no, assure thy selfe thou art never able to come nigh it, for the Gods
themselves do greatly feare at the sight thereof. What, have you not
heard, that it is a custome among men to sweare by the puissance of the
Gods, and the Gods do sweare by the majesty of the river Stix? but give
me thy 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