a miracle, they wondered at the visions which they saw in
the night, and the facilitie of my reformation, whereby they rendered
testimonie of so great a benefit which I received of the goddesse.
When I saw my selfe in such estate, I stood still a good space and said
nothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I shoulde first
speake, nor what thanks I should render to the goddesse, but the
great Priest understanding all my fortune and miserie, by divine
advertisement, commanded that one should give me garments to cover me:
Howbeit as soone as I was transformed from an asse to my humane shape,
I hid the privitie of my body with my hands as shame and necessity
compelled mee. Then one of the company put off his upper robe and put
it on my backe: which done, the Priest looked upon me, with a sweete
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 b