y
delivered from their hands, and so I fortuned to come to the house of an
old woman that sold wine, called Meroe, who had her tongue sufficiently
instructed to flattery: unto whom I opened the causes of my long
peregrination and careful travell, and of myne unlucky adventure: and
after that I had declared to her such things as then presently came to
my remembrance, shee gently entertained mee and made mee good cheere;
and by and by being pricked with carnall desire, shee brought me to her
own bed chamber; whereas I poore miser the very first night of our
lying together did purchase to my selfe this miserable face, and for
her lodging I gave to her such apparel as the theeves left to cover me
withall.

The I understanding the cause of his miserable estate, sayd unto him, In
faith thou art worthy to sustaine the most extreame misery and calamity,
which hast defiled and maculated thyne owne body, forsaken thy wife
traitorously, and dishonoured thy children, parents, and friends, for
the love of a vile harlot and old strumpet. When Socrates heard mee
raile against Meroe in such sort, he held up his finger to mee, and as
halfe abashed sayd, Peace peace I pray you, and looking about lest any
body should heare, I pray you (quoth he) I pray you take heed what you
say against so venerable a woman as shee is, lest by your intemperate
tongue you catch some harm. Then with resemblance of admiration, What
(quoth I) is she so excellent a person as you name her to be? I pray you
tell me. Then answered hee, Verily shee is a Magitian, which hath power
to rule the heavens, to bringe downe the sky, to beare up the earth, to
turne the waters into hills and the hills into running waters, to lift
up the terrestrial spirits into the aire, and to pull the gods out
of the heavens, to extinguish the planets, and to lighten the deepe
darknesse of hell. Then sayd I unto Socrates, Leave off this high and
mysticall kinde of talke, and tell the matter in a more plaine and
simple fashion. Then answered he, Will you hear one or two, or more of
her facts which she hath done, for whereas she enforceth not onely
the inhabitants of the countrey here, but also the Indians and the
Ethiopians the one and the other, and also the Antictons, to love her in
most raging sort, such as are but trifles and chips of her occupation,
but I pray you give eare, and I will declare of more greater matters,
which shee hath done openly and before the face of all men.