The Golden Asse
by Lucius Apuleius
Adlington's translation, 1566
THE ELEVENTH BOOKE
THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius by Roses
and prayer returned to his humane shape.
When midnight came that I had slept my
first sleepe, I awaked with suddaine feare, and saw the Moone shining bright,
as when shee is at the full, and seeming as though she leaped out of the Sea.
Then thought I with my selfe, that that was the most secret time, when the
goddesse Ceres had most puissance and force, considering that all humane
things be governed by her providence: and not onely all beasts private and
tame, but also all wild and savage beasts be under her protection. And
considering that all bodies in the heavens, the earth and the seas, be by her
increasing motions increased, and by her diminishing motions diminished: as
weary of all my cruell fortune and calamity, I found good hope and soveraigne
remedy, though it were very late, to be delivered from all my misery, by
invocation and prayer, to the excellent beauty of the Goddesse, whom I saw
shining before mine eyes, wherefore shaking off mine Assie and drowsie sleepe,
I arose with a joyfull face, and mooved by a great affection to purifie my
selfe, I plunged my selfe seven times into the water of the Sea, which number
of seven is conveniable and agreeable to holy and divine things, as the worthy
and sage Philosopher Pythagoras hath declared. Then with a weeping
countenance, I made this Orison to the puissant Goddesse, saying: O blessed
Queene of heaven, whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the originall and
motherly nource of all fruitfull things in earth, who after the finding of thy
daughter Proserpina, through the great joy which thou diddest presently
conceive, madest barraine and unfruitfull ground to be plowed and sowne, and
now thou inhabitest in the land of Eleusie; or whether thou be the celestiall
Venus, who in the beginning of the world diddest couple together all kind of
things with an ingendered love, by an eternall propagation of humane kind, art
now worshipped within the Temples of the Ile Paphos, thou which art the sister
of the God Phœbus, who nourishest so many people by the generation of beasts,
and art now adored at the sacred places of Ephesus, thou which art horrible
Proserpina, by reason of the deadly howlings which thou yeeldest, thou hast
the power to stoppe and put away the invasion of the hags and Ghoasts which
appeare unto men, and to keepe them downe in the closures of the earth: thou
which nourishest all the fruits of the world by thy vigor and force; with
whatsoever name or fashion it is lawfull to call upon thee, I pray thee, to
end my great travaile and misery, and deliver mee from the wretched fortune,
which had so long time pursued me. Grant peace and rest if it please thee to
my adversities, for I have endured too too [sic] much labour and perill.
Remoove from me my shape of mine Asse, and render to me my pristine estate,
and if I have offended in any point of divine Majesty, let me rather dye then
live, for I am full weary of life. When I had ended this orison, and
discovered my plaints to the Goddesse, I fortuned to fall asleepe, and by and
by appeared unto me a divine and venerable face, worshipped even of the Gods
themselves. Then by little and little I seemed to see the whole figure of her
body, mounting out of the sea and standing before mee, wherefore I purpose to
describe her divine semblance, if the poverty of my humane speech will suffer
me, or her divine power give me eloquence thereto. First shee had a great
abundance of haire, dispersed and scattered about her neck, on the crowne of
her head she bare many garlands enterlaced with floures, in the middle of her
forehead was a compasse in fashion of a glasse, or resembling the light of the
Moone, in one of her hands she bare serpents, in the other, blades of corne,
her vestiment was of fine silke yeelding divers colours, sometime yellow,
sometime rosie, sometime flamy, and sometime (which troubled my spirit sore)
darke and obscure, covered with a blacke robe in manner of a shield, and
pleated in most subtill fashion at the skirts of her garments, the welts
appeared comely, whereas here and there the starres glimpsed, and in the
middle of them was placed the Moone, which shone like a flame of fire, round
about the robe was a coronet or garland made with flowers and fruits. In her
right hand shee had a timbrell of brasse, which gave a pleasant sound, in her
left hand shee bare a cup of gold, out of the mouth whereof the serpent Aspis
lifted up his head, with a swelling throat, her odoriferous feete were covered
with shoes interlaced and wrought with victorious palme. Thus the divine shape
breathing out the pleasant spice of fertill Arabia, disdained not with her
divine voyce to utter these words unto me: Behold Lucius I am come, thy
weeping and prayers hath mooved mee to succour thee. I am she that is the
naturall mother of all things, mistresse and governesse of all the Elements,
the initiall progeny of worlds, chiefe of powers divine, Queene of heaven, the
principall of the Gods celestiall, the light of the goddesses: at my will the
planets of the ayre, the wholesome winds of the Seas, and the silences of hell
be disposed; my name, my divinity is adored throughout all the world in divers
manners, in variable customes and in many names, for the Phrygians call me the
mother of the Gods: the Athenians, Minerva: the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians,
Diana: the Sicilians Proserpina: the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, other
Bellona, other Hecate: and principally the æthiopians which dwell in the
Orient, and the ægyptians which are excellent in all kind of ancient doctrine,
and by their proper ceremonies accustome to worship mee, doe call mee Queene
Isis. Behold I am come to take pitty of thy fortune and tribulation, behold I
am present to favour and ayd thee, leave off thy weeping and lamentation, put
away thy sorrow, for behold the healthfull day which is ordained by my
providence, therefore be ready to attend to my commandement. This day which
shall come after this night, is dedicated to my service, by an eternall
religion, my Priests and Ministers doe accustome after the tempests of the
Sea, be ceased, to offer in my name a new ship as a first fruit of my
Navigation. I command thee not to prophane or despise the sacrifice in any
wise, for the great Priest shall carry this day following in procession by my
exhortation, a Garland of Roses, next the timbrell of his right hand: follow
thou my procession amongst the people, and when thou commest to the Priest
make as though thou wouldest kisse his hand, but snatch at the Roses, whereby
I will put away the skin and shape of an Asse, which kind of beast I have long
time abhorred and despised, but above all beware thou doubt not nor feare any
of those things, as hard and difficill to bee brought to passe, for in the
same houre that I am come to thee, I have commanded the Priest by a vision
what he shall doe, and all the people by my commandement shall be compelled to
give thee place and say nothing! Moreover, thinke not that amongst so faire
and joyfull Ceremonies, and in so good a company that any person shall abhorre
thy ill-favoured and deformed figure, or that any man shall be so hardy, as to
blame and reprove thy suddaine restoration to humane shape, wherby they should
gather or conceive any sinister opinion: and know thou this of certaine, that
the residue of thy life untill the houre of death shall be bound and subject
to me! And think it not an injury to be alwayes serviceable towards me, since
as by my meane and benefit thou shalt live glorious by my guide and
protection, and when thou descendest to Hell, where thou shalt see me shine in
that subterene place, shining (as thou seest me now) in the darkness of
Acheron, and raigning in the deepe profundity of Stix, thou shalt worship me,
as one that hath been favourable to thee, and if I perceive that thou art
obedient to my commandement, addict to my religion, and merite my divine
grace, know thou, that I will prolong thy daies above the time that the fates
have appointed, and the celestial Planets ordeined. When the divine Image had
spoken these words, she vanished away! By and by when I awaked, I arose,
haveing the members of my bodie mixed with feare, joy and sweate, and
marvailed at the cleare presence of the puissant goddesse, and being sprinkled
with the water of the sea, I recounted orderly her admonition and divine
commandements. Soone after, the darknes chased away, and the cleare and golden
sunne arose, whenas behold I saw the streets replenished with people going in
a religious sort and in great triumph. All things seemed that day to be
joyfull, as well all manner of beasts and houses, as also the very day it
selfe seemed to rejoyce. For after the hore-frost, ensued the hot and temperat
sun, whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come, did
chirp and sing in their steven melodiously: the mother of stars, the parent of
times, and mistres of all the world: The fruitful trees rejoyced at their
fertility: The barren and sterill were contented at their shadow, rendering
sweete and pleasant shrills! The seas were quiet from winds and tempests: The
heaven had chaced away the clouds, and appeared faire and cleare with his
proper light. Behold then more and more appeared the pomps and processions,
attired in regall manner and singing joyfully: One was girded about the middle
like a man of armes: Another bare and spare, and had a cloake and high-shooes
like a hunter! another was attired in a robe of silke, and socks of gold,
having his haire laid out, and dressed in forme of a woman! There was another
ware legged-harnesse, and bare a target, a sallet, and a speare like a martial
souldier: after him marched one attired in purple with vergers before him like
a magistrate! after him followed one with a maurell [*],
a staffe, a paire of pantofles [*], and with a gray beard, signifying a
philosopher: after him went one with lime, betokening a fowler, another with
hookes declaring a fisher: I saw there a meeke and tame beare, which in matron
habite was carried on a stoole: An Ape with a bonet on his head, and covered
with lawne [*], resemling [sic] a shepheard, and bearing
a cup of gold in his hand: an Asse which had wings glewed to his backe, and
went after an old man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus, and the
other Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures and popular delectations, which
wandered hither and thither, you might see the pompe of the goddesse
triumphantly march forward: The woman [sic] attired in white vestiments, and
rejoysing, in that they bare garlands and flowres upon their heads, bespread
the waies with hearbes, which they bare in their aprons, where this regall and
devout procession should passe: Other caried glasses on their backes, to
testifie obeysance to the goddes which came after. Other bare combes of Ivory,
and declared by their gesture and motions of their armes, that they were
ordained and readie to dresse the goddesse: Others dropped in the wayes as
they went Balme and other pretious ointments: Then came a great number, as
well of men as women, with candels, torches, and other lights, doing honour to
the celestiall goddesse: After that sounded the musicall harmony of
instruments: then came a faire companie of youth, apparelled in white
vestiments, singing both meeter and verse, with a comely grace which some
studious Poet had made in honour of the Muses: In the meane season, arrived
the blowers of trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapis, and to the temple
before them were officers and bedles, preparing roome for the goddes to passe.
Then came the great company of men and women, which had taken divine orders,
whose garments glistered all the streets over. The women had their haire
annointed and their heads covered with linnen: but the men had their crowns
shaven, which were the terrene stars of the goddesse, holding in their hands
instruments of brasse, silver and gold, which rendered a pleasant sound. The
principall Priests which were apparelled with white surplesses hanging downe
to the ground, bare the relikes of the puissant goddesse. One carried in his
hand a light, not unlike to those which we used in our houses, saving that in
the middle thereof appeared a bole which rendred a more bright flame. The
second attired like the other bare in his hand an Altar, which the goddesse
her selfe named the succour of the nations. The third held a tree of palme
with leaves of gold, and the verge of Mercurie. The fourth shewed out a token
of equitie by his left hand, which was deformed in every place, signifiing
thereby more equitie then by the right hand. The same Priest carried a round
vessell of gold, in forme of a cap. The fift bare a van, wrought with springs
of gold, and another carried a vessell for wine: By and by after the goddesse
followed a foot as men do, and specially Mercurie, the messenger of the
goddesse infernall and supernall, with his face sometime black, sometime
faire, lifting up the head of the dogges Annubis, and bearing in his left
hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of a palme tree, after
whom followed a cow with an upright gate, representing the figure of the great
goddesse, and he that guided her, marched on with much gravity. Another
carried after the secrets of their religion, closed in a coffer. There was one
that bare on his stomacke a figure of his god, not formed like any beast,
bird, savage thing or human shape, but made by a new invention, whereby was
signified that such a religion should not be discovered or revealed to any
person. There was a vessell wrought with a round bottome, haveing on the one
side, pictures figured like unto the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other
side was an eare, whereupon stoode the Serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly
necke. Finally, came he which was apointed to my good fortun according to the
promise of the goddesse. For the great Priest which bare the restoration of my
human shape, by the commandement of the goddes, approached more and more,
bearing in his left hand the timbrill, and in the other a garland of Roses to
give me, to the end I might be delivered from cruel fortune, which was alwaies
mine enemie, after the sufferance of so much calamitie and paine, and after
the endurance of so manie perilles: Then I not returning hastilie, by reason
of sodaine joye, lest I should disturbe the quiet procession with mine
importunitie, but going softly through the prease of the people, which gave me
place on every side, went after the Priest. The priest being admonished the
night before, as I might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand,
thrust out the garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a
great affection: And as soone as I had eaten them, I was not deceived of the
promise made unto me. For my deforme and Assie face abated, and first the
rugged haire of my body fell off, my thick skin waxed soft and tender, the
hoves of my feet changes into toes, my hands returned againe, my neck grew
short, my head and mouth began round, my long eares were made little, my great
and stonie teeth waxed less like the teeth of men, and my tayle which combred
me most, appeared no where: then the people began to marvaile, and the
religious honoured the goddesse, for so evident a miracle, they wondered at
the visions which they saw in the night, and the facilitie of my reformation,
whereby they rendered testimonie of so great a benefit which I received of the
goddesse. When I saw my selfe in such estate, I stood still a good space and
said nothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I shoulde first
speake, nor what thanks I should render to the goddesse, but the great Priest
understanding all my fortune and miserie, by divine advertisement, commanded
that one should give me garments to cover me: Howbeit as soone as I was
transformed from an asse to my humane shape, I hid the privitie of my body
with my hands as shame and necessity compelled mee. Then one of the company
put off his upper robe and put it on my backe: which done, the Priest looked
upon me, with a sweete and benigne voice, gan say in this sort: O my friend
Lucius, after the endurance of so many labours, and the escape of so many
tempests of fortune, thou art at length come to the port and haven of rest and
mercy: neither did thy noble linage, thy dignity, thy doctrine, or any thing
prevaile, but that thou hast endured so many servil pleasures, by a little
folly of thy youthfullnes, whereby thou hast had a sinister reward for thy
unprosperous curiositie, but howsoever the blindnes of fortune tormented thee
in divers dangers: so it is, that now unawares to her, thou art come to this
present felicitie: let fortune go, and fume with fury in another place, let
her finde some other matter to execute her cruelty, for fortune hath no
puissance against them which serve and honour our goddesse. For what availed
the theeves: the beasts savage: thy great servitude: the ill and dangerous
waies: the long passages: the feare of death every day? Know thou, that now
thou art safe, and under the protection of her, who by her cleare light doth
lighten the other gods: wherefore rejoyce and take a convenable countenance to
thy white habit, follow the pomp of this devout and honorable procession, to
the end that such which be not devout to the Goddes, may see and acknowledge
their errour. Behold Lucius, thou art delivered from so great miseries, by the
providence of the goddesse Isis, rejoyce therefore and triumph of the victory
of fortune; to the end thou maist live more safe and sure, make thy selfe one
of this holy order, dedicate thy minde to the Obsequy of our Religion, and
take upon thee a voluntary yoake of ministrie: And when thou beginnest to
serve and honour the goddes, then thou shalt feele the fruit of thy liberty:
After that the great Priest had prophesied in this manner, with often
breathings, he made a conclusion of his words: Then I went amongst the company
of the rest and followed the procession: everie one of the people knew me, and
pointing at me with their fingers, said in this sort: Behold him who is this
day transformed into a man by the puissance of the soveraigne goddesse, verily
he is blessed and most blessed that hath merited so great grace from heaven,
as by the innocencie of his former life, and as it were by a new regeneration
is reserved to the obsequie of the goddesse. In the meane season by little and
little we approached nigh unto the sea cost, even to that place where I lay
the night before being an Asse. There after the images and reliques were
orderly disposed, the great Priest compassed about with divers pictures
according to the fashion of the ægyptians, did dedicate and consecrate with
certaine prayers a fair ship made very cunningly, and purified the same with a
torch, an egge, and sulphur; the saile was of white linnen cloath, whereon was
written certaine letters, which testified the navigation to be prosperous, the
mast was of a great length, made of a Pine tree, round and very excellent with
a shining top, the cabin was covered over with coverings of gold, and all the
shippe was made of Citron tree very faire; then all the people as well
religious as prophane tooke a great number of Vannes, replenished with odours
and pleasant smells and threw them into the sea mingled with milke, untill the
ship was filled up with large gifts and prosperous devotions, when as with a
pleasant wind it lanched out into the deep. But when they had lost the sight
of the ship, every man caried againe that he brought, and went toward the
temple in like pompe and order as they came to the sea side. When we were come
to the temple, the divine figures, but especially those which had long time
bin worshippers of the religion, went into the secret chamber of the goddesse,
where they put and placed the images according to their ordor [sic]. This
done, one of the company which was a scribe or interpreter of letters, who in
forme of a preacher stood up in a chaire before the place of the holy college,
and began to reade out of a booke, and to interpret to the great prince, the
senate, and to all the noble order of chivalry, and generally to all the
Romane people, and to all such as be under the jurisdiction of Rome, these
words following (Laois Aphesus) which signified the end of their divin
service and that it was lawfull for every man to depart, whereat all the
people gave a great showt, and replenished with much joy, bare all kind of
hearbs and garlands of flowers home to their houses, kissing and imbracing the
steps where the goddesse passed: howbeit I could not doe as the rest, for my
mind would not suffer me to depart one foot away, so attentiv was I to behold
the beauty of the goddesse, with remembrance of the great miserie I had
endured.
THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER
How the parents and
friends of Apuleius heard news that he was alive and in good health.
In the meane season newes was carried
into my countrey (as swift as the flight of birds, or as the blast of windes)
of the grace and benefit which I received of the goddesse, and of my fortune
worthy to be had in memory. Then my parents friends and servants of our house
understanding that I was not dead, as they were falsely informed, came towards
me with great diligence to see me, as a man raised from death to life: and I
which never thought to see them againe, was as joyfull as they, accepting and
taking in good part their honest gifts and oblations that they gave, to the
intent I might buy such things as was necessarie for my body: for after I had
made relation unto them of all my pristine miserie, and present joyes, I went
before the face of the goddesse and hired me a house within the cloister of
the temple to the end I might continually 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 oftentimes 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 [sic] 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 sacrifices
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 commandement 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 to 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 solemnpne [sic] 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 seat 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 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 bearest 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 thus 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 order of religion, as though there were
somewhat omitted, but that thou shouldest rather rejoyce, since as it hath
pleased the gods to call thee three times, when as there was never yet any
person that achieved to the order but once: wherefore thou maist thinke thy
selfe happy for so great benefits. And know thou that the religion which thou
must now receive, is right necessary, if thou meane to persever in the
worshipping of the goddesse, and to make solempnity [sic] on the festivall day
with the blessed habite, which thing shall be a glory and renowne to thee.
After this sort, the divine majesty perswaded me in my sleepe, whereupon by
and by I went towards the Priest, and declared all that which I had seene,
then I fasted ten dayes according to the custome, and of mine owne proper will
I abstained longer then I was commanded: and verely I did nothing repent of
the paine which I had taken, and of the charges which I was at, considering
that the divine providence had given me such an order, that I gained much
money in pleading of causes: Finally after a few dayes, the great god Osiris
appeared to me in the night, not disguised in any other forme, but in his owne
essence, commanding me that I should be an Advocate in the court, and not
feare the slander and envie of ill persons, which beare me stomacke and grudge
by reason of my doctrine, which I had gotten by much labour: moreover, he
would not that I should be any longer of the number of his Priests, but he
allotted me to be one of the Decurions and Senatours: and after he appointed
me a place within the ancient pallace, which was erected in the time of Silla,
where I executed my office in great joy with a shaven crowne.