按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e。 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 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 the