public paces of young dames. In this sort this goddess endeavoured to pacify her mind, and to excuse Cupid with all their power (although he were absent) for fear of his darts and shafts of love. But Venus would in nowise assuage her heat, but (thinking that they did rather trifle and taunt at her injuries) she departed from them, and took her voyage towards the sea in all haste. In the mean season Psyche hurled herself hither and thither, to seek her husband, the rather because she thought that if he would not be appeased with the sweet flattery of his wife, yet he would take mercy on her at her servile and continual prayers. And (espying a church on the top of a high hill) she said, What can I tell whether my husband and master be there or no? wherefore she went thitherward, and with great pain and travel, moved by hope, after that she climbed to the top of the mountain, she came to the temple, and went in, whereas behold she espied sheaves of corn lying on a heap, blades withered with garlands, and reeds of barley, moreover she saw hooks, scythes, sickles, and other instruments, to reap, but everything lay out of order, and as it were cast in by the hands of laborers which when Psyche saw she gathered up and put everything in order, thinking that she would not despise or condemn the temples of any of the gods, but rather get the favour and benevolence of them all: by and by Ceres came in, and beholding her busy and curious in her chapel, cried out afar-off, and said, Oh Psyche needful of mercy, Venus searcheth for thee in every place to revenge herself and to punish thee grievously, but thou hast more mind to be here, and carest for nothing less, than for thy safety. Then Psyche fell on her knees before her, watering her feet with her tears, wiping the ground with her hair, and with great weeping and lamentation desired pardon, saying, Oh great and holy goddess, I pray thee by thy plenteous and liberal right hand, by the joyful ceremonies of thy harvest, by the secrets of thy sacrifice, by the flying chariots of thy dragons, by the tillage of the ground of Sicilie, which thou hast invented, by the marriage of Proserpina, by the diligent inquisition of thy daughter, and by the other secrets which are within the temple of Eleusis in the land of Athens, take pity on me thy servant Psyche, and let me hide myself a few days amongst these sheaves of corn, until the ire of so great a goddess be past, or until that I be refreshed of my great labour and travel. Then answered Ceres, Verily Psyche, I am greatly moved by thy prayers and tears, and desire with all my heart to aide thee, but if I should suffer thee to be hidden here, I should increase the displeasure of my cousin, with whom I have made a treaty of peace, and an ancient promise of amity: wherefore I advise thee to depart hence and take it not in evil part in that I will not suffer thee to abide and remain here within my temple. Then Psyche driven away contrary to her hope, was double afflicted with sorrow and so she returned back again. And behold she perceived afar-off in a valley a temple standing within a forest, fair and curiously wrought, and minding to overpass no place whither better hope did direct her, and to the intent she would desire pardon of every god, she approached nigh unto the sacred door, whereas she saw precious riches and vestments engraven with letters of gold, hanging upon branches of trees, and the posts of the temple testifying the name of the goddess Juno, to whom they were dedicate, then she kneeled down upon her knees, and embraced the altar with her hands, and wiping her tears, gan pray in this sort: Oh dear spouse and sister of the great god Jupiter which art adored and worshipped amongst the great temples of Samos, called upon by women with child, worshipped at high Carthage, because thou wast brought from heaven by the lion, the rivers of the flood Inachus do celebrate thee: and know that thou art the wife of the great god, and the goddess of goddesses; all the east part of the world have thee in veneration, all the world calleth thee Lucina: I pray thee to be my advocate in my tribulations, deliver me from the great danger which pursueth me, and save me that am weary with so long labours and sorrow, for I know that it is thou that succorest and helpest such women as are with child and in danger. Then Juno hearing the prayers of Psyche, appeared unto her in all her royalty, saying, Certes Psyche I would gladly help thee, but I am ashamed to do anything contrary to the will of my daughter-in-law Venus, whom always I have loved as mine own child, moreover I shall incur the danger of the law, entitled, De servo corrupto, whereby am forbidden to retain any servant fugitive, against the will of his master. Then Psyche cast off likewise by Juno, as without all hope of the recovery of her husband, reasoned with herself in this sort: Now what comfort or remedy is left to my afflictions, when as my prayers will nothing avail with the goddesses? what shall I do? whither shall I go? In what cave or darkness shall I hide myself, to avoid the furor of Venus? Why do I not take a good heart, and offer myself with humility unto her, whose anger I have wrought? What do I know whether he (whom I seek for) be in his mother’s house or no? Thus being in doubt, poor Psyche prepared herself to her own danger, and devised how she
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