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n forme of a cap。 The fifth 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 blacke； 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 humane 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 vessel 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 stood the Serpent Aspis； holding out his scaly necke。 Finally； came he which was appointed 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 hooves of my feet changed 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 lesse 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 unwares 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 waits ： 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 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 die 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 Aegyptians； 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 launched 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 great priest and those which were deputed to carrie 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。 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 health。
In the mean 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 pries