men do, and specially Mercurie, the messenger of
the goddesse infernall and supernall, with his face sometime blacke,
sometime faire, lifting up the head of the dogges Annubis, and bearing
in his left hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of a
palme tree, after whom followed a cow with an upright gate, representing
the figure of the great goddesse, and he that guided her, marched on
with much gravity. Another carried after the secrets of their religion,
closed in a coffer. There was one that bare on his stomacke a figure of
his god, not formed like any beast, bird, savage thing or humane shape,
but made by a new invention, whereby was signified that such a religion
should not be discovered or revealed to any person. There was a vessel
wrought with a round bottome, haveing on the one side, pictures figured
like unto the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other side was an
eare, whereupon stood the Serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly necke.
Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortun according to the
promise of the goddesse. For the great Priest which bare the restoration
of my human shape, by the commandement of the goddes, Approached more
and more, bearing in his left hand the timbrill, and in the other a
garland of Roses to give me, to the end I might be delivered from cruel
fortune, which was alwaies mine enemie, after the sufferance of so much
calamitie and paine, and after the endurance of so manie perilles:
Then I not returning hastilie, by reason of sodaine joye, lest I should
disturbe the quiet procession with mine importunitie, but going softly
through the prease of the people, which gave me place on every side,
went after the Priest. The priest being admonished the night before, as
I might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand, thrust out
the garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a great
affection: And as soone as I had eaten them, I was not deceived of the
promise made unto me. For my deforme and Assie face abated, and first
the rugged haire of my body fell off, my thick skin waxed soft and
tender, the hooves of my feet changed into toes, my hands returned
againe, my neck grew short, my head and mouth began round, my long eares
were made little, my great and stonie teeth waxed lesse like the teeth
of men, and my tayle which combred me most, appeared no where: then the
people began to marvaile, and the religious honoured the goddesse, for
so evident