powers divine, queen of heaven! the principal of the gods celestial, the light of the goddesses: at my will the planets of the air, the wholesome winds of the Seas, and the silences of hell be disposed; my name, my divinity is adored throughout all the world in diverse manners, in variable customs and in many names, for the Phrygians call me the mother of the gods: the Athenians, Minerva: the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians, Diana: the Sicilians Proserpina: the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, other Bellona, other Hecate: and principally the Ethiopians which dwell in the orient, and the Egyptians which are excellent in all kind of ancient doctrine, and by their proper ceremonies accustom to worship me, do call me Queen Isis. Behold I am come to take pity of thy fortune and tribulation, behold I am present to favour and aid thee, leave off thy weeping and lamentation, put away all thy sorrow, for behold the healthful day which is ordained by my providence, therefore be ready to attend to my commandment. This day which shall come after this night, is dedicated to my service, by an eternal religion, my priests and ministers do accustom after the tempests of the sea, be ceased, to offer in my name a new ship as a first fruit of my navigation. I command thee not to profane or despise the sacrifice in any wise, for the great priest shall carry this day following in procession by my exhortation, a garland of roses, next the timbrel of his right hand: follow thou my procession amongst the people, and when thou commest to the priest make as though thou wouldest kiss his hand, but snatch at the roses, whereby I will put away the skin and shape of an ass, which kind of beast I have long time abhorred and despised, but above all things beware thou doubt not nor fear any of those things, as hard and
difficill to be brought to pass, for in the same hour that I am come to thee, I have commanded the priest by a vision what he shall do, and all the people by my commandment shall be compelled to give thee place and say nothing! Moreover, think not that amongst so fair and joyful ceremonies, and in so good a company that any person shall abhor thy ill-favoured and deformed figure, or that any man shall be so hardy, as to blame and reprove thy sudden restoration to human shape, whereby they should gather or conceive any sinister opinion: and know thou this of certain, that the residue of thy life until the hour of death shall be bound and subject to me! And think it not an injury to be always serviceable towards me, since as by my mean and benefit thou shalt become a man: thou shalt live blessed in this world, thou shalt live glorious by my guide and protection, and when thou descendest to hell, where thou shalt see me shine in that subterrene place, shining (as thou seest me now) in the darkness of Acheron, and reigning in the deep profundity of Styx, thou shalt worship me, as one that hath been favourable to thee, and if I perceive that thou art obedient to my commandment, addict to my religion, and merit my divine grace, know thou, that I will prolong thy days above the time that the fates have appointed, and the celestial planets ordained.
When the divine image had spoken these words, she vanished away! By and by when I awaked, I arose, having the members of my body mixed with fear, joy and sweat, and marvelled at the clear presence of the puissant goddess, and being sprinkled with the water of the sea, I recounted orderly her admonitions and divine commandments. Soon after, the darkness chased away, and the clear and golden sun arose, when as behold I saw the streets replenished with people going in a religious sort and in great triumph. All things seemed that day to be joyful, as well all manner of beasts and houses, as also the very day itself seemed to rejoice. For after the hoarfrost, ensued the hot and temperate sun, whereby the little birds weening that the springtime had been come, did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously: the mother of stars, the parent of times, and mistress of all the world: the fruitful trees rejoiced at their fertility: the barren and sterile were contented at their shadow, rendering sweet and pleasant shrills! The seas were quiet from winds and tempests: the heaven had chased away the clouds, and appeared fair and clear with his proper light. Behold then more and more appeared the pomps and processions, attired in regal manner and singing joyfully: one was girded about the middle like a man of arms: another bare and spare, and had a cloak and high-shoes like a hunter! another was attired in a robe of silk, and socks of gold, having his hair laid out, and dressed in form of a woman! There was another wore leg-harness, and bare a target, a sallet, and a spear like a martial soldier: after him marched one attired in purple with vergers before him like a magistrate! After him followed one with a mantle, a staff, a pair of pantofles, and with a gray beard, signifying a philosopher: after him went one with line, betokening a fowler, another with hooks declaring a fisher: I saw there a meek and tame bear, which in matron habit was carried on a stool: an ape with a bonnet on his head, and covered with lawn, resembling a shepherd, and bearing a cup of gold in his hand: an ass which had wings glued to his back, and went after an old man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus, and the other Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures and popular delectations, which wandered hither and thither, you might see the pomp of
