the golden asse-第18章

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ied　O　Cupid　take　me　a　more　worthy　wife；　and　thou　Zephyrus　beare　downe　thy　mistresse；　and　so　she　cast　her　selfe　headlong　from　the　mountaine　：　but　shee　fell　not　into　the　valley　neither　alive　nor　dead；　for　all　the　members　and　parts　of　her　body　were　torne　amongst　the　rockes；　wherby　she　was　made　prey　unto　the　birds　and　wild　beasts；　as　she　worthily　deserved。

Neither　was　the　vengeance　of　the　other　delayed；　for　Psyches　travelling　in　that　country；　fortuned　to　come　to　another　city　where　her　other　sister　did　dwel；　to　whom　when　shee　had　declared　all　such　things　as　she　told　to　her　other　sister　shee　　ran　likewise　unto　the　rock　and　was　slaine　in　like　sort　　Then　　Psyches　travelled　about　in　the　countrey　to　seeke　her　husband　Cupid；　hut　he　was　gotten　into　his　mothers　chamber　and　there　bewailed　the　sorrowful　wound　which　he　caught　by　the　oyle　of　a　burning　lamp。

Then　the　white　bird　the　Gull；　which　swims　on　the　waves　of　the　water；　flew　toward　the　Ocean　sea；　where　he　found　Venus　washing　and　bathing　her　selfe　：　to　whom　she　declared　that　her　son　was　burned　and　in　danger　of　death；　and　moreover　that　it　was　a　common　brute　in　the　mouth　of　every　person　（who　spake　evill　of　all　the　family　of　Venus）　that　her　son　doth　nothing　but　haunt　harlots　in　the　mountain；　and　she　her　self　lasciviously　use　to　ryot　in　the　sea　：　wherby　they　say　that　they　are　flow　become　no　more　gratious；　pleasant　nor　gentle；　but　incivile；　monstrous　and　horrible。　　Moreover；　that　marriages　are　not　for　any　amity；　or　for　love　of　procreation；　but　full　of　envy；　discord；　and　debate。　　This　the　curious　Gul　did　clatter　in　the　ears　of　Venus；　reprehending　her　son。　　But　Venus　began　to　cry　and　sayd；　What　hath　my　sonne　gotten　any　Love？　　I　pray　thee　gentle　bird　that　doest　serve　me　so　faithfully；　tell　me　what　she　is；　and　what　is　her　name　that　hath　troubled　my　son　in　such　sort？　whether　shee　be　any　of　the　Nymphs；　of　the　number　of　the　goddesses；　of　the　company　of　the　Muses；　or　of　the　mistery　of　the　Graces？　　To　whom　the　bird　answered；　Madam　I　know　not　what　shee　is；　but　this　I　know　that　she　is　called　Psyches。　　Then　Venus　with　indignation　cried　out；　What　is　it　she？　the　usurper　of　my　beauty；　the　Vicar　of　my　name？　What　did　he　think　that　I　was　a　bawd；　by　whose　shew　he　fell　acquainted　with　the　maid？　　And　immediately　she　departed　and　went　to　her　chamber；　where　she　found　her　son　wounded　as　it　was　told　unto　her；　whom　when　she　beheld　she　cries　out　in　this　sort。

Is　this　an　honest　thing；　is　this　honourable　to　thy　parents？　is　this　reason；　that　thou　hast　violated　and　broken　the　commandement　of　thy　mother　and　soveraign　mistresse　：　and　whereas　thou　shouldst　have　vexed　my　enemy　with　loathsom　love；　thou　hast　done　otherwise？

For　being　of　tender　and　unripe　yeares；　thou　hast　with　too　licentious　appetite　embraced　my　most　mortall　Foe；　to　whome　I　shall　bee　made　a　mother；　and　she　a　Daughter。

Thou　presumest　and　thinkest；　thou　trifling　boy；　thou　Varlet；　and　without　all　reverence；　that　thou　art　most　worthy　and　excellent；　and　that　I　am　not　able　by　reason　of　myne　age　to　have　another　son；　which　if　I　should　have；　thou　shouldst　well　understand　that　I　would　beare　a　more　worthier　than　thou。　　But　to　worke　thee　a　greater　despight；　I　do　determine　to　adopt　one　of　my　servants；　and　to　give　him　these　wings；　this　fire；　this　bow；　and　these　Arrowes；　and　all　other　furniture　which　I　gave　to　thee；　not　to　this　purpose；　neither　is　any　thing　given　thee　of　thy　father　for　this　intent　：　but　first　thou　hast　been　evill　brought　up　and　instructed　in　thy　youth　thou　hast　thy　hands　ready　and　sharpe。　　Thou　hast　often　offended　thy　antients；　and　especially　me　that　am　thy　mother；　thou　hast　pierced　mee　with　thy　darts　thou　contemnest　me　as　a　widow；　neither　dost　t　thou　regard　thy　valiant　and　invincible　father；　and　to　anger　me　more；　thou　art　amorous　of　harlots　and　wenches　：　hot　I　will　cause　that　thou　shalt　shortly　repent　thee；　and　that　this　marriage　shal　be　dearely　bought。　To　what　a　point　am　I　now　driven？　What　shall　I　do？　　Whither　shall　I　goe？　　How　shall　I　represse　this　beast？　　Shall　I　aske　ayd　of　myne　enemy　Sobriety；　whom　I　have　often　offended　to　engender　thee？　Or　shall　I　seeke　for　counsel　of　every　poore　rusticall　woman？　No；　no；　yet　had　I　rather　dye；　howbeit　I　will　not　cease　my　vengeance；　to　her　must　I　have　recourse　for　helpe；　and　to　none　other　（I　meane　to　Sobriety）；　who　may　correct　thee　sharpely；　take　away　thy　quiver；　deprive　thee　of　thy　arrowes；　unbend　thy　bow；　quench　thy　fire；　and　which　is　more　subdue　thy　body　with　punishment　：　and　when　that　l　have　rased　and　cut　off　this　thy　haire；　which　I　have　dressed　with　myne　owne　hands；　and　made　to　glitter　like　gold；　and　when　I　have　clipped　thy　wings；　which　I　my　selfe　have　caused　to　burgen；　then　shall　I　thinke　to　have　revenged　my　selfe　sufficiently　　upon　thee　for　the　injury　which　thou　hast　done。　　When　shee　had　spoken　these　words　shee　departed　in　a　great　rage　out　of　her　chamber。

Immediatelie　as　she　was　going　away　came　Juno　and　Ceres；　demaunding　the　cause　of　her　anger。　　Then　Venus　answered；　Verily　you　are　come　to　comfort　my　sorrow；　but　I　pray　you　with　all　diligence　to　seeke　out　one　whose　name　is　Psyches；　who　is　a　vagabond；　and　runneth　about　the　Countries；　and　　（as　I　thinke）　you　are　not　ignorant　of　the　brute　of　my　son　Cupid；　and　of　his　demeanour；　which　I　am　ashamed　to　declare。　　Then　they　understanding　the　whole　matter；　endeavoured　to　mitigate　the　ire　of　Venus　in　this　sort　：　What　is　the　cause　Madam；　or　how　hath　your　son　so　offended；　that　you　shold　so　greatly　accuse　his　love；　and　blame　him　by　reason　that　he　is　amorous？　and　why　should　you　seeke　the　death　of　her；　whom　he　doth　fancie？　　We　most　humbly　intreat　you　to　pardon　his　fault　if　he　have　accorded　to　the　mind　of　any　maiden　：　what　do　you　not　know　that　he　is　a　young　man？　　Or　have　you　forgotten　of　what　yeares　he　is？　　Doth　he　seeme　alwayes　unto　you　to　be　a　childe？　　You　are　his　mother；　and　a　kind　woman；　will　you　continually　search　out　his　dalliance？　　Will　you　blame　his　luxury？　　Will　you　bridle　his　love？　and　will　you　reprehend　your　owne　art　and　delights　in　him？　　What　God　or　man　is　hee；　that　can　endure　that　you　should　sowe　or　disperse　your　seed　of　love　in　every　place；　and　to　make　restraint　thereof　within　your　owne　doores？　certes　you　will　be　the　cause　of　the　suppression　of　the　publike　paces　of　young　Dames。　　In　this　sort　this　goddesse　endeavoured　to　pacifie　her　mind；　and　to　excuse　Cupid　with　al　their　power　（although　he　were　absent）　for　feare　of　his　darts　and　shafts　of　love。　　But　Venus　would　in　no　wise　asswage　her　heat；　but　（thinking　that　they　did　rather　trifle　and　taunt　at　her　injuries）　she　departed　from　them；　and　tooke　her　voiage　towards　the　sea　in　all　haste。　　In　the　meane　season　Psyches　hurled　her　selfe　hither　and　thither；　to　seeke　her　husband；　the　rather　because　she　thought　that　if　he　would　not　be　appeased　with　the　sweet　flattery　of　his　wife；　yet　he　would　take　mercy　on　her　at　her　servile　and　continuall　prayers。　　And　（espying　a　Church　on　the　top　of　a　high　hill）　she　said；　What　can　I　tell　whether　my　husband　and　master　be　there　or　no？　wherefore　she　went　thitherward；　and　with　great　paine　and　travell；　moved　by　hope；　after　that　she　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　mountaine；　she　came　to　the　temple；　and　went　in；　wheras　behold　she　espied　sheffes　of　corn　lying　on　a　heap；　blades　withered　with　garlands；　and　reeds　of　barly；　moreover　she　saw　hooks；　sithes；　sickles；　and　other　instruments；　to　reape；　but　every　thing　lay　out　of　order；　and　as　it　were　cast　in　by　the　hands　of　laborers　which　when　Psyches　saw　she　gathered　up　and　put　everything　in　order；　thinking　that　she　would　not　despise　or　contemne　the　temples　of　any　of　the　Gods；　but　rather　get　the　favour　and　benevolence　of　them　all　：　by　and　by　Ceres　came　in；　and　beholding　her　busie　and　curious　in　her　chapell；　cried　out　a　far　off；　and　said；　O　Psyches　needfull　of　mercy；　Venus　searcheth　for　thee　in　every　place　to　revenge　her　selfe　and　to　punish　thee　grievously；　but　thou　hast　more　mind　to　be　heere；　and　carest　for　nothing　lesse；　then　for　thy　safety。　　Then　Psyches　fell　on　her　knees　before　her；　watring　her　feet　with　her　teares；　wiping　the　ground　with　her　haire；　and　with　great　weeping　and　lamentation　desired　pardon；　saying；　O　great　and　holy　Goddesse；　l　pray　thee　by　thy　plenteous　and　liberall　right　hand；　by　the　joyfull　ceremonies　of　thy　harvest；　by　the　secrets　of　thy　Sacrifice；　by　the　flying　chariots　of　thy　dragons；　by　the　tillage　of　the　ground　of　Sicilie；　which　thou　hast　invented；　by　the　marriage　of　Proserpin；　by　the　diligent　inquisition　of　thy　daughter；　and　by　the　other　secrets　which　are　within　the　temple　of　Eleusis　in　the　land　of　Athens；　take　pitty　on　me　thy　servant　Psyches；　and　let　me　hide　my　selfe　a　few　dayes　amongst　these　sheffes　of　corne；　untill　the　ire　of　so　great　a　Goddesse　be　past；　or　until　that　I　be　refreshed　of　my　great　labour　and　travell。　Then　answered　Ceres；　Verely　Psyches；　I　am　greatly　moved　by　thy　prayers　and　teares；　and　desire　with　all　my　heart　to　aide　thee；　but　if　I　should　suffer　thee　to　be　hidden　here；　I　should　increase　the　displeasure　of　my　Cosin；　with　whom　I　have　made　a　treatie　of　peace；　and　an　ancient　promise　of　amity　：　wherefore　I　advise　thee　to　depart　hence　and　take　it　not　in　evil　part　in　that　I　will　not　suffer　thee　to　abide　and　remaine　here　within　my　temple。　　Then　Psyches　driven　away　contrary　to　her　hope；　was　double　afflicted　with　sorrow　and　so　she　returned　back　againe。　　And　behold　she　perceived　a　far　off　in　a　vally　a　Temple　standing　within　a　Forest；　faire　and　curiously　wrought；　and　minding　to　over…passe　no　place　whither　better　hope　did　direct　her；　and　to　the　intent　she　would　desire　pardon　of　every　God；　she　approached　nigh　unto　the　sacred　doore；　whereas　she　saw　pretious　riches　and　vestiments　ingraven　with　letters　of　gold；　hanging　upon　branches　of　trees；　and　the　posts　of　the　temple　testifying　the　name　of　the　goddesse　Juno；　to　whom　they　were　dedicate；　then　she　kneeled　downe　upon　her　knees；　and　imbraced　the　Alter　with　her　hands；　and　wiping　her　teares；　gan　pray　in　this　sort　：　O　deere　spouse　and　sister　of　the　great　God　Jupiter　which　art　adored　and　worshipped　amongst　the　great　temples　of　Samos；　called　upon　by　women　with　child；　worshipped　at　high　Carthage；　because　thou　wast　brought　from　heaven　by　the　lyon；　the　rivers　of　the　floud　Inachus　do　celebrate　thee　：　and　know　that　thou　art　the　wife　of　the　great　god；　and　the　goddesse　of　goddesses；　all　the　east　part　of　the　world　have　thee　in　veneration；　all　the　world　calleth　thee　Lucina　：　I　pray　thee　to　be　my　advocate　in　my　tribulations；　deliver　me　from　the　great　danger　which　pursueth　me；　and　save　me　that　am　weary　with　so　long　labours　and　sorrow；　for　I　know　that　it　is　thou　that　succorest　and　helpest　such　women　as　are　with　child　and　in　　danger。　　　Then　Juno　hearing　the　prayers　of　Psyches；　appeared　unto　her　in　all　her　royalty；　saying；　Certes　Psyches　I　would　gladly　help　thee；　but　I　am　ashamed　to　do　any　thing　contrary　to　the　will　of　my　daughter　in　law　Venus；　whom　alwaies　I　have　loved　as　mine　owne　child；　moreover　I　shall　incurre　the　danger　of　the　law；　intituled；　De　servo　corrupto；　whereby　am　forbidden　to　retaine　any　servant　fugitive；　against　the　will　of　his　Master。　　Then　Psyches　cast　off　likewise　by　Juno；　as　without　all　hope　of　the　recovery　of　her　husband；　reasoned　with　her　selfe　in　this　sort　：　Now　what　comfort　or　remedy　is　left　to　my　afflictions；　when　as　my　prayers　will　nothing　availe　with　the　goddesses？　what　shall　I　do？　whither　shall