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r 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 diposed； 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 Aethiopians which dwell in the Orient； and the Aegyptians 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 all 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 things 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 become a man ： thou shalt live blessed in this world； 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 bin 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 dales 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 admonitions and divine commandements。 Soone after； the darknes chased away； and the cleare and golden sunne arose； when as 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 fruitfull 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 legge…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 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 attired in white vestiments； and rejoicing； in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads； bedspread 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 obeisance to the goddess which came after。 Other bare combs 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 musical harmony of instruments ： then came a faire companie of youth； apparelled in white vestiments； singing both meter and verse； with a comely grade which some studious Poet had made in honour of the Muses ： In the meane season； arrived the blowers of trumpets； which were dedicated unto Serapes； and to the temple before them were officers and beadles； preparing roome for the goddess 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 crownes shaven； which were the terrene stars of the goddesse； holding in their hand 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 hike the other bare in his hand an Altar； which the goddesse her selfe named the succor of 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 fifth bare a van； wrought with springs of gold； and another carried a vessell