the golden asse-第17章

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fe　：　wherfore　let　us　go　to　our　parents；　and　with　forged　lies　let　us　colour　the　matter。

After　they　were　thus　inflamed；　and　had　visited　their　Parents；　they　returned　againe　to　the　mountaine；　and　by　the　aid　of　the　winde　Zephyrus　were　carried　down　into　the　valley；　and　after　they　had　streined　their　eye　lids；　to　enforce　themselves　to　weepe；　they　called　unto　Psyches　in　this　sort；　　Thou　（ignorant　of　so　great　evill）　thinkest　thy　selfe　sure　and　happy；　and　sittest　at　home　nothing　regarding　thy　peril；　whereas　wee　goe　about　thy　affaires　and　are　carefull　lest　any　harme　should　happen　unto　you：　for　we　are　credibly　informed；　neither　can　we　but　utter　it　unto　you；　that　there　is　　a　great　serpent　full　of　deadly　poyson；　with　a　ravenous　gaping　throat；　that　lieth　with　thee　every　night　　Remember　the　Oracle　of　Apollo；　who　pronounced　that　thou　shouldest　he　married　to　a　dire　and　fierce　Serpent；　and　many　of　the　Inhabitants　hereby；　and　such　as　hunt　about　in　the　countrey；　affirme　that　thev　saw　him　yesternight　returning　from　pasture　and　swimming　　over　the　River；　whereby　they　doe　undoubtedly　say；　that　hee　will　not　pamper　thee　long　with　delicate　meats；　but　when　the　time　of　delivery　shall　approach　he　will　devoure　both　thee　and　thy　child　：　wherefore　advise　thy　selfe　whether　thou　wilt　agree　unto　us　that　are　carefull　of　thy　safety；　and　so　avoid　the　perill　of　death；　bee　contented　to　live　with　thy　sisters；　or　whether　thou　remaine　with　the　Serpent　arid　in　the　end　be　swallowed　into　the　gulfe　of　his　body。　And　ff　it　be　so　that　thy　solitary　life；　thy　conversation　with　voices；　this　servile　and　dangerous　pleasure；　and　the　love　of　the　Serpent　doe　more　delight　thee；　say　not　but　that　we　have　played　the　parts　of　naturall　sisters　in　　warning　thee。

Then　the　poore　and　simple　miser　Psyches　was　mooved　with　the　feare　of　so　dreadful　words；　and　being　amazed　in　her　mind；　did　cleane　forget　the　admonitions　of　her　husband；　and　her　owne　promises　made　unto　him；　and　throwing　her　selfe　headlong　into　extreame　misery；　with　a　wanne　and　sallow　countenance；　scantly　uttering　a　third　word；　at　length　gan　say　in　this　sort　：　O　my　most　deare　sisters；　I　heartily　thanke　you　for　your　great　kindnesse　toward　me；　and　I　am　now　verily　perswaded　that　they　which　have　informed　you　hereof　hath　informed　you　of　nothing　but　truth；　for　I　never　saw　the　shape　of　my　husband；　neither　know　I　from　whence　he　came；　only　I　heare　his　voice　in　the　night；　insomuch　that　I　have　an　uncertaine　husband；　and　one　that　loveth　not　the　light　of　the　day　：　which　causeth　me　to　suspect　that　he　is　a　beast；　as　you　affirme。　Moreover；　I　doe　greatly　feare　to　see　him；　for　he　doth　menace　and　threaten　great　evill　unto　mee；　if　I　should　goe　about　to　spy　and　behold　his　shape　wherefore　my　loving　sisters　if　you　have　any　wholeome　remedy　for　your　sister　in　danger；　give　it　now　presently。　Then　they　opened　the　gates　of　their　subtill　mindes；　and　did　put　away　all　privy　guile；　and　egged　her　forward　in　her　fearefull　thoughts；　perswading　her　to　doe　as　they　would　have　her　whereupon　one　of　them　began　and　sayd；　Because　that　wee　little　esteeme　any　perill　or　danger；　to　save　your　life　we　intend　to　shew　you　the　best　way　and　meane　as　we　may　possibly　do。　　Take　a　sharpe　razor　and　put　it　under　the　pillow　of　your　bed；　and　see　that　you　have　ready　a　privy　burning　lampe　with　oyle；　hid　under　some　part　of　the　hanging　of　the　chamber；　and　finely　dissembling　the　matter　when　according　to　his　custome　he　commeth　to　bed　and　sleepeth　soundly；　arise　you　secretly；　and　with　your　bare　feet　goe　and　take　the　lampe；　with　the　Razor　in　your　right　hand　and　with　valiant　force　cut　off　the　head　of　the　poysonous　serpent；　wherein　we　will　aid　and　assist　you　：　and　when　by　the　death　of　him　you　shall　be　made　safe；　we　wil　marry　you　to　some　comely　man。

After　they　had　thus　inflamed　the　heart　of　their　sister　fearing　lest　some　danger　might　happen　unto　them　by　reason　of　their　evill　counsell；　they　were　carried　by　the　wind　Zephyrus　to　the　top　of　the　mountaine；　and　so　they　ran　away　and　tooke　shipping。

When　Psyches　was　left　alone　（saving　that　she　seemed　not　to　be　alone；　being　stirred　by　so　many　furies）　she　was　in　a　tossing　minde　like　the　waves　of　the　sea；　and　although　her　wil　was　obstinate；　and　resisted　to　put　in　execution　the　counsell　of　her　Sisters；　yet　she　was　in　doubtfull　and　divers　opinions　touching　her　calamity。　　Sometime　she　would；　sometime　she　would　not；　sometime　she　is　bold；　sometime　she　feareth；　sometime　shee　mistrusteth；　somtime　she　is　mooved；　somtime　she　hateth　the　beast；　somtime　she　loveth　her　husband　：　but　at　length　night　came；　when　as　she　prepared　for　her　wicked　intent。

Soon　after　her　husband　Came；　and　when　he　had　kissed　and　embraced　her　he　fell　asleep。　Then　Psyches　（somwhat　feeble　in　body　and　mind；　yet　mooved　by　cruelty　of　fate）　received　boldnes　and　brought　forth　the　lampe；　and　tooke　the　razor；　so　by　her　audacity　she　changed　her　mind　：　but　when　she　took　the　lamp　and　came　to　the　bed　side；　she　saw　the　most　meeke　and　sweetest　beast　of　all　beasts；　even　faire　Cupid　couched　fairly；　at　whose　sight　the　very　lampe　encreased　his　light　for　joy；　and　the　razor　turned　his　edge。

But　when　Psyches　saw　so　glorious　a　body　shee　greatly　feared；　and　amazed　in　mind；　with　a　pale　countenance　all　trembling　fel　on　her　knees　and　thought　to　hide　the　razor；　yea　verily　in　her　owne　heart；　which　doubtlesse　she　had　done；　had　it　not　through　feare　of　so　great　an　enterprise　fallen　out　of　her　hand。　And　when　she　saw　and　beheld　the　beauty　of　the　divine　visage　shee　was　well　recreated　in　her　mind；　she　saw　his　haires　of　gold；　that　yeelded　out　a　sweet　savor；　his　neck　more　white　than　milk；　his　purple　cheeks；　his　haire　hanging　comely　behinde　and　before；　the　brightnesse　　whereof　did　darken　the　light　of　the　lamp；　his　tender　plume　feathers；　dispersed　upon　his　sholders　like　shining　flours；　and　trembling　hither　and　thither；　and　his　other　parts　of　his　body　so　smooth　and　so　soft；　that　it　did　not　repent　Venus　to　beare　such　a　childe。　　At　the　beds　feet　lay　his　bow；

quiver；　and　arrowes；　that　be　the　weapons　of　so　great　a　god　：　which　when　Psyches　did　curiously　behold；　she　marvelling　at　her　husbands　weapons；　took　one　of　the　arrows　out　of　the　quiver；　and　pricked　her　selfe　withall；　wherwith　she　was　so　grievously　wounded　that　the　blood　followed；　and　thereby　of　her　owne　accord　shee　added　love　upon　love；　then　more　broyling　in　the　love　of　Cupid　shee　embraced　him　and　kissed　him　and　kissed　him　a　thousand　times；　fearing　the　measure　of　his　sleepe　　But　alas　while　shee　was　in　this　great　joy；　whether　it　were　for　envy　for　desire　to　touch　this　amiable　body　likewise；　there　fell　out　a　droppe　of　burning　oyle　from　the　lampe　upon　the　right　shoulder　of　the　god。　　O　rash　and　bold　lampe；　the　vile　ministery　of　love；　how　darest　thou　bee　so　bold　as　to　burne　the　god　of　all　fire？　　When　as　he　invented　thee；　to　the　intent　that　all　lovers　might　with　more　joy　passe　the　nights　in　pleasure。

The　god　beeing　burned　in　this　sort；　and　perceiving　that　promise　and　faith　was　broken；　bee　fled　away　without　utterance　of　any　word；　from　the　eves　and　hands　of　his　most　unhappy　wife。　　But　Psyches　fortuned　to　catch　him　as　hee　was　rising　by　the　right　thigh；　and　held　him　fast　as　hee　flew　above　in　the　aire；　until　such　time　as　constrained　by　wearinesse　　shee　let　goe　arid　fell　downe　upon　the　ground。　　But　Cupid　followed　her　downe；　and　lighted　upon　the　top　of　a　Cypresse　tree；　and　angerly　spake　unto　her　in　this　manner　：　O　simple　Psyches；　consider　with　thy　selfe　how　I；　little　regarding　the　commandement　of　my　mother　（who　willed　mee　that　thou　shouldst　bee　married　to　a　man　of　base　and　miserable　condition）　did　come　my　selfe　from　heaven　to　love　thee；　and　wounded　myne　owne　body　with　my　proper　weapons；　to　have　thee　to　my　Spowse　：　　And　did　I　seeme　a　beast　unto　thee；　that　thou　shouldst　go　about　to　cut　off　my　head　with　a　razor；　who　loved　thee　so　well？　　Did　not　I　alwayes　give　thee　a　charge？　　Did　not　I　gently　will　thee　to　beware？　　But　those　cursed　aides　and　Counsellors　of　thine　shall　be　worthily　rewarded　for　their　pains。　　As　for　thee　thou　shalt　be　sufficiently　punished　by　my　absence。　When　hee　had　spoken　these　words　he　tooke　his　flight　into　the　aire。　　Then　Psyches　fell　flat　on　the　ground；　and　as　long　as　she　could　see　her　husband　she　cast　her　eyes　after　him　into　the　aire；　weeping　and　lamenting　pitteously　：　　but　when　hee　was　gone　out　of　her　sight　shee　threw　her　selfe　into　the　next　running　river；　for　the　great　anguish　and　dolour　that　shee　was　in　for　the　lack　of　her　husband　；　howbeit　the　water　would　not　suffer　her　to　be　drowned；　but　tooke　pity　upon　her；　in　the　honour　of　Cupid　which　accustomed　to　broyle　and　burne　the　river；　and　threw　her　upon　the　bank　amongst　the　herbs。

Then　Pan　the　rusticall　god　sitting　on　the　river　side；　embracing　and　＇instructing＇　the　goddesse　Canna　to　tune　her　songs　and　pipes；　by　whom　were　feeding　the　young　and　tender　Goats；　after　that　he　perceived　Psyches　in　sorrowful　case；　not　ignorant　（I　know　not　by　what　meanes）　of　her　miserable　estate；　endeavored　to　pacific　her　in　this　sort　：　O　faire　maid；　I　am　a　rusticke　and　rude　heardsman；　howbeit　by　reason　of　my　old　age　expert　in　many　things；　for　as　farre　as　I　can　learnt　by　conjecture　（which　according　as　wise　men　doe　terme　is　called　divination）　I　perceive　by　your　uncertaine　gate；　your　pale　hew；　your　sobbing　sighes；　and　your　watery　eyes；　that　you　are　greatly　in　love。　　Wherefore　hearken　to　me；　and　goe　not　about　to　slay　your　selfe；　nor　weepe　not　at　all；　but　rather　adore　and　worship　the　great　god　Cupid；　and　winne　him　unto　you　by　your　gentle　promise　of　service。

When　the　god　of　Shepherds　had　spoken　these　words；　she　gave　no　answer；　but　made　reverence　to　him　as　to　a　god；　and　so　departed。

After　that　Psyches　had　gone　a　little　way；　she　fortuned　unawares　to　come　to　a　city　where　the　husband　of　one　of　her　Sisters　did　dwell。　Which　when　Psyches　did　understand；　shee　caused　that　her　sister　had　knowledge　of　her　comming；　and　so　they　met　together；　and　after　great　embracing　and　salutation；　the　sister　of　Psyches　demaunded　the　cause　of　her　travell　thither。　　Marry　（quoth　she）　doe　you　not　remember　the　counsell　you　gave　me；　whereby　you　would　that　I　should　kill　the　beast　which　under　colour　of　my　husband　did　lie　with　mee　every　night　i　　You　shall　understand；　that　as　soone　as　I　brought　forth　the　lampe　to　see　and　behold　his　shape；　I　perceived　that　he　was　the　sonne　of　　Venus；　even　Cupid　himselfe　　that　lay　with　mee。　Then　I　being　stricken　　with　great　pleasure；　and　desirous　to　embrace　him；　could　not　thoroughly　asswage　my　delight；　but　alas　by　evill　ill　chance　the　oyle　of　the　lampe　fortuned　to　fall　on　his　shoulder　which　caused　him　to　awake；　and　seeing　me　armed　with　fire　and　weapons；　gan　say；　How　darest　thou　be　so　bold　to　doe　so　great　a　mischiefe？　Depart　from　me　and　take　such　things　as　thou　didst　bring　：　for　I　will　have　thy　sister　（and　named　you）　to　my　wife；　and　she　shall　be　placed　in　thy　felicity；　and　by　and　by　hee　commaunded　Zephyrus　to　carry　me　away　from　the　bounds　of　his　house。

Psyches　had　scantly　finished　　her　tale　but　her　sister　pierced　with　the　pricke　of　carnall　desire　and　wicked　envy　ran　home；　and　feigning　to　her　husband　that　she　　had　heard　word　of　the　death　of　her　parents　tooke　shipping　and　came　to　the　mountaine。　　And　although　there　blew　a　contrary　winde；　yet　being　brought　in　a　vaine　hope　shee　cried　O　Cupid　take　me　a　more　worthy　wife；　and　thou　Zephyrus　beare　downe　thy　mistresse；　and　so　she　cast