bottle, and sodainly he tooke it, and filled it with
the water of the river, and taking his flight through
those cruell and horrible dragons, brought it unto
Psyches: who being very joyfull thereof, presented
it to Venus, who would not yet be appeased, but menacing
more and more said, What, thou seemest unto me a very
witch and enchauntresse, that bringest these things
to passe, howbeit thou shalt do nothing more.
Take this box and to Hell to Proserpina, and desire
her to send me a little of her beauty, as much as
will serve me the space of one day, and say that such
as I had is consumed away since my sonne fell sicke,
but returne againe quickly, for I must dresse my selfe
therewithall, and goe to the Theatre of the Gods:
then poore Psyches perceived the end of all fortune,
thinking verely that she should never returne, and
not without cause, when as she was compelled to go
to the gulfe and furies of hell. Wherefore without
any further delay, she went up to an high tower to
throw her selfe downe headlong (thinking that it was
the next and readiest way to hell) but the tower (as
inspired) spake unto her saying, O poore miser, why
goest thou about to slay thy selfe? Why dost
thou rashly yeeld unto thy last perill and danger?
know thou that if thy spirit be once separated from
thy body, thou shalt surely go to hell, but never
to returne againe, wherefore harken to me; Lacedemon
a Citie in Greece is not farre hence: go thou
thither and enquire for the hill Tenarus, whereas
thou shalt find a hold leading to hell, even to the
Pallace of Pluto, but take heede thou go not with emptie
hands to that place of darknesse: but Carrie
two sops sodden in the flour of barley and Honney
in thy hands, and two halfepence in thy mouth.
And when thou hast passed a good part of that way,
thou shalt see a lame Asse carrying of wood, and a
lame fellow driving him, who will desire thee to give
him up the sticks that fall downe, but passe thou on
and do nothing; by and by thou shalt come unto a river
of hell, whereas Charon is ferriman, who will first
have his fare paied him, before he will carry the
soules over the river in his boat, whereby you may
see that avarice raigneth amongst the dead, neither
Charon nor Pluto will do any thing for nought:
for if it be a poore man that would passe over and
lacketh money, he shal be compelled to die in his journey
before they will shew him any reliefe, wherefore deliver
to carraine Charon one of the halfpence (which thou
bearest for thy passage) and let him receive it out
of thy mouth. And it shall come to passe as thou
sittest in the boat thou shalt see an old man swimming
on the top of the river, holding up his deadly hands,
and desiring thee to receive him into the barke, but
have no regard to his piteous cry; when thou art passed
over the floud, thou shalt espie old women spinning,
who will desire thee to helpe them, but beware thou
do not consent unto them in any case, for these and
like baits and traps will Venus set to make thee let