the golden asse-第16章
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as if you were myne owne spirit or Cupid himselfe ： but I pray you grant this likewise； that you would commaund your servant Zephyrus to bring my sisters downe into the valley as he brought mee。
Wherewithall shee kissed him sweetly； and desired him gently to grant her request； calling him her spowse； her sweetheart； her Joy and her Solace。 Wherby she enforced him to agree to her mind； and when morning came he departed away。
After long search made； the sisters of Psyches came unto the hill where she was set on the rocke； and cried with a loud voyce in such sort that the stones answered againe。 And when they called their sister by her name； that their lamentable cries came unto her eares； shee came forth and said； Behold； heere is shee for whom you weepe； I pray you torment your selves no more； cease your weeping。 And by and by she commaunded Zephyrus by the appointment of her husband to bring them downe。 Neither did he delay； for with gentle blasts he retained them up and laid them softly in the valley。 I am not able to expresse the often embracing； kissing and greeting which was between them three； all sorrows and tears were then layd apart。
Come in （quoth Psyches） into our house； and refresh your afflicted mindes with your sister。
After this she shewed them the storehouses of treasure； shee caused them to hear the voyces which served her； the bain was ready； the meats were brought in； and when they had filled themselves with divine delecates； they conceived great envy within their hearts； and one of them being curious； did demand what her husband was； of what estate； and who was Lord of so pretious a house？ But Psyches remembring the promise which she had made to her husband； feigned that hee was a young man； of comely stature； with a flaxen beard； and had great delight in hunting the dales and hills by。 And lest by her long talke she should be found to trip or faile in her words； she filled their laps with gold； silver； and Jewels； and commanded Zephyrus to carry them away。
When they were brought up to the mountain； they made their wayes homeward to their owne houses； and murmured with envy that they bare against Psyches； saying； behold cruell and contrary fortune； behold how we； borne all of one Parent； have divers destinies ： but especially we that are the elder two bee married to strange husbands； made as handmaidens； and as it were banished from our Countrey and friends。 Whereas our younger sister hath great abundance of treasure； and hath gotten a god to her husband； although shee hath no skill how to use such great plenty of riches。 Saw you not sister what was in the house； what great store of jewels； what glittering robes； what Gemmes； what gold we trod on？ That if shee hath a husband according as shee affirmeth； there is none that liveth this day more happy in all the world than she。 And so it may come to passe； at length for the great affection which hee may beare unto her that hee may make her a goddesse； for by Hercules； such was her countenance； so she behaved her self； that as a goddesse she had voices to serve her； and the windes did obey her。
But I poore wretch have first married an husband elder than my father； more bald than a Coot； more weake than a childe； and that locketh me up all day in the house。
Then said the other sister； And in faith I am married to a husband that hath the gout； twyfold； crooked； nor couragious in paying my debt； I am faine to rub and mollifie his stony fingers with divers sorts of oyles； and to wrap them in playsters and salves； so that I soyle my white and dainty hands with the corruption of filthy clouts； not using my self like a wife； but more like a servant。 And you my sister seem likewise to be in bondage and servitude； wherefore I cannot abide to see our younger sister in such felicity； saw you not I pray you how proudly and arrogantly she handled us even now？ And how in vaunting her selfe she uttered her presumptuous minde； how she cast a little gold into our laps； and being weary of our company； commanded that we should be borne and blown away？
Verily I live not； nor am a woman； but I will deprive her of all her blisse。 And if you my sister bee so far bent as I； let us consult together； and not to utter our minde to any person； no not to our parents； nor tell that ever we saw her。 For it sufficeth that we have seene her； whom it repenteth to have seene。 Neither let us declare her good fortune to our father； nor to any other； since as they seeme not happy whose riches are unknowne ： so shall she know that she hath sisters no Abjects； but worthier than she。
But now let us goe home to our husbands and poore houses； and when we are better instructed； let us return to suppresse her pride。 So this evill counsell pleased these two evil women； and they hid the treasure which Psyches gave them； and tare their haire； renewing their false and forged teares。 When their father and mother beheld them weep and lament still； they doubled their sorrowes and griefes； but full of yre and forced with Envy； they tooke their voyage homeward； devising the slaughter and destruction of their sister。
In the meane season the husband of Psyches did warne her againe in the night with these words ： Seest thou not （quoth he） what perill and danger evill fortune doth threaten unto thee； whereof if thou take not good heed it will shortly come upon thee。 For the unfaithfull harlots doe greatly endeavor to set their snares to catch thee； and their purpose is to make and perswade thee to behold my face； which if thou once fortune to see； as I have often told； thou shalt see no more。 Wherfore if these naughty hagges； armed with wicked minds； doe chance to againe （as I think no otherwise but that they will） take heed that thou talk not with them but simply suffer them to speake what they will； howbeit if thou canst not refraine thy selfe； beware that thou have no communication of thy husband； nor answer a word if they fortune to question of me； so will we encrease our stocke； and this young and tender childe； couched in this young and tender belly of thine； shall be made an immortall god； otherwise a mortal creature。 Then Psyches was very glad that she should bring forth a divine babe； and very joyfull in that she should be honored as a mother。 She reckened and numbered carefully the days and months that passed； and beeing never with child before； did marvel greatly that in so short a time her belly should swel so big。 But those pestilent and wicked furies breathing out their Serpentine poyson； took shipping to bring their enterprise to passe。 The Psyches was warned again by her husband in this sort ： Behold the last day； the extream case； and the enemies of thy blood； hath armed themselves against us； pitched their campe； set their host in array； and are marching towards us； for now thy two sisters have drawn their swords and are ready to slay thee。 O with what force are we assailed on this day！ O sweet Psyches I pray thee to take pitty on thy selfe； of me； and deliver thy husband and this infant within thy belly from so great danger； and see not； neither heare these cursed women； which are not worthy to be called thy sisters； for their great hatred and breach of sisterly amity； for they wil come like Syrens to the mountains； and yeeld out their pittious and lamentable cries。 When Psyches had heard these words she sighed sorrowfully and said； O deare husband this long time have you had experience and triall of my faith； and doubt you not that I will persever in the same； wherefore command your winde Zephyrus； that hee may doe as hee hath done before； to the intent that where you have charged me not to behold your venerable face； yet that I may comfort myself with the sight of my sisters。 I pray you by these beautifull haires； by these round cheekes delicate and tender； by your pleasant hot breast； whose shape and face I shall learn at length by the childe in my belly； grant the fruit of my desire； refresh your deare Spowse Psyches with joy； who is bound and linked unto you for ever。 I little esteeme to see your visage and figure； little doe I regard the night and darknesse thereof； for you are my only light。
Her husband being as it were inchanted with these words and compelled by violence of her often embracing； wiping away her teares with his haire； did yeeld unto his wife。 And when morning came； departed as hee was accustomed to doe。
Now her sisters arrived on land； and never rested til they came to the rock； without visiting their parents； and leapt down rashly from the hill themselves。 Then Zephyrus according to the divine commandment brought them down； although it were against his wil； and laid them in the vally without any harm ： by and by they went into the palace to their sister without leave； and when they had eftsoone embraced their prey； and thanked her with flattering words for the treasure which she gave them； they said； O deare sister Psyches； know you that you are now no more a child； but a mother ： O what great joy beare you unto us in your belly？ What a comfort will it be unto all the house？ How happy shall we be； that shall see this Infant nourished amongst so great plenty of Treasure？ That if he be like his parents； as it is necessary he should； there is no doubt but a new cupid shall be borne。 By this kinde of measures they went about to winne Psyches by little and little； but because they were wearie with travell； they sate them downe in chaires； and after that they had washed their bodies in baines they went into a parlour； where all kinde of meats were ready prepared。 Psyches commanded one to play with his harpe； it was done。 Then immediately others sung； others tuned their instruments； but no person was seene； by whose sweet harmony and modulation the sisters of Psyches were greatly delighted。
Howbeit the wickednesse of these cursed women was nothing suppressed by the sweet noyse of these instruments； but they settled themselves to work their treasons against Psyches； demanding who was her husband； and of what Parentage。 Then shee having forgotten by too much simplicity； what shee had spoken before of her husband； invented a new answer； and said that her husband was of a great province； a merchant； and a man of middle age； having his beard intersparsed with grey haires。 Which when shee had spoken （because shee would have no further talke） she filled their laps with Gold and Silver； and bid Zephyrus to bear them away。
In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves； saying； How say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches？ First she sayd that her husband was a young man of flourishing yeares； and had a flaxen beard； and now she sayth that he is halfe grey with age。 What is he that in so short a space can become so old？ You shall finde it no otherwise my sister； but that either this cursed queane hath invented a great lie； or else that she never saw the shape of her husband。 And if it be so that she never saw him； then verily she is married to some god； and hath a young god in her belly。 But if it be a divine babe； and fortune to come to the eares of my mother （as God forbid it should） then may I go and hang my selfe ： wherfore let us go to our parents； and with forged lies let us colour the matter。
After they
