the golden asse-第21节
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she was in a tossing minde like the waves of the sea； and although her wil was obstinate； and resisted to put in execution the counsell of her Sisters； yet she was in doubtfull and divers opinions touching her calamity。 Sometime she would； sometime she would not； sometime she is bold； sometime she feareth； sometime shee mistrusteth； somtime she is mooved； somtime she hateth the beast； somtime she loveth her husband ： but at length night came； when as she prepared for her wicked intent。
Soon after her husband Came； and when he had kissed and embraced her he fell asleep。 Then Psyches （somwhat feeble in body and mind； yet mooved by cruelty of fate） received boldnes and brought forth the lampe； and tooke the razor； so by her audacity she changed her mind ： but when she took the lamp and came to the bed side； she saw the most meeke and sweetest beast of all beasts； even faire Cupid couched fairly； at whose sight the very lampe encreased his light for joy； and the razor turned his edge。
But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee greatly feared； and amazed in mind； with a pale countenance all trembling fel on her knees and thought to hide the razor； yea verily in her owne heart； which doubtlesse she had done； had it not through feare of so great an enterprise fallen out of her hand。 And when she saw and beheld the beauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her mind； she saw his haires of gold； that yeelded out a sweet savor； his neck more white than milk； his purple cheeks； his haire hanging comely behinde and before； the brightnesse whereof did darken the light of the lamp； his tender plume feathers； dispersed upon his sholders like shining flours； and trembling hither and thither； and his other parts of his body so smooth and so soft； that it did not repent Venus to beare such a childe。 At the beds feet lay his bow；
quiver； and arrowes； that be the weapons of so great a god ： which when Psyches did curiously behold； she marvelling at her husbands weapons； took one of the arrows out of the quiver； and pricked her selfe withall； wherwith she was so grievously wounded that the blood followed； and thereby of her owne accord shee added love upon love； then more broyling in the love of Cupid shee embraced him and kissed him and kissed him a thousand times； fearing the measure of his sleepe But alas while shee was in this great joy； whether it were for envy for desire to touch this amiable body likewise； there fell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe upon the right shoulder of the god。 O rash and bold lampe； the vile ministery of love； how darest thou bee so bold as to burne the god of all fire？ When as he invented thee； to the intent that all lovers might with more joy passe the nights in pleasure。
The god beeing burned in this sort； and perceiving that promise and faith was broken； bee fled away without utterance of any word； from the eves and hands of his most unhappy wife。 But Psyches fortuned to catch him as hee was rising by the right thigh； and held him fast as hee flew above in the aire； until such time as constrained by wearinesse shee let goe arid fell downe upon the ground。 But Cupid followed her downe； and lighted upon the top of a Cypresse tree； and angerly spake unto her in this manner ： O simple Psyches； consider with thy selfe how I； little regarding the commandement of my mother （who willed mee that thou shouldst bee married to a man of base and miserable condition） did come my selfe from heaven to love thee； and wounded myne owne body with my proper weapons； to have thee to my Spowse ： And did I seeme a beast unto thee； that thou shouldst go about to cut off my head with a razor； who loved thee so well？ Did not I alwayes give thee a charge？ Did not I gently will thee to beware？ But those cursed aides and Counsellors of thine shall be worthily rewarded for their pains。 As for thee thou shalt be sufficiently punished by my absence。 When hee had spoken these words he tooke his flight into the aire。 Then Psyches fell flat on the ground； and as long as she could see her husband she cast her eyes after him into the aire； weeping and lamenting pitteously ： but when hee was gone out of her sight shee threw her selfe into the next running river； for the great anguish and dolour that shee was in for the lack of her husband ； howbeit the water would not suffer her to be drowned； but tooke pity upon her； in the honour of Cupid which accustomed to broyle and burne the river； and threw her upon the bank amongst the herbs。
Then Pan the rusticall god sitting on the river side； embracing and ＇instructing＇ the goddesse Canna to tune her songs and pipes； by whom were feeding the young and tender Goats； after that he perceived Psyches in sorrowful case； not ignorant （I know not by what meanes） of her miserable estate； endeavored to pacific her in this sort ： O faire maid； I am a rusticke and rude heardsman； howbeit by reason of my old age expert in many things； for as farre as I can learnt by conjecture （which according as wise men doe terme is called divination） I perceive by your uncertaine gate； your pale hew； your sobbing sighes； and your watery eyes； that you are greatly in love。 Wherefore hearken to me； and goe not about to slay your selfe； nor weepe not at all； but rather adore and worship the great god Cupid； and winne him unto you by your gentle promise of service。
When the god of Shepherds had spoken these words； she gave no answer； but made reverence to him as to a god； and so departed。
After that Psyches had gone a little way； she fortuned unawares to come to a city where the husband of one of her Sisters did dwell。 Which when Psyches did understand； shee caused that her sister had knowledge of her comming； and so they met together； and after great embracing and salutation； the sister of Psyches demaunded the cause of her travell thither。 Marry （quoth she） doe you not remember the counsell you gave me； whereby you would that I should kill the beast which under colour of my husband did lie with mee every night i You shall understand； that as soone as I brought forth the lampe to see and behold his shape； I perceived that he was the sonne of Venus； even Cupid himselfe that lay with mee。 Then I being stricken with great pleasure； and desirous to embrace him； could not thoroughly asswage my delight； but alas by evill ill chance the oyle of the lampe fortuned to fall on his shoulder which caused him to awake； and seeing me armed with fire and weapons； gan say； How darest thou be so bold to doe so great a mischiefe？ Depart from me and take such things as thou didst bring ： for I will have thy sister （and named you） to my wife； and she shall be placed in thy felicity； and by and by hee commaunded Zephyrus to carry me away from the bounds of his house。
Psyches had scantly finished her tale but her sister pierced with the pricke of carnall desire and wicked envy ran home； and feigning to her husband that she had heard word of the death of her parents tooke shipping and came to the mountaine。 And although there blew a contrary winde； yet being brought in a vaine hope shee cried O Cupid take me a more worthy wife； and thou Zephyrus beare downe thy mistresse； and so she cast her selfe headlong from the mountaine ： but shee fell not into the valley neither alive nor dead； for all the members and parts of her body were torne amongst the rockes； wherby she was made prey unto the birds and wild beasts； as she worthily deserved。
Neither was the vengeance of the other delayed； for Psyches travelling in that country； fortuned to come to another city where her other sister did dwel； to whom when shee had declared all such things as she told to her other sister shee ran likewise unto the rock and was slaine in like sort Then Psyches travelled about in the countrey to seeke her husband Cupid； hut he was gotten into his mothers chamber and there bewailed the sorrowful wound which he caught by the oyle of a burning lamp。
Then the white bird the Gull； which swims on the waves of the water； flew toward the Ocean sea； where he found Venus washing and bathing her selfe ： to whom she declared that her son was burned and in danger of death； and moreover that it was a common brute in the mouth of every person （who spake evill of all the family of Venus） that her son doth nothing but haunt harlots in the mountain； and she her self lasciviously use to ryot in the sea ： wherby they say that they are flow become no more gratious； pleasant nor gentle； but incivile； monstrous and horrible。 Moreover； that marriages are not for any amity； or for love of procreation； but full of envy； discord； and debate。 This the curious Gul did clatter in the ears of Venus； reprehending her son。 But Venus began to cry and sayd； What hath my sonne gotten any Love？ I pray thee gentle bird that doest serve me so faithfully； tell me what she is； and what is her name that hath troubled my son in such sort？ whether shee be any of the Nymphs； of the number of the goddesses； of the company of the Muses； or of the mistery of the Graces？ To whom the bird answered； Madam I know not what shee is； but this I know that she is called Psyches。 Then Venus with indignation cried out； What is it she？ the usurper of my beauty； th
