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great rocke gushing out most horrible fountaines of waters； which ran downe and fell by many stops and passages into the valley beneath ： on each side shee did see great Dragons； which were stretching out their long and bloody Neckes； that did never sleepe； but appointed to keepe the river there ： the waters seemed to themselves likewise saying； Away； away； what wilt thou doe？ flie； flie； or else thou wilt be slaine。 Then Psyches （seeing the impossibility of this affaire） stood still as though she were transformed into a stone and although she was present in body； yet was she absent in spirit and sense； by reason of the great perill which she saw； insomuch that she could not comfort her self with weeping； such was the present danger that she was in。 But the royall bird of great Jupiter； the Eagle remembring his old service which he had done； when as by the pricke of Cupid he brought up the boy Ganimedes； to the heavens； to be made butler of Jupiter； and minding to shew the like service in the person of the wife of Cupid； came from the high…house of the Skies； and said unto Psyches； O simple woman without all experience； doest thou thinke to get or dip up any drop of this dreadfull water？ No； no； assure thy selfe thou art never able to come nigh it； for the Gods themselves do greatly feare at the sight thereof。 What； have you not heard； that it is a custome among men to sweare by the puissance of the Gods； and the Gods do sweare by the majesty of the river Stix？ but give me thy bottle； and sodainly he tooke it； and filled it with the water of the river； and taking his flight through those cruell and horrible dragons； brought it unto Psyches ： who being very joyfull thereof； presented it to Venus； who would not yet be appeased； but menacing more and more said； What； thou seemest unto me a very witch and enchauntresse； that bringest these things to passe； howbeit thou shalt do nothing more。 Take this box and to Hell to Proserpina； and desire her to send me a little of her beauty； as much as will serve me the space of one day； and say that such as I had is consumed away since my sonne fell sicke； but returne againe quickly； for I must dresse my selfe therewithall； and goe to the Theatre of the Gods ： then poore Psyches perceived the end of all fortune； thinking verely that she should never returne； and not without cause； when as she was compelled to go to the gulfe and furies of hell。 Wherefore without any further delay； she went up to an high tower to throw her selfe downe headlong （thinking that it was the next and readiest way to hell） but the tower （as inspired） spake unto her saying； O poore miser； why goest thou about to slay thy selfe？ Why dost thou rashly yeeld unto thy last perill and danger？ know thou that if thy spirit be once separated from thy body； thou shalt surely go to hell； but never to returne againe； wherefore harken to me； Lacedemon a Citie in Greece is not farre hence： go thou thither and enquire for the hill Tenarus； whereas thou shalt find a hold leading to hell； even to the Pallace of Pluto； but take heede thou go not with emptie hands to that place of darknesse： but Carrie two sops sodden in the flour of barley and Honney in thy hands； and two halfepence in thy mouth。 And when thou hast passed a good part of that way； thou shalt see a lame Asse carrying of wood； and a lame fellow driving him； who will desire thee to give him up the sticks that fall downe； but passe thou on and do nothing； by and by thou shalt come unto a river of hell； whereas Charon is ferriman； who will first have his fare paied him； before he will carry the soules over the river in his boat； whereby you may see that avarice raigneth amongst the dead； neither Charon nor Pluto will do any thing for nought： for if it be a poore man that would passe over and lacketh money； he shal be compelled to die in his journey before they will shew him any reliefe； wherefore deliver to carraine Charon one of the halfpence （which thou bearest for thy passage） and let him receive it out of thy mouth。 And it shall come to passe as thou sittest in the boat thou shalt see an old man swimming on the top of the river； holding up his deadly hands； and desiring thee to receive him into the barke； but have no regard to his piteous cry； when thou art passed over the floud； thou shalt espie old women spinning； who will desire thee to helpe them； hut beware thou do not consent unto them in any case； for these and like baits and traps will Venus set to make thee let fall one of thy sops； and thinke not that the keeping of thy sops is a light matter； for if thou leese one of them thou shalt be assured never to returne againe to this world。 Then shalt thou see a great and marvailous dogge； with three heads； barking continually at the soules of such as enter in； but he can do them no other harme； he lieth day and night before the gate of Proserpina； and keepeth the house of Pluto with great diligence； to whom if thou cast one of thy sops； thou maist have accesse to Proserpina without all danger ： shee will make thee good cheere； and entertaine thee with delicate meate and drinke； but sit thou upon the ground； and desire browne bread； and then declare thy message unto her； and when thou hast received such beauty as she giveth； in thy returne appease the rage of the dogge with thy other sop； and give thy other halfe penny to covetous Charon； and come the same way againe into the world as thou wentest ： but above all things have a regard that thou looke not in the boxe； neither be not too curious about the treasure of the divine beauty。 In this manner tire tower spake unto Psyches； and advertised her what she should do ： and immediately she tooke two halfe pence； two sops； and all things necessary； and went to the mountaine Tenarus to go towards hell。 After that Psyches had passed by the lame Asse； paid her halfe pennie for passage； neglected the old man in the river； denyed to helpe the woman spinning； and filled the ravenous month of the dogge with a sop； shee came to the chamber of Proserpina。 There Psyches would not sit in any royall seate； nor eate any delicate meates； but kneeled at the feete of Proserpina； onely contented with course bread； declared her message； and after she had received a mysticall secret in a boxe； she departed； and stopped the mouth of the dogge with the other sop； and paied the boatman the other halfe penny。 When Psyches was returned from hell； to the light of the world； shee was ravished with great desire； saying； Am not I a foole； that knowing that I carrie here the divine beauty； will not take a little thereof to garnish my face； to please my love withall？ And by and by shee opened the boxe where she could perceive no beauty nor any thing else； save onely an infernall and deadly sleepe； which immediatly invaded all her members as soone as the boxe was uncovered； in such sort that she fell downe upon the ground； and lay there as a sleeping corps。
But Cupid being now healed of his wound and Maladie； not able to endure the absence of Psyches； got him secretly out at a window of the chamber where hee was enclosed； and （receiving his wings；） tooke his flight towards his loving wife； whom when he had found； hee wiped away the sleepe from her face； and put it againe into the boxe； and awaked her with the tip of one of his arrows； saying ： O wretched Caitife； behold thou wert well…nigh perished againe； with the overmuch curiositie ： well； goe thou； and do thy message to my Mother； and in the meane season； I will provide for all things accordingly ： wherewithall he tooke his flight into the aire； and Psyches brought her present to Venus。
Cupid being more and more in love with Psyches； and fearing the displeasure of his Mother； did pearce into the heavens； and arrived before Jupiter to declare his cause ： then Jupiter after that hee had eftsoone embraced him； gan say in this manner ： O my well beloved sonne； although thou haste not given due reverence and honour unto me as thou oughtest to doe； but haste rather spoiled and wounded this my brest （whereby the laws and order of the Elements and Planets be disposed） with continuall assaults； of Terren luxury and against all laws； and the discipline Julia； and the utility of the publike weale； in transforming my divine beauty into serpents； fire； savage beasts； birds； and into Bulles ： howbeit remembring my modesty； and that I have nourished thee with mine owne proper hands； I will doe and accomplish all thy desire； so that thou canst beware of spitefull and envious persons。 And if there be any excellent Maiden of comely beauty in the world； remember yet the benefit which I shall shew unto thee by recompence of her love towards me againe。 When lie had spoken these words he commanded Mercury to call all the gods to counsell； and if any of the celestiall powers did faile of appearance he would be condemned in ten thousand pounds ： which sentence was such a terrour to all the goddesses； that the high Theatre was replenished； and Jupiter began to speake in this sort ： O yee gods； registred in the bookes of the Muses； you all know this young man Cupid whom I have nourished with mine owne hands； whose raging flames of his first youth； I thought best to bridle and restraine。 It sufficeth that hee is