The Golden Ass

declaring briefly every sentence, with tops and tails, turning in fashion of a wheel, which were strange and impossible to be read of the profane people: there he interpreted to me such things as were necessary to the use and preparation of mine order. This done, I gave charge to certain of my companions to buy liberally, whatsoever was needful and convenient, then he brought me to the next baines accompanied with all the religious sort, and demanding pardon of the goddess, washed me and purified my body, according to custom. After this, when no one approached, he brought me back again to the temple, presented me before the face of the goddess, giving a charge of certain secret things unlawful to be uttered, and commanding me, and generally all the rest, to fast by the space of ten continual days, without eating of any beast, or drinking any wine, which thing I observed with a marvelous continency. Then behold the day approached, when as the sacrifice should be done, and when night came there arrived on every coast, a great multitude of priests, who according to their order offered me many presents and gifts: then was all the laity and profane people commanded to depart, and when they had put on my back a linen robe, they brought me to the most secret and sacred place of all the temple. You would peradventure demand (you studious reader) what was said and done there, verily I would tell you if it were lawful for me to tell, you should know if it were convenient for you to hear, but both thy ears, and my tongue shall incur the like pain of rash curiosity: howbeit, I will content thy mind for this present time, which peradventure is somewhat religious and given to some devotion, listen therefore and believe it to be true: thou shalt understand that I approached near unto hell, even to the gates of Proserpina, and after that, I was ravished throughout all the element, I returned to my proper place: About midnight I saw the sun shine, I saw likewise the gods celestial and gods infernal, before whom I presented myself, and worshipped them: behold now have I told thee, which although thou hast heard, yet it is necessary thou conceal it; this have I declared without offence, for the understanding of the profane.

When morning came, and that the solemnities were finished, I came forth sanctified with twelve stoles and in a religious habit, whereof I am not forbidden to speak, considering that many persons saw me at that time: there I was commanded to stand upon a seat of wood, which stood in the middle of the temple, before the figure and remembrance of the goddess; my vestment was of fine linen, covered and embroidered with flowers. I had a precious cope upon my shoulders hanging down to the ground, whereon were beasts wrought of diverse colours as Indian dragons, and Hyperborian griffens, whom in form of birds, the other world doth engender; the priests commonly call such a habit, a celestial stole: in my right hand I carried a light torch, and a garland of flowers upon my head, with palm leaves sprouting out on every side: I was adorned like unto the sun, and made in fashion of an image, in such sort that all the people compassed about to behold me: then they began to solemnize the feast of the nativity, and the new procession with sumptuous banquets and delicate meats: the third day was likewise celebrated with like ceremonies with a religious dinner, and with all the consummation of the order: when I had continued there a good space, I conceived a marvelous great pleasure and consolation in beholding ordinarily the image of the goddess, who at length admonished me to depart homeward, not without rendering of thanks, which although it were not sufficient, yet they were according to my power. Howbeit I could uneath be persuaded to depart, before I had fallen prostrate before the face of the goddess, and wiped her steps with my face, whereby I began so greatly to weep and sigh that my words were interrupted, and as devouring my prayer, I began to say in this sort: Oh holy and blessed dame, the perpetual comfort of human kind, who by thy bounty and grace nourishest all the world, and hearest a great affection to the adversities of the miserable, as a loving mother thou takest no rest, neither art thou idle at any time in giving thy benefits, and succoring all men, as well on land as sea; thou art she that puttest away all storms and dangers from man’s life by thy right hand, whereby likewise thou restrainest the fatal dispositions, appeasest the great tempests of fortune and keepest back the course of the stars: the gods supernal do honour thee: the gods infernal have thee in reverence: thou environest all the world, thou givest light to the sun, thou governest the world, thou treadest down the power of hell: by thy mean the times return, the planets rejoice, the elements serve: at thy commandment the winds do blow, the clouds increase, the seeds prosper, and the fruits prevail, the birds of the air, the beasts of the hill, the serpents of the den, and the fishes of the sea, do tremble at thy majesty, but my spirit is not able to give thee sufficient praise, my patrimony is unable to satisfy thy sacrifice, my voice hath no power to utter that which I think, no if I had a thousand mouths and so many tongues: howbeit as a good religious person, and according to my estate, I will always keep thee in remembrance and close thee within my breast. When I had ended mine orison, I went to embrace the great priest Mythra my spiritual father, and to demand his pardon, considering I was unable to recompence the good which he had done