ARTS 01' THE VENUS OF TDE MIDDDE AGES.
But her principal method of seduction was to establish herself in some hilly region, and there, having constructed in the heart of the -earth a palace of sensual delights, and having surrounded herself by subordinate spirits in loveliest shapes, by supernatural music, heard far and wide, and similar means, to entice into it brave and noble souls, and keep them there till they became debased and brutalized, and altogether lust. The difficulty of knowing much about these wondrous places of pleasure and sin arose from the fewness of those who have ever again returned to the world of men after a sojourn, or even entrance there. William of Newbury records, that in the reign of King Henry the First of England, a peasant walking by a tumulus, about three stadia from the town of Burlington, heard songs and convivial sounds issuing from within it. He lookt about for an entrance, astonisht that that silent region and midnight hour should be so disturbed ; and, finding u door open, went in. He saw an ample and brilliant chamber, and men and women engaged in high festivity and mighty mirth. One of the attendants, seeing him standing at the door, handed him a cup; which graspt, flung die contents on the floor, and rusht out into the night, amid tremendous tumult and persevering pursuit. On, however, he ran, until at last the cries and sounds died away, and he brought his booty safe into the town. This cup was given to the King•' who presented it to the Queen of David, King of Scotland ; and it was returned bylas descendant King William to King henry the Second of England. In the Swiss Chronicle of Stumptitts, we arc told that a tailor of Basle, in the year MOO, had a similar adventure. Ile past through an iron door, and a succession of halls mid gardens, guarded by dogs, ds, who bunged his reheat. The goddess appeared with long flowing hair, but her lower body as it serp, wt's. She said she should be freed from this enchantment by three kisses of n chaste mortal, on whom she would bestow infinite treasure. Ile kilt her once, mid she grew more monstrous still. Ile kis,ed her again, end she became so terrible and violent, he thought she would tear hint in pieces, so turned round in desperation and got salitly out : a fellow-townsman of his went into the cave again some time after, and, having found it full of human bones, died in a tiny days.
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