of what Parentage. Then shee having forgotten by too much simplicity,
what shee had spoken before of her husband, invented a new answer, and
said that her husband was of a great province, a merchant, and a man of
middle age, having his beard intersparsed with grey haires. Which when
shee had spoken (because shee would have no further talke) she filled
their laps with Gold and Silver, and bid Zephyrus to bear them away.

In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves, saying, How
say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches? First she sayd that her
husband was a young man of flourishing yeares, and had a flaxen beard,
and now she sayth that he is halfe grey with age. What is he that in
so short a space can become so old? You shall finde it no otherwise my
sister, but that either this cursed queane hath invented a great lie, or
else that she never saw the shape of her husband. And if it be so that
she never saw him, then verily she is married to some god, and hath a
young god in her belly. But if it be a divine babe, and fortune to come
to the eares of my mother (as God forbid it should) then may I go and
hang my selfe: wherfore let us go to our parents, and with forged lies
let us colour the matter.

After they were thus inflamed, and had visited their Parents, they
returned againe to the mountaine, and by the aid of the winde Zephyrus
were carried down into the valley, and after they had streined their eye
lids, to enforce themselves to weepe, they called unto Psyches in this
sort, Thou (ignorant of so great evill) thinkest thy selfe sure and
happy, and sittest at home nothing regarding thy peril, whereas wee goe
about thy affaires and are carefull lest any harme should happen unto
you: for we are credibly informed, neither can we but utter it unto you,
that there is a great serpent full of deadly poyson, with a ravenous
gaping throat, that lieth with thee every night Remember the Oracle