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！
； was accompanied with two young men armed； and brandishing their naked swords in their hands； whereof one named Terror； and the other Feare； behind them approached one sounding his trumpet to provoke and stirre men to battell； this maiden began to dance and shake her head； throwing her fierce and terrible eyes upon Paris and promising that if it pleased him to give her the victory of beauty； shee would make him the most strong and victorious man alive。 Then came Venus and presented her selfe in the middle of the Theater； with much favour of all the people； for shee was accompanied with a great many of youth； whereby you would have judged them all to be Cupidoes； either to have flowne from heaven or else from the river of the sea； for they had wings； arrowes； and the residue of their habit according in each point； and they bare in their hands torches lighted； as though it had beene a day of marriage。 Then came in a great multitude of faire maidens ： on the one side were the most comely Graces ： on the other side； the most beautifull Houres carrying garlands and loose flowers； and making great honor to the goddesse of pleasure； the flutes and Pipes yeelded out the sweet sound of Lydians； whereby they pleased the minds of the standers by exceedingly； but the more pleasing Venus mooved forward more and more； and shaking her head answered by her motion and gesture； to the sound of the instruments。 For sometimes she would winke gently； sometimes threaten and looke aspishly； and sometimes dance onely with her eyes ： As soone as she was come before the Judge； she made a signe and token to give him the most fairest spouse of all the world； if he would prefer her above the residue of the goddesses。 Then the young Phrygian shepheard Paris with a willing mind delivered the golden Apple to Venus； which was the victory of beauty。
Why doe ye marvell； ye Orators； ye Lawyers； and Advocates； if many of our judges now a daies sell their judgements for money； when as in the beginning of the world one onely Grace corrupted the sentence betweene God and men； and that one rusticall Judge and shepheard appointed by the counsell of great Jupiter； sold his judgement for a little pleasure； which was the cause afterward of the ruine of all his progeny？ By like manner of meane； was sentence given between the noble Greekes： For the noble and valiant personage Palamedes was convicted and attainted of treason； by false perswasion and accusation； and Ulisses being but of base condition； was preferred in Martiall prowesse above great Ajax。 What judgement was there likewise amongst the Athenian lawyers； sage and expert in all sciences？ Was not Socrates who was preferred by Apollo； above all the wise men in the world； by envy and malice of wicked persons impoysoned with the herbe Cicuta； as one that corrupted the youth of the countrey； whom alwaies be kept under by correction？ For we see now a dayes many excellent Philosophers greatly desire to follow his sect； and by perpetual study to value and revolve his workes； but to the end I may not be reproved of indignation by any one that might say ： What； shall we suffer an Asse to play the Philosopher？ I will returne to my further purpose。
After the judgement of Paris was ended； Juno and Pallas departed away angerly； shewing by their gesture； that they would revenge themselves on Paris； but Venus that was right pleased and glad in her heart； danced about the Theater with much joy。 This done from the top of the hill through a privy spout； ran a floud of the colour of Saffron； which fell upon the Goates； and changed their white haire into yellow； with a sweet odour to all them of the Theater。 By and by after by certaine engines； the ground opened； and swallowed up the hill of wood ： and then behold there came a man of armes through the multitude； demanding by the consent of the people； the woman who was condemned to the beasts； and appointed for me to have to doe withall ： our bed was finely and bravely prepared； and covered with silke and other things necessary。 But I； beside the shame to commit this horrible fact； and to pollute my body with this wicked harlot did greatly feare the danger of death： for I thought in my selfe； that when she and I were together； the savage beast appointed to devoure the woman； was not so instructed and taught； or would so temper his greedinesse； as that hee would teare her in peeces lying under mee； and spare mee with a regard of mine innocency。 Wherefore I was more carefull for the safeguard of my life； then for the shame that I should abide； but in the meane season while my master made ready the bed； all the residue did greatly delight to see the hunting and pleasantnesse of the triumph； I began to thinke and devise for my selfe。 When I perceived that no man had regard to mee； that was so tame and gentle an Asse； I stole out of the gate that was next me； and then I ran away with all force； and came to Cenchris； which is the most famous towne of all the Carthaginians； bordering upon the Seas called Ageum； and Saronicum； where is a great and mighty Haven； frequented with many a sundry Nation。 There because I would avoyd the multitude of the people； I went to a secret place of the Sea coast； where I laid me down upon the sand； to ease and refresh my selfe； for the day was past and the Sunne gone downe； and lying in this sort on the ground； did fall in a sound sleepe。
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 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 Phoebus； 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； that hast 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 art worshipped in divers manners； and doest illuminate all the borders of the earth by thy feminine shape； 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 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 my 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 he