the golden asse-第47节

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ontinually　be　ready　to　the　service　of　the　goddesse；　and　ordinarily　frequent　the　company　of　the　priests；　whereby　I　would　wholy　become　devout　to　the　goddesse；　and　an　inseparable　worshipper　of　her　divine　name　：　It　fortuned　that　the　goddesse　appeared　to　me　oftetimes　in　the　night　perswading　and　commanding　me　to　take　the　order　of　her　religion；　but　I；　though　I　was　indued　with　a　desirous　good　will；　yet　the　feare　of　the　same　withheld　me　considering　her　obeysance　was　hard　and　difficile；　the　chastitie　of　the　Priests　intolerable；　and　the　life　fraile　and　subject　to　manie　inconveniences。　Being　thus　in　doubt；　I　refrained　my　selfe　from　all　those　things　as　seemed　impossible。

On　a　night　the　great　priest　appeared　unto　me；　presenting　his　lap　full　of　treasure；　and　when　I　demanded　what　it　signified；　he　answered；　that　it　was　sent　me　from　the　countrey　of　Thessaly；　and　that　a　servant　of　mine　named　Candidus　was　arived　likewise　：　when　I　was　awake；　I　mused　in　my　selfe　what　this　vision　should　pretend；　considering　I　had　never　any　servant　called　by　that　name　：　but　what　soever　it　did　signifie；　this　I　verely　thought；　that　it　was　a　foreshew　of　gaine　and　prosperous　chance　：　while　I　was　thus　astonied　I　went　to　the　temple；　and　taried　there　till　the　opening　of　the　gates；　then　I　went　in　and　began　to　pray　before　the　face　of　the　goddesse；　the　Priest　prepared　and　set　the　divine　things　of　every　Altar；　and　pulled　out　the　fountaine　and　holy　vessell　with　solempne　supplication。　　Then　they　began　to　sing　the　mattens　of　the　morning；　testifying　thereby　the　houre　of　the　prime。　　By　and　by　behold　arived　my　servant　which　I　had　left　in　the　country；　when　Fotis　by　errour　made　me　an　Asse；　bringing　with　him　my　horse；　recovered　by　her　through　certaine　signes　and　tokens　which　I　had　upon　my　backe。　Then　I　perceived　the　interpretation　of　my　dreame；　by　reason　that　beside　the　promise　of　gaine；　my　white　horse　was　restored　to　me；　which　was　signified　by　the　argument　of　my　servant　Candidus。

This　done　I　retired　to　the　service　of　the　goddesse　in　hope　of　greater　benefits；　considering　I　had　received　a　signe　and　token；　whereby　my　courage　increased　every　day　more　and　more　to　take　upon　me　the　orders　and　sacraments　of　the　temple：　insomuch　that　I　oftentimes　communed　with　the　Priest；　desiring　him　greatly　to　give　me　the　degree　of　the　religion；　but　he　which　was　a　man　of　gravitie；　and　well　renowned　in　the　order　of　priesthood；　deferred　my　affection　from　day　to　day；　with　comfort　and　better　hope；　as　parents　commonly　bridle　the　desires　of　their　children；　when　they　attempt　or　indeavour　any　unprofitable　thing；　saying；　that　the　day　when　any　one　should　be　admitted　into　their　order　is　appointed　by　the　goddesse；　the　Priest　which　should　minister　the　sacrifice　is　chosen　by　her　providence；　and　the　necessary　charges　of　the　ceremonies　is　alotted　by　her　commandement；　all　which　things　he　willed　me　to　attend　with　marvailous　patience；　and　that　I　should　beware　either　of　too　much　hastinesse；　or　too　great　slacknesse；　considering　that　there　was　like　danger；　if　being　called　I　should　delay：　or　not　called　I　should　be　hasty　：　moreover　he　said　that　there　was　none　of　his　company　either　of　so　desperate　a　mind；　or　so　rash　and　hardy；　as　to　enterprise　any　thing　without　the　commandernent　of　the　goddesse；　whereby　he　should　commit　a　deadly　offence；　considering　that　it　was　in　her　power　to　damne　and　save　all　persons；　and　if　any　were　at　the　point　of　death；　and　in　the　way　to　damnation；　so　that　he　were　capable　to　receive　the　secrets　of　the　goddesse；　it　was　in　her　power　by　divine　providence　to　reduce　him　to　the　path　of　health；　as　by　a　certaine　kind　of　regeneration　：　Finally　he　said　that　I　must　attend　the　celestiall　precept；　although　it　was　evident　and　plaine；　that　the　goddesse　had　already　vouchsafed　to　call　and　appoint　me　to　her　ministery；　and　to　will　me　refraine　from　prophane　and　unlawfull　meates；　as　those　Priests　which　were　already　received；　to　the　end　I　might　come　more　apt　and　cleane　to　the　knowledge　of　the　secrets　of　religion。　　Then　was　I　obedient　unto　these　words；　and　attentive　with　meek　quietnesse；　and　probable　taciturnity；　I　daily　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