THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape.

When midnight came that I had slept my first sleepe, I awaked with
suddaine feare, and saw the Moone shining bright, as when shee is at the
full, and seeming as though she leaped out of the Sea. Then thought I
with my selfe, that was the most secret time, when the goddesse Ceres
had most puissance and force, considering that all humane things be
governed by her providence: and not onely all beasts private and
tame, but also all wild and savage beasts be under her protection. And
considering that all bodies in the heavens, the earth and the seas,
be by her increasing motions increased, and by her diminishing motions
diminished: as weary of all my cruell fortune and calamity, I found good
hope and soveraigne remedy, though it were very late, to be delivered
from all my misery, by invocation and prayer, to the excellent beauty of
the Goddesse, whom I saw shining before mine eyes, wherefore shaking off
mine Assie and drowsie sleepe, I arose with a joyfull face, and mooved
by a great affection to purifie my selfe, I plunged my selfe seven times
into the water of the Sea, which number of seven is conveniable and
agreeable to holy and divine things, as the worthy and sage Philosopher
Pythagoras hath declared. Then with a weeping countenance, I made this
Orison to the puissant Goddesse, saying: O blessed Queene of heaven,
whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the originall and motherly
nource of all fruitfull things in earth, who after the finding of thy
daughter Proserpina, through the great joy which thou diddest presently
conceive, madest barraine and unfruitfull ground to be plowed and sowne,
and now thou inhabitest in the land of Eleusie; or whether thou be