midnight
When I perceived that no man had regard to mee , that was so tame and gentle an Asse , I stole out of the gate that was next me , and then I ran away with all force , and came to Cenchris , which is the most famous towne of all the Carthaginians , bordering upon the Seas called Ageum , and Saronicum , where is a great and mighty Haven , frequented with many a sundry Nation . There because I would avoyd the multitude of the people , I went to a secret place of the Sea coast , where I laid me down upon the sand , to ease and refresh my selfe , for the day was past and the Sunne gone downe , and lying in this sort on the ground , did fall in a sound sleepe . How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape . When midnight came that I had slept my first sleepe , I awaked with suddaine feare , and saw the Moone shining bright , as when shee is at the full , and seeming as though she leaped out of the Sea . Then thought I with my selfe , that was the most secret time , when the goddesse Ceres had most puissance and force , considering that all humane things be governed by her providence : and not onely all beasts private and tame , but also all wild and savage beasts be under her protection . And considering that all bodies in the heavens , the earth and the seas , be by her increasing motions increased , and by her diminishing motions diminished : as weary of all my cruell fortune and calamity , I found good hope and soveraigne remedy , though it were very late , to be delivered from all my misery , by invocation and prayer , to the excellent beauty of the Goddesse , whom I saw shining before mine eyes , wherefore shaking off mine Assie and drowsie sleepe , I arose with a joyfull face , and mooved by a great affection to purifie my selfe , I plunged my selfe seven times into the water of the Sea , which number of seven is conveniable and agreeable to holy and divine things , as the worthy and sage Philosopher Pythagoras hath declared . Then with a weeping countenance , I made this Orison to the puissant Goddesse , saying : O blessed Queene of heaven , whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the originall and motherly nource of all fruitfull things in earth , who after the finding of thy daughter Proserpina , through the great joy which thou diddest presently conceive , madest barraine and unfruitfull ground to be plowed and sowne , and now thou inhabitest in the land of Eleusie ; or whether thou be the celestiall Venus , who in the beginning of the world diddest couple together all kind of things with an ingendered love , by an eternall propagation of humane kind , art now worshipped within the Temples of the Ile Paphos , thou which art the sister of the God Phoebus , who nourishest so many people by the generation of beasts , and art now adored at the sacred places of Ephesus , thou which art horrible Proserpina , by reason of the deadly howlings which thou yeeldest , that hast power to stoppe and put away the invasion of the hags and Ghoasts which appeare unto men , and to keepe them downe in the closures of the earth : thou which art worshipped in divers manners , and doest illuminate all the borders of the earth by thy feminine shape , thou which nourishest all the fruits of the world by thy vigor and force ; with whatsoever name or fashion it is lawfull to call upon thee , I pray thee , to end my great travaile and misery , and deliver mee from the wretched fortune , which had so long time pursued me .