ranne away againe in all haste. When night came, Venus returned home
from the banket wel tippled with wine, smelling of balme, and crowned
with garlands of roses, who when shee had espied what Psyches had done,
gan say, This is not the labour of thy hands, but rather of his that is
amorous of thee: then she gave her a morsel of brown bread, and went to
sleep. In the mean season, Cupid was closed fast in the surest chamber
of the house, partly because he should not hurt himself with wanton
dalliance, and partly because he should not speake with his love: so
these two lovers were divided one from another. When night was passed
Venus called Psyches, and said, Seest thou yonder Forest that extendeth
out in length with the river? there be great sheepe shining like gold,
and kept by no manner of person. I command thee that thou go thither
and bring me home some of the wooll of their fleeces. Psyches arose
willingly not to do her commandement, but to throw her selfe headlong
into water to end her sorrows. Then a green reed inspired by divine
inspiration, with a gratious tune and melody gan say, O Psyches I pray
thee not to trouble or pollute my water by the death of thee, and yet
beware that thou goe not towards the terrible sheepe of this coast,
untill such time as the heat of the sunne be past, for when the sunne
is in his force, then seeme they most dreadfull and furious, with their
sharpe hornes, their stony foreheads and their gaping throats, wherewith
they arme themselves to the destruction of mankinde. But untill they
have refreshed themselves in the river, thou must hide thy selfe here
by me, under this great plaine tree, and as soone as their great fury is
past, thou maist goe among the thickets and bushes under the wood side
and gather the lockes their golden Fleeces, which thou shalt finde
hanging upon the briers. Then spake the gentle and benigne reed, shewing
a mean to Psyches to save her life, which she bore well in memory, and
with all diligence went and gathered up such lockes as shee found,
and put them in her apron, and carried them home to Venus. Howbeit the