About midnight
This done , I gave charge to certaine of my companions to buy liberally , whatsoever was needfull and convenient , then he brought me to the next bains accompanied with all the religious sort , and demanding pardon of the goddesse , washed me and purified my body , according to custome . After this , when noone approached , he brought me backe againe to the temple , presented me before the face of the goddesse , giving a charge of certaine secret things unlawfull to be uttered , and commanding me , and generally all the rest , to fast by the space of ten continuall daies , without eating of any beast , or drinking any wine , which thing I observed with a marvellous continencie . Then behold the day approached , when as the sacrifice should be done , and when night came there arrived on every coast , a great multitude of Priests , who according to their order offered me many presents and gifts : then was all the Laity and prophane people commanded to depart , and when they had put on my back a linnen robe , they brought me to the most secret and sacred place of all the temple . You would peradventure demand -LRB- you studious reader -RRB- what was said and done there , verely I would tell you if it were lawfull for me to tell , you should know if it were convenient for you to heare , but both thy eares , and my tongue shall incur the like paine of rash curiositie : Howbeit , I will content thy mind for this present time , which peradventure is somewhat religious and given to some devotion , listen therefore and beleeve it to be true : Thou shalt understand that I approached neere unto Hell , even to the gates of Proserpina , and after that , I was ravished throughout all the Element , I returned to my proper place : About midnight I saw the Sun shine , I saw likewise the gods celestiall and gods infernall , before whom I presented my selfe , and worshipped them : Behold now have I told thee , which although thou hast heard , yet it is necessarie thou conceale it ; this have I declared without offence , for the understanding of the prophane . When morning came , and that the solemnities were finished , I came forth sanctified with xii . Stoles and in a religious habit , whereof I am not forbidden to speake , considering that many persons saw me at that time : there I was commanded to stand upon a seate of wood , which stood in the middle of the temple , before the figure and remembrance of the goddesse ; my vestiment was of fine linnen , covered and embroidered with flowers . I had a pretious Cope upon my shoulders hanging downe to the ground , whereon were beasts wrought of divers colours as Indian dragons , and Hiperborian Griphons , whom in forme of birds , the other world doth ingender ; the Priests commonly call such a habit , a celestiall Stole : in my right hand I carried a light torch , and a garland of flowers upon my head , with Palme leaves sprouting out on every side : I was adorned like unto the Sun , and made in fashion of an Image , in such sort that all the people compassed about to behold me : then they began to solemnize the feast of the nativitie , and the new procession with sumptuous bankets and delicate meates : the third day was likewise celebrated with like ceremonies with a religious dinner , and with all the consummation of the order : when I had continued there a good space , I conceived a marvailous great pleasure and consolation in beholding ordinarily the Image of the goddesse , who at length admonished me to depart homeward , not without rendring of thanks , which although it were not sufficient , yet they were according to my power .