the golden asse-第39章

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served　at　the　temple　：　in　the　end　the　wholesome　gentlenesse　of　the　goddesse　did　nothing　deceive　me；　for　in　the　night　she　appeared　to　me　in　a　vision；　shewing　that　the　day　was　come　which　I　had　wished　for　so　long；　she　told　me　what　provision　and　charges　I　should　be　at；　and　how　that　she　had　appointed　her　principallest　Priest　Mythra　to　be　minister　with　me　in　my　sacrifices。

When　I　heard　these　divine　commandements；　I　greatly　rejoyced　：　and　arose　before　day　to　speake　with　the　great　Priest；　whom　I　fortuned　to　espie　comming　out　of　his　chamber：　Then　I　saluted　him；　and　thought　with　my　selfe　to　aske　and　demand　his　counsell　with　a　bold　courage；　but　as　soone　as　he　perceived　me；　he　began　first　to　say　：　O　Lucius　now　know　I　well　that　thou　art　most　happy　and　blessed；　whom　the　divine　goddesse　doth　so　greatly　accept　with　mercy；　why　dost　thou　delay？　　Behold　the　day　which　thou　desiredst　when　as　thou　shalt　receive　at　my　hands　the　order　of　religion；　and　know　the　most　pure　secrets　of　the　gods；　whereupon　the　old　man　tooke　me　by　the　hand；　and　lead　me　to　the　gate　of　the　great　temple；　where　at　the　first　entrie　he　made　a　solempne　celebration；　and　after　morning　sacrifice　ended；　brought　out　of　the　secret　place　of　the　temple　books；　partly　written　with　unknown　characters；　and　partly　painted　with　figures　of　beasts　declaring　briefly　every　sentence；　with　tops　and　tailes；　turning　in　fashion　of　a　wheele；　which　were　strange　and　impossible　to　be　read　of　the　prophane　people：　There　he　interpreted　to　me　such　things　as　were　necessary　to　the　use　and　preparation　of　mine　order。　This　done；　I　gave　charge　to　certaine　of　my　companions　to　buy　liberally；　whatsoever　was　needfull　and　convenient；　then　he　brought　me　to　the　next　bains　accompanied　with　all　the　religious　sort；　and　demanding　pardon　of　the　goddesse；　washed　me　and　purified　my　body；　according　to　custome。　After　this；　when　noone　approached；　he　brought　me　backe　againe　to　the　temple；　presented　me　before　the　face　of　the　goddesse；　giving　a　charge　of　certaine　secret　things　unlawfull　to　be　uttered；　and　commanding　me；　and　generally　all　the　rest；　to　fast　by　the　space　of　ten　continuall　daies；　without　eating　of　any　beast；　or　drinking　any　wine；　which　thing　I　observed　with　a　marvellous　continencie。　　Then　behold　the　day　approached；　when　as　the　sacrifice　should　be　done；　and　when　night　came　there　arrived　on　every　coast；　a　great　multitude　of　Priests；　who　according　to　their　order　offered　me　many　presents　and　gifts：　then　was　all　the　Laity　and　prophane　people　commanded　to　depart；　and　when　they　had　put　on　my　back　a　linnen　robe；　they　brought　me　to　the　most　secret　and　sacred　place　of　all　the　temple。　You　would　peradventure　demand　（you　studious　reader）　what　was　said　and　done　there；　verely　I　would　tell　you　if　it　were　lawfull　for　me　to　tell；　you　should　know　if　it　were　convenient　for　you　to　heare；　but　both　thy　eares；　and　my　tongue　shall　incur　the　like　paine　of　rash　curiositie：　Howbeit；　I　will　content　thy　mind　for　this　present　time；　which　peradventure　is　somewhat　religious　and　given　to　some　devotion；　listen　therefore　and　beleeve　it　to　be　true：　Thou　shalt　understand　that　I　approached　neere　unto　Hell；　even　to　the　gates　of　Proserpina；　and　after　that；　I　was　ravished　throughout　all　the　Element；　I　returned　to　my　proper　place：　About　midnight　I　saw　the　Sun　shine；　I　saw　likewise　the　gods　celestiall　and　gods　infernall；　before　whom　I　presented　my　selfe；　and　worshipped　them：　Behold　now　have　I　told　thee；　which　although　thou　hast　heard；　yet　it　is　necessarie　thou　conceale　it；　this　have　I　declared　without　offence；　for　the　understanding　of　the　prophane。

When　morning　came；　and　that　the　solemnities　were　finished；　I　came　forth　sanctified　with　xii。　Stoles　and　in　a　religious　habit；　whereof　I　am　not　forbidden　to　speake；　considering　that　many　persons　saw　me　at　that　time：　there　I　was　commanded　to　stand　upon　a　seate　of　wood；　which　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　temple；　before　the　figure　and　remembrance　of　the　goddesse；　my　vestiment　was　of　fine　linnen；　covered　and　embroidered　with　flowers。　　I　had　a　pretious　Cope　upon　my　shoulders　hanging　downe　to　the　ground；　whereon　were　beasts　wrought　of　divers　colours　as　Indian　dragons；　and　Hiperborian　Griphons；　whom　in　forme　of　birds；　the　other　world　doth　ingender；　the　Priests　commonly　call　such　a　habit；　a　celestiall　Stole：　in　my　right　hand　I　carried　a　light　torch；　and　a　garland　of　flowers　upon　my　head；　with　Palme　leaves　sprouting　out　on　every　side：　I　was　adorned　like　unto　the　Sun；　and　made　in　fashion　of　an　Image；　in　such　sort　that　all　the　people　compassed　about　to　behold　me：　then　they　began　to　solemnize　the　feast　of　the　nativitie；　and　the　new　procession　with　sumptuous　bankets　and　delicate　meates：　the　third　day　was　likewise　celebrated　with　like　ceremonies　with　a　religious　dinner；　and　with　all　the　consummation　of　the　order：　when　I　had　continued　there　a　good　space；　I　conceived　a　marvailous　great　pleasure　and　consolation　in　beholding　ordinarily　the　Image　of　the　goddesse；　who　at　length　admonished　me　to　depart　homeward；　not　without　rendring　of　thanks；　which　although　it　were　not　sufficient；　yet　they　were　according　to　my　power。　Howbeit　I　could　unneth　be　perswaded　to　depart；　before　I　had　fallen　prostrate　before　the　face　of　the　goddesse；　and　wiped　her　steps　with　my　face；　whereby　I　began　so　greatly　to　weepe　and　sigh　that　my　words　were　interrupted；　and　as　devouring　my　prayer；　I　began　to　say　in　this　sort：　O　holy　and　blessed　dame；　the　perpetuall　comfort　of　humane　kind；　who　by　thy　bounty　and　grace　nourishest　all　the　world；　and　hearest　a　great　affection　to　the　adversities　of　the　miserable；　as　a　loving　mother　thou　takest　no　rest；　neither　art　thou　idle　at　any　time　in　giving　thy　benefits；　and　succoring　all　men；　as　well　on　land　as　sea；　thou　art　she　that　puttest　away　all　stormes　and　dangers　from　mans　life　by　thy　right　hand；　whereby　likewise　thou　restrainest　the　fatall　dispositions；　appeasest　the　great　tempests　of　fortune　and　keepest　backe　the　course　of　the　stars：　the　gods　supernall　doe　honour　thee：　the　gods　infernall　have　thee　in　reverence：　thou　environest　all　the　world；　thou　givest　light　to　the　Sunne；　thou　governest　the　world；　thou　treadest　downe　the　power　of　hell：　By　thy　meane　the　times　returne；　the　Planets　rejoyce；　the　Elements　serve：　at　thy　commandment　the　winds　do　blow；　the　clouds　increase；　the　seeds　prosper；　and　the　fruits　prevaile；　the　birds　of　the　aire；　the　beasts　of　the　hill；　the　serpents　of　the　den；　and　the　fishes　of　the　sea；　do　tremble　at　thy　majesty；　but　my　spirit　is　not　able　to　give　thee　sufficient　praise；　my　patrimonie　is　unable　to　satisfie　thy　sacrifice；　my　voice　hath　no　power　to　utter　that　which　I　thinke；　no　if　I　had　a　thousand　mouths　and　so　many　tongues：　Howbeit　as　a　good　religious　person；　and　according　to　my　estate；　I　will　alwaies　keepe　thee　in　remembrance　and　close　thee　within　my　breast。　　When　I　had　ended　mine　orison；　I　went　to　embrace　the　great　Priest　Mythra　my　spirituall　father；　and　to　demand　his　pardon；　considering　I　was　unable　to　recompence　the　good　which　he　had　done　to　me：　after　great　greeting　and　thanks　I　departed　from　him　to　visit　my　parents　and　friends；　and　within　a　while　after　by　the　exhortation　of　the　goddesse。　I　made　up　my　packet；　and　tooke　shipping　toward　the　Citie　of　Rome；　where　with　a　prosperous　winde　I　arrived　about　the　xii。　day　of　December。　And　the　greatest　desire　that　I　had　there；　was　daily　to　make　my　praiers　to　the　soveraigne　goddesse　Isis；　who　by　reason　of　the　place　where　her　temple　was　builded；　was　called　Campensis；　and　continually　adored　of　the　people　of　Rome。　Her　minister　and　worshipper　was　I；　howbeit　I　was　a　stranger　to　her　Church；　and　unknowne　to　her　religion　there。

When　the　yeare　was　ended；　and　the　goddesse　warned　me　againe　to　receive　this　new　order　and　consecration；　I　marvailed　greatly　what　it　should　signifie；　and　what　should　happen；　considering　that　I　was　a　sacred。　person　already。　but　it　fortuned　that　while　I　partly　reasoned　with　my　selfe；　and　partly　examining　the　thing　with　the　Priests　and　Bishops；　there　came　a　new　and　marvailous　thought　in　my　mind；　that　is　to　say；　I　was　onely　religious　to　the　goddesse　Isis；　but　not　sacred　to　the　religion　of　great　Osiris　the　soveraigne　father　of　all　the　goddesses；　between　whom；　although　there　was　a　religious　unitie　and　concord；　yet　there　was　a　great　difference　of　order　and　ceremony。　And　because　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　likewise　be　a　minister　unto　Osiris；　there　was　no　long　delay：　for　in　the　night　after；　appeared　unto　me　one　of　that　order；　covered　with　linnen　robes；　holding　in　his　hands　speares　wrapped　in　Ivie；　and　other　things　not　convenient　to　declare；　which　then　he　left　in　my　chamber；　and　sitting　in　my　seate；　recited　to　me　such　things　as　were　necessary　for　the　sumptuous　banket　of　mine　entrie。　And　to　the　end　I　might　know　him　againe；　he　shewed　me　how　the　ankle　of　his　left　foote　was　somewhat　maimed；　which　caused　him　a　little　to　halt。

After　that　I　manifestly　knew　the　will　of　the　God　Osiris；　when　mattins　was　ended；　I　went　from　one　to　another；　to　find　him　out　which　had　the　halting　marke　on　his　foote；　according　as　I　learned　by　my　vision；　at　length　I　found　it　true：　for　I　perceived　one　of　the　company　of　the　Priests　who　had　not　onely　the　token　of　his　foote；　but　the　stature　and　habite　of　his　body；　resembling　in　every　point　as　he　appeared　in　the　night：　he　was　called　Asinius　Marcellus；　a　name　not　much　disagreeing　from　my　transformation。　By　and　by　I　went　to　him；　which　knew　well　enough　all　the　matter；　as　being　monished　by　like　precept　in　the　night：　for　the　night　before　as　he　dressed　the　flowers　and　garlands　about　the　head　of　the　god　Osiris；　he　understood　by　the　mouth　of　the　image　which　told　the　predestinations　of　all　men；　how　he　had　sent　a　poore　man　of　Madura；　to　whom　he　should　minister　his　sacraments；　to　the　end　hee　should　receive　a　reward　by　divine　providence；　and　the　other　glory；　for　his　vertuous　studies。　When　I　saw　my　selfe　this　deputed　unto　religion；　my　desire　was　stopped　by　reason　of　povertie；　for　I　had　spent　a　great　part　of　my　goods　in　travell　and　peregrination；　but　most　of　all　in　the　Citie　of　Rome；　whereby　my　low　estate　withdrew　me　a　great　while。

In　the　end　being　oft　times　stirred　forward；　not　without　great　trouble　of　mind；　I　was　constrained　to　sell　my　robe　for　a　little　money　：　howbeit　sufficient　for　all　my　affaires。　Then　the　Priest　spake　unto　me　saying；　How　is　it　that　for　a　little　pleasure　thou　art　not　afraid　to　sell　thy　vestiments；　and　entring　into　so　great　ceremonies；　fearest　to　fall　into　povertie？　Prepare　thy　selfe；　and　abstaine　from　all　animall　meats；　as　beasts　and　fish。　　In　the　meane　season　I　frequented　the　sacrifices　of　Serapis；　which　were　done　in　the　night；　which　thing　gave　me　great　comfort　to　my　peregrination；　and　ministred　unto　me　more　plentifull　living；　considering　I　gained　some　money　in　haunting　the　court；　by　reason　of　my　Latin　tongue。

Immediately　after　I　was　eftsoones　called　and　admonished　by　the　god　Osiris；　to　receive　a　third　order　of　religion。　Then　I　was　greatly　astonied；　because　I　could　not　tell　what　this　new　vision　signified；　or　what　the　intent　of　the　celestiall　god　was；　doubting　least　the　former　Priests　had　given　me　ill　counsell；　and　fearing　that　they　had　not　faithfully　instructed　me　：　being　in　this　manner　as　it　were　incensed　the　god　Osiris　appeared　to　me　the　night　following；　and　giving　me　admonition　said；　There　is　no　occasion　why　thou　shouldest　be　afraid　with　so　often　orde