Page 30 - Book of Crates

seen the equal. On her head there was a diadem of white pearls; in her
hand she held a vessel from the opening of which liquid silver ran
unceasingly. My eyes were dazzled and my heart was disturbed by the
wonders that I saw.

At the right of Venus was a soothsayer of India, that spoke secretly
in her ear. I asked in a low whisper who was this character conversing
secretly with Venus. One answered me that he was her minister, who
wanted to enter into a partnership with her. I then approached him to
try to understand what he said in secret to Venus. He turned toward
me, frowning and showing me a severe face, then he beckoned me to
describe all objects contained in the sanctuary.

Hardly had I begun to do it, than I was diverted from it by seeing
some Indian people, who without exception, readied their bows in order
to shoot me with arrows. One of them approached me and giving me a
push, tried to make me leave the sanctuary, while saying: “No, by
Venus! I will not let you write the description of what you saw in this
sanctuary, since you have the intention to reveal our secrets.”

Then he seized me and hit me with great violence, so that it seemed
to me, the pain was so very strong, that I woke up, very frightened of
my fate. I felt sick and aching in my heart; my eyes closed under the
impression of a quick anguish and I fell asleep. I had just experienced
that which I had attempted to flee from and that which I wanted to
abstain from.

While I was thus, I felt enveloped by a perfume the source of which
I was unaware. Suddenly there appeared a merry woman, who could
not contain her bursts of laughter. By her beauty she looked likeVenus,
and her friends had given her the name, borrowed from that of the idol,
but it was not her real name and it had only been applied to her because
Venus held her in great affection. The one thus named as Venus, to
which God gave goodness and happiness, quivered.

She challenged me thus: “By Venus! oh Cratès, swear to me that if
I inform you of whence comes this delicious perfume, you will not
speak of it to anyone.”

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