of Apollo, who pronounced that thou shouldest he married to a dire and
fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such as hunt
about in the countrey, affirme that they saw him yesternight returning
from pasture and swimming over the River, whereby they doe undoubtedly
say, that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate meats, but when
the time of delivery shall approach he will devoure both thee and thy
child: wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou wilt agree unto us
that are carefull of thy safety, and so avoid the perill of death, bee
contented to live with thy sisters, or whether thou remaine with the
Serpent and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body. And
if it be so that thy solitary life, thy conversation with voices, this
servile and dangerous pleasure, and the love of the Serpent doe more
delight thee, say not but that we have played the parts of naturall
sisters in warning thee.

Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was mooved with the feare of
so dreadful words, and being amazed in her mind, did cleane forget the
admonitions of her husband, and her owne promises made unto him, and
throwing her selfe headlong into extreame misery, with a wanne and
sallow countenance, scantly uttering a third word, at length gan say in
this sort: O my most deare sisters, I heartily thanke you for your great
kindnesse toward me, and I am now verily perswaded that they which have
informed you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth, for I never
saw the shape of my husband, neither know I from whence he came, only
I heare his voice in the night, insomuch that I have an uncertaine
husband, and one that loveth not the light of the day: which causeth me
to suspect that he is a beast, as you affirme. Moreover, I doe greatly
feare to see him, for he doth menace and threaten great evill unto mee,
if I should goe about to spy and behold his shape wherefore my loving
sisters if you have any wholeome remedy for your sister in danger, give