charge to certaine of my companions to buy liberally,
whatsoever was needfull and convenient, then he brought
me to the next bains accompanied with all the religious
sort, and demanding pardon of the goddesse, washed
me and purified my body, according to custome.
After this, when noone approached, he brought me backe
againe to the temple, presented me before the face
of the goddesse, giving a charge of certaine secret
things unlawfull to be uttered, and commanding me,
and generally all the rest, to fast by the space of
ten continuall daies, without eating of any beast,
or drinking any wine, which thing I observed with
a marvellous continencie. 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 prophane people commanded to
depart, and when they had put on my back a linnen
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, verely I would tell you if it were lawfull for
me to tell, you should know if it were convenient
for you to heare, but both thy eares, and my tongue
shall incur the like paine of rash curiositie:
Howbeit, I will content thy mind for this present time,
which peradventure is somewhat religious and given
to some devotion, listen therefore and beleeve it
to be true: Thou shalt understand that I approached
neere 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 celestiall
and gods infernall, before whom I presented my selfe,
and worshipped them: Behold now have I told thee,
which although thou hast heard, yet it is necessarie
thou conceale it; this have I declared without offence,
for the understanding of the prophane.
When morning came, and that the solemnities were finished,
I came forth sanctified with xii. Stoles and
in a religious habit, whereof I am not forbidden to
speake, considering that many persons saw me at that
time: there I was commanded to stand upon a seate
of wood, which stood in the middle of the temple,
before the figure and remembrance of the goddesse;
my vestiment was of fine linnen, covered and embroidered
with flowers. I had a pretious Cope upon my shoulders
hanging downe to the ground, whereon were beasts wrought
of divers colours as Indian dragons, and Hiperborian
Griphons, whom in forme of birds, the other world doth
ingender; the Priests commonly call such a habit, a
celestiall Stole: in my right hand I carried
a light torch, and a garland of flowers upon my head,
with Palme 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