The Golden Ass

the goddess triumphantly march forward: the woman attired in white vestments, and rejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads, bespread the ways with herbs, which they bare in their aprons, where this regal and devout procession should pass: Other carried glasses on their backs, to testify obeisance to the goddess which came after. Other bare combs of ivory, and declared by their gesture and motions of their arms, that they were ordained and ready to dress the goddess: others dropped in the ways as they went balm and other precious ointments: then came a great number, as well of men as women, with candles, torches, and other lights, doing honour to the celestial goddess: after that sounded the musical harmony of instruments: then came a fair company of youth, apparelled in white vestments, singing both meter and verse, with a comely grade which some studious poet had made in honour of the Muses: In the mean season, arrived the blowers of trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapis, and to the temple before them were officers and beadles, preparing room for the goddess to pass. Then came the great company of men and women, which had taken divine orders, whose garments glistered all the streets over. The women had their hair anointed and their heads covered with linen: but the men had their crowns shaven, which were the terrene stars of the goddess, holding in their hand instruments of brass, silver and gold, which rendered a pleasant sound.

The principal priests which were apparelled with white surplices hanging down to the ground, bare the relics of the puissant goddess. One carried in his hand a light, not unlike to those which we used in our houses, saving that in the middle thereof appeared a bowl which rendered a more bright flame. The second attired like the other bare in his hand an altar, which the goddess herself named the succor of nations. The third held a tree of palm with leaves of gold, and the verge of Mercury. The fourth showed out a token of equity by his left hand, which was deformed in every place, signifying thereby more equity than by the right hand. The same priest carried a round vessel of gold, in form of a cap. The fifth bare a van, wrought with springs of gold, and another carried a vessel for wine: by and by after the goddess followed afoot as men do, and specially Mercury, the messenger of the goddess infernal and supernal, with his face sometime black, sometime fair, lifting up the head of the dogs Anubis, and bearing in his left hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of a palm tree, after whom followed a cow with an upright gait, representing the figure of the great goddess, and he that guided her, marched on with much gravity. Another carried after the secrets of their religion, closed in a coffer. There was one that bare on his stomach a figure of his god, not formed like any beast, bird, savage thing or human shape, but made by a new invention, whereby was signified that such a religion should not be discovered or revealed to any person. There was a vessel wrought with a round bottom, having on the one side, pictures figured like unto the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other side was an ear, whereupon stood the serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly neck. Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortune according to the promise of the goddess. For the great priest which bare the restoration of my human shape, by the commandment of the goddess, approached more and more, bearing in his left hand the timbrel, and in the other a garland of roses to give me, to the end I might be delivered from cruel fortune, which was always mine enemy, after the sufferance of so much calamity and pain, and after the endurance of so many perils: then I not returning hastily, by reason of sudden joy, lest I should disturb the quiet procession with mine importunity, but going softly through the press of the people, which gave me place on every side, went after the priest. The priest being admonished the night before, as I might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand, thrust out the garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a great affection: and as soon as I had eaten them, I was not deceived of the promise made unto me. For my deform and assie face abated, and first the rugged hair of my body fell off, my thick skin waxed soft and tender, the hooves of my feet changed into toes, my hands returned again, my neck grew short, my head and mouth began round, my long ears were made little, my great and stony teeth waxed less like the teeth of men, and my tail which cumbered me most, appeared nowhere: then the people began to marvel, and the religious honoured the goddess, for so evident a miracle, they wondered at the visions which they saw in the night, and the facility of my reformation, whereby they rendered testimony of so great a benefit which I received of the goddess. When I saw myself in such estate, I stood still a good space and said nothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I should first speak, nor what thanks I should render to the goddess, but the great priest understanding all my fortune and misery, by divine advertisement, commanded that one should give me garments to cover me: howbeit as soon as I was transformed from an ass to my human shape, I hid the privity of my body with my hands as shame and necessity compelled me. Then one of the company put off his upper robe and put it on my back: which done, the priest looked upon me, with