the golden asse-第20节
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be made an immortall god； otherwise a mortal creature。 Then Psyches was very glad that she should bring forth a divine babe； and very joyfull in that she should be honored as a mother。 She reckened and numbered carefully the days and months that passed； and beeing never with child before； did marvel greatly that in so short a time her belly should swel so big。 But those pestilent and wicked furies breathing out their Serpentine poyson； took shipping to bring their enterprise to passe。 The Psyches was warned again by her husband in this sort ： Behold the last day； the extream case； and the enemies of thy blood； hath armed themselves against us； pitched their campe； set their host in array； and are marching towards us； for now thy two sisters have drawn their swords and are ready to slay thee。 O with what force are we assailed on this day！ O sweet Psyches I pray thee to take pitty on thy selfe； of me； and deliver thy husband and this infant within thy belly from so great danger； and see not； neither heare these cursed women； which are not worthy to be called thy sisters； for their great hatred and breach of sisterly amity； for they wil come like Syrens to the mountains； and yeeld out their pittious and lamentable cries。 When Psyches had heard these words she sighed sorrowfully and said； O deare husband this long time have you had experience and triall of my faith； and doubt you not that I will persever in the same； wherefore command your winde Zephyrus； that hee may doe as hee hath done before； to the intent that where you have charged me not to behold your venerable face； yet that I may comfort myself with the sight of my sisters。 I pray you by these beautifull haires； by these round cheekes delicate and tender； by your pleasant hot breast； whose shape and face I shall learn at length by the childe in my belly； grant the fruit of my desire； refresh your deare Spowse Psyches with joy； who is bound and linked unto you for ever。 I little esteeme to see your visage and figure； little doe I regard the night and darknesse thereof； for you are my only light。
Her husband being as it were inchanted with these words and compelled by violence of her often embracing； wiping away her teares with his haire； did yeeld unto his wife。 And when morning came； departed as hee was accustomed to doe。
Now her sisters arrived on land； and never rested til they came to the rock； without visiting their parents； and leapt down rashly from the hill themselves。 Then Zephyrus according to the divine commandment brought them down； although it were against his wil； and laid them in the vally without any harm ： by and by they went into the palace to their sister without leave； and when they had eftsoone embraced their prey； and thanked her with flattering words for the treasure which she gave them； they said； O deare sister Psyches； know you that you are now no more a child； but a mother ： O what great joy beare you unto us in your belly？ What a comfort will it be unto all the house？ How happy shall we be； that shall see this Infant nourished amongst so great plenty of Treasure？ That if he be like his parents； as it is necessary he should； there is no doubt but a new cupid shall be borne。 By this kinde of measures they went about to winne Psyches by little and little； but because they were wearie with travell； they sate them downe in chaires； and after that they had washed their bodies in baines they went into a parlour； where all kinde of meats were ready prepared。 Psyches commanded one to play with his harpe； it was done。 Then immediately others sung； others tuned their instruments； but no person was seene； by whose sweet harmony and modulation the sisters of Psyches were greatly delighted。
Howbeit the wickednesse of these cursed women was nothing suppressed by the sweet noyse of these instruments； but they settled themselves to work their treasons against Psyches； demanding who was her husband； and of what Parentage。 Then shee having forgotten by too much simplicity； what shee had spoken before of her husband； invented a new answer； and said that her husband was of a great province； a merchant； and a man of middle age； having his beard intersparsed with grey haires。 Which when shee had spoken （because shee would have no further talke） she filled their laps with Gold and Silver； and bid Zephyrus to bear them away。
In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves； saying； How say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches？ First she sayd that her husband was a young man of flourishing yeares； and had a flaxen beard； and now she sayth that he is halfe grey with age。 What is he that in so short a space can become so old？ You shall finde it no otherwise my sister； but that either this cursed queane hath invented a great lie； or else that she never saw the shape of her husband。 And if it be so that she never saw him； then verily she is married to some god； and hath a young god in her belly。 But if it be a divine babe； and fortune to come to the eares of my mother （as God forbid it should） then may I go and hang my selfe ： wherfore let us go to our parents； and with forged lies let us colour the matter。
After they were thus inflamed； and had visited their Parents； they returned againe to the mountaine； and by the aid of the winde Zephyrus were carried down into the valley； and after they had streined their eye lids； to enforce themselves to weepe； they called unto Psyches in this sort； Thou （ignorant of so great evill） thinkest thy selfe sure and happy； and sittest at home nothing regarding thy peril； whereas wee goe about thy affaires and are carefull lest any harme should happen unto you： for we are credibly informed； neither can we but utter it unto you； that there is a great serpent full of deadly poyson； with a ravenous gaping throat； that lieth with thee every night Remember the Oracle of Apollo； who pronounced that thou shouldest he married to a dire and fierce Serpent； and many of the Inhabitants hereby； and such as hunt about in the countrey； affirme that thev saw him yesternight returning from pasture and swimming over the River； whereby they doe undoubtedly say； that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate meats； but when the time of delivery shall approach he will devoure both thee and thy child ： wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou wilt agree unto us that are carefull of thy safety； and so avoid the perill of death； bee contented to live with thy sisters； or whether thou remaine with the Serpent arid in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body。 And ff it be so that thy solitary life； thy conversation with voices； this servile and dangerous pleasure； and the love of the Serpent doe more delight thee； say not but that we have played the parts of naturall sisters in warning thee。
Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was mooved with the feare of so dreadful words； and being amazed in her mind； did cleane forget the admonitions of her husband； and her owne promises made unto him； and throwing her selfe headlong into extreame misery； with a wanne and sallow countenance； scantly uttering a third word； at length gan say in this sort ： O my most deare sisters； I heartily thanke you for your great kindnesse toward me； and I am now verily perswaded that they which have informed you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth； for I never saw the shape of my husband； neither know I from whence he came； only I heare his voice in the night； insomuch that I have an uncertaine husband； and one that loveth not the light of the day ： which causeth me to suspect that he is a beast； as you affirme。 Moreover； I doe greatly feare to see him； for he doth menace and threaten great evill unto mee； if I should goe about to spy and behold his shape wherefore my loving sisters if you have any wholeome remedy for your sister in danger； give it now presently。 Then they opened the gates of their subtill mindes； and did put away all privy guile； and egged her forward in her fearefull thoughts； perswading her to doe as they would have her whereupon one of them began and sayd； Because that wee little esteeme any perill or danger； to save your life we intend to shew you the best way and meane as we may possibly do。 Take a sharpe razor and put it under the pillow of your bed； and see that you have ready a privy burning lampe with oyle； hid under some part of the hanging of the chamber； and finely dissembling the matter when according to his custome he commeth to bed and sleepeth soundly； arise you secretly； and with your bare feet goe and take the lampe； with the Razor in your right hand and with valiant force cut off the head of the poysonous serpent； wherein we will aid and assist you ： and when by the death of him you shall be made safe； we wil marry you to some comely man。
After they had thus inflamed the heart of their sister fearing lest some danger might happen unto them by reason of their evill counsell； they were carried by the wind Zephyrus to the top of the mountaine； and so they ran away and tooke shipping。
When Psyches was left alone （saving that she seemed not to be alone； being stirred by so many furies） she was in a tossing minde like the waves of the sea； and although her wil was obstinate； and resist
