the golden asse-第19章

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lictions；　when　as　my　prayers　will　nothing　availe　with　the　goddesses？　what　shall　I　do？　whither　shall　I　go？　　In　what　cave　or　darknesse　shall　I　hide　my　selfe；　to　avoid　the　furor　of　Venus？　　Why　do　I　not　take　a　good　heart；　and　offer　my　selfe　with　humilitie　unto　her；　whose　anger　I　have　wrought？　　What　do　I　know　whether　he　（whom　I　seeke　for）　be　in　his　mothers　house　or　no？　Thus　being　in　doubt；　poore　Psyches　prepared　her　selfe　to　her　owne　danger；　and　devised　how　she　might　make　her　orison　and　prayer　unto　Venus。　　After　that　Venus　was　weary　with　searching　by　Sea　and　Land　for　Psyches；　shee　returned　toward　heaven；　and　commanded　that　one　should　prepare　her　Chariot；　which　her　husband　Vulcanus　gave　unto　her　by　reason　of　marriage；　so　finely　wrought　that　neither　gold　nor　silver　could　be　compared　to　the　brightnesse　therof。　Four　white　pigeons　guided　the　chariot　with　great　diligence；　and　when　Venus　was　entred　in　a　number　of　sparrowes　flew　chirping　about；　making　signe　of　joy；　and　all　other　kind　of　birds　sang　sweetly；　foreshewing　the　comming　of　the　great　goddesse：　the　clouds　gave　place；　the　heavens　opened；　and　received　her　joyfully；　the　birds　that　followed　nothing　feared　the　Eagle；　Hawkes；　or　other　ravenous　foules　of　the　aire。　Incontinently　she　went　unto　the　royall　Pallace　of　God　Jupiter；　and　with　a　proud　and　bold　petition　demanded　the　service　of　Mercury；　in　certaine　of　her　affaires；　whereunto　Jupiter　consented：　then　with　much　joy　shee　descended　from　Heaven　with　Mercury；　and　gave　him　an　earnest　charge　to　put　in　execution　her　words；　saying　：　O　my　Brother；　borne　in　Arcadia；　thou　knowest　well；　that　I　（who　am　thy　sister）　did　never　enterprise　to　doe　any　thing　without　thy　presence；　thou　knowest　also　how　long　I　have　sought　for　a　girle　and　cannot　finde　her；　wherefore　there　resteth　nothing　else　save　that　thou　with　thy　trumpet　doe　pronounce　the　reward　to　such　as　take　her：　see　thou　put　in　execution　my　commandment；　and　declare　that　whatsoever　he　be　that　retaineth　her　wittingly；　against　my　will　shall　not　defend　himselfe　by　any　meane　or　excusation：　which　when　she　had　spoken；　she　delivered　unto　him　a　libell；　wherein　was　contained　the　name　of　Psyches；　and　the　residue　of　his　publication；　which　done；　she　departed　away　to　her　lodging。　　By　and　by；　Mercurius　（not　delaying　the　matter）　proclaimed　throughout　all　the　world；　that　whatsoever　hee　were　that　could　tell　any　tydings　of　a　Kings　fugitive　Daughter；　the　servant　of　Venus；　named　Psyches；　should　bring　word　to　Mercury；　and　for　reward　of　his　paines；　he　should　receive。　seaven　sweet　kisses　of　Venus　After　that　Mercury　had　pronounced。　these　things；　every　man　was　enflamed　with　desire　to　search　out　Psyches。

This　proclamation　was　the　cause　that　put　all　doubt　from　Psyches；　who　was　scantly　come　in　the　sight　of　the　house　of　Venus；　but　one　of　her　servants　called　Custome　came　out；　who　espying　Psyches；　cried　with　a　loud　voyce；　saying：　O　wicked　harlot　as　thou　art；　now　at　length　thou　shalt　know　that　thou　hast　a　mistresse　above　thee。　What；　dost　thou　make　thy　selfe　ignorant；　as　though　thou　didst　not　understand　what　travell　wee　have　taken　in　searching　for　thee？　I　am　glad　that　thou　art　come　into　my　hands；　thou　art　now　in　the　golfe　of　hell；　and　shalt　abide　the　paine　and　punishment　of　thy　great　contumacy；　and　therewithall　she　tooke　her　by　the　haire；　and　brought　her　in；　before　the　presence　of　the　goddesse　Venus。　　When　Venus　spied　her；　shee　began　to　laugh；　and　as　angry　persons　accustome　to　doe；　she　shaked　her　head；　and　scratched　her　right　eare　saying；　O　goddesse；　goddesse；　you　are　now　come　at　length　to　visit　your　husband　that　is　in　danger　of　death；　by　your　meanes　：　bee　you　assured；　I　will　handle　you　like　a　daughter　：　where　be　my　maidens；　Sorrow　and　Sadnesse？　　To　whom　（when　they　came）　she　delivered　Psyches　to　be　cruelly　tormented；　then　they　fulfilled　the　commandement　of　their　Mistresse；　and　after　they　had　piteously　scourged　her　with　rods　and　whips；　they　presented　her　againe　before　Venus；　then　she　began　to　laugh　againe；　saying　：　Behold　she　thinketh　（that　by　reason　of　her　great　belly；　which　she　hath　gotten　by　playing　the　whore）　to　move　me　to　pitty；　and　to　make　me　a　grandmother　to　her　childe。　　Am　not　I　happy；　that　in　the　flourishing　time　of　al　mine　age；　shall　be　called　a　grandmother；　and　the　sonne　of　a　vile　harlot　shall　bee　accounted　the　nephew　of　Venus　：　howbeit　I　am　a　foole　to　tearm　him　by　the　name　of　my　son；　since　as　the　marriage　was　made　betweene　unequall　persons；　in　the　field　without　witnesses；　and　not　by　the　consent　of　parents；　wherefore　the　marriage　is　illegitimate；　and　the　childe　（that　shall　be　borne）　a　bastard；　if　we　fortune　to　suffer　thee　to　live　so　long　till　thou　be　delivered。　　When　Venus　had　spoken　these　words　she　leaped　upon　the　face　of　poore　Psyches；　and　（tearing　her　apparell）　tooke　her　by　the　haire；　and　dashed　her　head　upon　the　ground。　　Then　she　tooke　a　great　quantity　of　wheat；　of　barly；　poppy　seede；　peason；　lintles；　and　beanes；　and　mingled　them　altogether　on　a　heape　saying　：　Thou　evil　favoured　girle；　thou　seemest　unable　to　get　the　grace　of　thy　lover；　by　no　other　meanes；　but　only　by　diligent　and　painefull　service；　wherefore　I　will　prove　what　thou　canst　doe　：　see　that　thou　separate　all　these　graines　one　from　another；　disposing　them　orderly　in　their　quantity；　and　let　it　be　done　before　night。　　When　she　had　appointed　this　taske　unto　Psyches；　she　departed　to　a　great　banket　that　was　prepared　that　day。　　But　Psyches　went　not　about　to　dissever　the　graine；　（as　being　a　thing　impossible　to　be　brought　to　passe　by　reason　it　lay　so　confusedly　scattered）　but　being　astonyed　at　the　cruell　commandement　of　Venus；　sate　still　and　said　nothing。　　Then　the　little　pismire　the　emote；　taking　pitty　of　her　great　difficulty　and　labour；　cursing　the　cruellnesse　of　the　daughter　of　Jupiter；　and　of　so　evill　a　mother；　ran　about；　hither　and　thither；　and　called　to　all　her　friends；　Yee　quick　sons　of　the　ground；　the　mother　of　all　things；　take　mercy　on　this　poore　maid；　espouse　to　Cupid；　who　is　in　great　danger　of　her　person；　I　pray　you　helpe　her　with　all　diligence。　Incontinently　one　came　after　another；　dissevering　and　dividing　the　graine；　and　after　that　they　had　put　each　kinde　of　corne　in　order；　they　ranne　away　againe　in　all　haste。　When　night　came；　Venus　returned　home　from　the　banket　wel　tippled　with　wine；　smelling　of　balme；　and　crowned　with　garlands　of　roses；　who　when　shee　had　espied　what　Psyches　had　done；　gan　say；　This　is　not　the　labour　of　thy　hands；　but　rather　of　his　that　is　amorous　of　thee　：　then　she　gave　her　a　morsel　of　brown　bread；　and　went　to　sleep。　　In　the　mean　season；　Cupid　was　closed　fast　in　the　surest　chamber　of　the　house；　partly　because　he　should　not　hurt　himself　with　wanton　dalliance；　and　partly　because　he　should　not　speake　with　his　love　：　so　these　two　lovers　were　divided　one　from　another。　　When　night　was　passed　Venus　called　Psyches；　and　said；　Seest　thou　yonder　Forest　that　extendeth　out　in　length　with　the　river？　there　be　great　sheepe　shining　like　gold；　and　kept　by　no　manner　of　person。　　I　command　thee　that　thou　go　thither　and　bring　me　home　some　of　the　wooll　of　their　fleeces。　　Psyches　arose　willingly　not　to　do　her　commandement；　but　to　throw　her　selfe　headlong　into　water　to　end　her　sorrows。　　Then　a　green　reed　inspired　by　divine　inspiration；　with　a　gratious　tune　and　melody　gan　say；　O　Psyches　I　pray　thee　not　to　trouble　or　pollute　　my　water　by　the　death　of　thee；　and　yet　beware　that　thou　goe　not　towards　the　terrible　sheepe　of　this　coast；　untill　such　time　as　the　heat　of　the　sunne　be　past；　for　when　the　sunne　is　in　his　force；　then　seeme　they　most　dreadfull　and　furious；　with　their　sharpe　hornes；　their　stony　foreheads　and　their　gaping　throats；　wherewith　they　arme　themselves　to　the　destruction　of　mankinde。　　　　But　untill　they　have　refreshed　themselves　in　the　river；　thou　must　hide　thy　selfe　here　by　me；　under　this　great　plaine　tree；　and　as　soone　as　their　great　fury　is　past；　thou　maist　goe　among　the　thickets　and　bushes　under　the　wood　side　and　gather　the　lockes　their　golden　Fleeces；　which　thou　shalt　finde　hanging　upon　the　briers。　　Then　spake　the　gentle　and　benigne　reed；　shewing　a　mean　to　Psyches　to　save　her　life；　which　she　bore　well　in　memory；　and　with　all　diligence　went　and　gathered　up　such　lockes　as　shee　found；　and　put　them　in　her　apron；　and　carried　them　home　to　Venus。　　Howbeit　the　danger　of　this　second　labour　did　not　please　her；　nor　give　her　sufficient　witnesse　of　the　good　service　of　Psyches；　but　with　a　sower　resemblance　of　laughter；　did　say　：　Of　a　certaine　I　know　that　this　is　not　thy　fact；　but　I　will　prove　if　that　thou　bee　of　so　stout；　so　good　a　courage；　and　singular　prudency　as　thou　seemest　to　bee。　　Then　Venus　spake　unto　Psyches　againe　saying　：　Seest　thou　the　toppe　of　yonder　great　Hill；　from　whence　there　runneth　downe　waters　of　blacke　and　deadly　colour；　which　nourisheth　the　floods　of　Stix；　Cocytus？　I　charge　thee　to　goe　thither；　and　bring　me　a　vessell　of　that　water　：　wherewithall　she　gave　her　a　bottle　of　Christall；　menacing　and　threatening　her　rigorously。　　Then　poor　Psyches　went　in　all　haste　to　the　top　of　the　mountaine；　rather　to　end　her　life；　then　to　fetch　any　water；　and　when　she　was　come　up　to　the　ridge　of　the　hill；　she　perceived　that　it　was　impossible　to　bring　it　to　passe　：　for　she　saw　a　great　rocke　gushing　out　most　horrible　fountaines　of　waters；　which　ran　downe　and　fell　by　many　stops　and　passages　into　the　valley　beneath　：　on　each　side　shee　did　see　great　Dragons；　which　were　stretching　out　their　long　and　bloody　Neckes；　that　did　never　sleepe；　but　appointed　to　keepe　the　river　there　：　the　waters　seemed　to　themselves　likewise　saying；　Away；　away；　what　wilt　thou　doe？　flie；　flie；　or　else　thou　wilt　be　slaine。　Then　Psyches　（seeing　the　impossibility　of　this　affaire）　stood　still　as　though　she　were　transformed　into　a　stone　and　although　she　was　present　in　body；　yet　was　she　absent　in　spirit　and　sense；　by　reason　of　the　great　perill　which　she　saw；　insomuch　that　she　could　not　comfort　her　self　with　weeping；　such　was　the　present　danger　that　she　was　in。　　But　the　royall　bird　of　great　Jupiter；　the　Eagle　remembring　his　old　service　which　he　had　done；　when　as　by　the　pricke　of　Cupid　he　brought　up　the　boy　Ganimedes；　to　the　heavens；　to　be　made　butler　of　Jupiter；　and　minding　to　shew　the　like　service　in　the　person　of　the　wife　of　Cupid；　came　from　the　high…house　of　the　Skies；　and　said　unto　Psyches；　O　simple　woman　without　all　experience；　doest　thou　thinke　to　get　or　dip　up　any　drop　of　this　dreadfull　water？　No；　no；　assure　thy　selfe　thou　art　never　able　to　come　nigh　it；　for　the　Gods　themselves　do　greatly　feare　at　the　sight　thereof。　　What；　have　you　not　heard；　that　it　is　a　custome　among　men　　to　sweare　by　the　puissance　of　the　Gods；　and　the　Gods　do　sweare　by　the　majesty　of　the　river　Stix？　　but　give　me　thy　bottle；　and　sodainly　he　tooke　it；　and　filled　it　with　the　water　of　the　river；　and　taking　his　flight　through　those　cruell　and　horrible　dragons；　brought　it　unto　Psyches　：　who　being　very　joyfull　thereof；　presented　it　to　Venus；　who　would　not　yet　be　appeased；　but　menacing　more　and　more　said；　What；　thou　seemest　unto　me　a　very　witch　and　enchauntresse；　that　bringest　these　things　to　passe；　howbeit　thou　shalt　do　nothing　more。　　Take　this　box　and　to　Hell　to　Proserpina；　and　desire　her　to　send　me　a　little　of　her　beauty；　as　much　as　will　serve　me　the　space　of　one　day；　and　say　that　such　as　I　had　is　consumed　away　since　my　sonne　fell　sicke；　but　returne