When the year was ended, and the goddess warned me again to receive this new order and consecration, I marvelled greatly what it should signify, and what should happen, considering that I was a sacred person already, but it fortuned that while I partly reasoned with myself, and partly examining the thing with the priests and bishops, there came a new and marvelous thought in my mind, that is to say, I was only religious to the goddess Isis, but not sacred to the religion of great Osiris the sovereign father of all the goddesses, between whom, although there was a religious unity and concord, yet there was a great difference of order and ceremony. And because it was necessary that I should likewise be a minister unto Osiris, there was no long delay: for in the night after, appeared unto me one of that order, covered with linen robes, holding in his hands spears wrapped in ivy, and other things not convenient to declare, which then he left in my chamber, and sitting in my seat, recited to me such things as were necessary for the sumptuous banquet of mine entry. And to the end I might know him again, he showed me how the ankle of his left foot was somewhat maimed, which caused him a little to halt.
After that I manifestly knew the will of the god Osiris, when mattins was ended, I went from one to another, to find him out which had the halting mark on his foot, according as I learned by my vision; at length I found it true: for I perceived one of the company of the priests who had not only the token of his foot, but the stature and habit of his body, resembling in every point as he appeared in the night: he was called Asinius Marcellus, a name not much disagreeing from my transformation. By and by I went to him, which knew well enough all the matter, as being monished by like precept in the night: for the night before as he dressed the flowers and garlands about the head of the god Osiris, he understood by the mouth of the image which told the predestinations of all men, how he had sent a poor man of Madura, to whom he should minister his sacraments, to the end he should receive a reward by divine providence, and the other glory, for his virtuous studies. When I saw myself this deputed unto religion, my desire was stopped by reason of poverty, for I had spent a great part of my goods in travel and peregrination, but most of all in the city of Rome, whereby my low estate withdrew me a great while.
In the end being oft times stirred forward, not without great trouble of mind, I was constrained to sell my robe for a little money: howbeit sufficient for all my affairs. Then the priest spake unto me saying, How is it that for a little pleasure thou art not afraid to sell thy vestments, and entering into so great ceremonies, fearest to fall into poverty? Prepare thyself, and abstain from all animal meats, as beasts and fish. In the mean season I frequented the sacrifices of Serapis, which were done in the night, which thing gave me great comfort to my peregrination, and ministered unto me more plentiful living, considering I gained some money in haunting the court, by reason of my Latin tongue.
Immediately after I was eftsoons called and admonished by the god Osiris, to receive a third order of religion. Then I was greatly astonied, because I could not tell what this new vision signified, or what the intent of the celestial god was, doubting least the former priests had given me ill counsel, and fearing that they had not faithfully instructed me: being in this manner as it were incensed the god Osiris appeared to me the night following, and giving me admonition said, There is no occasion why thou shouldest be afraid with so often order of religion, as though there were somewhat omitted, but that thou shouldest rather rejoice, since as it hath pleased the gods to call thee three times, when as there was never yet any person that achieved to the order but once: wherefore thou mayest think thyself happy for so great benefits. And know thou that the religion which thou must now receive, is right necessary, if thou mean to persevere in the worshipping of the goddess, and to make solemnity on the festival day with the blessed habit, which thing shalt be a glory and renown to thee.
After this sort, the divine majesty persuaded me in my sleep, whereupon by and by I went towards the priest, and declared all that which I had seen, then I fasted ten days according to the custom, and of mine own proper will I abstained longer than I was commanded: and verily I did nothing repent of the pain which I had taken, and of the charges which I was at, considering that the divine providence had given me such an order, that I gained much money in pleading of causes: finally after a few days, the great god Osiris appeared to me in the night, not disguised in any other form, but in his
