　O　my　sweet　Spowse　and　dear　wife；　fortune　doth　menace　unto　thee　imminent　danger；　wherof　I　wish　thee　greatly　to　beware　：　for　know　that　thy　sisters；　thinking　that　thou　art　dead；　bee　greatly　troubled；　and　are　coming　to　the　mountain　by　thy　steps。　　Whose　lamentations　if　thou　fortune　to　heare；　beware　that　thou　doe　in　no　wise　make　answer；　or　looke　up　towards　them；　for　if　thou　doe　thou　shalt　purchase　to　mee　great　sorrow；　and　to　thyself　utter　destruction。　　Psyches　hearing　her　Husband；　was　contented　to　doe　all　things　as　hee　had　commanded。

After　that　hee　was　departed　and　the　night　passed　away；　Psyches　lamented　and　lamented　all　the　day　following；　thinking　that　now　shee　was　past　all　hopes　of　comfort；　in　that　shee　was　closed　within　the　walls　of　a　prison；　deprived　of　humane　conversation；　and　commaunded　not　to　aid　her　sorrowful　Sisters；　no　nor　once　to　see　them。　　Thus　she　passed　all　the　day　in　weeping；　and　went　to　bed　at　night；　without　any　refection　of　meat　or　baine。

Incontinently　after　came　her　husband；　who　when　he　had　embraced　her　sweetly；　began　to　say；　Is　it　thus　that　I　find　you　perform　your　promise；　my　sweet　wife？　　What　do　I　finde　heere？　　Passe　you　all　the　day　and　the　night　in　weeping？　And　wil　you　not　cease　in　your　husbands　armes？　　Goe　too；　doe　what　ye　will；　purchase　your　owne　destruction；　and　when　you　find　it　so；　then　remember　my　words；　and　repent　but　too　late。　　Then　she　desired　her　husband　more　and　more；　assuring　him　that　shee　should　die；　unlesse　he　would　grant　that　she　might　see　her　sisters；　wherby　she　might　speak　with　them　and　comfort　them；　wherat　at　length　he　was　contented；　and　moreover　hee　willed　that　shee　should　give　them　as　much　gold　and　jewels　as　she　would。　　But　he　gave　her　a　further　charge　saying；　Beware　that　ye　covet　not　（being　mooved　by　the　pernicious　counsell　of　you　sisters）　to　see　the　shape　of　my　person；　lest　by　your　curiosity　you　deprive　your　selfe　of　so　great　and　worthy　estate。　　Psyches　being　glad　herewith；　rendered　unto　him　most　entire　thankes；　and　said；　Sweet　husband；　I　had　rather　die　than　to　bee　separated　from　you；　for　whosoever　you　bee；　I　love　and　retaine　you　within　my　heart；　as　if　you　were　m