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！
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 no