On a night the great priest appeared unto me, presenting his lap full of treasure, and when I demanded what it signified, he answered, that it was sent me from the country of Thessaly, and that a servant of mine named Candidus was arrived likewise: when I was awake, I mused in myself what this vision should pretend, considering I had never any servant called by that name: but whatsoever it did signify, this I verily thought, that it was a foreshow of gain and prosperous chance: while I was thus astonied I went to the temple, and tarried there till the opening of the gates, then I went in and began to pray before the face of the goddess, the priest prepared and set the divine things of every altar, and pulled out the fountain and holy vessel with solemn supplication. Then they began to sing the mattins of the morning, testifying thereby the hour of the prime. By and by behold arrived my servant which I had left in the country, when Fotis by error made me an ass, bringing with him my horse, recovered by her through certain signs and tokens which I had upon my back. Then I perceived the interpretation of my dream, by reason that beside the promise of gain, my white horse was restored to me, which was signified by the argument of my servant Candidus.
This done I retired to the service of the goddess in hope of greater benefits, considering I had received a sign and token, whereby my courage increased every day more and more to take upon me the orders and sacraments of the temple: insomuch that I oftentimes communed with the priest, desiring him greatly to give me the degree of the religion, but he which was a man of gravity, and well renowned in the order of priesthood, deferred my affection from day to day, with comfort and better hope, as parents commonly bridle the desires of their children, when they attempt or endeavour any unprofitable thing, saying, that the day when anyone should be admitted into their order is appointed by the goddess, the priest which should minister the sacrifice is chosen by her providence, and the necessary charges of the ceremonies is allotted by her commandment, all which things he willed me to attend with marvelous patience, and that I should beware either of too much hastiness, or too great slackness, considering that there was like danger, if being called I should delay: or not called I should be hasty: moreover he said that there was none of his company either of so desperate a mind, or so rash and hardy, as to enterprise anything without the commandement of the goddess, whereby he should commit a deadly offence, considering that it was in her power to damn and save all persons, and if any were at the point of death, and in the way to damnation, so that he were capable to receive the secrets of the goddess, it was in her power by divine providence to reduce him to the path of health, as by a certain kind of regeneration: finally he said that I must attend the celestial precept, although it was evident and plain, that the goddess had already vouchsafed to call and appoint me to her ministry, and to will me refrain from profane and unlawful meats, as those priests which were already received, to the end I might come more apt and clean to the knowledge of the secrets of religion. Then was I obedient unto these words, and attentive with meek quietness, and probable taciturnity, I daily served at the temple: in the end the wholesome gentleness of the goddess did nothing deceive me, for in the night she appeared to me in a vision, showing that the day was come which I had wished for so long, she told me what provision and charges I should be at, and how that she had appointed her principalest priest Mythra to be minister with me in my sacrifices.
When I heard these divine commandments, I greatly rejoiced: and arose before day to speak with the great priest, whom I fortuned to espy coming out of his chamber: then I saluted him, and thought with myself to ask and demand his counsel with a bold courage, but as soon as he perceived me, he began first to say: Oh Lucius now know I well that thou art most happy and blessed, whom the divine goddess doth so greatly accept with mercy, why dost thou delay? Behold the day which thou desired when as thou shalt receive at my hands the order of religion, and know the most pure secrets of the gods, whereupon the old man took me by the hand, and led me to the gate of the great temple, where at the first entry he made a solemn celebration, and after morning sacrifice ended, brought out of the secret place of the temple books, partly written with unknown characters, and partly painted with figures of beasts
