the golden asse-第20章

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pace　of　one　day；　and　say　that　such　as　I　had　is　consumed　away　since　my　sonne　fell　sicke；　but　returne　againe　quickly；　for　I　must　dresse　my　selfe　therewithall；　and　goe　to　the　Theatre　of　the　Gods　：　then　poore　Psyches　perceived　the　end　of　all　fortune；　thinking　verely　that　she　should　never　returne；　and　not　without　cause；　when　as　she　was　compelled　to　go　to　the　gulfe　and　furies　of　hell。　　　Wherefore　without　any　further　delay；　she　went　up　to　an　high　tower　to　throw　her　selfe　downe　headlong　（thinking　that　it　was　the　next　and　readiest　way　to　hell）　　but　the　tower　（as　inspired）　spake　unto　her　saying；　O　poore　miser；　why　goest　thou　about　to　slay　thy　selfe？　Why　dost　thou　rashly　yeeld　unto　thy　last　perill　and　danger？　know　thou　that　if　thy　spirit　be　once　separated　from　thy　body；　thou　shalt　surely　go　to　hell；　but　never　to　returne　againe；　wherefore　harken　to　me；　Lacedemon　a　Citie　in　Greece　is　not　farre　hence：　go　thou　thither　and　enquire　for　the　hill　Tenarus；　whereas　thou　shalt　find　a　hold　leading　to　hell；　even　to　the　Pallace　of　Pluto；　but　take　heede　thou　go　not　with　emptie　hands　to　that　place　of　darknesse：　but　Carrie　two　sops　sodden　in　the　flour　of　barley　and　Honney　in　thy　hands；　and　two　halfepence　in　thy　mouth。　　And　when　thou　hast　passed　a　good　part　of　that　way；　thou　shalt　see　a　lame　Asse　carrying　of　wood；　and　a　lame　fellow　driving　him；　who　will　desire　thee　to　give　him　up　the　sticks　that　fall　downe；　but　passe　thou　on　and　do　nothing；　by　and　by　thou　shalt　come　unto　a　river　of　hell；　whereas　Charon　is　ferriman；　who　will　first　have　his　fare　paied　him；　before　he　will　carry　the　soules　over　the　river　in　his　boat；　whereby　you　may　see　that　avarice　raigneth　amongst　the　dead；　neither　Charon　nor　Pluto　will　do　any　thing　for　nought：　for　if　it　be　a　poore　man　that　would　passe　over　and　lacketh　money；　he　shal　be　compelled　to　die　in　his　journey　before　they　will　shew　him　any　reliefe；　wherefore　deliver　to　carraine　Charon　one　of　the　halfpence　（which　thou　bearest　for　thy　passage）　and　let　him　receive　it　out　of　thy　mouth。　And　it　shall　come　to　passe　as　thou　sittest　in　the　boat　thou　shalt　see　an　old　man　swimming　on　the　top　of　the　river；　holding　up　his　deadly　hands；　and　desiring　thee　to　receive　him　into　the　barke；　but　have　no　regard　to　his　piteous　cry；　when　thou　art　passed　over　the　floud；　thou　shalt　espie　old　women　spinning；　who　will　desire　thee　to　helpe　them；　hut　beware　thou　do　not　consent　unto　them　in　any　case；　for　these　and　like　baits　and　traps　will　Venus　set　to　make　thee　let　fall　one　of　thy　sops；　and　thinke　not　that　the　keeping　of　thy　sops　is　a　light　matter；　for　if　thou　leese　one　of　them　thou　shalt　be　assured　never　to　returne　againe　to　this　world。　Then　shalt　thou　see　a　great　and　marvailous　dogge；　with　three　heads；　barking　continually　at　the　soules　of　such　as　enter　in；　but　he　can　do　them　no　other　harme；　he　lieth　day　and　night　before　the　gate　of　Proserpina；　and　keepeth　the　house　of　Pluto　with　great　diligence；　to　whom　if　thou　cast　one　of　thy　sops；　thou　maist　have　accesse　to　Proserpina　without　all　danger　：　shee　will　make　thee　good　cheere；　and　entertaine　thee　with　delicate　meate　and　drinke；　but　sit　thou　upon　the　ground；　and　desire　browne　bread；　and　then　declare　thy　message　unto　her；　and　when　thou　hast　received　such　beauty　as　she　giveth；　in　thy　returne　appease　the　rage　of　the　dogge　with　thy　other　sop；　and　give　thy　other　halfe　penny　to　covetous　Charon；　and　come　the　same　way　againe　into　the　world　as　thou　wentest　：　but　above　all　things　have　a　regard　that　thou　looke　not　in　the　boxe；　neither　be　not　too　curious　about　the　treasure　of　the　divine　beauty。　　In　this　manner　tire　tower　spake　unto　Psyches；　and　advertised　her　what　she　should　do　：　and　immediately　she　tooke　two　halfe　pence；　two　sops；　and　all　things　necessary；　and　went　to　the　mountaine　Tenarus　to　go　towards　hell。　　After　that　Psyches　had　passed　by　the　lame　Asse；　paid　her　halfe　pennie　for　passage；　neglected　the　old　man　in　the　river；　denyed　to　helpe　the　woman　spinning；　and　filled　the　ravenous　month　of　the　dogge　with　a　sop；　shee　came　to　the　chamber　of　Proserpina。　　There　Psyches　would　not　sit　in　any　royall　seate；　nor　eate　any　delicate　meates；　but　kneeled　at　the　feete　of　Proserpina；　onely　contented　with　course　bread；　declared　her　message；　and　after　she　had　received　a　mysticall　secret　in　a　boxe；　she　departed；　and　stopped　the　mouth　of　the　dogge　with　the　other　sop；　and　paied　the　boatman　the　other　halfe　penny。　When　Psyches　was　returned　from　hell；　to　the　light　of　the　world；　shee　was　ravished　with　great　desire；　saying；　Am　not　I　a　foole；　that　knowing　that　I　carrie　here　the　divine　beauty；　will　not　take　a　little　thereof　to　garnish　my　face；　to　please　my　love　withall？　　And　by　and　by　shee　opened　the　boxe　where　she　could　perceive　no　beauty　nor　any　thing　else；　save　onely　an　infernall　and　deadly　sleepe；　which　immediatly　invaded　all　her　members　as　soone　as　the　boxe　was　uncovered；　in　such　sort　that　she　fell　downe　upon　the　ground；　and　lay　there　as　a　sleeping　corps。

But　Cupid　being　now　healed　of　his　wound　and　Maladie；　not　able　to　endure　the　absence　of　Psyches；　got　him　secretly　out　at　a　window　of　the　chamber　where　hee　was　enclosed；　and　（receiving　his　wings；）　tooke　his　flight　towards　his　loving　wife；　whom　when　he　had　found；　hee　wiped　away　the　sleepe　from　her　face；　and　put　it　againe　into　the　boxe；　and　awaked　her　with　the　tip　of　one　of　his　arrows；　saying　：　O　wretched　Caitife；　behold　thou　wert　well…nigh　perished　againe；　with　the　overmuch　curiositie　：　well；　goe　thou；　and　do　thy　message　to　my　Mother；　and　in　the　meane　season；　I　will　provide　for　all　things　accordingly　：　wherewithall　he　tooke　his　flight　into　the　aire；　and　Psyches　brought　her　present　to　Venus。

Cupid　being　more　and　more　in　love　with　Psyches；　and　fearing　the　displeasure　of　his　Mother；　did　pearce　into　the　heavens；　and　arrived　before　Jupiter　to　declare　his　cause　：　then　Jupiter　after　that　hee　had　eftsoone　embraced　him；　gan　say　in　this　manner　：　O　my　well　beloved　sonne；　although　thou　haste　not　given　due　reverence　and　honour　unto　me　as　thou　oughtest　to　doe；　but　haste　rather　spoiled　and　wounded　this　my　brest　（whereby　the　laws　and　order　of　the　Elements　and　Planets　be　disposed）　with　continuall　assaults；　of　Terren　luxury　and　against　all　laws；　and　the　discipline　Julia；　and　the　utility　of　the　publike　weale；　in　transforming　my　divine　beauty　into　serpents；　fire；　savage　beasts；　birds；　and　into　Bulles　：　howbeit　remembring　my　modesty；　and　that　I　have　nourished　thee　with　mine　owne　proper　hands；　I　will　doe　and　accomplish　all　thy　desire；　so　that　thou　canst　beware　of　spitefull　and　envious　persons。　　And　if　there　be　any　excellent　Maiden　of　comely　beauty　in　the　world；　remember　yet　the　benefit　which　I　shall　shew　unto　thee　by　recompence　of　her　love　towards　me　againe。　　When　lie　had　spoken　these　words　he　commanded　Mercury　to　call　all　the　gods　to　counsell；　and　if　any　of　the　celestiall　powers　did　faile　of　appearance　he　would　be　condemned　in　ten　thousand　pounds　：　which　sentence　was　such　a　terrour　to　all　the　goddesses；　that　the　high　Theatre　was　replenished；　and　Jupiter　began　to　speake　in　this　sort　：　O　yee　gods；　registred　in　the　bookes　of　the　Muses；　you　all　know　this　young　man　Cupid　whom　I　have　nourished　with　mine　owne　hands；　whose　raging　flames　of　his　first　youth；　I　thought　best　to　bridle　and　restraine。　　It　sufficeth　that　hee　is　defamed　in　every　place　for　his　adulterous　living；　wherefore　all　occasion　ought　to　bee　taken　away　by　meane　of　marriage　：　he　hath　chosen　a　Maiden　that　fancieth　him　well；　and　hath　bereaved　her　of　her　virginity；　let　him　have　her　still；　and　possesse　her　according　to　his　owne　pleasure　：　then　he　returned　to　Venus；　and　said；　And　you　my　daughter；　take　you　no　care；　neither　feare　the　dishonour　of　your　progeny　and　estate；　neither　have　regard　in　that　it　is　a　mortall　marriage；　for　it　seemeth　unto　me　just；　lawfull；　and　legitimate　by　the　law　civill。　　Incontinently　after　Jupiter　commanded　Mercury　to　bring　up　Psyches；　the　spouse　of　Cupid；　into　the　Pallace　of　heaven。　And　then　he　tooke　a　pot　of　immortality；　and　said；　Hold　Psyches；　and　drinke；　to　the　end　thou　maist　be　immortall；　and　that　Cupid　may　be　thine　everlasting　husband。　　By　and　by　the　great　banket　and　marriage　feast　was　sumptuously　prepared；　Cupid　sate　downe　with　his　deare　spouse　between　his　armes　：　Juno　likewise　with　Jupiter；　and　all　the　other　gods　in　order；　Ganimedes　filled　the　pot　of　Jupiter；　and　Bacchus　served　the　rest。　Their　drinke　was　Nectar　the　wine　of　the　gods；　Vulcanus　prepared　supper；　the　howers　decked　up　the　house　with　roses　and　other　sweet　smells；　the　graces　threw　about　blame；　the　Muses　sang　with　sweet　harmony；　Apollo　tuned　pleasantly　to　the　Harpe；　Venus　danced　finely　：　Satirus　and　Paniscus　plaid　on　their　pipes；　and　thus　Psyches　was　married　to　Cupid；　and　after　she　was　delivered　of　a　child　whom　we　call　Pleasure。　　This　the　trifling　old　woman　declared　unto　the　captive　maiden　：　but　I　poore　Asse；　not　standing　farre　of；　was　not　a　little　sorry　in　that　I　lacked　pen　and　inke　to　write　so　worthy　a　tale。




THE　SIXTH　BOOKE



THE　TWENTY…THIRD　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　carried　away　the　Gentlewoman；　and　how　they　were　taken　againe　by　the　theeves；　and　what　a　kind　of　death　was　invented　for　them。

By　and　by　the　theeves　came　home　laden　with　treasure；　and　many　of　them　which　were　of　strongest　courage　（leaving　behind　such　as　were　lame　and　wounded；　to　heale　and　aire　themselves）　said　they　would　returne　backe　againe　to　fetch　the　rest　of　their　pillage；　which　they　had　hidden　in　a　certaine　cave；　and　so　they　snatched　up　their　dinner　greedily；　and　brought　us　forth　into　the　way　and　beate　us　before　them　with　staves。　　About　night　（after　that　we　had　passed　over　many　hilles　and　dales）　we　came　to　a　great　cave；　where　they　laded　us　with　mighty　burthens；　and　would　not　suffer　us　to　refresh　our　selves　any　season　but　brought　us　againe　in　our　way；　and　hied　so　fast　homeward；　that　what　with　their　haste　and　their　cruell　stripes；　I　fell　downe　upon　a　stone　by　the　way　side；　then　they　beate　me　pittifully　in　lifting　me　up；　and　hurt　my　right　thigh　and　my　left　hoofe；　and　one　of　them　said；　What　shall　we　do　with　this　lame　Ill　favoured　Asse；　that　is　not　worth　the　meate　he　eats？　　And　other　said；　Since　the　time　that　we　had　him　first　he　never　did　any　good；　and　I　thinke　he　came　unto　our　house　with　evill　lucke；　for　we　have　had　great　wounds　since；　and　losse　of　our　valiant　captaines；　and　other　said；　As　soone　as　he　hath　brought　home　his　burthen；　I　will　surely　throw　him　out　upon　the　mountaine　to　be　a　pray　for　wild　beasts　：　While　these　gentlemen　reasoned　together　of　my　death；　we　fortuned　to　come　home；　for　the　feare　that　I　was　in；　caused　my　feet　to　turne　into　wings　：　after　that　we　were　discharged　of　our　burthens；　they　went　to　their　fellowes　that　were　wounded；　and　told　them　of　our　great　tardity　and　slownesse　by　the　way；　neither　was　I　brought　into　small　anguish；　when　I　perceived　my　death　prepared　before　my　face　：　Why　standest　thou　still　Lucius？　　Why　dost　thou　not　looke　for　thy　death？　Knowst　thou　not　that　the　theeves　have　ordained　to　slay　thee？　seest　thou　not　these　sharpe　and　pointed　flints　which　shall　bruise　and　teare　thee　in　peeces；　if　by　adventure　thou　happen　upon　them？　　Thy　gentle　Magitian　hath　not　onely　given　thee　the　shape　and　travell　of　an　Asse；　but　also　a　skinne　so　soft　and　tender　as　it　were　a　swallow　：　why　dost　thou　not　take　courage　and　runne　away　to　save　thy　selfe？　Art　thou　afraid　of　the　old　woman　more　then　halfe　dead；