and benigne voice, gan say in this sort: O my friend Lucius, after the
endurance of so many labours, and the escape of so many tempests of
fortune, thou art at length come to the port and haven of rest and
mercy: neither did thy noble linage, thy dignity, thy doctrine, or any
thing prevaile, but that thou hast endured so many servil pleasures,
by a little folly of thy youthfullnes, whereby thou hast had a sinister
reward for thy unprosperous curiositie, but howsoever the blindnes of
fortune tormented thee in divers dangers: so it is, that now unwares to
her, thou art come to this present felicitie: let fortune go, and fume
with fury in another place, let her finde some other matter to execute
her cruelty, for fortune hath no puissance against them which serve and
honour our goddesse. For what availed the theeves: the beasts savage:
thy great servitude: the ill and dangerous waits: the long passages: the
feare of death every day? Know thou, that now thou art safe, and under
the protection of her, who by her cleare light doth lighten the other
gods: wherefore rejoyce and take a convenable countenance to thy white
habit, follow the pomp of this devout and honorable procession, to the
end that such which be not devout to the Goddes, may see and acknowledge
their errour. Behold Lucius, thou art delivered from so great miseries,
by the providence of the goddesse Isis, rejoyce therefore and triumph of
the victory of fortune; to the end thou maist live more safe and sure,
make thy selfe one of this holy order, dedicate thy minde to the Obsequy
of our Religion, and take upon thee a a voluntary yoake of ministrie:
And when thou beginnest to serve and honour the goddes, then thou
shalt feele the fruit of thy liberty: After that the great Priest had
prophesied in this manner, with often breathings, he made a conclusion
of his words: Then I went amongst the company of die rest and followed
the procession: everie one of the people knew me, and pointing at
me with their fingers, said in this sort: Behold him who is this day
transformed into a man by the puissance of the soveraigne goddesse,