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
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 len