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！
d corrupting the lawfull marriages of every person； doth nothing but that which is evill； who although that hee were of his owne proper nature sufficiently prone to worke mischiefe； yet she egged him forward with words and brought him to the city； and shewed him Psyches （for so the maid was called） and having told the cause of her anger； not without great rage； I pray thee （quoth she） my dear childe； by motherly bond of love； by the sweet wounds of thy piercing darts； by the pleasant heate of thy fire； revenge the injury which is done to thy mother by the false and disobedient beauty of a mortall maiden； and I pray thee； that without delay shee may fall in love with the most miserablest creature living； the most poore； the most crooked； and the most vile； that there may bee none found in all the world of like wretchednesse。 When she had spoken these words she embraced and kissed her sonne； and took her voyage toward the sea。
When she came upon the sea she began to cal the gods and goddesses； who were obedient at her voyce。 For incontinent came the daughters of Nereus； singing with tunes melodiously ： Portunus with his bristled and rough beard； Salita with her bosome full of fish； Palemon the driver of the Dolphine； the Trumpetters of Tryton； leaping hither and thither； and blowing with heavenly noyse ： such was the company which followed Venus； marching towards the ocean sea。
In the meane season Psyches with all her beauty received no fruit of honor。 She was wondred at of all； she was praised of all； but she perceived that no King nor Prince； nor any one of the superiour sort did repaire to wooe her。 Every one marvelled at her divine beauty； as it were some Image well painted and set out。 Her other two sisters； which were nothing so greatly exalted by the people； were royally married to two Kings ： but the virgin Psyches； sitting alone at home。 lamented her solitary life； and being disquieted both in mind and body； although she pleased all the world； yet hated shee in her selfe her owne beauty。 Whereupon the miserable father of this unfortunate daughter； suspecting that the gods and powers of heaven did envy her estate； went to the town called Milet to receive the Oracle of Apollo； where he made his prayers and offered sacrifice； and desired a husband for his daughter ： but Apollo though he were a Grecian； and of the country of Ionia； because of the foundation of Milet； yet hee gave answer in Latine verse； the sence whereof was this ：…
Let Psyches corps be clad in mourning weed； And set on rock of yonder hill aloft ： Her husband is no wight of humane seed； But Serpent dire and fierce as might be thought。 Who flies with wings above in starry skies； And doth subdue each thing with firie flight。 The gods themselves； and powers that seem so wise； With mighty Jove； be subject to his might； The rivers blacke； and deadly flouds of paine And darkness eke； as thrall to him remaine。
The King； sometimes happy when he heard the prophesie of Apollo； returned home sad and sorrowful； and declared to his wife the miserable and unhappy fate of his daughter。 Then they began to lament and weep； and passed over many dayes in great sorrow。 But now the time approached of Psyches marriage； preparation was made； blacke torches were lighted； the pleasant songs were turned into pittifull cries； the melody of Hymeneus was ended with deadly howling； the maid that should be married did wipe her eyes with her vaile。 All the family and people of the city weeped likewise； and with great lamentation was ordained a remisse time for that day； but necessity compelled that Psyches should be brought to her appointed place； according to the divine appointment。
And when the solemnity was ended； they went to bring the sorrowful spowse； not to her marriage； but to her final end and burial。 And while the father and mother of Psyches did go forward weeping and crying unto this enterprise； Psyches spake unto them in this sort ： Why torment your unhappy age with continuall dolour？ Why trouble you your spirits； which are more rather mine than yours？ Why soyle ye your faces with teares； which I ought to adore and worship？ Why teare you my eyes in yours？ why pull you your hory haires？ Why knocke ye your breasts for me？ Now you see the reward of my excellent beauty ： now； now you perceive； but too late； the plague of envy。 When the people did honour me； and call me new Venus； then yee should have wept； then you should have sorrowed as though I had been dead ： for now I see and perceive that I am come to this misery by the only name of Venus； bring mee； and as fortune has appointed； place me on the top of the rocke； I greatly desire to end my marriage； I greatly covet to see my husband。 Why doe I delay？ why should I refuse him that is appointed to destroy all the world。
Thus ended she her words； and thrust her selfe among the people that followed。 Then they brought her to the appointed rocke of the high hill； and set ＇her＇ hereon； and so departed。 The Torches and lights were put out with the teares of the people； and every man gone home； the miserable Parents well nigh consumed with sorrow； gave themselves to everlasting darknes。
Thus poore Psyches being left alone； weeping and trembling on the toppe of the rocke； was blowne by the gentle aire and of shrilling Zephyrus； and carried from the hill with a meek winde； which retained her garments up；； and by little and little bought her downe into a deepe valley； where she was laid in a bed of most sweet and fragrant flowers。
Thus faire Psyches being sweetly couched among the soft and tender hearbs； as in a bed of sweet and fragrant floures； and having qualified the thoughts and troubles of her restlesse minde； was now well reposed。 And when she had refreshed her selfe sufficiently with sleepe； she rose with a more quiet and pacified minde； and fortuned to espy a pleasant wood invironed with great and mighty trees。 Shee espied likewise a running river as cleare as crystall ： in the midst of the wood well nigh at the fall of the river was a princely Edifice； wrought and builded not by the art or hand of man； but by the mighty power of God ： and you would judge at the first entry therin； that it were some pleasant and worthy mansion for the powers of heaven。 For the embowings above were of Citron and Ivory； propped and undermined with pillars of gold； the walls covered and seeled with silver； divers sorts of beasts were graven and carved； that seemed to encounter with such as entered in。 All things were so curiously and finely wrought； that it seemed either to be the worke of some Demy god； or of God himselfe。 The pavement was all of pretious stones； divided and cut one from another； whereon was carved divers kindes of pictures； in such sort that blessed and thrice blessed were they that might goe upon such a pavement ： Every part and angle of the house was so well adorned； that by reason of the pretious stones and inestimable treasure there； it glittered and shone in such sort； that the chambers； porches； and doores gave light as it had beene the Sunne。 Neither otherwise did the other treasure of the house disagree unto so great a majesty； that verily it seemed in every point an heavenly Palace； fabricate and built for Jupiter himselfe。
Then Psyches moved with delectation approched nigh and taking a bold heart entred into the house； and beheld every thing there with great affection； she saw storehouses wrought exceedingly fine； and replenished with aboundance of riches。 Finally； there could nothing be devised which lacked there ： but among such great store of treasure this was most marvellous； that there was no closure； bolt； nor locke to keepe the same。 And when with great pleasure shee had viewed all these things； she heard a voyce without any body； that sayd； Why doe you marvell Madame at so great riches？ behold； all that you see is at your commandement； wherefore goe you into the chamber； and repose your selfe upon the bed； and desire what bath you will have； and wee whose voyces you heare bee your servants； and ready to minister unto you according to your desire。 In the meane season； royall meats and dainty dishes shall be prepared for you。
Then Psyches perceived the felicity of divine providence； and according to the advertisement of the incorporeall voyces she first reposed her selfe upon the bed； and then refreshed her body in the baines。 This done； shee saw the table garnished with meats； and a chaire to sit downe。
When Psyches was set downe； all sorts of divine meats and wines were brought in； not by any body； but as it were with a winde； for she saw no person before her； but only heard voyces on every side。 After that all the services were brought to the table； one came in and sung invisibly； another played on the harpe； but she saw no man。 The harmony of the Instruments did so greatly shrill in her eares； that though there were no manner of person； yet seemed she in the midst of a multitude of people。
All these pleasures finished； when night aproched Psyches went to bed； and when she was layd； that the sweet sleep came upon her； she greatly feared her virginity； because shee was alone。 Then came her unknowne hu