the golden asse-第19节
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came upon her； she greatly feared her virginity； because shee was alone。 Then came her unknowne husband and lay with her ： and after that hee had made a perfect consummation of the marriage； he rose in the morning before day； and departed。 Soone after came her invisible servants； and presented to her such things as were necessary for her defloration。 And thus she passed forth a great while； and as it happeneth； the novelty of the things by continuall custome did encrease her pleasure； but especially the sound of the instruments was a comfort to her being alone。
During this time that Psyches was in this place of pleasures； her father and mother did nothing but weepe and lament； and her two sisters hearing of her most miserable fortune； came with great dolour and sorrow to comfort and speake with her parents。
The night following ； Psyches husband spake unto her （for she might feele his eyes； his hands； and his ears） and sayd； O my sweet Spowse and dear wife； fortune doth menace unto thee imminent danger； wherof I wish thee greatly to beware ： for know that thy sisters； thinking that thou art dead； bee greatly troubled； and are coming to the mountain by thy steps。 Whose lamentations if thou fortune to heare； beware that thou doe in no wise make answer； or looke up towards them； for if thou doe thou shalt purchase to mee great sorrow； and to thyself utter destruction。 Psyches hearing her Husband； was contented to doe all things as hee had commanded。
After that hee was departed and the night passed away； Psyches lamented and lamented all the day following； thinking that now shee was past all hopes of comfort； in that shee was closed within the walls of a prison； deprived of humane conversation； and commaunded not to aid her sorrowful Sisters； no nor once to see them。 Thus she passed all the day in weeping； and went to bed at night； without any refection of meat or baine。
Incontinently after came her husband； who when he had embraced her sweetly； began to say； Is it thus that I find you perform your promise； my sweet wife？ What do I finde heere？ Passe you all the day and the night in weeping？ And wil you not cease in your husbands armes？ Goe too； doe what ye will； purchase your owne destruction； and when you find it so； then remember my words； and repent but too late。 Then she desired her husband more and more； assuring him that shee should die； unlesse he would grant that she might see her sisters； wherby she might speak with them and comfort them； wherat at length he was contented； and moreover hee willed that shee should give them as much gold and jewels as she would。 But he gave her a further charge saying； Beware that ye covet not （being mooved by the pernicious counsell of you sisters） to see the shape of my person； lest by your curiosity you deprive your selfe of so great and worthy estate。 Psyches being glad herewith； rendered unto him most entire thankes； and said； Sweet husband； I had rather die than to bee separated from you； for whosoever you bee； I love and retaine you within my heart； as if you were myne owne spirit or Cupid himselfe ： but I pray you grant this likewise； that you would commaund your servant Zephyrus to bring my sisters downe into the valley as he brought mee。
Wherewithall shee kissed him sweetly； and desired him gently to grant her request； calling him her spowse； her sweetheart； her Joy and her Solace。 Wherby she enforced him to agree to her mind； and when morning came he departed away。
After long search made； the sisters of Psyches came unto the hill where she was set on the rocke； and cried with a loud voyce in such sort that the stones answered againe。 And when they called their sister by her name； that their lamentable cries came unto her eares； shee came forth and said； Behold； heere is shee for whom you weepe； I pray you torment your selves no more； cease your weeping。 And by and by she commaunded Zephyrus by the appointment of her husband to bring them downe。 Neither did he delay； for with gentle blasts he retained them up and laid them softly in the valley。 I am not able to expresse the often embracing； kissing and greeting which was between them three； all sorrows and tears were then layd apart。
Come in （quoth Psyches） into our house； and refresh your afflicted mindes with your sister。
After this she shewed them the storehouses of treasure； shee caused them to hear the voyces which served her； the bain was ready； the meats were brought in； and when they had filled themselves with divine delecates； they conceived great envy within their hearts； and one of them being curious； did demand what her husband was； of what estate； and who was Lord of so pretious a house？ But Psyches remembring the promise which she had made to her husband； feigned that hee was a young man； of comely stature； with a flaxen beard； and had great delight in hunting the dales and hills by。 And lest by her long talke she should be found to trip or faile in her words； she filled their laps with gold； silver； and Jewels； and commanded Zephyrus to carry them away。
When they were brought up to the mountain； they made their wayes homeward to their owne houses； and murmured with envy that they bare against Psyches； saying； behold cruell and contrary fortune； behold how we； borne all of one Parent； have divers destinies ： but especially we that are the elder two bee married to strange husbands； made as handmaidens； and as it were banished from our Countrey and friends。 Whereas our younger sister hath great abundance of treasure； and hath gotten a god to her husband； although shee hath no skill how to use such great plenty of riches。 Saw you not sister what was in the house； what great store of jewels； what glittering robes； what Gemmes； what gold we trod on？ That if shee hath a husband according as shee affirmeth； there is none that liveth this day more happy in all the world than she。 And so it may come to passe； at length for the great affection which hee may beare unto her that hee may make her a goddesse； for by Hercules； such was her countenance； so she behaved her self； that as a goddesse she had voices to serve her； and the windes did obey her。
But I poore wretch have first married an husband elder than my father； more bald than a Coot； more weake than a childe； and that locketh me up all day in the house。
Then said the other sister； And in faith I am married to a husband that hath the gout； twyfold； crooked； nor couragious in paying my debt； I am faine to rub and mollifie his stony fingers with divers sorts of oyles； and to wrap them in playsters and salves； so that I soyle my white and dainty hands with the corruption of filthy clouts； not using my self like a wife； but more like a servant。 And you my sister seem likewise to be in bondage and servitude； wherefore I cannot abide to see our younger sister in such felicity； saw you not I pray you how proudly and arrogantly she handled us even now？ And how in vaunting her selfe she uttered her presumptuous minde； how she cast a little gold into our laps； and being weary of our company； commanded that we should be borne and blown away？
Verily I live not； nor am a woman； but I will deprive her of all her blisse。 And if you my sister bee so far bent as I； let us consult together； and not to utter our minde to any person； no not to our parents； nor tell that ever we saw her。 For it sufficeth that we have seene her； whom it repenteth to have seene。 Neither let us declare her good fortune to our father； nor to any other； since as they seeme not happy whose riches are unknowne ： so shall she know that she hath sisters no Abjects； but worthier than she。
But now let us goe home to our husbands and poore houses； and when we are better instructed； let us return to suppresse her pride。 So this evill counsell pleased these two evil women； and they hid the treasure which Psyches gave them； and tare their haire； renewing their false and forged teares。 When their father and mother beheld them weep and lament still； they doubled their sorrowes and griefes； but full of yre and forced with Envy； they tooke their voyage homeward； devising the slaughter and destruction of their sister。
In the meane season the husband of Psyches did warne her againe in the night with these words ： Seest thou not （quoth he） what perill and danger evill fortune doth threaten unto thee； whereof if thou take not good heed it will shortly come upon thee。 For the unfaithfull harlots doe greatly endeavor to set their snares to catch thee； and their purpose is to make and perswade thee to behold my face； which if thou once fortune to see； as I have often told； thou shalt see no more。 Wherfore if these naughty hagges； armed with wicked minds； doe chance to againe （as I think no otherwise but that they will） take heed that thou talk not with them but simply suffer them to speake what they will； howbeit if thou canst not refraine thy selfe； beware that thou have no communication of thy husband； nor answer a word if they fortune to question of me； so will we encrease our stocke； and this young and tender childe； couched in this young and tender belly of thine； shall be made an immortall god； otherwise a mortal creature。 Then Psyches was very glad that she should b
