On a night the great priest appeared unto me, presenting his lap full
of treasure, and when I demanded what it signified, he answered, that
it was sent me from the countrey of Thessaly, and that a servant of
mine named Candidus was arived likewise: when I was awake, I mused in
my selfe what this vision should pretend, considering I had never any
servant called by that name: but what soever it did signifie, this I
verely thought, that it was a foreshew of gaine and prosperous chance:
while I was thus astonied I went to the temple, and taried there till
the opening of the gates, then I went in and began to pray before the
face of the goddesse, the Priest prepared and set the divine things of
every Altar, and pulled out the fountaine and holy vessell with
solempne supplication. Then they began to sing the mattens of the
morning, testifying thereby the houre of the prime. By and by behold
arived my servant which I had left in the country, when Fotis by errour
made me an Asse, bringing with him my horse, recovered by her through
certaine signes and tokens which I had upon my backe. Then I perceived
the interpretation of my dreame, by reason that beside the promise of
gaine, my white horse was restored to me, which was signified by the
argument of my servant Candidus.
This done I retired to the service of the goddesse in hope of greater
benefits, considering I had received a signe and token, whereby my
courage increased every day more and more to take upon me the orders
and sacraments of the temple: insomuch that I oftentimes communed with
the Priest, desiring him greatly to give me the degree of the religion,
but he which was a man of gravitie, and well renowned in the order of
priesthood, deferred my affection from day to day, with comfort and
better hope, as parents commonly bridle the desires of their children,
when they attempt or indeavour any unprofitable thing, saying, that the
day when any one should be admitted into their order is appointed by
the goddesse, the Priest which should minister the sacrifice is chosen
by her providence, and the necessary charges of the ceremonies is
alotted by her commandement, all which things he willed me to attend
with marvailous patience, and that I should beware either of too much
hastinesse, or too great slacknesse, considering that there was like
danger, if being called I should delay: or not called I should be
hasty: moreover he said that there was none of his company either of so
desperate a mind, or so rash and hardy, as to enterprise any thing
without the commandernent of the goddesse, whereby he should commit a
deadly offence, considering that it was in her power to damne and save
all persons, and if any were at the point of death, and in the way to
damnation, so that he were capable to receive the secrets of the
goddesse, it was in her power by divine providence to reduce him to the
path of health, as by a certaine kind of regeneration: Finally he said
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