the golden asse-第20部分

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be　made　an　immortall　god；　otherwise　a　mortal　creature。　　Then　Psyches　was　very　glad　that　she　should　bring　forth　a　divine　babe；　and　very　joyfull　in　that　she　should　be　honored　as　a　mother。　　She　reckened　and　numbered　carefully　the　days　and　months　that　passed；　and　beeing　never　with　child　before；　did　marvel　greatly　that　in　so　short　a　time　her　belly　should　swel　so　big。　　But　those　pestilent　and　wicked　furies　breathing　out　their　Serpentine　poyson；　took　shipping　to　bring　their　enterprise　to　passe。　　The　Psyches　was　warned　again　by　her　husband　in　this　sort　：　Behold　the　last　day；　the　extream　case；　and　the　enemies　of　thy　blood；　hath　armed　themselves　against　us；　pitched　their　campe；　set　their　host　in　array；　and　are　marching　towards　us；　for　now　thy　two　sisters　have　drawn　their　swords　and　are　ready　to　slay　thee。　　O　with　what　force　are　we　assailed　on　this　day！　　O　sweet　Psyches　I　pray　thee　to　take　pitty　on　thy　selfe；　of　me；　and　deliver　thy　husband　and　this　infant　within　thy　belly　from　so　great　danger；　and　see　not；　neither　heare　these　cursed　women；　which　are　not　worthy　to　be　called　thy　sisters；　for　their　great　hatred　and　breach　of　sisterly　amity；　for　they　wil　come　like　Syrens　to　the　mountains；　and　yeeld　out　their　pittious　and　　lamentable　cries。　　When　Psyches　had　heard　these　words　she　sighed　sorrowfully　and　said；　O　deare　husband　this　long　time　have　you　had　experience　and　triall　of　my　faith；　and　doubt　you　not　that　I　will　persever　in　the　same；　wherefore　command　your　winde　Zephyrus；　that　hee　may　doe　as　hee　hath　done　before；　to　the　intent　that　where　you　have　charged　me　not　to　behold　your　venerable　face；　yet　that　I　may　comfort　myself　with　the　sight　of　my　sisters。　　I　pray　you　by　these　beautifull　haires；　by　these　round　cheekes　delicate　and　tender；　by　your　pleasant　hot　breast；　whose　shape　and　face　I　shall　learn　at　length　by　the　childe　in　my　belly；　grant　the　fruit　of　my　desire；　refresh　your　deare　Spowse　Psyches　with　joy；　who　is　bound　and　linked　unto　you　for　ever。　　I　little　esteeme　to　see　your　visage　and　figure；　little　doe　I　regard　the　night　and　darknesse　thereof；　for　you　are　my　only　light。

Her　husband　being　as　it　were　inchanted　with　these　words　and　compelled　by　violence　of　her　often　embracing；　wiping　away　her　teares　with　his　haire；　did　yeeld　unto　his　wife。　　And　when　morning　came；　departed　as　hee　was　accustomed　to　doe。

Now　her　sisters　arrived　on　land；　and　never　rested　til　they　came　to　the　rock；　without　visiting　their　parents；　and　leapt　down　rashly　from　the　hill　themselves。　　Then　Zephyrus　according　to　the　divine　commandment　brought　them　down；　although　it　were　against　his　wil；　and　laid　them　in　the　vally　without　any　harm　：　by　and　by　they　went　into　the　palace　to　their　sister　without　leave；　and　when　they　had　eftsoone　embraced　their　prey；　and　thanked　her　with　flattering　words　for　the　treasure　which　she　gave　them；　they　said；　O　deare　sister　Psyches；　know　you　that　you　are　now　no　more　a　child；　but　a　mother　：　O　what　great　joy　beare　you　unto　us　in　your　belly？　　　What　a　comfort　will　it　be　unto　all　the　house？　　How　happy　shall　we　be；　that　shall　see　this　Infant　nourished　amongst　so　great　plenty　of　Treasure？　That　if　he　be　like　his　parents；　as　it　is　necessary　he　should；　there　is　no　doubt　but　a　new　cupid　shall　be　borne。　　By　this　kinde　of　measures　they　went　about　to　winne　Psyches　by　little　and　little；　but　because　they　were　wearie　with　travell；　they　sate　them　downe　in　chaires；　and　after　that　they　had　washed　their　bodies　in　baines　they　went　into　a　parlour；　where　all　kinde　of　meats　were　ready　prepared。　　Psyches　commanded　one　to　play　with　his　harpe；　it　was　done。　　Then　immediately　others　sung；　others　tuned　their　instruments；　but　no　person　was　seene；　by　whose　sweet　harmony　and　modulation　the　sisters　of　Psyches　were　greatly　delighted。

Howbeit　the　wickednesse　of　these　cursed　women　was　nothing　suppressed　by　the　sweet　noyse　of　these　instruments；　but　they　settled　themselves　to　work　their　treasons　against　Psyches；　demanding　who　was　her　husband；　and　of　what　Parentage。　　Then　shee　having　forgotten　by　too　much　simplicity；　what　shee　had　spoken　before　of　her　husband；　invented　a　new　answer；　and　said　that　her　husband　was　of　a　great　province；　a　merchant；　and　a　man　of　middle　age；　having　his　beard　intersparsed　with　grey　haires。　Which　when　shee　had　spoken　（because　shee　would　have　no　further　talke）　she　filled　their　laps　with　Gold　and　Silver；　and　bid　Zephyrus　to　bear　them　away。

In　their　returne　homeward　they　murmured　within　themselves；　saying；　How　say　you　sister　to　so　apparent　a　lye　of　Psyches？　　First　she　sayd　that　her　husband　was　a　young　man　of　flourishing　yeares；　and　had　a　flaxen　beard；　and　now　she　sayth　that　he　is　halfe　grey　with　age。　　What　is　he　that　in　so　short　a　space　can　become　so　old？　You　shall　finde　it　no　otherwise　my　sister；　but　that　either　this　cursed　queane　hath　invented　a　great　lie；　or　else　that　she　never　saw　the　shape　of　her　husband。　　And　if　it　be　so　that　she　never　saw　him；　then　verily　she　is　married　to　some　god；　and　hath　a　young　god　in　her　belly。　　But　if　it　be　a　divine　babe；　and　fortune　to　come　to　the　eares　of　my　mother　（as　God　forbid　it　should）　then　may　I　go　and　hang　my　selfe　：　wherfore　let　us　go　to　our　parents；　and　with　forged　lies　let　us　colour　the　matter。

After　they　were　thus　inflamed；　and　had　visited　their　Parents；　they　returned　againe　to　the　mountaine；　and　by　the　aid　of　the　winde　Zephyrus　were　carried　down　into　the　valley；　and　after　they　had　streined　their　eye　lids；　to　enforce　themselves　to　weepe；　they　called　unto　Psyches　in　this　sort；　　Thou　（ignorant　of　so　great　evill）　thinkest　thy　selfe　sure　and　happy；　and　sittest　at　home　nothing　regarding　thy　peril；　whereas　wee　goe　about　thy　affaires　and　are　carefull　lest　any　harme　should　happen　unto　you：　for　we　are　credibly　informed；　neither　can　we　but　utter　it　unto　you；　that　there　is　　a　great　serpent　full　of　deadly　poyson；　with　a　ravenous　gaping　throat；　that　lieth　with　thee　every　night　　Remember　the　Oracle　of　Apollo；　who　pronounced　that　thou　shouldest　he　married　to　a　dire　and　fierce　Serpent；　and　many　of　the　Inhabitants　hereby；　and　such　as　hunt　about　in　the　countrey；　affirme　that　thev　saw　him　yesternight　returning　from　pasture　and　swimming　　over　the　River；　whereby　they　doe　undoubtedly　say；　that　hee　will　not　pamper　thee　long　with　delicate　meats；　but　when　the　time　of　delivery　shall　approach　he　will　devoure　both　thee　and　thy　child　：　wherefore　advise　thy　selfe　whether　thou　wilt　agree　unto　us　that　are　carefull　of　thy　safety；　and　so　avoid　the　perill　of　death；　bee　contented　to　live　with　thy　sisters；　or　whether　thou　remaine　with　the　Serpent　arid　in　the　end　be　swallowed　into　the　gulfe　of　his　body。　And　ff　it　be　so　that　thy　solitary　life；　thy　conversation　with　voices；　this　servile　and　dangerous　pleasure；　and　the　love　of　the　Serpent　doe　more　delight　thee；　say　not　but　that　we　have　played　the　parts　of　naturall　sisters　in　　warning　thee。

Then　the　poore　and　simple　miser　Psyches　was　mooved　with　the　feare　of　so　dreadful　words；　and　being　amazed　in　her　mind；　did　cleane　forget　the　admonitions　of　her　husband；　and　her　owne　promises　made　unto　him；　and　throwing　her　selfe　headlong　into　extreame　misery；　with　a　wanne　and　sallow　countenance；　scantly　uttering　a　third　word；　at　length　gan　say　in　this　sort　：　O　my　most　deare　sisters；　I　heartily　thanke　you　for　your　great　kindnesse　toward　me；　and　I　am　now　verily　perswaded　that　they　which　have　informed　you　hereof　hath　informed　you　of　nothing　but　truth；　for　I　never　saw　the　shape　of　my　husband；　neither　know　I　from　whence　he　came；　only　I　heare　his　voice　in　the　night；　insomuch　that　I　have　an　uncertaine　husband；　and　one　that　loveth　not　the　light　of　the　day　：　which　causeth　me　to　suspect　that　he　is　a　beast；　as　you　affirme。　Moreover；　I　doe　greatly　feare　to　see　him；　for　he　doth　menace　and　threaten　great　evill　unto　mee；　if　I　should　goe　about　to　spy　and　behold　his　shape　wherefore　my　loving　sisters　if　you　have　any　wholeome　remedy　for　your　sister　in　danger；　give　it　now　presently。　Then　they　opened　the　gates　of　their　subtill　mindes；　and　did　put　away　all　privy　guile；　and　egged　her　forward　in　her　fearefull　thoughts；　perswading　her　to　doe　as　they　would　have　her　whereupon　one　of　them　began　and　sayd；　Because　that　wee　little　esteeme　any　perill　or　danger；　to　save　your　life　we　intend　to　shew　you　the　best　way　and　meane　as　we　may　possibly　do。　　Take　a　sharpe　razor　and　put　it　under　the　pillow　of　your　bed；　and　see　that　you　have　ready　a　privy　burning　lampe　with　oyle；　hid　under　some　part　of　the　hanging　of　the　chamber；　and　finely　dissembling　the　matter　when　according　to　his　custome　he　commeth　to　bed　and　sleepeth　soundly；　arise　you　secretly；　and　with　your　bare　feet　goe　and　take　the　lampe；　with　the　Razor　in　your　right　hand　and　with　valiant　force　cut　off　the　head　of　the　poysonous　serpent；　wherein　we　will　aid　and　assist　you　：　and　when　by　the　death　of　him　you　shall　be　made　safe；　we　wil　marry　you　to　some　comely　man。

After　they　had　thus　inflamed　the　heart　of　their　sister　fearing　lest　some　danger　might　happen　unto　them　by　reason　of　their　evill　counsell；　they　were　carried　by　the　wind　Zephyrus　to　the　top　of　the　mountaine；　and　so　they　ran　away　and　tooke　shipping。

When　Psyches　was　left　alone　（saving　that　she　seemed　not　to　be　alone；　being　stirred　by　so　many　furies）　she　was　in　a　tossing　minde　like　the　waves　of　the　sea；　and　although　her　wil　was　obstinate；　and　resist