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The Golden Asse

by Lucius Apuleius

Translated by William Adlington

March, 1999  [Etext 1666]


*Project Gutenberg Etext of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius*
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This etext was prepared from a reprint of the 1639 edition
by Donal O'Danachair, email Kodak_seaside@hotmail.com





The Golden Asse by Lucius Apuleius "Africanus"




Translated by William Adlington




First published 1566
This version as reprinted from the edition of 1639.
Typed, scanned and proofed by Donal O'Danachair,
kodak_seaside@hotmail.com
The original spelling, capitalisation and punctuation have been
retained.




Dedication


To the Right Honourable and Mighty Lord, THOMAS EARLE OF
SUSSEX, Viscount Fitzwalter, Lord of Egremont and of Burnell,
Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter,  Iustice of the
forrests and Chases from Trent Southward; Captain of the
Gentleman Pensioners of  the House of the QUEENE our
Soveraigne Lady.

After that I had taken upon me (right Honourable) in manner of
that unlearned and foolish Poet, Cherillus, who rashly and
unadvisedly wrought a big volume in verses, of the valiant
prowesse of Alexander the Great, to translate this present booke,
contayning the Metamorphosis of Lucius Apuleius; being mooved
thereunto by the right pleasant pastime and delectable matter
therein; I eftsoones consulted with myself, to whom I might best
offer so pleasant and worthy a work, devised by the author, it being
now barbarously and simply framed in our English tongue.  And
after long deliberation had, your honourable lordship came to my
remembrance, a man much more worthy, than to whom so homely
and rude a translation should be presented.  But when I again
remembred the jesting and sportfull matter of the booke, unfit to be
offered to any man of gravity and wisdome, I was wholly
determined to make no Epistle Dedicatory at all; till as now of late
perswaded thereunto by my friends, I have boldly enterprised to
offer the same to your Lordship, who as I trust wil accept the
same, than if it did entreat of some serious and lofty matter, light
and merry, yet the effect thereof tendeth to a good and vertuous
moral, as in the following Epistle to the reader may be declared.
For so have all writers in times past employed their travell and
labours, that their posterity might receive some fruitfull profit by the
same.  And therfore the poets feined not their fables in vain,
considering that children in time of their first studies,  are very
much allured thereby to proceed to more grave and deepe studies
and disciplines, whereas their mindes would quickly loath the wise
and prudent workes of  learned men, wherein in such unripe years
they take no spark of delectation at all.  And not only that profit
ariseth to children by such feined fables, but also the vertues of
men are covertly thereby commended, and their vices
discommended and abhorred.  For by the fable of Actaeon, where
it is feigned that he saw Diana washing her selfe in a well,  hee
was immediately turned into an Hart, and so was slain of his own
Dogs; may bee meant, That when a man casteth his eyes on the
vain and soone fading beauty of the world, consenting thereto in his
minde, hee seemeth to bee turned into a brute beast, and so to be
slain by the inordinate desire of his owne affects.  By Tantalus that
stands in the midst of the floud Eridan, having before him a tree
laden with pleasant apples, he being neverthelesse always thirsty
and hungry, betokeneth the insatiable desires of covetous persons.
The fables of Atreus, Thiestes, Tereus and Progne signifieth the
wicked and abhominable facts wrought and attempted by mortall
men. The fall of Icarus is an example to proud and arrogant
persons, that weeneth to climb up to the heavens.  By Mydas, who
obtained of Bacchus, that all things which he touched might be gold,
is carped the foul sin of avarice.  By Phaeton, that unskilfully took
in hand to rule the chariot of the Sunne, are represented those
persons which attempt things passing their power and capacity.  By
Castor and Pollux, turned into a signe in heaven called Gemini, is
signified, that vertuous and godly persons shall be rewarded after
life with perpetuall blisse.  And in this feined jest of Lucius
Apuleius is comprehended a figure of mans life, ministring most
sweet and delectable matter, to such as shall be desirous to reade
the same.  The which if your honourable lordship shall accept ant
take in good part, I shall not onely thinke my small travell and
labour well employed, but also receive a further comfort to attempt
some more serious matter, which may be more acceptable to your
Lordship : desiring the same to excuse my rash and bold enterprise
at this time, as I nothing doubt of your Lordships goodnesse. To
whome I beseech Almighty God to impart long life, with encrease
of much honour.

>From Vniversity Colledge in Oxenforde, the xviij. of September,
1566.

Your Honours most bounden,

WIL. ADLINGTON.




The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described


LUCIUS APULEIUS African, an excellent follower of Plato his
sect, born in Madaura, a Countrey sometime inhabited by the
Romans,  and under the jurisdiction of Syphax, scituate and lying on
the borders of Numidia and Getulia, whereby he calleth himself half
a Numidian and half a Getulian : and Sidonius named him the
Platonian Madaurence : his father called Theseus had passed all
offices of dignity in his countrey with much honour.  His mother
named Salvia was of such excellent vertue, that she passed all the
Dames of her time, borne of an ancient house, and descended from
the philosopher Plutarch, and Sextus his nephew.  His wife called
Prudentila was endowed with as much vertue and riches as any
woman might be.  Hee himselfe was of an high and comely stature,
gray eyed, his haire yellow, and a beautiful personage.  He
flourished in Carthage in the time of Iolianus Avitus and Cl.
Maximus Proconsuls, where he spent his youth in learning the
liberall sciences, and much profited under his masters there,
whereby not without cause hee calleth himself the Nource of
Carthage, and the celestial Muse and venerable mistresse of
Africke.  Soone after, at Athens (where in times past the well of all
doctrine flourished) he tasted many of the cups of the muses, he
learned the Poetry, Geometry, Musicke, Logicke, and the universall
knowledge of Philosophy, and studied not in vaine the nine Muses,
that is to say, the nine noble and royal disciplines.

Immediately after he went to Rome, and studied there the Latine
tongue, with such labour and continuall study, that he achieved to
great eloquence, and was known and approved to be excellently
learned, whereby he might worthily be called Polyhistor, that is to
say, one that knoweth much or many things.

And being thus no lesse endued with eloquence, than with singular
learning, he wrote many books for them that should come after :
whereof part by negligence of times be now intercepted and part
now extant, doe sufficiently declare, with how much wisdome and
doctrine hee flourished, and with how much vertue hee excelled
amongst the rude and barbarous people. The like was Anacharsis
amongst the most luskish Scythes.  But amongst the Bookes of
Lucius Apuleius, which are perished and prevented, howbeit greatly
desired as now adayes, one was intituled Banquetting questions,
another entreating of the nature of fish, another of the generation of
beasts, another containing his Epigrams, another called
'Hermagoras' : but such as are now extant are the foure books
named 'Floridorum',  wherein is contained a flourishing stile, and a
savory kind of learning, which delighteth, holdeth, and rejoiceth the
reader marvellously; wherein you shall find a great variety of
things, as leaping one from another : One excellent and copious
Oration, containing all the grace and vertue of the art Oratory,
where he cleareth himself of the crime of art Magick, which was
slanderously objected against him by his Adversaries, wherein is
contained such force of eloquence and doctrine, as he seemeth to
passe and excell himselfe. There is another booke of the god of the
spirit of Socrates, whereof St. Augustine maketh mention in his
booke of the definition of spirits, and description of men.  Two
other books of the opinion of Plato, wherein is briefly contained that
which before was largely expressed.  One booke of Cosmography,
comprising many things of Aristotles Meteors.  The Dialogue of
Trismegistus, translated by him out of Greeke into Latine, so fine,
that it rather seemeth with more eloquence turned into Latine, than
it was before written in Greeke.  But principally these eleven
Bookes of the 'Golden Asse', are enriched with such pleasant
matter, with such excellency and variety of flourishing tales, that
nothing may be more sweet and delectable, whereby worthily they
may be intituled The Bookes of the 'Golden Asse',  for the passing
stile and matter therein. For what can be more acceptable than this
Asse of Gold indeed. Howbeit there be many who would rather
intitule it 'Metamorphosis', that is to say, a transfiguration or
transformation, by reason of the argument and matter within.



The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus And unto the
Readers of this Book


          THAT I to thee some joyous jests
            may show in gentle gloze,
          And frankly feed thy bended eares
            with passing pleasant prose :
          So that thou daine in seemly sort
            this wanton booke to view,
          That is set out and garnisht fine,
            with written phrases new.
          I will declare how one by hap
            his humane figure lost,
          And how in brutish formed shape,
            his loathed life he tost.
          And how he was in course of time
            from such a state unfold,
          Who eftsoone turn'd to pristine shape
            his lot unlucky told.

What and who he was attend a while, and you shall understand that
it was even I, the writer of mine own Metamorphosie and strange
alteration of figure.  Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephire Tenaros,
and Sparta, being fat and fertile soiles (as I pray you give credit to
the bookes of more everlasting fame) be places where myne
antient progeny and linage did sometime flourish : there I say, in
Athens, when I was yong, I went first to schoole.  Soone after (as
a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas by great industry, and
without instruction of any schoolmaster, I attained to the full
perfection of the Latine tongue.  Behold, I first crave and beg your
pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of you by
the rude and rusticke utterance of this strange and forrein
language.  And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond
to the enterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat, I will set
forth unto you a pleasant Grecian jeast. Whereunto gentle Reader
if thou wilt give attendant eare, it will minister unto thee such
delectable matter as thou shalt be contented withall.




THE FIRST BOOKE





THE FIRST CHAPTER


How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with
two strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of
Witches.

As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certaine
affaires which I had to doe ( for there myne auncestry by my
mothers side inhabiteth, descended of the line of that most excellent
person Plutarch, and of Sextus the Philosopher his Nephew, which
is to us a great honour) and after that by much travell and great
paine I had passed over the high mountaines and slipperie vallies,
and had ridden through the cloggy fallowed fields; perceiving that
my horse did wax somewhat slow, and to the intent likewise that I
might repose and strengthen my self (being weary with riding) I
lighted off my horse, and wiping the sweat from every part of his
body, I unbrideled him, and walked him softly in my hand, to the
end he might pisse, and ease himself of his weariness and travell :
and while he went grazing freshly in the field (casting his head
sometimes aside, as a token of rejoycing and gladnesse) I
perceived a little before me two companions riding, and so I
overtaking them made a third.  And while I listened to heare their
communication, the one of them laughed and mocked his fellow,
saying, Leave off I pray thee and speak no more, for I cannot abide
to heare thee tell such absurd and incredible lies; which when I
heard, I desired to heare some newes, and said, I pray you masters
make me partaker of your talk, that am not so curious as desirous
to know all your communication : so shall we shorten our journey,
and easily passe this high hill before us, by merry and pleasant
talke.

But he that laughed before at his fellow, said againe, Verily this tale
is as true, as if a man would say that by sorcery and inchantment
the floods might be inforced to run against their course, the seas to
be immovable, the aire to lacke the blowing of windes, the Sunne to
be restrained from his naturall race, the Moone to purge his skimme
upon herbes and trees to serve for sorceries : the starres to be
pulled from heaven, the day to be darkened and the dark night to
continue still.  Then I being more desirous to heare his talke than
his companions, sayd, I pray you, that began to tell your tale even
now, leave not off so, but tell the residue.  And turning to the other
I sayd,  You perhappes that are of an obstinate minde and grosse
eares, mocke and contemme those things which are reported for
truth, know you not that it is accounted untrue by the depraved
opinion of men, which either is rarely seene, seldome heard, or
passeth the capacitie of mans reason, which if it be more narrowly
scanned, you shall not onely finde it evident and plaine, but also
very easy to be brought to passe.



THE SECOND CHAPTER


How Apuleius told to the strangers, what he saw a jugler do in
Athens.

The other night being at supper with a sort of hungry fellowes,
while I did greedily put a great morsel of meate in my mouth, that
was fried with the flower of cheese and barley, it cleaved so fast in
the passage of my throat and stopped my winde in such sort that I
was well nigh choked.  And yet at Athens before the porch there
called Peale, I saw with these eyes a jugler that swallowed up a
two hand sword, with a very keene edge, and by and by for a little
money that we who looked on gave him, hee devoured a chasing
speare with the point downeward.  And after that hee had
conveyed the whole speare within the closure of his body, and
brought it out againe behind, there appeared on the top thereof
(which caused us all to marvell) a faire boy pleasant and nimble,
winding and turning himself in such sort, that you would suppose he
had neither bone nor gristle, and verily thinke that he were the
naturall Serpent, creeping and sliding on the knotted staffe, which
the god of Medicine is feigned to beare.  But turning me to him that
began his tale, I pray you (quoth I) follow your purpose, and I alone
will give credit unto you, and for your paynes will pay your charges
at the next Inne we come unto.  To whom he answered Certes sir I
thank you for your gentle offer, and at your request I wil proceed in
my tale, but first I will sweare unto you by the light of this Sunne
that shineth here, that those things shall be true, least when you
come to the next city called Thessaly, you should doubt any thing of
that which is rife in the mouthes of every person, and done before
the face of all men.  And that I may first make relation to you,
what and who I am, and whither I go, and for what purpose, know
you that I am of Egin, travelling these countries about from
Thessaly to Etolia, and from Etolia to Boetia, to provide for honey,
cheese, and other victuals to sell againe : and understanding that at
Hippata (which is the principall city of all Thessaly),  is accustomed
to be soulde new cheeses of exceeding good taste and relish, I
fortuned on a day to go thither, to make my market there : but as it
often happeneth, I came in an evill houre; for one Lupus a purveyor
had bought and ingrossed up all the day before, and so I was
deceived.

Wherefore towards night being very weary, I went to the Baines to
refresh my selfe, and behold, I fortuned to espy my companion
Socrates sitting upon the ground, covered with a torn and course
mantle; who was so meigre and of so sallow and miserable a
countenance, that I scantly knew him : for fortune had brought him
into such estate and calamity, that he verily seemed as a common
begger that standeth in the streets to crave the benevolence of the
passers by.  Towards whom (howbeit he was my singular friend
and familiar acquaintance, yet half in despaire)  I drew nigh and
said, Alas my Socrates, what meaneth this? how faireth it with
thee?  What crime hast thou committed? verily there is great
lamentation and weeping for thee at home : Thy children are in
ward by decree of the Provinciall Judge : Thy wife (having ended
her mourning time in lamentable wise, with face and visage
blubbered with teares, in such sort that she hath well nigh wept out
both her eyes) is constrained by her parents to put out of
remembrance the unfortunate losse and lacke of thee at home, and
against her will to take a new husband.  And dost thou live here as
a ghost or hogge, to our great shame and ignominy?

Then he answered he to me and said, O my friend Aristomenus,
now perceive I well that you are ignorant of the whirling changes,
the unstable forces, and slippery inconstancy of Fortune : and
therewithall he covered his face (even then blushing for very
shame) with his rugged mantle insomuch that from his navel
downwards he appeared all naked.

But I not willing to see him any longer in such great miserie and
calamitie, took him by the hand and lifted him up from the ground :
who having his face covered in such sort, Let Fortune (quoth he)
triumph yet more, let her have her sway, and finish that which shee
hath begun.  And therewithall I put off one of my garments and
covered him, and immediately I brought him to the Baine, and
caused him to be anointed, wiped, and the filthy scurfe of his body
to be rubbed away; which done, though I were very weary my
selfe, yet I led the poore miser to my Inne, where he reposed his
body upon a bed, and then I brought him meat and drinke, and so
wee talked together : for there we might be merry and laugh at our
pleasure, and so we were, untill such time as he (fetching a pittifull
sigh from the bottom of his heart, and beating his face in miserable
sort, began to say.



THE THIRD CHAPTER


How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was
spoyled and robbed, and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a
Witch.

Alas poore miser that I am, that for the onely desire to see a game
of triall of weapons, am fallen into these miseries and wretched
snares of misfortune.  For in my returne from Macedonie, wheras I
sould all my wares, and played the Merchant by the space of ten
months, a little before that I came to Larissa, I turned out of the
way, to view the scituation of the countrey there, and behold in the
bottom of a deep valley I was suddenly environed with a company
of theeves, who robbed and spoiled me of such things as I had, and
yet would hardly suffer me to escape.  But I beeing in such
extremity, in the end was happily 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.



THE FOURTH CHAPTER


How Meroe the Witch turned divers persons into miserable beasts.

In faith Aristomenus to tell you the truth, this woman had a certaine
Lover, whom by the utterance of one only word she turned into a
Bever, because he loved another woman beside her : and the
reason why she transformed him into such a beast is, for that it is
his nature, when hee perceiveth the hunters and hounds to draw
after him, to bite off his members, and lay them in the way, that the
hounds may be at a stop when they find them, and to the intent it
might so happen unto him (for that he fancied another woman) she
turned him into that kind of shape.

Semblably she changed one of her neighbours, being an old man
and one that sold wine, into a Frog, in that he was one of her
occupation, and therefore she bare him a grudge, and now the
poore miser swimming in one of his pipes of wine, and well nigh
drowned in the dregs, doth cry and call with an hoarse voice, for his
old guests and acquaintance that pass by.  Like wise she turned
one of the Advocates of the Court (because he pleaded and spake
against her in a rightful cause)  into a horned Ram, and now the
poore Ram is become an Advocate.  Moreover she caused, that
the wife of a certain lover that she had should never be delivered of
her childe, but according to the computation of all men, it is eight
yeares past since the poore woman first began to swell, and now
shee is encreased so big, that shee seemeth as though she would
bring forth some great Elephant : which when it was knowne
abroad, and published throughout all the towne, they tooke
indignation against her, and ordayned that the next day shee should
most cruelly be stoned to death.  Which purpose of theirs she
prevented by the vertue of her inchantments, and as Medea (who
obtained of King Creon but one days respit before her departure)
did burn all his house, him, and his daughter : so she, by her
conjurations and invocations of spirits, (which she useth in a
certaine hole in her house, as shee her selfe declared unto me the
next day following) closed all the persons in the towne so sure in
their houses, and with such violence of power, that for the space of
two dayes they could not get forth, nor open their gates nor doore,
nor break downe their walls, whereby they were inforced by
mutuall consent to cry unto her, and to bind themselves strictly by
oaths, that they would never afterwards molest or hurt her : and
moreover, if any did offer her any injury they would be ready to
defend her.  Whereupon shee, mooved by their promises, and
stirred by pitty, released all the towne.  But shee conveyed the
principal Author of this ordinance about midnight, with all his house,
the walls, the ground, and the foundation, into another towne,
distant from thence an hundred miles, scituate and beeing on the
top of an high hill, and by reason thereof destitute of water, and
because the edifices and houses were so nigh built together, that it
was not possible for the house to stand there, she threw it downe
before the gate of the towne.  Then I spake and said O my friend
Socrates you have declared unto me many marvellous things and
strange chances, and moreover stricken me with no small trouble of
minde, yea rather with great feare, lest the same old woman using
the like practice, should fortune to heare all our communication.
Wherefore let us now sleepe, and after that we have taken our
rest, let us rise betimes in the morning, and ride away hence before
day, as far as we can possible.



THE FIFTH CHAPTER


How Socrates and Aristomenus slept together in one Chamber, and
how they were handled by Witches.

In speaking these words, and devising with my selfe of our
departing the next morrow, lest Meroe the witch should play by us
as she had done by divers other persons, it fortuned that Socrates
did fall asleepe, and slept very soundly, by reason of his travell and
plenty of meat and wine wherewithall hee had filled him selfe.
Wherefore I closed and barred fast the doores of the chamber, and
put my bed behinde the doore, and so layed mee downe to rest.
But I could in no wise sleepe, for the great feare which was in my
heart,  untill it was about midnight, and then I began to slumber.
But alas, behold suddenly the chamber doores brake open, and
locks, bolts, and posts fell downe, that you would verily have
thought that some Theeves had been presently come to have
spoyled and robbed us.  And my bed whereon I lay being a truckle
bed, fashioned in forme of a Cradle, and one of the feet broken and
rotten,  by violence was turned upside downe, and I likewise was
overwhelmed and covered lying in the same.  Then perceived I in
my selfe, that certaine affects of the minde by nature doth chance
contrary.  For as teares oftentimes trickle downe the cheekes of
him that seeth or heareth some joyfull newes, so I being in this
fearfull perplexity, could not forbeare laughing, to see how of
Aristomenus I was made like unto a snail [in] his shell.  And while I
lay on the ground covered in this sort,  I peeped under the bed to
see what would happen.  And behold there entred in two old
women,  the one bearing a burning torch, and the other a sponge
and a naked sword; and so in this habit they stood about Socrates
being fast asleep.  Then shee which bare the sword sayd unto the
other, Behold sister Panthia, this is my deare and sweet heart,
which both day and night hath abused my wanton youthfulnesse.
This is he, who little regarding my love, doth not only defame me
with reproachfull words, but also intendeth to run away.  And I
shall be forsaken by like craft as Vlysses did use, and shall
continually bewaile my solitarinesse as Calipso.  Which said, shee
pointed towards mee that lay under the bed, and shewed me to
Panthia.  This is hee, quoth she, which is his Counsellor, and
perswadeth him to forsake me, and now being at the point of death
he lieth prostrate on the ground covered with his bed, and hath
seene all our doings, and hopeth to escape scot-free from my
hands, but I will cause that hee will repente himselfe too late,  nay
rather forthwith, of his former intemperate language, and his
present curiosity.  Which words when I heard I fell into a cold
sweat, and my heart trembled with feare, insomuch that the bed
over me did likewise rattle and shake.  Then spake Panthia unto
Meroe and said, Sister let us by and by teare him in pieces or tye
him by the members, and so cut them off.  Then Meroe (being so
named because she was a Taverner, and loved wel good wines)
answered, Nay rather let him live, and bury the corpse of this poore
wretch in some hole of the earth; and therewithall shee turned the
head of Socrates on the other side and thrust her sword up to the
hilts into the left part of his necke, and received the bloud that
gushed out, into a pot,   that no drop thereof fell beside : which
things I saw with mine own eyes, and as I thinke to the intent that
she might alter nothing that pertained to sacrifice, which she
accustomed to make, she thrust her hand down into the intrals of
his body,  and searching about, at length brought forth the heart of
my miserable companion Socrates, who having his throat cut in
such sort, yeelded out a dolefull cry, and gave up the ghost.  Then
Panthia stopped up the wide wound of his throat with the Sponge
and said, O sponge sprung and made of the sea, beware that thou
not passe by running river.  This being said, one of them moved and
turned up my bed, and then they strid over mee, and clapped their
buttocks upon my face, and all bepissed mee until I was wringing
wet.  When this was over they went their wayes, and the doores
closed fast, the posts stood in their old places, and the lockes and
bolts were shut againe.  But I that lay upon the ground like one
without soule, naked and cold, and wringing wet with pisse, like to
one that were more than half dead, yet reviving my selfe, and
appointed as I thought for the Gallowes,  began to say Alasse what
shall become of me to morrow, when my companion shall be found
murthered here in the chamber?  To whom shall I seeme to tell any
similitude of truth, when as I shall tell the trueth in deed?  They will
say, If thou wert unable to resist the violence of the women, yet
shouldest thou have cried for help; Wouldst thou suffer the man to
be slaine before thy face and say nothing? Or why did they not slay
thee likewise?  Why did they spare thee that stood by and saw
them commit that horrible fact?  Wherefore although thou hast
escaped their hands, yet thou shalt not escape ours.  While I
pondered these things with my selfe the night passed on, and so I
resolved to take my horse before day, and goe forward on my
journey.

Howbeit the wayes were unknown to me, and thereupon I tooke up
my packet, unlocked and unbarred the doors, but those good and
faithfull doores which in the night did open of their owne accord,
could then scantly be opened with their keyes.  And when I was
out I cried, O sirrah Hostler where art thou?  Open the stable doore
for I will ride away by and by.  The Hostler lying behinde the stable
doore upon a pallet, and half asleepe, What (quoth hee) doe you not
know that the wayes be very dangerous? What meane you to rise
at this time of night?  If you perhaps guilty of some heynous crime,
be weary of your life, yet thinke you not that we are such Sots that
we will die for you.   Then said I, It is well nigh day, and moreover,
what can theeves take from him that hath nothing?  Doest thou not
know (Foole as thou art) if thou be naked, if ten Gyants should
assaile thee, they could not spoyle or rob thee?  Whereunto the
drowsie Hostler half asleepe, and turning on the other side,
answered, What know I whether you have murthered your
Companion whom you brought in yesternight, or no, and now seeke
the means to escape away?  O Lord, at that time I remember the
earth seemed ready to open, and me thought I saw at hell gate the
Dog Cerberus ready to devour mee, and then I verily beleeved, that
Meroe did not spare my throat, mooved with pitty, but rather cruelly
pardoned mee to bring mee to the Gallowes.  Wherefore I returned
to my chamber, and there devised with my selfe in what sort I
should finish my life.  But when I saw that fortune should minister
unto mee no other instrument than that which my bed profered me,
I said, O bed, O bed, most dear to me at this present, which hast
abode and suffered with me so many miseries, judge and arbiter of
such things as were done here this night, whome onely I may call to
witnesse for my innocency, render (I say) unto me some
wholesome weapon to end my life, that am most willing to dye.
And therewithal I pulled out a piece of the rope wherewith the bed
was corded, and tyed one end thereof about a rafter by the
window, and with the other end I made a sliding knot, and stood
upon my bed, and so put my neck into it, and leaped from the bed,
thinking to strangle my selfe and so dye, behold the rope beeing old
and rotten burst in the middle, and I fell down tumbling upon
Socrates that lay under : And even at that same very time the
Hostler came in crying with a loud voyce, and sayd, Where are you
that made such hast at midnight, and now lies wallowing abed? 
Whereupon (I know not whether it was by my fall, or by the great
cry of the Hostler) Socrates as waking out of sleepe, did rise up
first and sayd, It is not without cause that strangers do speake evill
of all such Hostlers, for this Catife in his comming in, and with his
crying out, I thinke under a colour to steale away something, hath
waked me out of a sound sleepe.  Then I rose up joyfull with a
merry countenance, saying, Behold good Hostler, my friend, my
companion and my brother, whom thou didst falsly affirme to be
slaine by mee this might.  And therewithall I embraced my friend
Socrates and kissed him : but hee smelling the stinke of the pisse
wherewith those Hagges had embrued me, thrust me away and
sayd, Clense thy selfe from this filthy odour, and then he began
gently to enquire, how that noysome sent hapned unto mee.  But I
finely feigning and colouring the matter for the time, did breake off
his talk, and tooke him by the hand and sayd, Why tarry we?  Why
lose wee the pleasure of this faire morning?  Let us goe, and so I
tooke up my packet, and payed the charges of the house and
departed : and we had not gone a mile out of the Towne but it was
broad day, and then I diligently looked upon Socrates throat, to see
if I could espy the place where Meroe thrust in her sword : but
when I could not perceive any such thing, I thought with my selfe,
What a mad man am I, that being overcome with wine yester night,
have dreamed such terrible things?  Behold I see Socrates is sound,
safe and in health.  Where is his wound?  Where is the Sponge?
Where is his great and new cut?  And then I spake to him and said,
Verily it is not without occasion, that Physitians of experience do
affirme, That such as fill their gorges abundantly with meat and
drinke, shall dreame of dire and horrible sights : for I my selfe, not
tempering my appetite yester night from the pots of wine,  did
seeme to see this night strange and cruel visions, that even yet I
think my self sprinkled and wet with human blood : whereunto
Socrates laughing made answer and said, Nay, thou art not wet
with the blood of men, but art embrued with stinking pisse; and
verily I dreamed that my throat was cut, and that I felt the paine of
the wound, and that my heart was pulled out of my belly, and the
remembrance thereof makes me now to feare, for my knees do so
tremble that I can scarce goe any further, and therefore I would
faine eat somewhat to strengthen and revive my spirits.  Then said
I, behold here thy breakefast, and therewithall I opened my script
that hanged upon my shoulder, and gave him bread and cheese, and
we sate downe under a greate Plane tree, and I eat part with him;
and while I beheld him eating greedily, I perceived that he waxed
meigre and pale, and that his lively colour faded away, insomuch
that beeing in great fear, and remembring those terrible furies of
whom I lately dreamed, the first morsell of bread that I put in my
mouth (that was  but very small) did so stick in my jawes, that I
could neither swallow it downe, nor yet yeeld it up, and moreover
the small time of our being together increased my feare, and what
is hee that seeing his companion die in the high-way before his
face, would not greatly lament and bee sorry?  But when that
Socrates had eaten sufficiently hee waxed very thirsty, for indeed
he had well nigh devoured a whole Cheese : and behold evill
fortune!  There was behind the Plane tree a pleasant running water
as cleere as Crystal, and I sayd unto him, Come hither Socrates to
this water and drinke thy fill.  And then he rose and came to the
River, and kneeled downe on the side of the banke to drinke, but he
had scarce touched the water with lips, when as behold the wound
in his throat opened wide, and the Sponge suddenly fell out into the
water, and after issued out a little remnant of bloud, and his body
being then without life, had fallen into the river, had not I caught
him by the leg and so pulled him up.  And after that I had lamented
a good space the death of my wretched companion, I buried him in
the Sands there by the river.

Which done, in great feare I rode through many Outwayes and
desart places, and as culpable of the death of Socrates, I forsooke
my countrey, my wife, and my children, and came to Etolia where I
married another Wife.

This tale told Aristomenus, and his fellow which before obstinatly
would give no credit unto him, began to say, Verily there was never
so foolish a tale, nor a more absurd lie told than this.  And then he
spake unto me saying, Ho sir, what you are I know not, but your
habit and countenance declareth that you should be some honest
Gentleman,  (speaking to Apuleius) doe you beleeve this tale?  Yea
verily (quoth I), why not?  For whatsoever the fates have appointed
to men, that I beleeve shall happen.  For may things chance unto
me and unto you, and to divers others, which beeing declared unto
the ignorant be accounted as lies.  But verily I give credit unto his
tale, and render entire thankes unto him, in that by the pleasant
relation thereof we have quickly passed and shortned our journey,
and I thinke that my horse was also delighted with the same, and
hath brought me to the gate of this city without any paine at all.
Thus ended both our talk and our journey, for they two turned on
the left hand to the next villages, and I rode into the city.



THE SIXTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius came unto a city named Hipate, and was lodged in
one Milos house, and brought him letters from one Demeas of
Corinth.

After that those two Companions were departed I entred into the
City : where I espied an old woman, of whom I enquired whether
that city was called Hipata, or no : Who answered, Yes.  Then I
demaunded, Whether she knew one Milo an Alderman of the city :
Whereat she laughed and said : Verily it is not without cause that
Milo is called an Elderman, and accounted as chiefe of those which
dwel without the walls of the City.  To whom I sayd againe, I pray
thee good mother do not mocke, but tell me what manner of man
he is, and where he dwelleth.  Mary (quoth shee) do you see these
Bay windowes, which on one side abut to the gates of the city, and
on the other side to the next lane?  There Milo dwelleth, very rich
both in mony and substance, but by reason of his great avarice and
insatiable covetousnes, he is evill spoken of, and he is a man that
liveth all by usurie, and lending his money upon pledges.  Moreover
he dwelleth in a small house, and is ever counting his money, and
hath a wife that is a companion of his extreame misery, neither
keepeth he more in his house than onely one maid, who goeth
apparelled like unto a beggar.  Which when I heard, I laughed in
my self and thought, In faith my friend Demeas hath served me
well, which hath sent me being a stranger, unto such a man, in
whose house I shall not bee afeared either of smoke or of the sent
of meat; and therewithall I rode to the doore, which was fast
barred, and knocked aloud.  Then there came forth a maid which
said, Ho sirrah that knocks so fast, in what kinde of sort will you
borrow money?  Know you not that we use to take no gage, unless
it be either plate or Jewels?  To whom I answered, I pray you maid
speak more gently, and tel me whether thy master be within or no?
Yes (quoth shee) that he is, why doe you aske?  Mary (said I) I am
come from Corinth, and have brought him letters from Demeas his
friend.  Then sayd the Maid, I pray you tarry here till I tell him so,
and therewithall she closed fast the doore, and went in, and after a
while she returned againe and sayd, My master desireth you to
alight and come in.  And so I did, whereas I found him sitting upon
a little bed, going to supper,  and his wife sate at his feet, but there
was no meat upon the table, and so by appointment of the maid I
came to him and saluted him, and delivered the letters which I had
brought from Demeas.  Which when hee had read hee sayd,
Verily, I thanke my friend Demeas much, in that hee hath sent mee
so worthy a guest as you are.  And therewithall hee commanded
his wife to sit away and bid mee sit in her place; which when I
refused by reason of courtesie, hee pulled me by my garment and
willed me to sit downe; for wee have (quoth he) no other stool
here, nor no other great store of household stuffe, for fear of
robbing.  Then I according to his commandement, sate down, and
he fell in further communication with me and sayd, Verily I doe
conjecture by the comly feature of your body, and by the maidenly
shamefastnesse of your face that you are a Gentleman borne, as
my friend Demeas hath no lesse declared the same in his letters.
Wherfore I pray you take in good part our poore lodging, and
behold yonder chamber is at your commaundement, use it as your
owne, and if you be contented therewithall, you shall resemble and
follow the vertuous qualities of your good father Theseus, who
disdained not the slender and poore Cottage of Hecades.

And then he called his maid which was named Fotis,  and said,
Carry this Gentlemans packet into the chamber, and lay it up safely,
and bring water quickly to wash him, and a towel to rub him, and
other things necessary, and then bring him to the next Baines, for I
know that he is very weary of travell.

These things when I heard, I partly perceived the manners of Milo,
and endeavouring to bring my selfe further into his favour, I sayd,
Sir there is no need of any of these things, for they have been
everywhere ministred unto mee by the way, howbeit I will go into
the Baines, but my chiefest care is that my horse be well looked to,
for hee brought mee hither roundly, and therefore I pray thee Fotis
take this money and buy some hay and oats for him.



THE SEVENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius going to buy fish, met with his companion Pythias.

When this was done, and all my things brought into the Chamber, I
walked towards the Baines; but first I went to the market to buy
some victuals for my supper, whereas I saw great plenty of fish set
out to be sould : and so I cheapened part thereof, and that which
they at first held at an hundred pence, I bought at length for twenty.
Which when I had done, and was departing away, one of myne old
acquaintance, and fellow at Athens, named Pithias, fortuned to
passe by, and viewing me at a good space, in the end brought me to
his remembrance, and gently came and kissed mee, saying, O my
deare friend Lucius, it is a great while past since we two saw one
another, and moreover, from the time that wee departed from our
Master Vestius, I never heard any newes from you.  I pray you
Lucius tell me the cause of your peregrination hither.  Then I
answered and sayd, I will make relation thereof unto you tomorrow
: but I pray you tell me, what meaneth these servitors that follow
you, and these rods or verges which they beare, and this habit
which you wear like unto a magistrate, verily I thinke you have
obtained your own desire, whereof I am right glad.  Then answered
Pithias, I beare the office of the Clerke of the market,  and therfore
if you will have any pittance for your supper speake and I will
purvey it for you.  Then I thanked him heartily and sayd I had
bought meat sufficient already.  But Pithias when hee espied my
basket wherein my fish was,  tooke it and shaked it, and demanded
of me what I had payd for all my Sprots.  In faith (quoth I), I could
scarce inforce the fishmonger to sell them for twenty pence.
Which when I heard, he brought me backe again into the market,
and enquired of me of whom I bought them.  I shewed him the old
man which sate in a corner, whome by and by, by reason of his
office, hee did greatly blame, and sayd, Is it thus you serve and
handle strangers, and specially our friends?  Wherefore sell you this
fish so deare, which is not worth a halfepenny?  Now perceive I
well, that you are an occasion to make this place, which is the
principall city of all Thessaly, to be forsaken of all men, and to
reduce it into an uninhabitable Desart, by reasone of your excessive
prices of victuals, but assure yourself that you shall not escape
without punishment, and you shall know what myne office is, and
how I ought to punish such as offend.  Then he took my basket and
cast the fish on the ground, and commanded one of his Sergeants to
tread them under his feet.  This done he perswaded me to depart,
and sayd that onely shame and reproach done unto the old Caitife
did suffice him, So I went away amazed and astonied, towards the
Baines, considering with myself and devising of the grace of my
companion Pythias.  Where when I had well washed and refreshed
my body, I returned againe to Milos house, both without money and
meat, and so got into my chamber.  Then came Fotis immediately
unto mee, and said that her master desired me to come to supper.
But I not ignorant of Milos abstinence, prayed that I might be
pardoned since as I thought best to ease my wearied bones rather
with sleepe and quietnesse,  than with meat.  When Fotis had told
this to Milo, he came himselfe and tooke mee by the hand, and
while I did modestly excuse my selfe, I will not (quoth he) depart
from this place, until such time as you shall goe with me : and to
confirm the same, hee bound his words with an oath,  whereby he
enforced me to follow him, and so he brought me into his chamber,
where hee sate him downe upon the bed, and demaunded of mee
how his friend Demeas did, his wife, his children, and all his family :
and I made answer to him every question, specially hee enquired
the causes of my peregrination and travell, which when I had
declared, he yet busily demanded of the state of my Countrey,  and
the chief magistrates there, and principally of our Lievtenant and
Viceroy; who when he perceived that I was not only wearied by
travell, but also with talke, and that I fell asleep in the midst of my
tale, and further that I spake nothing directly or advisedly, he
suffered me to depart to my chamber.  So scaped I at length from
the prating and hungry supper of this rank old man, and being
compelled by sleepe and not by meat, and having supped only with
talke, I returned into my chamber, and there betooke me to my
quiet and long desired rest.




THE SECOND BOOKE



THE EIGHTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena.

As soone as night was past, and the day began to spring, I fortuned
to awake, and rose out of my bed as halfe amazed,  and very
desirous to know and see some marvellous and strange things,
remembring with my selfe that I was in the middle part of all
Thessaly, whereas by the common report of all the World, the
Sorceries and Inchauntments are most used, I oftentimes repeated
with my self the tale of my companion Aristomenus touching the
manner of this City, and being mooved by great desire, I viewed the
whole scituation thereof, neither was there any thing which I saw
there, but that I did beleeve to be the same which it was indeed, but
every thing seemed unto me to be transformed and altered into
other shapes, by the wicked power of Sorcerie and Inchantment,
insomuch that I thought that the stones which I found were
indurate, and turned from men into that figure, and that the birds
which I heard chirping, and the trees without the walls of the city,
and the running waters, were changed from men into such kinde of
likenesses.  And further I thought that the Statues, Images and
Walls could goe, and the Oxen and other brute beasts could speake
and tell strange newes, and that immediately I should see and heare
some Oracles from the heavens, and from the gleed of the Sun.
Thus being astonied or rather dismayed and vexed with desire,
knowing no certaine place whither I intended to go, I went from
street to street, and at length (as I curiously gazed on every thing) I
fortuned unwares to come into the market place, whereas I espied
a certaine woman, accompanied with a great many servants,
towards whom I drew nigh,  and viewed her garments beset with
gold and pretious stone, in such sort that she seemed to be some
noble matron.  And there was an old man which followed her, who
as soon as he espied me, said to himself, Verily this is Lucius, and
then he came and embraced me, by and by he went unto his
mistresse and whispered in her eare, and came to mee againe
saying, How is it Lucius that you will not salute your deere Cousin
and singular friend?  To whom I answered, Sir I dare not be so bold
as to take acquaintance of an unknown woman.  Howbeit as halfe
ashamed I drew towards her, and shee turned her selfe and sayd,
Behold how he resembleth the very same grace as his mother
Salvia doth, behold his countenance and stature, agreeing thereto in
each poynt, behold his comely state, his fine slendernesse, his
Vermilion colour, his haire yellow by nature, his gray and quicke
eye, like to the Eagle, and his trim and comely gate, which do
sufficiently prove him to be the naturall childe of Salvia.   And
moreover she sayd, O Lucius, I have nourished thee with myne
owne proper hand : and why not? For I am not onely of kindred to
thy mother by blood, but also by nourice, for wee both descended
of the line of Plutarch, lay in one belly, sucked the same paps, and
were brought up together in one house.  And further there is no
other difference betweene us two, but that she is married more
honourably than I : I am the same Byrrhena whom you have often
heard named among your friends at home : wherfore I pray you to
take so much pains as to come with me to my house, and use it as
your owne.  At whose words I was partly abashed and sayd, God
forbid Cosin that I should forsake myne Host Milo without any
reasonable cause; but verily I will, as often as I have occasion to
passe by thy house, come and see how you doe.  And while we
were talking thus together, little by little wee came to her house,
and behold the gates of the same were very beautifully set with
pillars quadrangle wise, on the top wherof were placed  carved
statues and images, but principally the Goddesse of Victory was so
lively and with such excellencie portrayed and set forth, that you
would have verily have thought that she had flyed, and  hovered
with her wings hither and thither. On the contrary part, the image
of the Goddesse Diana was wrought in white marble, which was a
marvellous sight to see, for shee seemed as though the winde did
blow up her garments, and that she did encounter with them that
came into the house.  On each side of her were Dogs made of
stone, that seemed to menace with their fiery eyes, their pricked
eares, their bended nosethrils, their grinning teeth in such sort that
you would have thought they had bayed and barked.  An moreover
(which was a greater marvel to behold) the excellent carver and
deviser of this worke had fashioned the dogs to stand up fiercely
with their former feet, and their hinder feet on the ground ready to
fight.  Behinde the back of the goddesse was carved a stone in
manner of a Caverne, environed with mosse, herbes, leaves, sprigs,
green branches and bowes, growing in and about the same,
insomuch that within the stone it glistered and shone marvellously,
under the brim of the stone hanged apples and grapes carved finely,
wherein Art envying Nature,  shewed her great cunning.  For they
were so lively set out, that you would have thought if Summer had
been come, they might have bin pulled and eaten; and while I
beheld the running water, which seemed to spring and leap under
the feet of the goddesse, I marked the grapes which hanged in the
water, which were like in every point to the grapes of the vine, and
seemed to move and stir by the violence of the streame.
Moreover, amongst the branches of the stone appeared the image
of Acteon : and how that Diana (which was carved within the
same stone, standing in the water) because he did see her naked,
did turne him into an hart, and so he was torne and slaine of his
owne hounds.  And while I was greatly delighted with the view of
these things, Byrrhena spake to me and sayd, Cousin all things here
be at your commandement.  And therewithall shee willed secretly
the residue to depart : who being gone she sayd, My most deare
Cousin Lucius, I do sweare by the goddesse Diana, that I doe
greatly tender your safety, and am as carefull for you as if you
were myne owne naturall childe, beware I say, beware of the evil
arts and wicked allurements of that Pamphiles who is the wife of
Milo, whom you call your Host, for she is accounted the most chief
and principall Magitian and Enchantresse living, who by breathing
out certain words and charmes over bowes, stones and other
frivolous things, can throw down all the powers of the heavens into
the deep bottome of hell, and reduce all the whole world againe to
the old Chaos.  For as soone as she espieth any comely yong man,
shee is forthwith stricken with  his love, and presently setteth her
whole minde and affection on him.  She soweth her seed of
flattery, she invades his spirit and intangleth him with continuall
snares of unmeasurable love.

And then if any accord not to her filthy desire, or if they seeme
loathsome in her eye, by and by in the moment of an houre she
turneth them into stones, sheep or some other beast, as her selfe
pleaseth, and some she presently slayeth and murthereth, of whom
I would you should earnestly beware.  For she burneth continually,
and you by reason of your tender age and comely beauty are
capable of her fire and love.

Thus with great care Byrrhena gave me in charge, but I (that
always coveted and desired, after that I had heard talk of such
Sorceries and Witchcrafts, to be experienced in the same) little
esteemed to beware of Pamphiles, but willingly determined to
bestow my money in learning of that art, and now wholly to
become a Witch.  And so I waxed joyful, and wringing my selfe out
of her company,  as out of linkes or chaines, I bade her farewell,
and departed toward the house of myne host Milo, by the way
reasoning thus with my selfe : O Lucius now take heed, be vigilant,
have a good care, for now thou hast time and place to satisfie thy
desire, now shake off thy childishnesse and shew thy selfe a man,
but especially temper thy selfe from the love of thyne hostesse, and
abstain from violation of the bed of Milo, but hardly attempt to
winne the maiden Fotis, for she is beautifull, wanton and pleasant in
talke. And soone when thou goest to sleepe, and when shee
bringeth you gently into thy chamber, and tenderly layeth thee
downe in thy bed, and lovingly covereth thee, and kisseth thee
sweetly, and departeth unwillingly, and casteth her eyes oftentimes
backe, and stands still, then hast thou a good occasion ministred to
thee to prove and try the mind of Fotis.  Thus while I reasoned to
myselfe I came to Milos doore, persevering still in my purpose, but
I found neither Milo nor his wife at home.



THE NINTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis.

When I was within the house I found my deare and sweet love
Fotis mincing of meat and making pottage for her master and
mistresse, the Cupboord was all set with wines, and I thought I
smelled the savor of some dainty meats : she had about her middle
a white and clean apron, and shee was girded about her body under
the paps with a swathell of red silke, and she stirred the pot and
turned the meat with her fair and white hands, in such sort that with
stirring and turning the same, her loynes and hips did likewise move
and shake, which was in my mind a comely sight to see.

These things when I saw I was halfe amazed, and stood musing
with my selfe, and my courage came then upon mee, which before
was scant.   And I spake unto Fotis merrily and sayd, O Fotis how
trimmely you can stirre the pot, and how finely, with shaking your
buttockes, you can make pottage.  The shee beeing likewise merrily
disposed, made answer, Depart I say, Miser from me, depart from
my fire, for if the flame thereof doe never so little blaze forth, it will
burne thee extreamely and none can extinguish the heat thereof but
I alone, who in stirring the pot and making the bed can so finely
shake my selfe.  When she had sayd these words shee cast her
eyes upon me and laughed, but I did not depart from thence until
such time as I had viewed her in every point.  But what should I
speak of others, when as I doe accustome abroad to marke the
face and haire of every dame, and afterwards delight my selfe
therewith privately at home, and thereby judge the residue of their
shape, because the face is the principall part of all the body, and is
first open to our eyes.  And whatsoever flourishing and gorgeous
apparell doth work and set forth in the corporal parts of a woman,
the same doth the naturall and comely beauty set out in the face.
Moreover there be divers, that to the intent to shew their grace and
feature, wil cast off their partlets, collars, habiliments, fronts,
cornets and krippins, and doe more delight to shew the fairnesse of
their skinne, than to deck themselves up in gold and pretious stones.
But because it is a crime unto me to say so, and to give no example
thereof, know ye, that if you spoyle and cut the haire of any woman
or deprive her of the colour of her face, though shee were never so
excellent in beauty, though shee were throwne downe from heaven,
sprung of the Seas, nourished of the flouds, though shee were
Venus her selfe, though shee were waited upon by all the Court of
Cupid, though were girded with her beautifull skarfe of Love, and
though shee smelled of perfumes and musks, yet if shee appeared
bald, shee could in no wise please, no not her owne Vulcanus.

O how well doth a faire colour and a shining face agree with
glittering hair!  Behold, it encountreth with the beams of the Sunne,
and pleaseth the eye marvellously.  Sometimes the beauty of the
haire resembleth the colour of gold and honey, sometimes the blew
plumes and azured feathers about the neckes of Doves, especially
when it is either anointed with the gumme of Arabia, or trimmely
tuft out with the teeth of a fine combe, which if it be tyed up in the
pole of the necke, it seemeth to the lover that beholdeth the same,
as a glasse that yeeldeth forth a more pleasant and gracious
comelinesse than if it should be sparsed abroad on the shoulders of
the woman, or hang down scattering behind.  Finally there is such a
dignity in the haire, that whatsoever shee be, though she be never
to bravely attyred with gold, silks, pretious stones, and other rich
and gorgeous ornaments, yet if her hair be not curiously set forth
shee cannot seeme faire.  But in my Fotis, her garments unbrast
and unlaste increased her beauty, her haire hanged about her
shoulders, and was dispersed abroad  upon her partlet, and in every
part of her necke, howbeit the greater part was trussed upon her
pole with a lace.  Then I unable to sustain the broiling heat that I
was in, ran upon her and kissed the place where she had thus laid
her haire.  Whereat she turned her face, and cast her rolling eyes
upon me, saying, O Scholler, thou hast tasted now both hony and
gall, take heed that thy pleasure do not turn unto repentance.  Tush
(quoth I) my sweet heart, I am contented for such another kiss to
be broiled here upon this fire, wherwithall I embraced and kissed
her more often, and shee embraced and kissed me likewise, and
moreover her breath smelled like Cinnamon, and the liquor of her
tongue was like unto sweet Nectar, wherewith when my mind was
greatly delighted I sayd, Behold Fotis I am yours, and shall
presently dye unlesse you take pitty upon me.  Which when I had
said she eftsoone kissed me, and bid me be of good courage, and I
will (quoth shee) satisfie your whole desire, and it shall be no longer
delayed than until night, when as assure your selfe I will come and
lie with you; wherfore go your wayes and prepare your selfe, for I
intend valiantly and couragiously to encounter with you this night.
Thus when we had lovingly talked and reasoned together, we
departed for that time.



THE TENTH CHAPTER


How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius, and how hee talked
with Milo of Diophanes, and how he lay with Fotis.

When noone was come, Byrrhena sent to me a fat Pigge, five
hennes, and a flagon of old wine. Then I called Fotis and sayd,
Behold how Bacchus the egger and stirrer of Venery, doth offer
him self of his owne accord, let us therefore drink up this wine, that
we may prepare our selves and get us courage against soone, for
Venus wanteth no other provision than this, that the Lamp may be
all the night replenished with oyle, and the cups with wine.  The
residue of the day I passed away at the Bains and in banquetting,
and towards evening I went to supper, for I was bid by Milo, and so
I sate downe at the table, out of Pamphiles sight as much as I
could, being mindfull of the commandement of Byrrhena, and
sometimes I would cast myne eyes upon her as upon the furies of
hell, but I eftsoones turning my face behinde me, and beholding my
Fotis ministring at the table, was again refreshed and made merry.
And behold when Pamphiles did see the candle standing on the
table, she said, Verily wee shall have much raine to morrow.
Which when her husband did heare, he demanded of her by what
reason she knew it?  Mary (quoth shee) the light on the table
sheweth the same.  Then Milo laughed and said, Verily we nourish
a Sybel prophesier, which by the view of a candle doth divine of
Celestiall things, and of the Sunne it selfe.  Then I mused in my
minde and said unto Milo, Of truth it is a good experience and proof
of divination.  Neither is it any marvell, for although this light is but
a small light, and made by the hands of men, yet hath it a
remembrance of that great and heavenly light, as of his parent, and
doth shew unto us what will happen in the Skies above.  For I knew
at Corinth a certain man of Assyria, who would give answers in
every part of the City, and for the gaine of money would tell every
man his fortune, to some he would tel the dayes of their marriages,
to others he would tell when they should build, that their edifices
should continue.  To others, when they should best go e about their
affaires.  To others, when they should goe by sea or land : to me,
purposing to take my journey hither, he declared many things
strange and variable.  For sometimes hee sayd that I should win
glory enough : sometimes he sayd I should write a great Historie :
sometimes againe hee sayd that I should devise an incredible tale :
and sometimes that I should make Bookes.  Whereat Milo laughed
againe, and enquired of me, of what stature this man of Assyria
was, and  what he was named.  In faith (quoth I) he is a tall man
and somewhat blacke, and hee is called Diophanes.  Then sayd
Milo, the same is he and no other, who semblably hath declared
many things here unto us, whereby hee got and obtained great
substance and Treasure.

But the poore miser fell at length into the hands of unpittifull and
cruell fortune : For beeing on a day amongst a great assembly of
people, to tell the simple sort their fortune, a certaine Cobler came
unto him, and desired him to tel when it should be best for him to
take his voyage, the which hee promised to do : the Cobler opened
his purse and told a hundred pence to him for his paines.
Whereupon came a certaine young gentleman and took Diophanes
by the Garment.  Then he turning himselfe, embraced and kissed
him, and desired the Gentleman, who was one of his acquaintance,
to sit downe by him : and Diophanes being astonied with this
sudden change, forgot what he was doing, and sayd, O deare friend
you are heartily welcome, I pray you when arrived you into these
parts?  Then answered he, I will tell you soone, but brother I pray
you tell mee of your comming from the isle of Euboea, and how
you sped by the way? Whereunto Diophanes this notable Assyrian
(not yet come unto  his minde, but halfe amased) soone answered
and sayd, I would to god that all our enemies and evil willers might
fall into the like dangerous peregrination and trouble.  For the ship
where we were in, after it was by the waves of the seas and by the
great tempests tossed hither and thither, in great peril, and after that
the mast and stern brake likewise in pieces, could in no wise be
brought to shore, but sunk into the water, and so we did swim, and
hardly escaped to land.  And after that, whatsoever was given unto
us in recompense of our losses, either by the pitty of strangers, or
by the benevolence of our friends, was taken away from us by
theeves, whose violence when my brother Arisuatus did assay to
resist, hee was cruelly murthered by them before my face.  These
things when he had sadly declared, the Cobler tooke up his money
againe which he had told out to pay for the telling of his fortune,
and ran away.  The Diophanes comming to himselfe perceived
what he had done, and we all that stood by laughed greatly.  But
that (quoth Milo) which Diophanes did tell unto you Lucius, that you
should be happy and have a prosperous journey, was only true.
Thus Milo reasoned with me.  But I was not a little sorry that I had
traind him into such a vaine of talke, that I lost a good part of the
night, and the sweete pleasure thereof : but at length I boldly said to
Milo, Let Diophanes fare well with his evil fortune, and get againe
that which he lost by sea and land, for I verily do yet feel the
wearinesse of my travell, whereof I pray you pardon mee, and give
me licence to depart to bed : wherewithall I rose up and went unto
my chamber, where I found all things finely prepared and the
childrens bed (because they should not heare what we did in the
night) was removed far off without the chamber doore.  The table
was all covered with those meats that were left at supper, the cups
were filled halfe full with water, to temper and delay the wines, the
flagon stood ready prepared, and there lacked nothing that was
necessary for the preparation of Venus.  And when I was entring
into the bed, behold my Fotis (who had brought her mistresse to
bed) came in and gave me roses and floures which she had in her
apron, and some she threw about the bed, and kissed mee sweetly,
and tied a garland about my head, and bespred the chamber with
the residue.  Which when shee had done, shee tooke a cup of wine
and delaied it with hot water, and profered it me to drinke; and
before I had drunk it all off she pulled it from my mouth, and then
gave it me againe, and in this manner we emptied the pot twice or
thrice together.  Thus when I had well replenished my self with
wine, and was now ready unto Venery not onely in minde but also
in body,  I removed my cloathes, and shewing to Fotis my great
impatiencie I sayd, O my sweet heart take pitty upon me and helpe
me, for as you see I am now prepared unto the battell, which you
your selfe did appoint : for after that I felt the first Arrow of cruell
Cupid within my breast,  I bent my bow very strong, and now feare,
(because it is bended so hard) lest my string should breake : but
that thou mayst the better please me, undresse thy haire and come
and embrace me lovingly : whereupon shee made no long delay, but
set aside all the meat and wine, and then she unapparelled her
selfe, and unattyred her haire, presenting her amiable body unto me
in manner of faire Venus, when shee goeth under the waves of the
sea.  Now (quoth shee) is come the houre of justing, now is come
the time of warre, wherefore shew thy selfe like unto a man, for I
will not retyre, I will not fly the field, see then thou bee valiant, see
thou be couragious, since there is no time appointed when our
skirmish shall cease.  In saying these words shee came to me to
bed, and embraced me sweetly, and so wee passed all the night in
pastime and pleasure, and never slept until it was day : but we
would eftsoones refresh our wearinesse, and provoke our pleasure,
and renew our venery by drinking of wine.  In which sort we
pleasantly passed away many other nights following.



THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius supped with Byrrhena, and what a strange tale
Bellephoron told at the table

It fortuned on a day, that Byrrhena desired me earnestly to suppe
with her; and shee would in no wise take any excusation.
Whereupon I went to Fotis, to aske counsell of her as of some
Divine, who although she was unwilling that I should depart one
foot from her company,  yet at length shee gave me license to bee
absent for a while, saying , Beware that you tarry not long at
supper there, for there is a rabblement of common Barrettors and
disturbers of the publique peace, that rove about in the streets and
murther all such as they may take, neither can law nor justice
redress them in any case.  And they will the sooner set upon you,
by reason of your comelinesse and audacity, in that you are not
afeared at any time to walke in the streets.

Then I answered and sayd, Have no care of me Fotis, for I
esteeme the pleasure which I have with thee, above the dainty
meats that I eat abroad, and therefore I will returne againe quickly.
Neverthelesse I minde not to come without company, for I have
here my sword, wherby I hope to defend my selfe.

And so in this sort I went to supper, and behold I found in
Byrrhena's house a great company of strangers, and the chiefe and
principall of the city : the beds made of Citron and Ivory, were
richly adorned and spread with cloath of gold, the Cups were
garnished pretiously, and there were divers other things of sundry
fashion, but of like estimation and price : here stood a glasse
gorgeously wrought, there stood another of Christall finely painted.
There stood a cup of glittering silver, and there stood another of
shining gold, and here was another of amber artificially carved and
made with pretious stones.  Finally, there was all things that might
be desired : the Servitors waited orderly at the table in rich apparell,
the pages arrayed in silke robes, did fill great gemmes and pearles
made in the forme of cups, with excellent wine.  Then one brought
in Candles and Torches, and when we were set down and placed in
order, we began to talke, to laugh, and to be merry.  And Byrrhena
spake unto mee and sayd, I pray you Cousine how like you our
countrey?  Verily I think there is no other City which hath the like
Temples, Baynes, and other commodities which we have here.
Further we have abundance of household stuffe, we have pleasure,
we have ease, and when the Roman merchants arrive in this City
they are gently and quietly entertained, and all that dwell within this
province (when they purpose to solace and repose themselves) do
come to this city.  Whereunto I answered, Verily (quoth I) you tell
truth, for I can finde no place in all the world which I like better
than this, but I greatly feare the blind inevitable trenches of witches,
for they say that the dead bodies are digged out of their graves, and
the bones of them that are burnt be stollen away, and the toes and
fingers of such as are slaine are cut off, and afflict and torment
such as live.  And the old Witches as soone as they heare of the
death of any person, do forthwith goe and uncover the hearse and
spoyle the corpse, to work their inchantments.  Then another sitting
at the table spake and sayd, In faith you say true, neither yet do
they spare or favor the living.  For I know one not farre hence that
was cruelly handled by them, who being not contented with cutting
off his nose, did likewise cut off his eares, whereat all the people
laughed heartily, and looked at one that sate at the boords end, who
being amased at their gazing, and somewhat angry withall, would
have risen from the table, had not Byrrhena spake unto him and
sayd, I pray thee friend Bellerophon sit still and according to thy
accustomed curtesie declare unto us the losse of thy nose and
eares, to the end that my cousin Lucius may be delighted with the
pleasantnes of the tale.   To whom he answered, Madam in the
office of your bounty shall prevaile herein, but the insolencie of
some is not to be supported. This hee spake very angerly : But
Byrrhena was earnest upon him, and assured him hee should have
no wrong at any mans hand.  Whereby he was inforced to declare
the same, and so lapping up the end of the Table cloath and carpet
together,  hee leaned with his elbow thereon, and held out three
forefingers of his right hand in manner of an orator, and sayd,
When I was a young man I went unto a certaine city called Milet,
to see the games and triumphs there named Olympia, and being
desirous to come into this famous province, after that I had
travelled over all Thessaly, I fortuned in an evil hour to come to the
City Larissa, where while I went up and down to view the streets
to seeke some reliefe for my poore estate (for I had spent all my
money) I espied an old man standing on a stone in the middest of
the market place, crying with a loud voice and saying, that if any
man would watch a dead corps that night hee should be reasonably
rewarded for this paines.  Which when I heard, I sayd to one who
passed by, What is here to doe?  Do dead men use to run away in
this Countrey?  Then answered he, Hold your peace, for you are
but a Babe and a stranger here, and not without cause you are
ignorant how you are in Thessaly, where the women Witches bite
off by morsels the flesh and faces of dead men, and thereby work
their sorceries and inchantments.  Then quoth I, In good fellowship
tell me the order of this custody and how it is.  Marry (quoth he)
first you must watch all the night, with your eyes bent continually
upon the Corps,  never looking off, nor moving aside.  For these
Witches do turn themselves into sundry kindes of beasts, whereby
they deceive the eyes of all men, sometimes they are transformed
into birds, sometimes into Dogs and Mice, and sometimes into flies. 
Moreover they will charme the keepers of the corps asleepe,
neither can it be declared what meanes and shifts these wicked
women do use, to bring their purpose to passe : and the reward for
such dangerous watching is no more than foure or sixe shillings.
But hearken further (for I had well nigh forgotten) if the keeper of
the dead body doe not render on the morning following, the corps
whole and sound as he received the same, he shall be punished in
this sort : That is, if the corps be diminished or spoyled in any part
of his face, hands or toes, the same shall be diminished and spoyled
in the keeper.  Which when I heard him I tooke a good heart, and
went unto the Crier and bid him cease, for I would take the matter
in hand, and so I demanded what I should have.  Marry (quoth he)
a thousand pence, but beware I say you young man, that you do
wel defend the dead corps from the wicked witches, for hee was
the son of one of the chiefest of the city.  Tush (sayd I) you speak
you cannot tell what, behold I am a man made all of iron, and have
never desire to sleepe, and am more quicke of sight than Lynx or
Argus.  I had scarse spoken these words, when he tooke me by the
hand and brought mee to a certaine house, the gate whereof was
closed fast, so that I went through the wicket, then he brought me
into a chamber somewhat darke, and shewed me a Matron
cloathed in mourning vesture, and weeping in lamentable wise.
And he spake unto her and said, Behold here is one that will
enterprise to watch the corpes of your husband this night.  Which
when she heard she turned her blubbered face covered with haire
unto me saying, I pray you good man take good heed, and see well
to your office.  Have no care (quoth I) so you will give mee any
thing above that which is due to be given.  Wherewith shee was
contented, and then she arose and brought me into a chamber
whereas the corps lay covered with white sheets, and shee called
seven witnesses, before whom she shewed the dead body, and
every part and parcell thereof, and with weeping eyes desired them
all to testifie the matter.  Which done, she sayd these words of
course as follow : Behold, his nose is whole, his eyes safe, his eares
without scarre, his lips untouched, and his chin sound : all which
was written and noted in tables, and subscribed with the hands of
witnesses to confirme the same.  Which done I sayd unto the
matron, Madam I pray you that I may have all things here
necessary.  What is that? (quoth she).  Marry (quoth I) a great
lampe with oyle, pots of wine, and water to delay the same, and
some other drinke and dainty dish that was left at supper.  Then
she shaked her head and sayd, Away fool as thou art, thinkest thou
to play the glutton here and to looke for dainty meats where so long
time hath not been seene any smoke at all?  Commest thou hither
to eat, where we should weepe and lament?  And therewithall she
turned backe, and commanded her maiden Myrrhena to deliver me
a lampe with oyle, which when shee had done they closed the
chamber doore and departed.   Now when I was alone, I rubbed
myne eyes, and armed my selfe to keep the corpes, and to the
intent I would not sleepe, I began to sing, and so I passed the time
until it was midnight, when as behold there crept in a Wesel into the
chamber, and she came against me and put me in very great feare,
insomuch that I marvelled greatly at the audacity of so little a beast.
To whom I said, get thou hence thou whore and hie thee to thy
fellowes, lest thou feele my fingers.  Why wilt thou not goe?  Then
incontinently she ranne away, and when she was gon, I fell on the
ground so fast asleepe, that Apollo himself could not discern which
of us two was the dead corps, for I lay prostrat as one without life,
and needed a keeper likewise.  At length the cockes began to
crow, declaring that it was day : wherewithall I awaked, and being
greatly afeard ran to the dead body with the lamp in my hand, and I
viewed him round about : and immediately came in the matron
weeping with her Witnesses, and ran to the corps, and eftsoons
kissing him,  she turned his body and found no part diminished.
Then she willed Philodespotus her steward to pay me my wages
forthwith.  Which when he had done he sayd, We thanke you
gentle young man for your paines and verily for your diligence
herein we will account you as one of the family.  Whereunto I
(being joyous of by unhoped gaine, and ratling my money in my
hand)  did answer, I pray you madam esteeme me as one of your
servants, and if you want my service at any time, I am at your
commandement.  I had not fully declared these words, when as
behold all the servants of the house were assembled with weapons
to drive me away, one buffeted me about the face, another about
the shoulders, some strook me in the sides, some kicked me, and
some tare my garments, and so I was handled amongst them and
driven from the house, as the proud young man Adonis who was
torn by a Bore.  And when I was come into the next street, I
mused with my selfe, and remembred myne unwise and unadvised
words which I had spoken, whereby I considered that I had
deserved much more punishment, and that I was worthily beaten
for my folly.  And by and by the corps came forth, which because
it was the body of one of the chiefe of the city, was carried in
funeral pompe round about the market place, according to the right
of the countrey there.  And forthwith stepped out an old man
weeping and lamenting, and ranne unto the Biere and embraced it,
and with deepe sighes and sobs cried out in this sort, O masters, I
pray you  by the faith which you professe, and by the duty which
you owe unto the weale publique, take pitty and mercy upon this
dead corps, who is miserably murdered, and doe vengeance on this
wicked and cursed woman his wife which hath committed this fact
: for it is shee and no other which hath poysoned her husband my
sisters sonne, to the intent to maintaine her whoredome, and to get
his heritage.  In this sort the old man complained before the face of
all people.  Then they (astonied at these sayings, and because the
thing seemed to be true) cried out, Burne her, burne her, and they
sought for stones to throw at her, and willed the boys in the street
to doe the same.  But shee weeping in lamentable wise, did swear
by all the gods, that shee was not culpable of this crime.  No quoth
the old man, here is one sent by the providence of God to try out
the matter, even Zachlas an Egypptian, who is the most principall
Prophecier in all this countrey, and who was hired of me for money
to reduce the soule of this man from hell, and to revive his body for
the triall hereof.  And therewithall he brought forth a certaine
young man cloathed in linnen rayment, having on his feet a paire of
pantofiles, and his crowne shaven, who kissed his hands and knees,
saying, O priest have mercy, have mercy I pray thee by the
Celestiall Planets, by the Powers infernall, by the vertue of the
naturall elements, by the silences of the night, by the building of
Swallows nigh unto the towne Copton, by the increase of the floud
Nilus, by the secret mysteries of Memphis, and by the instruments
and trumpets of the Isle Pharos, have mercy I say, and call to life
this dead body, and make that his eyes which he closed and shut,
may be open and see.  Howbeit we meane not to strive against the
law of death, neither intend we to deprive the earth of his right, but
to the end this fact may be knowne, we crave but a small time and
space of life.  Whereat this Prophet was mooved, and took a
certaine herb and layd it three times against the mouth of the dead,
and he took another and laid upon his breast in like sort.  Thus
when hee had done hee turned himself into the East, and made
certaine orisons unto the Sunne, which caused all the people to
marvell greatly, and to looke for this strange miracle that should
happen.  Then I pressed in amongst them nigh unto the biere, and
got upon a stone to see this mysterie, and behold incontinently the
dead body began to receive spirit, his principall veines did moove,
his life came again and he held up his head and spake in this sort :
Why doe you call mee backe againe to this transitorie life, that have
already tasted of the water of Lethe, and likewise been in the
deadly den of Styx?  Leave off, I pray, leave off, and let me lie in
quiet rest.  When these words were uttered by the dead corps, the
Prophet drew nigh unto the Biere and sayd, I charge thee to tell
before the face of all the people here the occasion of thy death :
What, dost thou thinke that I cannot by my conjurations call up the
dead, and by my puissance torment thy body?  Then the corps
moved his head again, and made reverence to the people and sayd,
Verily I was poisoned by the meanes of my wicked wife, and so
thereby yeelded my bed unto an adulterer.  Whereat his wife taking
present audacity, and reproving his sayings, with a cursed minde did
deny it.  The people were bent against her sundry wayes, some
thought best that shee should be buried alive with her husband : but
some said that there ought no credit to be given to the dead body.
Which opinion was cleane taken away, by the words which the
corps spoke againe and sayd, Behold I will give you some evident
token, which never yet any other man knew, whereby you shall
perceive that I declare the truth : and by and by he pointed towards
me that stood on the stone, and sayd, When this the good Gard of
my body watched me diligently in the night, and that the wicked
Witches and enchantresses came into the chamber to spoyle mee
of my limbes, and to bring such their purpose did transforme
themselves into the shape of beasts : and when as they could in no
wise deceive or beguile his vigilant eyes, they cast him into so dead
and sound a sleepe, that by their witchcraft he seemed without
spirit or life.  After this they did call me by my name, and never did
cease til as the cold members of my body began by little and little
and little to revive.  Then he being of more lively soule, howbeit
buried in sleep, in that he and I were named by one name, and
because he knew not that they called me, rose up first, and as one
without sence or perseverance passed by the dore fast closed, unto
a certain hole, whereas the Witches cut off first his nose, and then
his ears, and so that was done to him which was appointed to be
done to me.  And that such their subtility might not be perceived,
they made him a like paire of eares and nose of wax : wherfore
you may see that the poore miser for lucre of a little mony
sustained losse of his members.  Which when he had said I was
greatly astonied, and minding to prove whether his words were true
or no, put my hand to my nose, and my nose fell off, and put my
hand to my ears and my ears fell off.  Wherat all the people
wondred greatly, and laughed me to scorne : but I beeing strucken
in a cold sweat, crept between their legs for shame and escaped
away.  So I disfigured returned home againe, and covered the losse
of myne ears with my long hair, and glewed this clout to my face to
hide my shame.  As soon as Bellephoron had told his tale, they
which sate at the table replenished with wine, laughed heartily.
And while they drank one to another, Byrrhena spake to me and
said, from the first foundation of this city we have a custome to
celebrate the festivall day of the god Risus, and to-morrow is the
feast when as I pray you to bee present, to set out the same more
honourably, and I would with all my heart that you could find or
devise somewhat of your selfe, that might be in honour of so great
a god.  To whom I answered, verily cousin I will do as you
command me, and right glad would I be, if I might invent any
laughing or merry matter to please of satisfy Risus withall.  Then I
rose from the table and took leave of Byrrhena and departed.  And
when I came into the first street my torch went out, that with great
pain I could scarce get home, by reason it was so dark, for ear of
stumbling : and when I was well nigh come unto the dore, behold I
saw three men of great stature, heaving and lifting at Milos gates to
get in : and when they saw me they were nothing afeard, but
assaied with more force to break down the dores whereby they
gave mee occasion, and not without cause, to thinke that they were
strong theeves.  Whereupon I by and by drew out my sword which
I carried for that purpose under my cloak, and ran in amongst them,
and wounded them in such sort that they fell downe dead before
my face.  Thus when I had slaine them all, I knocked sweating and
breathing at the doore til Fotis let me in.  And then full weary with
the slaughter of those Theeves, like Hercules when he fought
against the king Gerion, I went to my chamber and layd me down
to sleep.




THE THIRD BOOKE



THE TWELFTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was taken and put in prison for murther.

When morning was come, and that I was awaked from sleep, my
heart burned sore with remembrance of the murther I had
committed the night before : and I rose and sate downe on the side
of the bed with my legges acrosse, and wringing my hands, I
weeped in most miserable sort.  For I imagined with my selfe, that I
was brought before the Judge in the Judgement place, and that he
awarded sentence against me,  and that the hangman was ready to
lead me to the gallows.  And further I imagined and sayd, Alasse
what Judge is he that is so gentle or benigne, that will thinke that I
am unguilty of the slaughter and murther of these three men.
Howbeit the Assyrian Diophanes did firmely assure unto me, that
my peregrination and voyage hither should be prosperous.  But
while I did thus unfold my sorrowes, and greatly bewail my fortune,
behold I heard a great noyse and cry at the dore, and in came the
Magistrates and officers, who commanded two sergeants to binde
and leade me to prison.   whereunto I was willingly obedient, and as
they led me through the street, all the City gathered together and
followed me, and although I looked always on the ground for very
shame, yet sometimes I cast my head aside and marvelled greatly
that among  so many thousand people there was not one but
laughed exceedingly.  Finally, when they had brought me through all
the streets of the city, in manner of those that go in procession, and
do sacrifice to mitigate the ire of the gods, they placed mee in the
Judgement hall, before the seat of the Judges : and after that the
Crier had commanded all men to keep silence, and people desired
the Judges to give sentence in the great Theatre, by reason of the
great multitude that was there, whereby they were in danger of
stifling.  And behold the prease of people increased stil, some
climed to the top of the house, some got upon the beames, some
upon the Images, and some thrust their heads through the
windowes, little regarding the dangers they were in, so they might
see me.

Then the officers brought mee forth openly into the middle of the
hall, that every man might behold me. And after that the Cryer had
made a noise, and willed all such that would bring any evidence
against me, should come forth, there stept out an old man with a
glasse of water in his hand, dropping out softly, who desired that
hee might have liberty to speake during the time of the continuance
of the water.  Which when it was granted, he began his oration in
this sort.



THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was accused by an  old man, and how he answered
for himselfe.

O most reverend and just Judges, the thing which I propose to
declare to you is no small matter, but toucheth the estate and
tranquillity of this whole City, and the punishment thereof may be a
right good example to others.  Wherefore I pray you most
venerable Fathers, to whom and every one of whom it doth
appertain, to provide for the dignity and safety of the
Commonweale, that you would in no wise suffer this wicked
Homicide, embrued with the bloud of so many murthered citisens,
to escape unpunished.  And thinke you not that I am moved
thereunto by envy or hatred, but by reason of my office, in that I
am captain of the night Watch, and because no man alive should
accuse mee to bee remisse in the same I wil declare all the whole
matter, orderly as it was done last night.

This night past, when as at our accustomed houre I diligently
searched every part of the City, behold I fortuned to espy this cruell
young man drawing out his sword against three Citisens, and after
a long combat foughten between them,  he murthered one after
another miserably : which when hee had done, moved in his
conscience at so great a crime hee ran away, and aided by the
reason of darknes, slipt into a house, and there lay hidden all night,
but by the providence of the Gods, which suffereth no heynous
offence to pass unpunished, hee was taken by us this morning
before he escaped any further, and so brought hither to your
honourable presence to receive his desert accordingly.

So have you here a guilty person, a culpable homicide, and an
accused stranger, wherefore pronounce you judgement against this
man beeing an alien, when as you would most severely and sharply
revenge such an offence found in a known Citisen. In this sort the
cruell accuser finished and ended his terrible tale.   Then the Crier
commanded me to speake, if I had any  thing to say for my selfe,
but I could in no wise utter any word at all for weeping.  And on
the other side I esteemed not so much his rigorous accusation, as I
did consider myne owne miserable conscience.  Howbeit, beeing
inspired by divine Audacity, at length I gan say, Verily I know that
it is an hard thing for him that is accused to have slaine three
persons, to perswade you that he is innocent, although he should
declare the whole truth, and confesse the matter how it was indeed
, but if your honours will vouchsafe to  give me audience, I will
shew you, that if I am condemned to die, I have not deserved it as
myne owne desert, but that I was mooved by fortune and
reasonable cause to doe that fact.  For returning somewhat late
from supper yester night (beeing well tippled with wine, which I will
not deny) and approaching nigh to my common lodging, which was
in the house of one Milo a Citisen of this city, I fortuned to espy
three great theeves attempting to break down his walls and gates,
and to open the locks to enter in.  And when they had removed the
dores out of the hookes, they consulted amongst themselves, how
they would handle such as they found in the house.  And one of
them being of more courage, and of greater stature than the rest,
spake unto his fellows and sayd, Tush you are but boyes, take mens
hearts unto you, and let us enter into every part of the house, and
such as we find asleep let us kill, and so by that meanes we shall
escape without danger.  Verily ye three Judges, I confess that I
drew out my sword against those three Citizens, but I thought it
was the office and duty of one that beareth good will to this weale
publique, so to doe, especially since they put me in great fear, and
assayed to rob and spoyl my friend Milo.  But when those cruell
and terrible men would in no case run away, nor feare my naked
sword, but boldly resist against me, I ran upon them and fought
valiantly.  One of them which was the captain invaded me strongly,
and drew me by the haire with both his hands, and began to beat
me with a great stone : but in the end I proved the hardier man, and
threw him downe at my feet and killed him.  I tooke likewise the
second that clasped me about the legs and bit me, and slew him
also.  And the third that came running violently against me, after
that I had strucken him under the stomacke fell downe dead.  Thus
when I had delivered my selfe, the house, Myne host, and all his
family from this present danger, I thought that I should not onely
escape unpunished, but also have some great reward of the city for
my paines.

Moreover, I that have always been clear and unspotted of crime,
and that have esteemed myne innocency above all the treasure of
the world, can finde no reasonable cause why upon myne
accusation I should be condemned to die, since first I was mooved
to set upon the theeves by just occasion.  Secondly, because there
is none that can affirm, that there hath been at any time either
grudge or hatred between us.  Thirdly, we were men meere
strangers and of no acquaintance.  Last of all, no man can prove
that I committed that fact for lucre or gaine.

When I had ended my words in this sort, behold, I weeped againe
pitteously, and holding up my hands I prayed all the people by the
mercy of the Commonweale and for the love of my poore infants
and children, to shew me some pitty and favour.  And when my
hearts were somewhat relented and mooved by my lamentable
teares, I called all the gods to witnesse that I was unguilty of the
crime, and so to their divine providence, I committed my present
estate, but turning my selfe againe, I perceived that all the people
laughed exceedingly, and especially my good friend and host Milo.
Then thought I with my selfe, Alasse where is faith?  Where is
remorse of conscience?  Behold I am condemned to die as a
murtherer, for the safeguard of myne Host Milo and his family.
Yet is he not contented with that, but likewise laugheth me to
scorne, when otherwise he should comfort and help mee.



THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was accused by two women, and how the slaine
bodies were found blowne bladders.

When this was done, out came a woman in the middle of the
Theatre arrayed in mourning vesture, and bearing a childe in her
armes.  And after her came an old woman in ragged robes, crying
and howling likewise : and they brought with them the Olive boughs
wherewith the three slaine bodies were covered on the Beere, and
cried out in this manner : O right Judges, we pray by the justice and
humanity which is in you, to have mercy upon these slaine persons,
and succour our Widowhood and losse of our deare husbands, and
especially this poore infant, who is now an Orphan, and deprived of
all good fortune : and execute your justice by order and law, upon
the bloud of this Theefe, who is the occasion of all our sorrowes.
When they had spoken these words, one of the most antient Judges
did rise and say, Touching this murther, which deserveth great
punishment, this malefactor himselfe cannot deny, but our duty is to
enquire and try out, whether he had Coadjutors to help him.  For it
is not likely that one man alone could kill three such great and
valiant persons, wherefore the truth must be tried out by the racke,
and so wee shall learne what other companions he hath, and root
out the nest of these mischievous murtherers.  And there was no
long delay, but according to the custome of Grecia, the fire, the
wheele, and many other torments were brought in.  Then my
sorrow encreased or rather doubled, in that I could not end my life
with whole and unperished members.  And by and by the old
woman, who troubled all the Court with her howling, desired the
Judges, that before I should be tormented on the racke, I might
uncover the bodies which I had slaine, that every man might see
their comely shape and youthfull beauty, and that I might receive
condign and worthy punishment, according to the quality of my
offence : and therewithall shee made a sign of joy.  Then the Judge
commanded me forthwith to discover the bodies of the slain, lying
upon the beere, with myne own handes, but when I refused a good
space, by reason I would not make my fact apparent to the eies of
all men, the Sergeant charged me by commandement of the Judges,
and thrust me forward to do the same.  I being then forced by
necessity, though it were against my wil, uncovered the bodies : but
O good Lord  what a strange sight did I see, what a monster? What
sudden change of all my sorrows?  I seemed as though I were one
of the house of Proserpina and of the family of death, insomuch
that I could not sufficiently expresse the forme of this new sight, so
far was I amased and astonied thereat : for why, the bodies of the
three slaine men were no bodies, but three blown bladders mangled
in divers places, and they seemed to be wounded in those parts
where I remembred I wounded the theeves the night before.
Whereat the people laughed exceedingly : some rejoyced
marvellously at the remembrance thereof, some held their
stomackes that aked with joy, but every man delighted at this
passing sport, so passed out of the theatre.  But I from the time that
I uncovered the bodies stood stil as cold as ice, no otherwise than
as the other statues and images there, neither came I into my right
senses, until such time as Milo my Host came and tooke mee by
the hand, and with civil violence lead me away weeping and
sobbing, whether I would or no.  And because that I might be
seene, he brought me through many blind wayes and lanes to his
house, where he went about to comfort me, beeing sad and yet
fearfull, with gentle entreaty of talke.  But he could in no wise
mitigate my impatiency of the injury which I conceived within my
minde.  And behold, by and by the Magistrates and Judges with
their ensignes entred into the house, and endeavoured to pacify
mee in this sort, saying, O Lucius, we are advertised of your
dignity, and know the genealogie of your antient lineage, for the
nobility of your Kinne doe possesse the greatest part of all this
Province : and thinke not that you have suffered the thing wherfore
you weepe, to any reproach and ignominy, but put away all care
and sorrow out of your minde.  For this day, which we celebrate
once a yeare in honour of the god Risus, is alwaies renowned with
some solemne novel, and the god doth continually accompany with
the inventor therof, and wil not suffer that he should be sorrowfull,
but pleasantly beare a joyfull face.  And verily all the City for the
grace that is in you, intend to reward you with great honours, and to
make you a Patron.  And further that your statue or image may be
set up for a perpetuall remembrance.

To whome I answered, As for such benefits as I have received of
the famous City of Thessaly, I yeeld and render the most entire
thanks, but as touching the setting up of any statues or images, I
would wish that they should bee reserved for myne Auntients, and
such as are more worthy than I.

And when I had spoken these words somewhat gravely, and
shewed my selfe more merry than I was before, the Judges and
magistrates departed, and I reverently tooke my leave of them, and
bid them farewell.  And behold, by and by there came one running
unto me in haste, and sayd, Sir, your cousin Byrrhena desireth you
to take the paines according to your promise yester night, to come
to supper, for it is ready.   But I greatly fearing to goe any more to
her house in the night, said to the messenger, My friend I pray you
tell to my cousine your mistresse, that I would willingly be at her
commandement, but for breaking my troth and credit.  For myne
host Milo enforced me to assure him, and compelled me by the
feast of this present day, that I should not depart from his company,
wherefore I pray you to excuse, and to defer my promise to
another time.

And while I was speaking these words, Milo tooke me by the hand,
and led me towards the next Baine : but by the way I went
couching under him, to hide my selfe from the sight of men,
because I had ministred such an occasion of laughter.  And when I
had washed and wiped my selfe, and returned home againe, I never
remembred any such thing, so greatly was I abashed at the nodding
and pointing of every person.  Then went I to supper with Milo,
where God wot we fared but meanly.  Wherefore feigning that my
head did ake by reason of my sobbing and weeping all day, I
desired license to depart to my Chamber, and so I went to bed.



THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER


How Fotis told to Apuleius, what witchcraft her mistresse did use.

When I was a bed I began to call to minde all the sorrowes and
griefes that I was in the day before, until such time as my love
Fotis, having brought her mistresse to sleepe, came into the
chamber, not as shee was wont to do, for she seemed nothing
pleasant neither in countenance nor talke, but with sowre face and
frowning looke, gan speak in this sort, Verily I confesse that I have
been the occasion of all thy trouble this day, and therewith shee
pulled out a whippe from under her apron, and delivered it unto mee
saying, Revenge thyself upon mee mischievous harlot, or rather
slay me.

And thinke you not that I did willingly procure this anguish and
sorrow unto you, I call the gods to witnesse.  For I had rather myne
owne body to perish, than that you should receive or sustaine any
harme by my means, but that which I did was by the
commandement of another, and wrought as I thought for some
other, but behold the unlucky chance fortuned on you by my evill
occasion.

The I, very curious and desirous to know the matter, answered, In
faith (quoth I), this most pestilent and evill favoured whip which
thou hast brought to scourge thee withal, shal first be broken in a
thousand pieces, than it should touch or hurt thy delicate and dainty
skin.  But I pray you tell me how have you been the cause and
mean of my trouble and sorrow?  For I dare sweare by the love
that I beare unto you, and I will not be perswaded, though you your
selfe should endeavour the same, that ever you went to trouble or
harm me :  perhaps sometimes you imagined an evil thought in your
mind, which afterwards you revoked, but that is not to bee deemed
as a crime.

When I had spoken these words, I perceived by Fotis eys being
wet with tears and well nigh closed up that shee had a desire unto
pleasure and specially because shee embraced and kissed me
sweetly.  And when she was somewhat restored unto joy shee
desired me that shee might first shut the chamber doore, least by
the untemperance of her tongue, in uttering any unfitting words,
there might grow further inconvenience.  Wherewithall shee barred
and propped the doore, and came to me againe, and embracing me
lovingly about the neck with both her armes, spake with a soft
voice and said, I doe greatly feare to discover the privities of this
house, and to utter the secret mysteries of my dame.  But I have
such confidence in you and in your wisedome, by reason that you
are come of so noble a line, and endowed with so profound
sapience, and further instructed in so many holy and divine things,
that you will faithfully keepe silence, and that whatsoever I shall
reveale or  declare unto you, you would close them within the
bottome of your heart, and never discover the same : for I ensure
you, the love that I beare unto you, enforceth mee to utter it.   Now
shal you know all the estate of our house, now shal you know the
hidden secrets of my mistres, unto whome the powers of hel do
obey, and by whom the celestial planets are troubled, the gods
made weake, and the elements subdued, neither is the violence of
her art in more strength and force, than when she espieth some
comly young man that pleaseth her fancie, as oftentimes it hapneth,
for now she loveth one Boetian a fair and beautiful person, on
whom she employes al her sorcerie and enchantment, and I heard
her say with mine own ears yester night, that if the Sun had not
then presently gon downe, and the night come to minister
convenient time to worke her magicall enticements, she would have
brought perpetuall darkness over all the world her selfe.  And you
shall know, that when she saw yester night, this Boetian sitting at
the Barbers a  polling, when she came from the Baines shee
secretly commanded me to gather up some of the haires of his
head which lay dispersed upon the ground, and to bring it home.
Which when I thought to have done the Barber espied me, and by
reason it was bruited though all the City that we were Witches and
Enchantresses, he cried out and said, Wil you never leave off
stealing of young mens haires?  In faith I assure you, unlesse you
cease your wicked sorceries, I will complaine to the Justices.
Wherewithall he came angerly towards me, and tooke away the
haire which I had gathered, out of my apron : which grieved me
very much, for I knew my Mistresses manners, that she would not
be contented but beat me cruelly.

Wherefore I intended to runne away, but the remembrance of you
put alwayes the thought out of my minde, and so I came homeward
very sorrowful : but because I would not seeme to come to my
mistresse sight with empty hands, I saw a man shearing of blowne
goat skinnes, and the hayre which he had shorne off was yellow,
and much resembled the haire of the Boetian, and I tooke a good
deale thereof, and colouring of the matter, I brought it to my
mistresse.  And so when night came, before your return form
supper, she to bring her purpose to passe, went up to a high Gallery
of her house, opening to the East part of the world, and preparing
her selfe according to her accustomed practise, shee gathered
together all substance for fumigations, she brought forth plates of
mettal carved with strange characters, she prepared the bones of
such as were drowned by tempest in the seas, she made ready the
members of dead men, as the nosethrils and fingers, shee set out
the lumps of flesh of such as were hanged, the blood which she had
reserved of such as were slaine and the jaw bones and teeth of
willed beasts, then she said certaine charmes over the haire, and
dipped it in divers waters, as in Wel water, Cow milk, mountain
honey, and other liquor.  Which when she had done, she tied and
lapped it up together, and with many perfumes and smells threw it
into an hot fire to burn.  Then by the great force of this sorcerie,
and the violence of so many confections, those bodies whose haire
was burning in the fire, received humane shape, and felt, heard and
walked :  And smelling the sent of their owne haire, came and
rapped at our doores in stead of Boetius. Then you being well
tipled, and deceived by the obscurity of the night, drew out your
sword courageously like furious Ajax, and kild not as he did, whole
heard of beastes, but three blowne skinnes, to the intent that I, after
the slaughter of so many enemies, without effusion of bloud might
embrace and kisse, not an homicide but an Utricide.

Thus when I was pleasantly mocked and taunted by Fotis, I sayd
unto her, verily now may I for this atcheived enterprise be
numbered as Hercules, who by his valiant prowesse performed the
twelve notable Labors, as Gerion with three bodies, and as
Cerberus with three heads, for I have slaine three blown goat
skinnes.  But to the end that I may pardon thee of that thing which
though hast committed, perform, the thing which I most earnestly
desire of thee, that is, bring me that I may see and behold when thy
mistresse goeth about any Sorcery or enchantment, and when she
prayeth unto the gods : for I am very desirous to learne that art, and
as it seemeth unto mee, thou thy selfe hath some experience in the
same.  For this I know and plainly feele, That whereas I have
always yrked and loathed the embrace of Matrones, I am so
stricken and subdued with thy shining eyes,  ruddy cheekes,
glittering haire, sweet cosses, and lilly white paps, that I have
neither minde to goe home, nor to depart hence, but esteeme the
pleasure which I shall have with thee this night, above all the joyes
of the world.  Then (quoth she) O my Lucius, how willing would I
be to fulfil your desire, but by reason shee is so hated, she getteth
her selfe into solitary places, and out of the presence of every
person, when she mindeth to work her enchantments.  Howbeit I
regarde more to gratify your request, than I doe esteeme the
danger of my life : and when I see opportunitie and time I will
assuredly bring you word,  so that you shal see all her
enchantments, but always upon this condition, that you secretly
keepe close such things as are done.

Thus as we reasoned together the courage of Venus assailed, as
well our desires as our members, and so she unrayed herself and
came to bed, and we passed the night in pastime and dalliance, till
as by drowsie and unlusty sleep I was constrained to lie still.



THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER


How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant.

On a day Fotis came running to me in great feare, and said that her
mistresse, to work her sorceries on such as shee loved, intended
the night following to transforme her selfe into a bird, and to fly
whither she pleased.  Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare
my selfe to see the same.  And when midnight came she led me
softly into a high chamber, and bid me look thorow the chink of a
doore : where first I saw how shee put off all her garments, and
took out of a certain coffer sundry kindes of Boxes, of the which
she opened one, and tempered the ointment therein with her
fingers, and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole of the
foot to the crowne of the head, and when she had spoken privily
with her selfe, having the candle in her hand, she shaked the parts
of her body, and behold, I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen
out, her  nose waxed crooked and hard, her nailes turned into
clawes, and so she became an Owle.  Then she cried and
screeched like a bird of that kinde, and willing to proove her force,
mooved her selfe from the ground by little and little, til at last she
flew quite away.

Thus by her sorcery shee transformed her body into what shape
she would.  Which when I saw I was greatly astonied : and
although I was inchanted by no kind of charme, yet I thought that I
seemed not to have the likenesse of Lucius, for so was I banished
from my sences, amazed in madnesse, and so I dreamed waking,
that I felt myne eyes, whether I were asleepe or no.  But when I
was come againe to my selfe, I tooke Fotis by the hand, and moved
it to my face and said, I pray thee while occasion doth serve, that I
may have the fruition of the fruits of my desire, and grant me some
of this oyntment.  O Fotis I pray thee by thy sweet paps, to make
that in the great flames of my love I may be turned into a bird, so I
will ever hereafter be bound unto you, and obedient to your
commandement.  Then said Fotis, Wil you go about to deceive me
now, and inforce me to work my own sorrow?  Are you in the mind
that you will not tarry in Thessaly?  If you be a bird, where shall I
seek you, and when shall I see you? Then answered I, God forbid
that I should commit such a crime, for though I could fly in the aire
as an Eagle or though I were the messenger of Jupiter, yet would I
have recourse to nest with thee : and I swear by the knot of thy
amiable hair, that since the time I first loved thee, I never fancied
any other person : moreover, this commeth to my minde, that if by
the vertue of the oyntment I shall become an Owle,  I will take
heed I will come nigh no mans house : for I am not to learn, how
these matrons would handle their lovers, if they knew that they
were transformed into Owles : Moreover, when they are taken in
any place they are nayled upon posts,  and so they are worthily
rewarded, because it is thought that they bring evill fortune to the
house.   But I pray you (which I had almost forgotten) to tell me by
what meanes when I am an Owle, I shall return to my pristine
shape, and become Lucius againe.  Feare not (quoth she) for my
mistres hath taught me the way to bring that to passe, neither thinke
you that she did it for any good will and favour, but to the end that I
might help her, and minister some remedy when she returneth
home.

Consider I pray you with your selfe, with what frivolous trifles so
marvellous a thing is wrought : for by Hercules I swear I give her
nothing else save a little Dill and Lawrell leaves, in Well water,  the
which she drinketh and washeth her selfe withall.  Which when she
had spoken she went into the chamber and took a box out of the
coffer, which I first kissed and embraced, and prayed that I might
[have] good successe in my purpose.  And then I put off all my
garments, and greedily thrust my hand into the box, and took out a
good deale of oyntment and rubbed my selfe withall.



THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius thinking to be turned into a Bird, was turned into an
Asse, and how he was led away by Theves.

After that I had well rubbed every part and member of my body, I
hovered with myne armes, and moved my selfe, looking still when I
should bee changed into a Bird as Pamphiles was,  and behold
neither feathers nor appearance of feathers did burgen out, but
verily my haire did turne in ruggednesse, and my tender skin waxed
tough and hard, my fingers and toes losing the number of five,
changed into hoofes, and out of myne arse grew a great taile, now
my face became monstrous, my nosthrils wide, my lips hanging
downe, and myne eares rugged with haire : neither could I see any
comfort of my transformation, for my members encreased likewise,
and so without all helpe (viewing every part of my poore body) I
perceived that I was no bird, but a plaine Asse.

The I though to blame Fotis, but being deprived as wel of language
as of humane shape, I looked upon her with my hanging lips and
watery eyes.   Who as soon as shee espied me in such sort, cried
out, Alas poore wretch that I am, I am utterly cast away.  The
feare I was in, and my haste hath beguiled me, but especially the
mistaking of the box, hath deceived me.  But it forceth not much, in
regard a sooner medicine may be gotten for this than for any other
thing.  For if thou couldst get a rose and eat it, thou shouldst be
delivered from the shape of an Asse, and become my Lucius
againe.  And would to God I had gathered some garlands this
evening past, according to my custome,  then thou shouldst not
continue an Asse one nights space, but in the morning I shall seek
some remedy.  Thus Fotis lamented in pittifull sort, but I that was
now a perfect asse, and for Lucius a brute beast, did yet retaine the
sence and understanding of a man.  And did devise a good space
with my selfe, whether it were best for me to teare this
mischievous and wicked harlot with my mouth, or to kicke and kill
her with my heels.  But a better thought reduced me from so rash a
purpose : for I feared lest by the death of Fotis I should be deprived
of all remedy and help.  Then shaking myne head, and dissembling
myne ire, and taking my adversity in good part, I went into the
stable to my owne horse, where I found another asse of Milos,
somtime my host, and I did verily think that mine owne horse (if
there were any natural conscience or knowledge in brute beasts)
would take pitty on me, and profer me lodging for that night : but it
chanced far otherwise.  For see, my horse and the asse as it were
consented together to work my harm, and fearing lest I should eat
up their provender, would in no wise suffer me to come nigh the
manger, but kicked me with their heels from their meat, which I my
self gave them the night before.  Then I being thus handled by
them, and driven away, got me into a corner of the stable, where
while I remembred their uncurtesie, and how on the morrow I
should return to Lucius by the help of a Rose, when as I thought to
revenge my selfe of myne owne horse, I fortuned to espy in the
middle of a pillar sustaining the rafters of the stable the image of
the goddesse Hippone, which was garnished and decked round
about with faire and fresh roses : then in hope of present remedy, I
leaped up with my fore feet as high as I could, stretching out my
neck, and with my lips coveting to snatch some roses.  But in an
evill houre I did go about that enterprise, for behold the boy to
whom I gave charge of my horse, came presently in, and finding
me climbing upon the pillar, ranne fretting towards me and said,
How long shall wee suffer this wild Asse, that doth not onely eat up
his fellowes meat, but also would spoyl the images of the gods?
Why doe I not kill this lame theefe and weake wretch. And
therewithall looking about for some cudgel, hee espied where lay a
fagot of wood, and chusing out a crabbed truncheon of the biggest
hee could finde, did never cease beating of mee poore wretch, until
such time as by great noyse and rumbling, hee heard the doores of
the house burst open, and the neighbours crying in most lamentable
sort, which enforced him being stricken in feare, to fly his way.
And by and by a troupe of theeves entred in, and kept every part
and corner of the house with weapons.  And as men resorted to aid
and help them which were within the doores, the theeves resisted
and kept them back, for every man was armed with a sword and
target in his hand, the glimpses whereof did yeeld out such light as
if it had bin day.  Then they brake open a great chest with double
locks and bolts, wherein was layd all the treasure of Milo, and
ransackt the same : which when they had done they packed it up
and gave every man a portion to carry : but when they had more
than they could beare away, yet were they loth to leave any behind,
but came into the stable, and took us two poore asses and my
horse, and laded us with greater trusses than wee were able to
beare.  And when we were out of the house, they followed us with
great staves, and willed one of their fellows to tarry behind, and
bring them tydings what was done concerning the robbery : and so
they beat us forward over great hils out of the way.  But I, what
with my heavy burden and long journy, did nothing differ from a
dead asse : wherfore I determined with my self to seek some civil
remedy, and by invocation of the name of the prince of the country
to be delivered from so many miseries : and on a time I passed
through a great faire, I came among a multitude of Greeks, and I
thought to call upon the renowned name of the Emperor and say, O
Cesar, and cried out aloud O, but Cesar I could in no wise
pronounce.  The Theeves little regarding my crying, did lay me on
and beat my wretched skinne in such sort, that after it was neither
apt nor meet to make Sives or Sarces.  Howbeit at last Jupiter
administred to me an unhoped remedy.  For when we had passed
through many townes and villages, I fortuned to espy a pleasant
garden, wherein beside many other flowers of delectable hiew,
were new and fresh roses : and being very joyful, and desirous to
catch some as I passed by, I drew neerer and neerer : and while
my lips watered upon them, I thought of a better advice more
profitable for me, lest if from an asse I should become a man, I
might fall into the hands of the theeves, and either by suspition that
I were some witch, or for feare that I should utter their theft, I
should be slaine, wherefore I abstained for that time from eating of
Roses,  and enduring my present adversity, I did eat hay as other
Asses did.




THE FOURTH BOOKE



THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius thinking to eat Roses, was cruelly beaten by a
Gardener, and chased by dogs

When noone was come, that the broyling heate of the sunne had
most power, we turned into a village to certaine of the theeves
acquaintance and friends, for verily their meeting and embracing
together did give me, poore asse, cause to deeme the same, and
they tooke the trusse from my backe, and gave them part of the
Treasure which was in it, and they seemed to whisper and tell them
that it was stollen goods, and after that we were unladen of our
burthens, they let us loose in a medow to pasture, but myne own
horse and Miloes Asse would not suffer me to feed there with
them, but I must seeke my dinner in some other place.

Wherefore I leaped into a garden which was behinde the stable,
and being well nigh perished with hunger, although I could find
nothing there but raw and green fallets, yet I filled my hungry guts
therwithall abundantly, and praying unto all the gods, I looked about
in every place if I could espy any red roses in the gardens by, and
my solitary being alone did put me in good hope, that if I could find
any remedy, I should presently of an Asse be changed into Lucius
out of every mans sight.  And while I considered these things, I
loked about, and behold I saw a farre off a shadowed valley
adjoyning nigh unto a wood, where amongst divers other hearbes
and pleasant verdures, me thought I saw bright flourishing Roses of
bright damaske colour; and said within my bestaill minde, Verily
that place is the place of Venus and the Graces, where secretly
glistereth the royall hew, of so lively and delectable a floure.  Then
I desiring the help of the guide of my good fortune, ranne lustily
towards the wood, insomuch that I felt myself that I was no more
an Asse, but a swift coursing horse :  but my agility and quicknes
could not prevent the cruelty of my fortune, for when I came to the
place I perceived that they were no roses, neither tender nor
pleasant, neither moystened with the heavenly drops of dew, nor
celestial liquor, which grew out of the thicket and thornes there.
Neither did I perceive that there was any valley at all, but onely the
bank of the river, environed with great thick trees, which had long
branches like unto lawrell, and bearing a flour without any manner
of sent, and the common people call them by the name of Lawrel
roses, which be very poyson to all manner of beasts.  Then was I
so intangled with unhappy fortune that I little esteemed mine own
danger, and went willingly to eat of these roses, though I knew
them to be present poyson : and as I drew neere I saw a yong man
that seemed to be the gardener, come upon mee, and when he
perceived that I had devoured all his hearbes in the garden, he
came swearing with a great staffe n his hand, and laid upon me in
such sort, that I was well nigh dead, but I speedily devised some
remedy my self, for I lift up my legs and kicked him with my hinder
heels, that I left him lying at the hill foot wel nigh slain, and so I ran
away.  Incontinently came out his wife, who seeing her husband
halfe dead, cried and howled in pittifull sort, and went toward her
husband, to the intent that by her lowd cries shee might purchase to
me present destruction.  Then all the persons of the town, moved
by her noise came forth, and cried fro dogs to teare me down.  Out
came a great company of Bandogs and mastifes, more fit to pul
down bears and lions than me, whom when I beheld I thought verily
I should presently die : but I turned myself about, and ranne as fast
as ever I might to the stable from whence I came.  Then the men
of the towne called in their dogs, and took me and bound mee to the
staple of a post, and scourged me with a great knotted whip till I
was well nigh dead, and they would undoubtedly have slaine me,
had it not come to passe, that what with the paine  of their beating,
and the greene hearbes that lay in my guts, I caught such a laske
that I all besprinkled their faces with my liquid dung, and enforced
them to leave off.



THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was prevented of his purpose, and how the Theeves
came to their den.

Not long after, the theeves laded us againe, but especially me, and
brought us forth of the stable, and when wee had gone a good part
of our journey what with the long way, my great burthen, the
beating of staves, and my worne hooves, I was so weary that I
could scantly go.  Then I saw a little before mee a river running
with fair water, and I said to myself, Behold, now I have found a
good occasion : for I will fall down when I come yonder, and surely
I will not rise againe, neither with scourging nor with beating, for I
had rather be slaine there presently, than goe any further.

And the cause why I had determined so to doe was this, I thought
that the theeves when they did see me so feeble and weake that I
could not travell, to the intent they would not stay in their journey,
they would take the burthen from my backe and put it on my
fellowes, and so for my further punishment to leave me as a prey to
the wolves and ravening beasts.  But evill fortune prevented so
good a consideration; for the other Asse being of the same purpose
that I was of, by feigned and coloured wearinesse fell downe first,
with all his burthen on the ground as though hee were dead, and he
would not rise neither with beating nor with pricking,  nor stand
upon his legs, though they pulled him by the tail, by his legs, and by
his eares : which when the theeves beheld, as without all hope they
said one unto another, What should we stand here so long about a
dead or rather a stony asse? let us bee gone : and so they tooke his
burthen, and divided some to mee, and some to my horse. And then
they drew out their swords and cut off his legs, and threw his body
from the point of a hill down into a great valley.  Then I considering
with my selfe of the evill fortune of my poore companion, and
purposed now to forget all subtility and deceit, and to play the good
Asse to get my masters favour, for I perceived by their talke that
we were come home well nigh at our journeys end.  And after that
wee had passed over a little hill, we came to our appointed place,
and when we were unladen of our burthens, and all things carried
in, I tumbled and wallowed in the dust, to refresh my selfe in stead
of water.  The thing and the time compelleth me to make
description of the places, and especially of the den where the
theeves did inhabit, I will prove my wit in what I can doe, and the
consider you whether I was an Asse in judgement and sence, or
no.  For first there was an exceeding great hill compassed about
with big trees very high, with many turning bottoms full of sharp
stones, whereby it was inaccessible.  There was many winding and
hollow vallies, environed with thickets and thornes, and naturally
fortressed round about.  From the top of the hill ranne a running
water as cleare as silver, that watered all the valleyes below, that it
seemed like unto a sea inclosed, or a standing floud.  Before the
denne where was no hill stood an high tower, and at the foot
thereof were sheep-coats fenced and walled with clay.  Before the
gate of the house were pathes made in stead of wals, in such sort
that you could easily judge it to be a very den for theeves, and there
was nothing else except a little coat covered with thatch, wherein
the theeves did  nightly accustome to watch by order, as I after
perceived.  And when they were all crept into the house, and we
were all tied fast with halters at the dore, they began to chide with
an old woman there, crooked with age, who had the government
and rule of all the house, and said, How is it old witch, old trot, and
strumpet, that thou sittest idley all day at home, and having no
regard to our perillous labours, hast provided nothing for our
suppers, but sittest eating and swilling thyself from morning till
night?  Then the old woman trembled, and scantly able to speak
gan say, Behold my puissant and faithfull masters, you shall have
meat and pottage enough by and by : here is first store of bread,
wine plenty, filled in cleane rinsed pots, likewise here is hot water
prepared to bathe you.

Which when she had said, they put off all their garments and
refreshed themselves by the fire.  And after they were washed and
noynted with oyle, they sate downe at the table garnished with all
kind of dainty meats.   They were no sooner sate downe, but in
came another company of yong men more in number than was
before, who seemed likewise to bee Theeves, for they brought in
their preyes of gold and silver, Plate, jewels, and rich robes, and
when they had likewise washed, they sate among the rest, and
served one another by order.  Then they drank and eat exceedingly,
laughing, crying and making much noyse, that I thought that I was
among the tyrannous and wilde Lapithes, Thebans, and Centaures.
At length one of them more valiant than the rest, spake in this sort,
We verily have manfully conquered the house of Milo of Hippata,
and beside all the riches and treasure which by force we have
brought away, we are all come home safe, and are increased the
more by this horse and this Asse.  But you that have roved about in
the country of Boetia, have lost your valiante captaine Lamathus,
whose life I more regarded than all the treasure which you have
brought : and therfore the memory of him shall bee renowned for
ever amongst the most noble kings and valiant captains : but you
accustome when you goe abroad, like men with ganders hearts to
creepe through every corner and hole for every trifle.  Then one of
them that came last answered, Why are you only ignorant, that the
greater the number is, the sooner they may rob and spoyle the
house? And although the family be dispersed in divers lodgings, yet
every man had rather to defend his own life, than to save the riches
of his master : but when there be but a few theeves, then will they
not only rather regard themselves, but also their substance, how
little or great soever it be.  And to the intent you may beleeve me I
will shew you an example : wee were come nothing nigh to Thebes,
where is the fountain of our art and science, but we learned where
a rich Chuffe called Chriseros did dwell, who for fear of offices in
the publique wel dissembled his estate, and lived sole and solitary in
a small coat, howbeit replenished with aboundance of treasure, and
went daily in ragged and torn apparel.  Wherefore wee devised
with our selves to go to his house and spoyl him of all his riches.
And when night came we drew towards the dore, which was so
strongly closed,  that we could neither move it, nor lift it out of the
hooks, and we thought it best not to break it open lest by the noyse
we should raise up to our harm the neighbours by.  Then our strong
and valiant captaine Lamathus trusting in his own strength and
force, thrust in his had through a hole in the dore, and thought to
pull back the bolt : but the covetous caitif Chriseros being awake,
and making no noise came softly to the dore and caught his hand
and with a great naile nailed it fast to the post : which when he had
done, he ran up to the high chamber and called every one of his
neighbours by name, desiring them to succour him with all possible
speed, for his own house was on fire.  Then every one for fear of
his owne danger came running out to aid him, wherewith we
fearing our present peril, knew not what was best to be don,
whether wee should leave our companion there, or yeeld ourselves
to die with him : but we by his consent devised a better way, for we
cut off his arm by the elbow and so let it hang there : then wee
bound his wound with clouts, lest we should be traced by the drops
of blood : which don we took Lamathus and led him away, for fear
we would be taken : but being so nigh pursued that we were in
present danger, and that Lamathus could not keepe our company
by reason of faintnesse; and on the other side perceiving that it was
not for his profit to linger behinde, he spake unto us as a man of
singular courage and vertue, desiring us by much entreaty and
prayer and by the puissance of the god Mars, and the faith of our
confederacy, to deliver his body from torment and miserable
captivity : and further he said, How is it possible that so courageous
a Captaine can live without his hand, wherewith he could somtime
rob and slay so many people?  I would thinke myself sufficiently
happy if I could be slaine by one of you.  But when he saw that we
all refused to commit any such fact, he drew out his sword with his
other hand, and after that he had often kissed it, he drove it clean
through his body.  Then we honoured the corps of so puissant a
man, and wrapped it in linnen cloathes and threw it into the sea.  So
lieth our master Lamathus, buried and did in the grave of water,
and ended his life as I have declared.  But Alcinus, though he were
a man of great enterprise,  yet could he not beware by Lamathus,
nor voide himselfe from evill fortune, for on a day when he had
entred into an old womans house to rob her, he went up into a high
chamber, where hee should first have strangled her : but he had
more regard to throw down the bags of mony and gold out at a
window, to us that stood under; and when he was so greedy that he
would leave nothing behinde, he went into the old womans bed
where she lay asleep, and would have taken off the coverlet to
have thrown downe likewise, but shee awaked, and kneeling on her
knees, desired him in this manner : O sir I pray you cast not away
such torn and ragged clouts into my neighbours houses, for they are
rich enough, and need no such things.  Then Alcinus thinking her
words to be true, was brought in beleefe, that such things as he had
throwne out already, and such things as hee should throw out after,
was not fallen downe to his fellowes, but to other mens houses,
wherefore hee went to the window to see, and as hee thought to
behold the places round about, thrusting his body out of the window,
the old woman marked him wel, and came behind him softly, and
though shee had but small strength, yet with sudden force she tooke
him by the heeles and thrust him out headlong, and so he fell upon a
marvellous great stone and burst his ribs, wherby he vomited and
spewed great flakes of blood, and presently died.  Then wee threw
him to the river likewise, as we had done Lamathus before.

When we had thus lost two of our companions, we liked not
Thebes, but marched towards the next city called Platea, where we
found a man of great fame called Demochares, that purposed to set
forth a great game, where should be a triall of all kind of weapons :
hee was come of a good house, marvellous rich, liberall, and wel
deserved that which he had and had prepared many showes and
pleasures for the Common people, insomuch that there is no man
can either by wit or eloquence shew in words his worthy
preparations : for first he had provided all sorts of armes, hee
greatly delighted in hunting and chasing, he ordained great towers
and Tables to move hither and thither : hee made many places to
chase and encounter in : he had ready a great number of men and
wilde beasts, and many condemned persons were brought from the
Judgement place, to try and fight with those beasts.   But amongst
so great preparations of noble price, he bestowed the most part of
his patrimony in buying of Beares, which he nourished to his great
cost, and esteemed more than all the other beasts, which either by
chasing hee caught himself, or which he dearely bought, or which
were given him from divers of his friends.

Howbeit for all his sumptuous cost, hee could not be free from the
malitious eyes of envy, for some of them were well nigh dead with
too long tying up, some meagre with the broyling heat of the sunne,
some languished with lying, but all having sundry diseases, were so
afflicted that they died one after another, and there was well nigh
none left, in such sort that you might see them lying in the streets
pittiously dead.  And the common people having no other meat to
feed on, little regarding any curiosity, would come forth and fill their
bellies with the flesh of the beares.  Then by and by Babulus and I
devised a pretty sport, wee drew one of the greatest of the Beares
to our lodging, as though wee would prepare to eat thereof, where
wee flayed of his skinne, and kept his ungles whole, but we medled
not with the head, but cut it off by the necke, and so let it hang to
the skinne.  Then we rased off the flesh from the necke, and cast
dust thereon, and set it in the sun to dry.



THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER


How Thrasileon was disguised in a Beares skin, and how he was
handled.

When the skin was a drying we made merry with the flesh, and
then we devised with our selves, that one of us being more valiant
than the rest both in body and courage (so that he would consent
thereto) should put on the skin, and feigning that he were a Beare,
should be led to Demochares house in the night, by which means
we thought to be received and let in.  Many were desirous to play
the Beare, but especially one Thrasileon of a couragious minde
would take this enterprise in hand.  Then wee put in into the Beares
skin, which him finely in every point, wee buckled it fast under his
belly, and covered the seam with the haire, that it might not be
seen.  After this we made little holes through the bears head, and
through his nosthrils and eyes, for Thrasileon to see out and take
wind at, in such sort that he seemed a very lively and natural beast :
when this was don we went into a cave which we hired for the
purpose, and he crept in after like a bear with a good courage. 
Thus we began our subtility, and then wee imagined thus, wee
feigned letters as though they came from one Nicanor which dwelt
in the Country of Thracia, which was of great acquaintance with
this Demochares, wherein we wrote, that hee had sent him being
his friend, the first fruits of his coursing and hunting.  When night
was come, which was a meet time for our purpose, we brought
Thrasileon and our forged letters and presented them to
Demochares.  When Demochares beheld this mighty Beare, and
saw the liberality of Nicanor his friend, hee commanded his
servants to deliver unto us x. crowns, having great store in his
coffers.  Then (as the novelty of a thing doth accustom to stir mens
minds to behold the same) many persons came on every side to see
this bear : but Thrasileon, lest they should by curious viewing and
prying perceive the truth, ran upon them to put them in feare that
they durst not come nigh.  The people said, Verily Demochares is
right happy, in that after the death of so many beasts, hee hath
gotten maugre fortunes head, so goodly a bear.  Then Demochares
commanded him with all care to be put in the park with all the other
beasts : but immediately I spake unto him and said, Sir I pray you
take heed how you put a beast tired with the heat of the sun and
with long travell, among others which as I hear say have divers
maladies and diseases, let him rather lie in some open place in your
house nie some water, where he may take air and ease himself, for
doe you not know that such kind of beasts do greatly delight to
couch under the shadow of trees and hillocks neer pleasant wells
and waters?  Hereby Demochares admonished, and remembring
how many he had before that perished, was contented that we
should put the bear where we would.  Moreover we said unto him,
that we ourselves were determined to lie all night neer the Bear, to
look unto him, and to give him meat and drink at his due houre.

Then he answered, Verily masters you need not put yourselves to
such paines, for I have men that serve for nothing but that purpose.
So wee tooke leave of him and departed : and when we were come
without the gates of the town, we perceived before us a great
sepulchre standing out of the highway in a privy and secret place,
and thither we went and opened the mouth thereof, whereas we
found the sides covered with the corruption of man, and the ashes
and dust of his long buried body, wherein we got ourselves to bring
our purpose to passe, and having respect to the dark time of night,
according to our custome, when we thought that every one was
asleepe, we went with our weapons and besieged the house of
Demochares round about.  Then Thrasileon was ready at hand, and
leaped out of the caverne, and went to kill all such as he found
asleepe : but when he came to the Porter, he opened the gates and
let us in, and then he shewed us a large Counter, wherein we saw
the night before a great aboundance of treasure : which when by
violence we had broke open, I bid every one of my fellows take as
much gold and silver as they could carry away : and beare it to the
sepulchre, and still as they carried away I stood at the gate,
watching diligently when they would returne.  The Beare running
about the house, to make such of the family afeared as fortuned to
wake and come out.  For who is he that is so puissant and
couragious, that at the ougly sight of so great a monster will not
quayle and keep his chamber especially in the night?  But when
wee had brought this matter to so good a point, there chanced a
pittifull case, for as I looked for my companions that should come
from the sepulchre, behold there was a Boy of the house that
fortuned to looke out of a window, and espied the Bear running
about, and he went and told all the servants of the house.
Whereupon incontinently they came forth with Torches,
Lanthornes, and other lights, that they might see all the yard over :
they came with clubs, speares, naked swords, Greyhounds, and
Mastifes to slay the poore beast.  Then I during this broyle thought
to run away, but because I would see Thrasileon fight with the
Dogs, I lay behinde the gate to behold him.  And although I might
perceive that he was well nigh dead, yet remembred he his owne
faithfulnes and ours, and valiantly resisted the gaping and ravenous
mouths of the hell hounds, so tooke hee in gree the pagiant which
willingly he tooke in hand himself, and with much adoe tumbled at
length out of the house : but when hee was at liberty abroad yet
could he not save himself, for all the dogs of the Streete joyned
themselves to the greyhounds and mastifes of the house, and came
upon him.

Alas what a pittifull sight it was to see our poore Thrasileon thus
environed and compassed with so many dogs that tare and rent him
miserably.  Then I impatient of so great a misery, ranne in among
the prease of people, and ayding him with my words as much as I
might, exhorted them all in this manner : O great and extreame
mischance, what a pretious and excellent beast have we lost.  But
my words did nothing prevaile, for there came out a tall man with a
speare in his hand, that thrust him cleane through, and afterwards
many that stood by drew out their swords, and so they killed him.
But verily our good Captaine Thrasileon, the honour of our comfort,
received his death so patiently, that he would not bewray the league
betweene us, either by crying, howling, or any other meanes, but
being torn with dogs and wounded with weapons, did yeeld forth a
dolefull cry, more like unto a beast than a man.  And taking his
present fortune in good part, with courage and glory enough did
finish his life, with such a terror unto the assembly, that no person
was hardy until it was day, as to touch him, though hee were starke
dead : but at last there came a Butcher more valiant than the rest,
who opening the panch of the beast, slit out an hardy and ventrous
theefe.

In this manner we lost our Captain Thrasileon, but he left not his
fame and honour.

When this was done wee packed up our treasure, which we
committed to the sepulchre to keepe, and got out of the bounds of
Platea, thus thinking with our selves, that there was more fidelity
amongst the dead than amongst the living, by reason that our
preyes were so surely kept in the sepulchre.  So being wearied with
the weight of our burthens, and well nigh tyred with long travell,
having lost three of our soldiers, we are come home with these
present cheats.

Thus when they had spoken in memory of their slaine companions,
they tooke cups of gold, and sung hymns unto the god mars, and
layd them downe to sleep.  Then the old woman gave us fresh
barley without measure, insomuch that my horse fed so abundantly
that he might well thinke hee was at some banquet that day.  But I
that was accustomed to eat bran and flower, thought that but a
sower kinde of meate.  Wherfore espying a corner where lay
loaves of bread for all the house I got me thither and filled my
hungry guts therewith.



THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER


How the Theeves stole away a Gentlewoman, and brought her to
their den.

When night was come the Theeves awaked and rose up, and when
they had buckled on their weapons, and disguised their faces with
visards, they departed.  And yet for all the great sleep that came
upon me, I could in no wise leave eating : and whereas when I was
a man I could be contented with one or two loaves at the most,
now my huts were so greedy that three panniers full would scantly
serve me, and while I considered these things the morning came,
and being led to a river, notwithstanding my Assie shamefastnesse
I quencht my thirst.  And suddenly after, the Theeves returned
home carefull and heavy, bringing no burthens with them, no not so
much as traffe or baggage, save only a maiden, that seemed by her
habit to be some gentlewoman borne, and the daughter of some
worthy matron of that country, who was so fair and beautiful, that
though I were an Asse, yet I had a great affection for her.  The
virgin lamented and tare her hair, and rent her garments, for the
great sorrow she was in; but the theeves brought her within the
cave, and assisted her to comfort in this sort, Weep not fair
gentlewoman we pray you, for be you assured we wil do no
outrage or violence to your person : but take patience a while for
our profit, for necessity and poore estate hath compelled us to do
this enterprise : we warrant you that your parents, although they
bee covetous, will be contented to give us a great  quantity of mony
to redeeme and ransome you from our hands.

With such and like flattering words they endeavoured to appease
the gentlewoman, howbeit shee would in no case be comforted, but
put her head betwixt her knees, and cried pittiously.  Then they
called the old woman, and commaunded her to sit by the maiden,
and pacify her dolor as much as shee might. And they departed
away to rob, as they were accustomed to doe, but the virgin would
not asswage her griefes, nor mitigate her sorrow by any entreaty of
the old woman, but howled and sobbed in such sort, that she made
me poore Asse likewise to weepe, and thus she said, Alas can I
poore wench live any longer, that am come of so good a house,
forsaken of my parents, friends, and family, made a rapine and
prey, closed servilely in this stony prison, deprived of all pleasure,
wherein I have been brought up, thrown in danger, ready to be rent
in pieces among so many sturdy theeves and dreadful robbers, can
I (I say) cease from weeping, and live any longer?  Thus she cried
and lamented, and after she had wearied herself with sorrow and
blubbered her face with teares, she closed the windowes of her
hollow eyes, and laid her downe to sleepe.  And after that she had
slept, she rose again like a furious and mad woman, and beat her
breast and comely face more that she did before.

Then the old woman enquired the causes of her new and sudden
lamentation.  To whom sighing in pittifull sort she answered, Alas
now I am utterly undone, now am I out of all hope,  O give me a
knife to kill me, or a halter to hang me.  Whereat the old [woman]
was more angry, and severely commanded her to tell her the cause
of her sorrow, and why after her sleep, she  should renew her
dolour and miserable weeping.  What, thinke you (quoth she) to
deprive our young men of the price of your ransome?  No, no
therefore cease your crying, for the Theeves doe little esteeme
your howling, and if you do not, I will surely burn you alive.  Hereat
the maiden was greatly feared, and kissed her hand and said, O
mother take pitty upon me and my wretched fortune, and give me
license a while to speake, for I think I shall not long live, let there
be mercy ripe and franke in thy venerable hoare head, and hear the
sum of my calamity.

There was a comely young man, who for his bounty and grace was
beloved entirely of all the towne, my cousine Germane, and but
three years older than I; we two were nourished and brought up in
one house, lay under one roofe, and in one chamber, and at length
by promise of marriage, and by consent of our parents we were
contracted together.  The marriage day was come, the house was
garnished with lawrel, and torches were set in every place in the
honour of Hymeneus, my espouse was accompanied by his parents,
kinsfolke, and friends, and made sacrifices in the temples and
publique places.  And when my unhappy mother pampered me in
her lap, and decked me like a bride, kissing me sweetly, and making
me a parent for Children, behold there came in a great multitude of
theeves armed like men of warre, with naked swords in their hands,
who went not about to doe any harme, neither to take any thing
away, but brake into the chamber where I was, and violently tooke
me out of my mothers armes, when none of our family would resist
for feare.

In this sort was our marriage disturbed, like the marriage of
Hyppodame and Perithous.  But behold my good mother, now my
unhappy fortune is renewed and encreased : For I dreamed in my
sleepe, that I was pulled out of our house, out of our chamber, and
out of my bed, and that I removed about in solitary and unknowne
places, calling upon the name of my unfortunate husband, and how
that he, as soone as he perceived that he was taken away, even
smelling with perfumes and crowned with garlands, did trace me by
the steppes, desiring the aid of the people to assist him, in that his
wife was violently stollen away.  and as he went crying up and
down, one of the theeves mooved with indignation, by reason of his
pursuit, took up a stone that lay at his feet, and threw it at my
husband and killed him.  By the terror of which sight, and the feare
of so dreadfull a dreame, I awaked.

Then the old woman rendring out like sighes, began to speake in
this sort : My daughter take a good heart unto you, and bee not
afeared at feigned and strange visions and dreams, for as the
visions of the day are accounted false and untrue, so the visions of
the night doe often change contrary.  And to dream of weeping,
beating, and killing, is a token of good luck and prosperous change.
Whereas contrary to dreame of laughing, carnal dalliance, and good
cheere, is a signe of sadnesse, sicknesse, loss of substance, and
displeasure.  But I will tell thee a pleasant tale, to put away all thy
sorrow, and to revive thy spirits.  And so shee began in this
manner.




THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES



THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER


The most pleasant and delectable tale of the marriage of Cupid and
Psyches.

There was sometimes a certaine King, inhabiting in the West parts,
who had to wife a noble Dame, by whom he had three daughters
exceeding fair, : of whom the two elder were of such comly shape
and beauty, as they did excell and pass all other women living,
whereby they were thought worthily to deserve the praise and
commendation of every person, and deservedly to be preferred
above the residue of the common sort.  Yet the singular passing
beauty and maidenly majesty of the youngest daughter did so farre
surmount and excell then two, as no earthly creature could by any
meanes sufficiently expresse or set out the same.

By reason wherof, after the fame of this excellent maiden was
spread about in every part of the City, the Citisens and strangers
there beeing inwardly pricked by the zealous affection to behold her
famous person, came daily by thousands, hundreths, and scores, to
her fathers palace, who was astonied with admiration of her
incomparable beauty, did no less worship and reverence her with
crosses, signes, and tokens, and other divine adorations, according
to the custome of the old used rites and ceremonies, than if she
were the Lady Venus indeed, and shortly after the fame was
spread into the next cities and bordering regions, that the goddess
whom the deep seas had born and brought forth, and the froth of
the waves had nourished, to the intent to show her high
magnificencie and divine power on earth, to such as erst did honour
and worship her, was now conversant among mortall men, or else
that the earth and not the sea, by a new concourse and influence of
the celestiall planets, had budded and yeelded forth a new Venus,
endued with the floure of virginity.

So daily more and more encreased this opinion, and now is her
flying fame dispersed into the next Island, and well nigh unto every
part and province of the whole world.  Wherupon innumerable
strangers resorted from farre Countries, adventuring themselves by
long journies on land and by great perils on water, to behold this
glorious virgin.  By occasion wherof  such a contempt grew
towards the goddesse Venus, that no person travelled unto the
Towne Paphos, nor to the Isle Gyndos, nor to Cythera to worship
her.  Her ornaments were throwne out, her temples defaced, her
pillowes and cushions torne, her ceremonies neglected, her images
and Statues uncrowned, and her bare altars unswept, and fowl with
the ashes of old burnt sacrifice.  For why, every person honoured
and worshipped this maiden in stead of Venus, and in the morning
at her first comming abroad offered unto her oblations, provided
banquets, called her by the name of Venus, which was not Venus
indeed, and in her honour presented floures and garlands in most
reverend fashion.

This sudden change and alteration of celestiall honour, did greatly
inflame and kindle the love of very Venus, who unable to temper
her selfe from indignation, shaking her head in raging sort, reasoned
with her selfe in this manner, Behold the originall parent of all these
elements, behold the Lady Venus renowned throughout all the
world, with whome a mortall maiden is joyned now partaker of
honour : my name registred in the city of heaven is prophaned and
made vile by terrene absurdities.  If I shall suffer any mortall
creature to present my Majesty on earth, or that any shall beare
about a false surmised shape of her person, then in vaine did Paris
the sheepheard (in whose judgement and competence the great
Jupiter had affiance) preferre me above the residue of the
goddesses, for the excellency of my beauty : but she, whatever she
be that hath usurped myne honour, shal shortly repent her of her
unlawful estate.  And by and by she called her winged sonne
Cupid, rash enough and hardy, who by his evill manners contemning
all publique justice and law, armed with fire and arrowes, running
up and down in the nights from house to house, and corrupting the
lawfull marriages of every person, doth nothing but that which is
evill, who although that hee were of his owne proper nature
sufficiently prone to worke mischiefe, yet she egged him forward
with words and brought him to the city, and shewed him Psyches
(for so the maid was called) and having told the cause of her anger,
not without great rage, I pray thee (quoth she) my dear childe, by
motherly bond of love, by the sweet wounds of thy piercing darts,
by the pleasant heate of thy fire, revenge the injury which is done
to thy mother by the false and disobedient beauty of a mortall
maiden, and I pray thee, that without delay shee may fall in love
with the most miserablest creature living, the most poore, the most
crooked, and the most vile, that there may bee none found in all the
world of like wretchednesse.  When she had spoken these words
she embraced and kissed her sonne, and took her voyage toward
the sea.

When she came upon the sea she began to cal the gods and
goddesses, who were obedient at her voyce.  For incontinent came
the daughters of Nereus, singing with tunes melodiously : Portunus
with his bristled and rough beard, Salita with her bosome full of fish,
Palemon the driver of the Dolphine, the Trumpetters of Tryton,
leaping hither and thither, and blowing with heavenly noyse : such
was the company which followed Venus, marching towards the
ocean sea.

In the meane season Psyches with all her beauty received no fruit
of honor.  She was wondred at of all, she was praised of all, but
she perceived that no King nor Prince, nor any one of the superiour
sort did repaire to wooe her.  Every one marvelled at her divine
beauty, as it were some Image well painted and set out.  Her other
two sisters, which were nothing so greatly exalted by the people,
were royally married to two Kings : but the virgin Psyches, sitting
alone at home. lamented her solitary life, and being disquieted both
in mind and body, although she pleased all the world, yet hated shee
in her selfe her owne beauty.  Whereupon the miserable father of
this unfortunate daughter, suspecting that the gods and powers of
heaven did envy her estate, went to the town called Milet to
receive the Oracle of Apollo, where he made his prayers and
offered sacrifice, and desired a husband for his daughter : but
Apollo though he were a Grecian, and of the country of Ionia,
because of the foundation of Milet, yet hee gave answer in Latine
verse, the sence whereof was this :-

     Let Psyches corps be clad in mourning weed,
     And set on rock of yonder hill aloft :
     Her husband is no wight of humane seed,
     But Serpent dire and fierce as might be thought.
     Who flies with wings above in starry skies,
     And doth subdue each thing with firie flight.
     The gods themselves, and powers that seem so wise,
     With mighty Jove, be subject to his might,
     The rivers blacke, and deadly flouds of paine
     And darkness eke, as thrall to him remaine.

The King, sometimes happy when he heard the prophesie of
Apollo, returned home sad and sorrowful, and declared to his wife
the miserable and unhappy fate of  his daughter.  Then they began
to lament and weep, and passed over many dayes in great sorrow.
But now the time approached of Psyches marriage,  preparation
was made, blacke torches were lighted, the pleasant songs were
turned into pittifull cries, the melody of Hymeneus was ended with
deadly howling, the maid that should be married did wipe her eyes
with her vaile.  All the family and people of the city weeped
likewise, and with great lamentation was ordained a remisse time
for that day, but necessity compelled that Psyches should be
brought to her appointed place, according to the divine appointment.

And when the solemnity was ended, they went to bring the
sorrowful spowse, not to her marriage, but to her final end and
burial.  And while the father and mother of Psyches did go forward
weeping and crying unto this enterprise, Psyches spake unto them
in this sort :  Why torment your unhappy age with continuall dolour?
Why trouble you your spirits, which are more rather mine than
yours?  Why soyle ye your faces with teares, which I ought to
adore and worship?  Why teare you my eyes in yours?  why pull
you your hory haires?  Why knocke ye your breasts for me? Now
you see the reward of my excellent beauty :  now, now you
perceive, but too late, the plague of envy.  When the people did
honour me, and call me new Venus, then yee should have wept,
then  you should have sorrowed as though I had been dead : for
now I see and perceive that I am come to this misery by the only
name of Venus, bring mee, and as fortune has appointed, place me
on the top of the rocke, I greatly desire to end my marriage, I
greatly covet to see my husband.  Why doe I delay?  why should I
refuse him that is appointed to destroy all the world.

Thus ended she her words, and thrust her selfe among the people
that followed.  Then they brought her to the appointed rocke of the
high hill, and set [her] hereon, and so departed.  The Torches and
lights were put out with the teares of the people, and every man
gone home, the miserable Parents well nigh consumed with sorrow,
gave themselves to everlasting darknes.

Thus poore Psyches being left alone, weeping and trembling on the
toppe of the rocke, was blowne by the gentle aire and of shrilling
Zephyrus, and carried from the hill with a meek winde, which
retained her garments up,, and by little and little bought her downe
into a deepe valley, where she was laid in a bed of most sweet and
fragrant flowers.

Thus faire Psyches being sweetly couched among the soft and
tender hearbs, as in a bed of sweet and fragrant floures, and having
qualified the thoughts and troubles of her restlesse minde, was now
well reposed.   And when she had refreshed her selfe sufficiently
with sleepe, she rose with a more quiet and pacified minde, and
fortuned to espy a pleasant wood invironed with great and mighty
trees.  Shee espied likewise a running river as cleare as crystall : in
the midst of the wood well nigh at the fall of the river was a
princely Edifice, wrought and builded not by the art or hand of man,
but by the mighty power of God : and you would judge at the first
entry therin, that it were some pleasant and worthy mansion for the
powers of  heaven.  For the embowings above were of Citron and
Ivory, propped and undermined with pillars of gold, the walls
covered and seeled with silver, divers sorts of beasts were graven
and carved, that seemed to encounter with such as entered in.  All
things were so curiously and finely wrought, that it seemed either to
be the worke of some Demy god, or of God himselfe.  The
pavement was all of pretious stones, divided and cut one from
another, whereon was carved divers kindes of pictures, in such sort
that blessed and thrice blessed were they that might goe upon such
a pavement : Every part and angle of the house was so well
adorned, that by reason of the pretious stones and inestimable
treasure there, it glittered and shone in such sort, that the chambers,
porches, and doores gave light as it had beene the Sunne.  Neither
otherwise did the other treasure of the house disagree unto so great
a majesty, that verily it seemed in every point an heavenly Palace,
fabricate and built for Jupiter himselfe.

Then Psyches moved with delectation approched nigh and taking a
bold heart entred into the house, and beheld every thing there with
great affection, she saw storehouses wrought exceedingly fine, and
replenished with aboundance of riches.  Finally, there could nothing
be devised which lacked there : but among such great store of
treasure this was most marvellous, that there was no closure, bolt,
nor locke to keepe the same.  And when with great pleasure shee
had viewed all these things, she heard a voyce without any body,
that sayd, Why doe you marvell Madame at so great riches?
behold, all that you see is at your commandement, wherefore goe
you into the chamber, and repose your selfe upon the bed, and
desire what bath you will have, and wee whose voyces you heare
bee your servants, and ready to minister unto you according to your
desire.  In the meane season, royall meats and dainty dishes shall
be prepared for you.

Then Psyches perceived the felicity of divine providence, and
according  to the advertisement of the incorporeall voyces she first
reposed her selfe upon the bed, and then refreshed her body in the
baines.  This done, shee saw the table garnished with meats, and a
chaire to sit downe.

When Psyches was set downe, all sorts of divine meats and wines
were brought in, not by any body, but as it were with a winde, for
she saw no person before her, but only heard voyces on every side.
After that all the services were brought to the table, one came in
and sung invisibly, another played on the harpe, but she saw no
man.  The harmony of the Instruments did so greatly shrill in her
eares, that though there were no manner of person, yet seemed she
in the midst of a multitude of people.

All these pleasures finished, when night aproched Psyches went to
bed, and when she was layd, that the sweet sleep came upon her,
she greatly feared her virginity, because shee was alone.  Then
came her unknowne husband and lay with her : and after that hee
had made a perfect consummation of the marriage, he rose in the
morning before day, and departed.  Soone after came her invisible
servants, and presented to her such things as were necessary for
her defloration.  And thus she passed forth a great while, and as it
happeneth, the novelty of the things by continuall custome did
encrease her pleasure, but especially the sound of the instruments
was a comfort to her being alone.

During this time that Psyches was in this place of pleasures, her
father and mother did nothing but weepe and lament, and her two
sisters hearing of her most miserable fortune, came with great
dolour and sorrow to comfort and speake with her parents.

The night following , Psyches husband spake unto her (for she
might feele his eyes, his hands, and his ears) and sayd, O my sweet
Spowse and dear wife, fortune doth menace unto thee imminent
danger, wherof I wish thee greatly to beware : for know that thy
sisters, thinking that thou art dead, bee greatly troubled, and are
coming to the mountain by thy steps.  Whose lamentations if thou
fortune to heare, beware that thou doe in no wise make answer, or
looke up towards them, for if thou doe thou shalt purchase to mee
great sorrow, and to thyself utter destruction.  Psyches hearing her
Husband, was contented to doe all things as hee had commanded.

After that hee was departed and the night passed away, Psyches
lamented and lamented all the day following, thinking that now shee
was past all hopes of comfort, in that shee was closed within the
walls of a prison, deprived of humane conversation, and
commaunded not to aid her sorrowful Sisters, no nor once to see
them.  Thus she passed all the day in weeping, and went to bed at
night, without any refection of meat or baine.

Incontinently after came her husband, who when he had embraced
her sweetly, began to say, Is it thus that I find you perform your
promise, my sweet wife?  What do I finde heere?  Passe you all
the day and the night in weeping? And wil you not cease in your
husbands armes?  Goe too, doe what ye will, purchase your owne
destruction, and when you find it so, then remember my words, and
repent but too late.  Then she desired her husband more and more,
assuring him that shee should die, unlesse he would grant that she
might see her sisters, wherby she might speak with them and
comfort them, wherat at length he was contented, and moreover
hee willed that shee should give them as much gold and jewels as
she would.  But he gave her a further charge saying, Beware that
ye covet not (being mooved by the pernicious counsell of you
sisters) to see the shape of my person, lest by your curiosity you
deprive your selfe of so great and worthy estate.  Psyches being
glad herewith, rendered unto him most entire thankes, and said,
Sweet husband, I had rather die than to bee separated from you,
for whosoever you bee, I love and retaine you within my heart, as if
you were myne owne spirit or Cupid himselfe : but I pray you grant
this likewise, that you would commaund  your servant Zephyrus to
bring my sisters downe into the valley as he brought mee.

Wherewithall shee kissed him sweetly, and desired him gently to
grant her request, calling him her spowse, her sweetheart, her Joy
and her Solace.  Wherby she enforced him to agree to her mind,
and when morning came he departed away.

After long search made, the sisters of Psyches came unto the hill
where she was set on the rocke, and cried with a loud voyce in
such sort that the stones answered againe.  And when they called
their sister by her name, that their lamentable cries came unto her
eares, shee came forth and said, Behold, heere is shee for whom
you weepe, I pray you torment your selves no more, cease your
weeping. And by and by she commaunded Zephyrus by the
appointment of her husband to bring them downe.  Neither did he
delay, for with gentle blasts he retained them up and laid them
softly in the valley.  I am not able to expresse the often embracing,
kissing and greeting which was between them three, all sorrows
and  tears were then layd apart.

Come in (quoth Psyches) into our house, and refresh your afflicted
mindes with your sister.

After this she shewed them the storehouses of treasure, shee
caused them to hear the voyces which served her, the bain was
ready, the meats were brought in, and when they had filled
themselves with divine delecates, they conceived great envy within
their hearts, and one of them being curious, did demand what her
husband was, of what estate, and who was Lord of so pretious a
house?  But Psyches remembring the promise which she had made
to her husband, feigned that hee was a young man, of comely
stature, with a flaxen beard, and had great delight in hunting the
dales and hills by.  And lest by her long talke she should be found to
trip or faile in her words, she filled their laps with gold, silver, and
Jewels, and commanded Zephyrus to carry them away.

When they were brought up to the mountain, they made their
wayes homeward to their owne houses, and murmured with envy
that they bare against Psyches, saying, behold cruell and contrary
fortune, behold how we, borne all of one Parent, have divers
destinies : but especially we that are the elder two bee married to
strange husbands, made as handmaidens, and as it were banished
from our Countrey and friends.  Whereas our younger sister hath
great abundance of treasure, and hath gotten a god to her husband,
although shee hath no skill how to use such great plenty of riches.
Saw you not sister what was in the house, what great store of
jewels, what glittering robes, what Gemmes, what gold we trod on?
That if shee hath a husband according as shee affirmeth, there is
none that liveth this day more happy in all the world than she.  And
so it may come to passe, at length for the great affection which hee
may  beare unto her that hee may make her a goddesse, for by
Hercules, such was her countenance, so she behaved her self, that
as a goddesse she had voices to serve her, and the windes did obey
her.

But I poore wretch have first married an husband elder than my
father, more bald than a Coot, more weake than a childe, and that
locketh me up all day in the house.

Then said the other sister, And in faith I am married to a husband
that hath the gout, twyfold, crooked, nor couragious in paying my
debt, I am faine to rub and mollifie his stony fingers with divers
sorts of oyles, and to wrap them in playsters and salves, so that I
soyle my white and dainty hands with the corruption of filthy clouts,
not using my self like a wife, but more like a servant.  And you my
sister seem likewise to be in bondage and servitude, wherefore I
cannot abide to see our younger sister in such felicity; saw you not
I pray you how proudly and arrogantly she handled us even now?
And how in vaunting her selfe she uttered her presumptuous minde,
how she cast a little gold into our laps, and being weary of our
company, commanded that we should be borne and blown away?

Verily I live not, nor am a woman, but I will deprive her of all her
blisse.  And if you my sister bee so far bent as I, let us consult
together, and not to utter our minde to any person, no not to our
parents, nor tell that ever we saw her.  For it sufficeth that we
have seene her, whom it repenteth to have seene.  Neither let us
declare her good fortune to our father, nor to any other, since as
they seeme not happy whose riches are unknowne : so shall she
know that she hath sisters no Abjects, but worthier than she.

But now let us goe home to our husbands and poore houses, and
when we are better instructed, let us return to suppresse her pride.
So this evill counsell pleased these two evil women, and they hid
the treasure which Psyches gave them, and tare their haire,
renewing their false and forged teares.  When their father and
mother beheld them weep and lament still, they doubled their
sorrowes and griefes, but full of yre and forced with Envy, they
tooke their voyage homeward, devising the slaughter and
destruction of their sister.

In the meane season the husband of Psyches did warne her againe
in the night with these words : Seest thou not (quoth he) what perill
and danger evill fortune doth threaten unto thee, whereof if thou
take not good heed it will shortly come upon thee.  For the
unfaithfull harlots doe greatly endeavor to set their snares to catch
thee, and their purpose is to make and perswade thee to behold my
face, which if thou once fortune to see, as I have often told, thou
shalt see no more.  Wherfore if these naughty hagges, armed with
wicked minds, doe chance to againe (as I think no otherwise but
that they will) take heed that thou talk not with them but simply
suffer them to speake what they will, howbeit if thou canst not
refraine thy selfe, beware that thou have no communication of thy
husband, nor answer a word if they fortune to question  of me, so
will we encrease our stocke, and this young and tender childe,
couched in this young and tender belly of thine, shall be made an
immortall god, otherwise a mortal creature.  Then Psyches was
very glad that she should bring forth a divine babe, and very joyfull
in that she should be honored as a mother.  She reckened and
numbered carefully the days and months that passed, and beeing
never with child before, did marvel greatly that in so short a time
her belly should swel so big.  But those pestilent and wicked furies
breathing out their Serpentine poyson, took shipping to bring their
enterprise to passe.  The Psyches was warned again by her
husband in this sort : Behold the last day, the extream case, and the
enemies of thy blood, hath armed themselves against us, pitched
their campe, set their host in array, and are marching towards us,
for now thy two sisters have drawn their swords and are ready to
slay thee.  O with what force are we assailed on this day!  O
sweet Psyches I pray thee to take pitty on thy selfe, of me, and
deliver thy husband and this infant within thy belly from so great
danger, and see not, neither heare these cursed women, which are
not worthy to be called thy sisters, for their great hatred and breach
of sisterly amity, for they wil come like Syrens to the mountains,
and yeeld out their pittious and  lamentable cries.  When Psyches
had heard these words she sighed sorrowfully and said, O deare
husband this long time have you had experience and triall of my
faith, and doubt you not that I will persever in the same, wherefore
command your winde Zephyrus, that hee may doe as hee hath done
before, to the intent that where you have charged me not to behold
your venerable face, yet that I may comfort myself with the sight
of my sisters.  I pray you by these beautifull haires, by these round
cheekes delicate and tender, by your pleasant hot breast, whose
shape and face I shall learn at length by the childe in my belly,
grant the fruit of my desire, refresh your deare Spowse Psyches
with joy, who is bound and linked unto you for ever.  I little esteeme
to see your visage and figure, little doe I regard the night and
darknesse thereof, for you are my only light.

Her husband being as it were inchanted with these words and
compelled by violence of her often embracing, wiping away her
teares with his haire, did yeeld unto his wife.  And when morning
came, departed as hee was accustomed to doe.

Now her sisters arrived on land, and never rested til they came to
the rock, without visiting their parents, and leapt down rashly from
the hill themselves.  Then Zephyrus according to the divine
commandment brought them down, although it were against his wil,
and laid them in the vally without any harm : by and by they went
into the palace to their sister without leave, and when they had
eftsoone embraced their prey, and thanked her with flattering
words for the treasure which she gave them, they said, O deare
sister Psyches, know you that you are now no more a child, but a
mother : O what great joy beare you unto us in your belly?   What a
comfort will it be unto all the house?  How happy shall we be, that
shall see this Infant nourished amongst so great plenty of Treasure?
That if he be like his parents, as it is necessary he should, there is
no doubt but a new cupid shall be borne.  By this kinde of measures
they went about to winne Psyches by little and little, but because
they were wearie with travell, they sate them downe in chaires, and
after that they had washed their bodies in baines they went into a
parlour, where all kinde of meats were ready prepared.  Psyches
commanded one to play with his harpe, it was done.  Then
immediately others sung, others tuned their instruments, but no
person was seene, by whose sweet harmony and modulation the
sisters of Psyches were greatly delighted.

Howbeit the wickednesse of these cursed women was nothing
suppressed by the sweet noyse of these instruments, but they
settled themselves to work their treasons against Psyches,
demanding who was her husband, and of what Parentage.  Then
shee having forgotten by too much simplicity, what shee had
spoken before of her husband, invented a new answer, and said
that her husband was of a great province, a merchant, and a man
of middle age, having his beard intersparsed with grey haires.
Which when shee had spoken (because shee would have no further
talke) she filled their laps with Gold and Silver, and bid Zephyrus to
bear them away.

In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves,
saying, How say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches?  First
she sayd that her husband was a young man of flourishing yeares,
and had a flaxen beard, and now she sayth that he is halfe grey
with age.  What is he that in so short a space can become so old?
You shall finde it no otherwise my sister, but that either this cursed
queane hath invented a great lie, or else that she never saw the
shape of her husband.  And if it be so that she never saw him, then
verily she is married to some god, and hath a young god in her
belly.  But if it be a divine babe, and fortune to come to the eares of
my mother (as God forbid it should) then may I go and hang my
selfe : wherfore let us go to our parents, and with forged lies let us
colour the matter.

After they were thus inflamed, and had visited their Parents, they
returned againe to the mountaine, and by the aid of the winde
Zephyrus were carried down into the valley, and after they had
streined their eye lids, to enforce themselves to weepe, they called
unto Psyches in this sort,  Thou (ignorant of so great evill) thinkest
thy selfe sure and happy, and sittest at home nothing regarding thy
peril, whereas wee goe about thy affaires and are carefull lest any
harme should happen unto you: for we are credibly informed,
neither can we but utter it unto you, that there is  a great serpent
full of deadly poyson, with a ravenous gaping throat, that lieth with
thee every night  Remember the Oracle of Apollo, who pronounced
that thou shouldest he married to a dire and fierce Serpent, and
many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such as hunt about in the
countrey, affirme that thev saw him yesternight returning from
pasture and swimming  over the River, whereby they doe
undoubtedly say, that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate
meats, but when the time of delivery shall approach he will devoure
both thee and thy child : wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou
wilt agree unto us that are carefull of thy safety, and so avoid the
perill of death, bee contented to live with thy sisters, or whether
thou remaine with the Serpent arid in the end be swallowed into the
gulfe of his body. And ff it be so that thy solitary life, thy
conversation with voices, this servile and dangerous pleasure, and
the love of the Serpent doe more delight thee, say not but that we
have played the parts of naturall sisters in  warning thee.

Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was mooved with the
feare of so dreadful words, and being amazed in her mind, did
cleane forget the admonitions of her husband, and her owne
promises made unto him, and throwing her selfe headlong into
extreame misery, with a wanne and sallow countenance, scantly
uttering a third word, at length gan say in this sort : O my most
deare sisters, I heartily thanke you for your great kindnesse toward
me, and I am now verily perswaded that they which have informed
you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth, for I never saw
the shape of my husband, neither know I from whence he came,
only I heare his voice in the night, insomuch that I have an
uncertaine husband, and one that loveth not the light of the day :
which causeth me to suspect that he is a beast, as you affirme.
Moreover, I doe greatly feare to see him, for he doth menace and
threaten great evill unto mee, if I should goe about to spy and
behold his shape wherefore my loving sisters if you have any
wholeome remedy for your sister in danger, give it now presently.
Then they opened the gates of their subtill mindes, and did put
away all privy guile, and egged her forward in her fearefull
thoughts, perswading her to doe as they would have her whereupon
one of them began and sayd, Because that wee little esteeme any
perill or danger, to save your life we intend to shew you the best
way and meane as we may possibly do.  Take a sharpe razor and
put it under the pillow of your bed; and see that you have ready a
privy burning lampe with oyle, hid under some part of the hanging
of the chamber, and finely dissembling the matter when according
to his custome he commeth to bed and sleepeth soundly, arise you
secretly, and with your bare feet goe and take the lampe, with the
Razor in your right hand and with valiant force cut off the head of
the poysonous serpent, wherein we will aid and assist you : and
when by the death of him you shall be made safe, we wil marry
you to some comely man.

After they had thus inflamed the heart of their sister fearing lest
some danger might happen unto them by reason of their evill
counsell, they were carried by the wind Zephyrus to the top of the
mountaine, and so they ran away and tooke shipping.

When Psyches was left alone (saving that she seemed not to be
alone, being stirred by so many furies) she was in a tossing minde
like the waves of the sea, and although her wil was obstinate, and
resisted to put in execution the counsell of her Sisters, yet she was
in doubtfull and divers opinions touching her calamity.  Sometime
she would, sometime she would not, sometime she is bold,
sometime she feareth, sometime shee mistrusteth, somtime she is
mooved, somtime she hateth the beast, somtime she loveth her
husband : but at length night came, when as she prepared for her
wicked intent.

Soon after her husband Came, and when he had kissed and
embraced her he fell asleep. Then Psyches (somwhat feeble in
body and mind, yet mooved by cruelty of fate) received boldnes
and brought forth the lampe, and tooke the razor, so by her audacity
she changed her mind : but when she took the lamp and came to
the bed side, she saw the most meeke and sweetest beast of all
beasts, even faire Cupid couched fairly, at whose sight the very
lampe encreased his light for joy, and the razor turned his edge.

But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee greatly feared, and
amazed in mind, with a pale countenance all trembling fel on her
knees and thought to hide the razor, yea verily in her owne heart,
which doubtlesse she had done, had it not through feare of so great
an enterprise fallen out of her hand. And when she saw and beheld
the beauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her
mind, she saw his haires of gold, that yeelded out a sweet savor, his
neck more white than milk, his purple cheeks, his haire hanging
comely behinde and before, the brightnesse  whereof did darken
the light of the lamp, his tender plume feathers, dispersed upon his
sholders like shining flours, and trembling hither and thither, and his
other parts of his body so smooth and so soft, that it did not repent
Venus to beare such a childe.  At the beds feet lay his bow,

quiver, and arrowes, that be the weapons of so great a god : which
when Psyches did curiously behold, she marvelling at her husbands
weapons, took one of the arrows out of the quiver, and pricked her
selfe withall, wherwith she was so grievously wounded that the
blood followed, and thereby of her owne accord shee added love
upon love; then more broyling in the love of Cupid shee embraced
him and kissed him and kissed him a thousand times, fearing the
measure of his sleepe  But alas while shee was in this great joy,
whether it were for envy for desire to touch this amiable body
likewise, there fell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe
upon the right shoulder of the god.  O rash and bold lampe, the vile
ministery of love, how darest thou bee so bold as to burne the god
of all fire?  When as he invented thee, to the intent that all lovers
might with more joy passe the nights in pleasure.

The god beeing burned in this sort, and perceiving that promise and
faith was broken, bee fled away without utterance of any word,
from the eves and hands of his most unhappy wife.  But Psyches
fortuned to catch him as hee was rising by the right thigh, and held
him fast as hee flew above in the aire, until such time as
constrained by wearinesse  shee let goe arid fell downe upon the
ground.  But Cupid followed her downe, and lighted upon the top of
a Cypresse tree, and angerly spake unto her in this manner : O
simple Psyches, consider with thy selfe how I, little regarding the
commandement of my mother (who willed mee that thou shouldst
bee married to a man of base and miserable condition) did come
my selfe from heaven to love thee, and wounded myne owne body
with my proper weapons, to have thee to my Spowse :  And did I
seeme a beast unto thee, that thou shouldst go about to cut off my
head with a razor, who loved thee so well?  Did not I alwayes give
thee a charge?  Did not I gently will thee to beware?  But those
cursed aides and Counsellors of thine shall be worthily rewarded
for their pains.  As for thee thou shalt be sufficiently punished by
my absence. When hee had spoken these words he tooke his flight
into the aire.  Then Psyches fell flat on the ground, and as long as
she could see her husband she cast her eyes after him into the aire,
weeping and lamenting pitteously :  but when hee was gone out of
her sight shee threw her selfe into the next running river, for the
great anguish and dolour that shee was in for the lack of her
husband , howbeit the water would not suffer her to be drowned,
but tooke pity upon her, in the honour of Cupid which accustomed
to broyle and burne the river, and threw her upon the bank amongst
the herbs.

Then Pan the rusticall god sitting on the river side, embracing and
[instructing] the goddesse Canna to tune her songs and pipes, by
whom were feeding the young and tender Goats, after that he
perceived Psyches in sorrowful case, not ignorant (I know not by
what meanes) of her miserable estate, endeavored to pacific her in
this sort : O faire maid, I am a rusticke and rude heardsman,
howbeit by reason of my old age expert in many things, for as farre
as I can learnt by conjecture (which according as wise men doe
terme is called divination) I perceive by your uncertaine gate, your
pale hew, your sobbing sighes, and your watery eyes, that you are
greatly in love.  Wherefore hearken to me, and goe not about to
slay your selfe, nor weepe not at all, but rather adore and worship
the great god Cupid, and winne him unto you by your gentle
promise of service.

When the god of Shepherds had spoken these words, she gave no
answer, but made reverence to him as to a god, and so departed.

After that Psyches had gone a little way, she fortuned unawares to
come to a city where the husband of one of her Sisters did dwell.
Which when Psyches did understand, shee caused that her sister
had knowledge of her comming, and so they met together, and after
great embracing and salutation, the sister of Psyches demaunded
the cause of her travell thither.  Marry (quoth she) doe you not
remember the counsell you gave me, whereby you would that I
should kill the beast which under colour of my husband did lie with
mee every night i  You shall understand, that as soone as I brought
forth the lampe to see and behold his shape, I perceived that he
was the sonne of  Venus, even Cupid himselfe  that lay with mee.
Then I being stricken  with great pleasure, and desirous to embrace
him, could not thoroughly asswage my delight, but alas by evill ill
chance the oyle of the lampe fortuned to fall on his shoulder which
caused him to awake, and seeing me armed with fire and
weapons, gan say, How darest thou be so bold to doe so great a
mischiefe? Depart from me and take such things as thou didst bring
: for I will have thy sister (and named you) to my wife, and she
shall be placed in thy felicity, and by and by hee commaunded
Zephyrus to carry me away from the bounds of his house.

Psyches had scantly finished  her tale but her sister pierced with
the pricke of carnall desire and wicked envy ran home, and feigning
to her husband that she  had heard word of the death of her parents
tooke shipping and came to the mountaine.  And although there
blew a contrary winde, yet being brought in a vaine hope shee cried
O Cupid take me a more worthy wife, and thou Zephyrus beare
downe thy mistresse, and so she cast her selfe headlong from the
mountaine : but shee fell not into the valley neither alive nor dead,
for all the members and parts of her body were torne amongst the
rockes, wherby she was made prey unto the birds and wild beasts,
as she worthily deserved.

Neither was the vengeance of the other delayed, for Psyches
travelling in that country, fortuned to come to another city where
her other sister did dwel; to whom when shee had declared all such
things as she told to her other sister shee  ran likewise unto the
rock and was slaine in like sort  Then  Psyches travelled about in
the countrey to seeke her husband Cupid, hut he was gotten into his
mothers chamber and there bewailed the sorrowful wound which
he caught by the oyle of a burning lamp.

Then the white bird the Gull, which swims on the waves of the
water, flew toward the Ocean sea, where he found Venus washing
and bathing her selfe : to whom she declared that her son was
burned and in danger of death, and moreover that it was a common
brute in the mouth of every person (who spake evill of all the family
of Venus) that her son doth nothing but haunt harlots in the
mountain, and she her self lasciviously use to ryot in the sea :
wherby they say that they are flow become no more gratious,
pleasant nor gentle, but incivile, monstrous and horrible.  Moreover,
that marriages are not for any amity, or for love of procreation, but
full of envy, discord, and debate.  This the curious Gul did clatter in
the ears of Venus, reprehending her son.  But Venus began to cry
and sayd, What hath my sonne gotten any Love?  I pray thee
gentle bird that doest serve me so faithfully, tell me what she is, and
what is her name that hath troubled my son in such sort? whether
shee be any of the Nymphs, of the number of the goddesses, of the
company of the Muses, or of the mistery of the Graces?  To whom
the bird answered, Madam I know not what shee is, but this I know
that she is called Psyches.  Then Venus with indignation cried out,
What is it she? the usurper of my beauty, the Vicar of my name?
What did he think that I was a bawd, by whose shew he fell
acquainted with the maid?  And immediately she departed and
went to her chamber, where she found her son wounded as it was
told unto her, whom when she beheld she cries out in this sort.

Is this an honest thing, is this honourable to thy parents? is this
reason, that thou hast violated and broken the commandement of
thy mother and soveraign mistresse : and whereas thou shouldst
have vexed my enemy with loathsom love, thou hast done
otherwise?

For being of tender and unripe yeares, thou hast with too licentious
appetite embraced my most mortall Foe, to whome I shall bee
made a mother, and she a Daughter.

Thou presumest and thinkest, thou trifling boy, thou Varlet, and
without all reverence, that thou art most worthy and excellent, and
that I am not able by reason of myne age to have another son,
which if I should have, thou shouldst well understand that I would
beare a more worthier than thou.  But to worke thee a greater
despight, I do determine to adopt one of my servants, and to give
him these wings, this fire, this bow, and these Arrowes, and all
other furniture which I gave to thee, not to this purpose, neither is
any thing given thee of thy father for this intent : but first thou hast
been evill brought up and instructed in thy youth thou hast thy hands
ready and sharpe.  Thou hast often offended thy antients, and
especially me that am thy mother, thou hast pierced mee with thy
darts thou contemnest me as a widow, neither dost t thou regard
thy valiant and invincible father, and to anger me more, thou art
amorous of harlots and wenches : hot I will cause that thou shalt
shortly repent thee, and that this marriage shal be dearely bought.
To what a point am I now driven? What shall I do?  Whither shall I
goe?  How shall I represse this beast?  Shall I aske ayd of myne
enemy Sobriety, whom I have often offended to engender thee? Or
shall I seeke for counsel of every poore rusticall woman? No, no,
yet had I rather dye, howbeit I will not cease my vengeance, to her
must I have recourse for helpe, and to none other (I meane to
Sobriety), who may correct thee sharpely, take away thy quiver,
deprive thee of thy arrowes, unbend thy bow, quench thy fire, and
which is more subdue thy body with punishment : and when that l
have rased and cut off this thy haire, which I have dressed with
myne owne hands, and made to glitter like gold, and when I have
clipped thy wings, which I my selfe have caused to burgen, then
shall I thinke to have revenged my selfe sufficiently  upon thee for
the injury which thou hast done.  When shee had spoken these
words shee departed in a great rage out of her chamber.

Immediatelie as she was going away came Juno and Ceres,
demaunding the cause of her anger.  Then Venus answered, Verily
you are come to comfort my sorrow, but I pray you with all
diligence to seeke out one whose name is Psyches, who is a
vagabond, and runneth about the Countries, and  (as I thinke) you
are not ignorant of the brute of my son Cupid, and of his
demeanour, which I am ashamed to declare.  Then they
understanding the whole matter, endeavoured to mitigate the ire of
Venus in this sort : What is the cause Madam, or how hath your
son so offended, that you shold so greatly accuse his love, and
blame him by reason that he is amorous? and why should you
seeke the death of her, whom he doth fancie?  We most humbly
intreat you to pardon his fault if he have accorded to the mind of
any maiden : what do you not know that he is a young man?  Or
have you forgotten of what yeares he is?  Doth he seeme alwayes
unto you to be a childe?  You are his mother, and a kind woman,
will you continually search out his dalliance?  Will you blame his
luxury?  Will you bridle his love? and will you reprehend your owne
art and delights in him?  What God or man is hee, that can endure
that you should sowe or disperse your seed of love in every place,
and to make restraint thereof within your owne doores? certes you
will be the cause of the suppression of the publike paces of young
Dames.  In this sort this goddesse endeavoured to pacifie her mind,
and to excuse Cupid with al their power (although he were absent)
for feare of his darts and shafts of love.  But Venus would in no
wise asswage her heat, but (thinking that they did rather trifle and
taunt at her injuries) she departed from them, and tooke her voiage
towards the sea in all haste.  In the meane season Psyches hurled
her selfe hither and thither, to seeke her husband, the rather
because she thought that if he would not be appeased with the
sweet flattery of his wife, yet he would take mercy on her at her
servile and continuall prayers.  And (espying a Church on the top of
a high hill) she said, What can I tell whether my husband and
master be there or no? wherefore she went thitherward, and with
great paine and travell, moved by hope, after that she climbed to
the top of the mountaine, she came to the temple, and went in,
wheras behold she espied sheffes of corn lying on a heap, blades
withered with garlands, and reeds of barly, moreover she saw
hooks, sithes, sickles, and other instruments, to reape, but every
thing lay out of order, and as it were cast in by the hands of
laborers which when Psyches saw she gathered up and put
everything in order, thinking that she would not despise or
contemne the temples of any of the Gods, but rather get the favour
and benevolence of them all : by and by Ceres came in, and
beholding her busie and curious in her chapell, cried out a far off,
and said, O Psyches needfull of mercy, Venus searcheth for thee in
every place to revenge her selfe and to punish thee grievously, but
thou hast more mind to be heere, and carest for nothing lesse, then
for thy safety.  Then Psyches fell on her knees before her, watring
her feet with her teares, wiping the ground with her haire, and with
great weeping and lamentation desired pardon, saying, O great and
holy Goddesse, l pray thee by thy plenteous and liberall right hand,
by the joyfull ceremonies of thy harvest, by the secrets of thy
Sacrifice, by the flying chariots of thy dragons, by the tillage of the
ground of Sicilie, which thou hast invented, by the marriage of
Proserpin, by the diligent inquisition of thy daughter, and by the
other secrets which are within the temple of Eleusis in the land of
Athens, take pitty on me thy servant Psyches, and let me hide my
selfe a few dayes amongst these sheffes of corne, untill the ire of
so great a Goddesse be past, or until that I be refreshed of my
great labour and travell. Then answered Ceres, Verely Psyches, I
am greatly moved by thy prayers and teares, and desire with all my
heart to aide thee, but if I should suffer thee to be hidden here, I
should increase the displeasure of my Cosin, with whom I have
made a treatie of peace, and an ancient promise of amity :
wherefore I advise thee to depart hence and take it not in evil part
in that I will not suffer thee to abide and remaine here within my
temple.  Then Psyches driven away contrary to her hope, was
double afflicted with sorrow and so she returned back againe.  And
behold she perceived a far off in a vally a Temple standing within a
Forest, faire and curiously wrought, and minding to over-passe no
place whither better hope did direct her, and to the intent she would
desire pardon of every God, she approached nigh unto the sacred
doore, whereas she saw pretious riches and vestiments ingraven
with letters of gold, hanging upon branches of trees, and the posts
of the temple testifying the name of the goddesse Juno, to whom
they were dedicate, then she kneeled downe upon her knees, and
imbraced the Alter with her hands, and wiping her teares, gan pray
in this sort : O deere spouse and sister of the great God Jupiter
which art adored and worshipped amongst the great temples of
Samos, called upon by women with child, worshipped at high
Carthage, because thou wast brought from heaven by the lyon, the
rivers of the floud Inachus do celebrate thee : and know that thou
art the wife of the great god, and the goddesse of goddesses; all the
east part of the world have thee in veneration, all the world calleth
thee Lucina : I pray thee to be my advocate in my tribulations,
deliver me from the great danger which pursueth me, and save me
that am weary with so long labours and sorrow, for I know that it is
thou that succorest and helpest such women as are with child and
in  danger.   Then Juno hearing the prayers of Psyches, appeared
unto her in all her royalty, saying, Certes Psyches I would gladly
help thee, but I am ashamed to do any thing contrary to the will of
my daughter in law Venus, whom alwaies I have loved as mine
owne child, moreover I shall incurre the danger of the law, intituled,
De servo corrupto, whereby am forbidden to retaine any servant
fugitive, against the will of his Master.  Then Psyches cast off
likewise by Juno, as without all hope of the recovery of her
husband, reasoned with her selfe in this sort : Now what comfort or
remedy is left to my afflictions, when as my prayers will nothing
availe with the goddesses? what shall I do? whither shall I go?  In
what cave or darknesse shall I hide my selfe, to avoid the furor of
Venus?  Why do I not take a good heart, and offer my selfe with
humilitie unto her, whose anger I have wrought?  What do I know
whether he (whom I seeke for) be in his mothers house or no?
Thus being in doubt, poore Psyches prepared her selfe to her owne
danger, and devised how she might make her orison and prayer
unto Venus.  After that Venus was weary with searching by Sea
and Land for Psyches, shee returned toward heaven, and
commanded that one should prepare her Chariot, which her
husband Vulcanus gave unto her by reason of marriage, so finely
wrought that neither gold nor silver could be compared to the
brightnesse therof. Four white pigeons guided the chariot with great
diligence, and when Venus was entred in a number of sparrowes
flew chirping about, making signe of joy, and all other kind of birds
sang sweetly, foreshewing the comming of the great goddesse: the
clouds gave place, the heavens opened, and received her joyfully,
the birds that followed nothing feared the Eagle, Hawkes, or other
ravenous foules of the aire. Incontinently she went unto the royall
Pallace of God Jupiter, and with a proud and bold petition
demanded the service of Mercury, in certaine of her affaires,
whereunto Jupiter consented: then with much joy shee descended
from Heaven with Mercury, and gave him an earnest charge to put
in execution her words, saying : O my Brother, borne in Arcadia,
thou knowest well, that I (who am thy sister) did never enterprise
to doe any thing without thy presence, thou knowest also how long
I have sought for a girle and cannot finde her, wherefore there
resteth nothing else save that thou with thy trumpet doe pronounce
the reward to such as take her: see thou put in execution my
commandment, and declare that whatsoever he be that retaineth
her wittingly, against my will shall not defend himselfe by any
meane or excusation: which when she had spoken, she delivered
unto him a libell, wherein was contained the name of Psyches, and
the residue of his publication, which done, she departed away to her
lodging.  By and by, Mercurius (not delaying the matter) proclaimed
throughout all the world, that whatsoever hee were that could tell
any tydings of a Kings fugitive Daughter, the servant of Venus,
named Psyches, should bring word to Mercury, and for reward of
his paines, he should receive. seaven sweet kisses of Venus After
that Mercury had pronounced. these things, every man was
enflamed with desire to search out Psyches.

This proclamation was the cause that put all doubt from Psyches,
who was scantly come in the sight of the house of Venus, but one
of her servants called Custome came out, who espying Psyches,
cried with a loud voyce, saying: O wicked harlot as thou art, now at
length thou shalt know that thou hast a mistresse above thee. What,
dost thou make thy selfe ignorant, as though thou didst not
understand what travell wee have taken in searching for thee? I am
glad that thou art come into my hands, thou art now in the golfe of
hell, and shalt abide the paine and punishment of thy great
contumacy, and therewithall she tooke her by the haire, and brought
her in, before the presence of the goddesse Venus.  When Venus
spied her, shee began to laugh, and as angry persons accustome to
doe, she shaked her head, and scratched her right eare saying, O
goddesse, goddesse, you are now come at length to visit your
husband that is in danger of death, by your meanes : bee you
assured, I will handle you like a daughter : where be my maidens,
Sorrow and Sadnesse?  To whom (when they came) she delivered
Psyches to be cruelly tormented; then they fulfilled the
commandement of their Mistresse, and after they had piteously
scourged her with rods and whips, they presented her againe
before Venus; then she began to laugh againe, saying : Behold she
thinketh (that by reason of her great belly, which she hath gotten by
playing the whore) to move me to pitty, and to make me a
grandmother to her childe.  Am not I happy, that in the flourishing
time of al mine age, shall be called a grandmother, and the sonne of
a vile harlot shall bee accounted the nephew of Venus : howbeit I
am a foole to tearm him by the name of my son, since as the
marriage was made betweene unequall persons, in the field without
witnesses, and not by the consent of parents, wherefore the
marriage is illegitimate, and the childe (that shall be borne) a
bastard; if we fortune to suffer thee to live so long till thou be
delivered.  When Venus had spoken these words she leaped upon
the face of poore Psyches, and (tearing her apparell) tooke her by
the haire, and dashed her head upon the ground.  Then she tooke a
great quantity of wheat, of barly, poppy seede, peason, lintles, and
beanes, and mingled them altogether on a heape saying : Thou evil
favoured girle, thou seemest unable to get the grace of thy lover, by
no other meanes, but only by diligent and painefull service,
wherefore I will prove what thou canst doe : see that thou separate
all these graines one from another, disposing them orderly in their
quantity, and let it be done before night.  When she had appointed
this taske unto Psyches, she departed to a great banket that was
prepared that day.  But Psyches went not about to dissever the
graine, (as being a thing impossible to be brought to passe by
reason it lay so confusedly scattered) but being astonyed at the
cruell commandement of Venus, sate still and said nothing.  Then
the little pismire the emote, taking pitty of her great difficulty and
labour, cursing the cruellnesse of the daughter of Jupiter, and of so
evill a mother, ran about, hither and thither, and called to all her
friends, Yee quick sons of the ground, the mother of all things, take
mercy on this poore maid, espouse to Cupid, who is in great danger
of her person, I pray you helpe her with all diligence. Incontinently
one came after another, dissevering and dividing the graine, and
after that they had put each kinde of corne in order, they ranne
away againe in all haste. When night came, Venus returned home
from the banket wel tippled with wine, smelling of balme, and
crowned with garlands of roses, who when shee had espied what
Psyches had done, gan say, This is not the labour of thy hands, but
rather of his that is amorous of thee : then she gave her a morsel of
brown bread, and went to sleep.  In the mean season, Cupid was
closed fast in the surest chamber of the house, partly because he
should not hurt himself with wanton dalliance, and partly because
he should not speake with his love : so these two lovers were
divided one from another.  When night was passed Venus called
Psyches, and said, Seest thou yonder Forest that extendeth out in
length with the river? there be great sheepe shining like gold, and
kept by no manner of person.  I command thee that thou go thither
and bring me home some of the wooll of their fleeces.  Psyches
arose willingly not to do her commandement, but to throw her selfe
headlong into water to end her sorrows.  Then a green reed
inspired by divine inspiration, with a gratious tune and melody gan
say, O Psyches I pray thee not to trouble or pollute  my water by
the death of thee, and yet beware that thou goe not towards the
terrible sheepe of this coast, untill such time as the heat of the
sunne be past, for when the sunne is in his force, then seeme they
most dreadfull and furious, with their sharpe hornes, their stony
foreheads and their gaping throats, wherewith they arme
themselves to the destruction of mankinde.    But untill they have
refreshed themselves in the river, thou must hide thy selfe here by
me, under this great plaine tree, and as soone as their great fury is
past, thou maist goe among the thickets and bushes under the wood
side and gather the lockes their golden Fleeces, which thou shalt
finde hanging upon the briers.  Then spake the gentle and benigne
reed, shewing a mean to Psyches to save her life, which she bore
well in memory, and with all diligence went and gathered up such
lockes as shee found, and put them in her apron, and carried them
home to Venus.  Howbeit the danger of this second labour did not
please her, nor give her sufficient witnesse of the good service of
Psyches, but with a sower resemblance of laughter, did say : Of a
certaine I know that this is not thy fact, but I will prove if that thou
bee of so stout, so good a courage, and singular prudency as thou
seemest to bee.  Then Venus spake unto Psyches againe saying :
Seest thou the toppe of yonder great Hill, from whence there
runneth downe waters of blacke and deadly colour, which
nourisheth the floods of Stix, Cocytus? I charge thee to goe thither,
and bring me a vessell of that water : wherewithall she gave her a
bottle of Christall, menacing and threatening her rigorously.  Then
poor Psyches went in all haste to the top of the mountaine, rather to
end her life, then to fetch any water, and when she was come up to
the ridge of the hill, she perceived that it was impossible to bring it
to passe : for she saw a great rocke gushing out most horrible
fountaines of waters, which ran downe and fell by many stops and
passages into the valley beneath : on each side shee did see great
Dragons, which were stretching out their long and bloody Neckes,
that did never sleepe, but appointed to keepe the river there : the
waters seemed to themselves likewise saying, Away; away, what
wilt thou doe? flie, flie, or else thou wilt be slaine. Then Psyches
(seeing the impossibility of this affaire) stood still as though she
were transformed into a stone and although she was present in
body, yet was she absent in spirit and sense, by reason of the great
perill which she saw, insomuch that she could not comfort her self
with weeping, such was the present danger that she was in.  But
the royall bird of great Jupiter, the Eagle remembring his old service
which he had done, when as by the pricke of Cupid he brought up
the boy Ganimedes, to the heavens, to be made butler of Jupiter,
and minding to shew the like service in the person of the wife of
Cupid, came from the high-house of the Skies, and said unto
Psyches, O simple woman without all experience, doest thou thinke
to get or dip up any drop of this dreadfull water? No, no, assure thy
selfe thou art never able to come nigh it, for the Gods themselves
do greatly feare at the sight thereof.  What, have you not heard,
that it is a custome among men  to sweare by the puissance of the
Gods, and the Gods do sweare by the majesty of the river Stix?  but
give me thy bottle, and sodainly he tooke it, and filled it with the
water of the river, and taking his flight through those cruell and
horrible dragons, brought it unto Psyches : who being very joyfull
thereof, presented it to Venus, who would not yet be appeased, but
menacing more and more said, What, thou seemest unto me a very
witch and enchauntresse, that bringest these things to passe,
howbeit thou shalt do nothing more.  Take this box and to Hell to
Proserpina, and desire her to send me a little of her beauty, as
much as will serve me the space of one day, and say that such as I
had is consumed away since my sonne fell sicke, but returne againe
quickly, for I must dresse my selfe therewithall, and goe to the
Theatre of the Gods : then poore Psyches perceived the end of all
fortune, thinking verely that she should never returne, and not
without cause, when as she was compelled to go to the gulfe and
furies of hell.   Wherefore without any further delay, she went up
to an high tower to throw her selfe downe headlong (thinking that it
was the next and readiest way to hell)  but the tower (as inspired)
spake unto her saying, O poore miser, why goest thou about to slay
thy selfe? Why dost thou rashly yeeld unto thy last perill and
danger? know thou that if thy spirit be once separated from thy
body, thou shalt surely go to hell, but never to returne againe,
wherefore harken to me; Lacedemon a Citie in Greece is not farre
hence: go thou thither and enquire for the hill Tenarus, whereas
thou shalt find a hold leading to hell, even to the Pallace of Pluto,
but take heede thou go not with emptie hands to that place of
darknesse: but Carrie two sops sodden in the flour of barley and
Honney in thy hands, and two halfepence in thy mouth.  And when
thou hast passed a good part of that way, thou shalt see a lame
Asse carrying of wood, and a lame fellow driving him, who will
desire thee to give him up the sticks that fall downe, but passe thou
on and do nothing; by and by thou shalt come unto a river of hell,
whereas Charon is ferriman, who will first have his fare paied him,
before he will carry the soules over the river in his boat, whereby
you may see that avarice raigneth amongst the dead, neither
Charon nor Pluto will do any thing for nought: for if it be a poore
man that would passe over and lacketh money, he shal be
compelled to die in his journey before they will shew him any
reliefe, wherefore deliver to carraine Charon one of the halfpence
(which thou bearest for thy passage) and let him receive it out of
thy mouth. And it shall come to passe as thou sittest in the boat
thou shalt see an old man swimming on the top of the river, holding
up his deadly hands, and desiring thee to receive him into the barke,
but have no regard to his piteous cry; when thou art passed over
the floud, thou shalt espie old women spinning, who will desire thee
to helpe them, hut beware thou do not consent unto them in any
case, for these and like baits and traps will Venus set to make thee
let fall one of thy sops, and thinke not that the keeping of thy sops is
a light matter, for if thou leese one of them thou shalt be assured
never to returne againe to this world. Then shalt thou see a great
and marvailous dogge, with three heads, barking continually at the
soules of such as enter in, but he can do them no other harme, he
lieth day and night before the gate of Proserpina, and keepeth the
house of Pluto with great diligence, to whom if thou cast one of thy
sops, thou maist have accesse to Proserpina without all danger :
shee will make thee good cheere, and entertaine thee with delicate
meate and drinke, but sit thou upon the ground, and desire browne
bread, and then declare thy message unto her, and when thou hast
received such beauty as she giveth, in thy returne appease the rage
of the dogge with thy other sop, and give thy other halfe penny to
covetous Charon, and come the same way againe into the world as
thou wentest : but above all things have a regard that thou looke not
in the boxe, neither be not too curious about the treasure of the
divine beauty.  In this manner tire tower spake unto Psyches, and
advertised her what she should do : and immediately she tooke two
halfe pence, two sops, and all things necessary, and went to the
mountaine Tenarus to go towards hell.  After that Psyches had
passed by the lame Asse, paid her halfe pennie for passage,
neglected the old man in the river, denyed to helpe the woman
spinning, and filled the ravenous month of the dogge with a sop,
shee came to the chamber of Proserpina.  There Psyches would
not sit in any royall seate, nor eate any delicate meates, but kneeled
at the feete of Proserpina, onely contented with course bread,
declared her message, and after she had received a mysticall
secret in a boxe, she departed, and stopped the mouth of the dogge
with the other sop, and paied the boatman the other halfe penny.
When Psyches was returned from hell, to the light of the world,
shee was ravished with great desire, saying, Am not I a foole, that
knowing that I carrie here the divine beauty, will not take a little
thereof to garnish my face, to please my love withall?  And by and
by shee opened the boxe where she could perceive no beauty nor
any thing else, save onely an infernall and deadly sleepe, which
immediatly invaded all her members as soone as the boxe was
uncovered, in such sort that she fell downe upon the ground, and
lay there as a sleeping corps.

But Cupid being now healed of his wound and Maladie, not able to
endure the absence of Psyches, got him secretly out at a window
of the chamber where hee was enclosed, and (receiving his wings,)
tooke his flight towards his loving wife, whom when he had found,
hee wiped away the sleepe from her face, and put it againe into the
boxe, and awaked her with the tip of one of his arrows, saying : O
wretched Caitife, behold thou wert well-nigh perished againe, with
the overmuch curiositie : well, goe thou, and do thy message to my
Mother, and in the meane season, I will provide for all things
accordingly : wherewithall he tooke his flight into the aire, and
Psyches brought her present to Venus.

Cupid being more and more in love with Psyches, and fearing the
displeasure of his Mother, did pearce into the heavens, and arrived
before Jupiter to declare his cause : then Jupiter after that hee had
eftsoone embraced him, gan say in this manner : O my well beloved
sonne, although thou haste not given due reverence and honour
unto me as thou oughtest to doe, but haste rather spoiled and
wounded this my brest (whereby the laws and order of the
Elements and Planets be disposed) with continuall assaults, of
Terren luxury and against all laws, and the discipline Julia, and the
utility of the publike weale, in transforming my divine beauty into
serpents, fire, savage beasts, birds, and into Bulles : howbeit
remembring my modesty, and that I have nourished thee with mine
owne proper hands, I will doe and accomplish all thy desire, so that
thou canst beware of spitefull and envious persons.  And if there be
any excellent Maiden of comely beauty in the world, remember yet
the benefit which I shall shew unto thee by recompence of her love
towards me againe.  When lie had spoken these words he
commanded Mercury to call all the gods to counsell, and if any of
the celestiall powers did faile of appearance he would be
condemned in ten thousand pounds : which sentence was such a
terrour to all the goddesses, that the high Theatre was replenished,
and Jupiter began to speake in this sort : O yee gods, registred in
the bookes of the Muses, you all know this young man Cupid whom
I have nourished with mine owne hands, whose raging flames of his
first youth, I thought best to bridle and restraine.  It sufficeth that
hee is defamed in every place for his adulterous living, wherefore
all occasion ought to bee taken away by meane of marriage : he
hath chosen a Maiden that fancieth him well, and hath bereaved
her of her virginity, let him have her still, and possesse her
according to his owne pleasure : then he returned to Venus, and
said, And you my daughter, take you no care, neither feare the
dishonour of your progeny and estate, neither have regard in that it
is a mortall marriage, for it seemeth unto me just, lawfull, and
legitimate by the law civill.  Incontinently after Jupiter commanded
Mercury to bring up Psyches, the spouse of Cupid, into the Pallace
of heaven. And then he tooke a pot of immortality, and said, Hold
Psyches, and drinke, to the end thou maist be immortall, and that
Cupid may be thine everlasting husband.  By and by the great
banket and marriage feast was sumptuously prepared, Cupid sate
downe with his deare spouse between his armes : Juno likewise
with Jupiter, and all the other gods in order, Ganimedes filled the
pot of Jupiter, and Bacchus served the rest. Their drinke was
Nectar the wine of the gods, Vulcanus prepared supper, the
howers decked up the house with roses and other sweet smells, the
graces threw about blame, the Muses sang with sweet harmony,
Apollo tuned pleasantly to the Harpe, Venus danced finely : Satirus
and Paniscus plaid on their pipes; and thus Psyches was married to
Cupid, and after she was delivered of a child whom we call
Pleasure.  This the trifling old woman declared unto the captive
maiden : but I poore Asse, not standing farre of, was not a little
sorry in that I lacked pen and inke to write so worthy a tale.




THE SIXTH BOOKE



THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER


How Apuleius carried away the Gentlewoman, and how they were
taken againe by the theeves, and what a kind of death was invented
for them.

By and by the theeves came home laden with treasure, and many
of them which were of strongest courage (leaving behind such as
were lame and wounded, to heale and aire themselves) said they
would returne backe againe to fetch the rest of their pillage, which
they had hidden in a certaine cave, and so they snatched up their
dinner greedily, and brought us forth into the way and beate us
before them with staves.  About night (after that we had passed
over many hilles and dales) we came to a great cave, where they
laded us with mighty burthens, and would not suffer us to refresh
our selves any season but brought us againe in our way, and hied so
fast homeward, that what with their haste and their cruell stripes, I
fell downe upon a stone by the way side, then they beate me
pittifully in lifting me up, and hurt my right thigh and my left hoofe,
and one of them said, What shall we do with this lame Ill favoured
Asse, that is not worth the meate he eats?  And other said, Since
the time that we had him first he never did any good, and I thinke
he came unto our house with evill lucke, for we have had great
wounds since, and losse of our valiant captaines, and other said, As
soone as he hath brought home his burthen, I will surely throw him
out upon the mountaine to be a pray for wild beasts : While these
gentlemen reasoned together of my death, we fortuned to come
home, for the feare that I was in, caused my feet to turne into
wings : after that we were discharged of our burthens, they went to
their fellowes that were wounded, and told them of our great tardity
and slownesse by the way, neither was I brought into small anguish,
when I perceived my death prepared before my face : Why
standest thou still Lucius?  Why dost thou not looke for thy death?
Knowst thou not that the theeves have ordained to slay thee? seest
thou not these sharpe and pointed flints which shall bruise and teare
thee in peeces, if by adventure thou happen upon them?  Thy gentle
Magitian hath not onely given thee the shape and travell of an
Asse, but also a skinne so soft and tender as it were a swallow :
why dost thou not take courage and runne away to save thy selfe?
Art thou afraid of the old woman more then halfe dead, whom with
a stripe of thy heele thou maist easily dispatch?  But whither shall I
fly?  What lodging shall I seek?  See my Assy cogitation.  Who is
he that passeth by the way and will not take me up?  While I
devised these things, I brake the halter wherewith I was tyed and
ran away with all my force, howbeit I could not escape the kitish
eyes of the old woman, for shee ran after me, and with more
audacity then becommeth her kind age, caught me by the halter and
thought to pull me home: but I not forgetting the cruell purpose of
the theeves, was mooved with small pity, for I kicked her with my
hinder heeles to the ground and had welnigh slaine her, who
(although shee was throwne and hurled downe) yet shee held still
the halter, and would not let me goe; then shee cryed with a loud
voyce and called for succour, but she little prevayled, because there
was no person that heard her, save onely the captive gentlewoman,
who hearing the voice of the old woman, came out to see what the
matter was, and perceiving her hanging at the halter, tooke a good
courage and wrested it out of her hand, and (entreating me with
gentle words) got upon my backe.  Then I began to runne, and shee
gently kicked mee forward, whereof I was nothing displeased, for I
had as great a desire to escape as shee : insomuch that I seemed to
scowre away like a horse.  And when the Gentlewoman did
speake, I would answere her with my neighing, and oftentimes
(under colour to rub my backe) I would sweetly kisse her tender
feet.  Then shee fetching a sigh from the bottome of her heart,
lifted up her eyes to the heavens, saying : O soveraigne Gods,
deliver mee if it be your pleasure, from these present dangers : and
thou cruell fortune cease thy wrath, let the sorrow suffice thee
which I have already sustained.  And thou little Asse, that art the
occasion of my safety and liberty, if thou canst once render me
safe and sound to my parents, and to him that so greatly desireth to
have me to his wife, thou shalt see what thankes I will give : with
what honour I will reward thee, and how I will use thee. First, I will
bravely dresse the haires of thy forehead, and then will I finely
combe thy maine, I  will tye up thy rugged tayle trimly, I will decke
thee round about with golden trappes, in such sort that thou shalt
glitter like the starres of the skie, I will bring thee daily in my apron
the kirnels of nuts, and will pamper thee up with delicates; I will set
store by thee, as by one that is the preserver of my life : Finally,
thou shalt lack no manner of thing.  Moreover amongst thy glorious
fare, thy great ease, and the blisse of thy life, thou shalt not be
destitute of dignity, for thou shalt be chronicled perpetually in
memory of my present fortune, and the providence divine.  All the
whole history shall be painted upon the wall of our house, thou shalt
he renowned throughout all the world.  And it shall be registred in
the bookes of Doctours, that an Asse saved the life of a young
maiden that was captive amongst Theeves : Thou shalt be numbred
amongst the ancient miracles : wee beleeve that by like example of
truth Phryxus saved himselfe from drowning upon the Ram, Arion
escaped upon a Dolphin, and that Europa was delivered by the Bull.
If Jupiter transformed himselfe into a Bull, why may it not be that
under the shape of this Asse, is hidden the figure of a man, or some
power divine?  While that the Virgin did thus sorrowfully unfold her
desires, we fortuned to come to a place where three wayes did
meet, and shee tooke me by the halter, and would have me to turne
on the right hand to her fathers house : but I (knowing that the
theeves were gone that way to fetch the residue of their pillage)
resisted with my head as much as I might, saying within my selfe :
What wilt thou doe unhappy maiden?  Why wouldst thou goe so
willingly to hell?  Why wilt thou runne into destruction by meane of
my feet?  Why dost thou seek thine own harme, and mine likewise?
And while we strived together whether way we might take, the
theeves returned, laiden with their pray, and perceived us a farre
off by the light of the Moon: and after they had known us, one of
them gan say, Whither goe you so hastely?  Be you not afraid of
spirits? And you (you harlot) doe you not goe to see your parents?
Come on, we will beare you company? And therewithall they tooke
me by the hatter, and drave me backe againe, beating me cruelly
with a great staffe (that they had) full of knobs: then I returning
againe to my ready destruction, and remembering the griefe of my
hoofe, began to shake my head, and to waxe lame, but he that led
me by the halter said, What, dost thou stumble? Canst thou not
goe? These rotten feet of thine ran well enough, but they cannot
walke: thou couldest mince it finely even now with the
gentlewoman, that thou seemedst to passe the horse Pegasus in
swiftnesse.  In saying of these words they beat mee againe, that
they broke a great staffe upon mee. And when we were come
almost home, we saw the old woman hanging upon a bow of a
Cipresse tree; then one of them cut downe the bowe whereon shee
hanged, and cast her into the bottome of a great ditch : after this
they bound the maiden and fell greedily to their victuals, which the
miserable old woman had prepared for them.  At which time they
began to devise with themselves of our death, and how they might
be revenged; divers was the opinions of this divers number: the first
said, that hee thought best the Mayd should be burned alive: the
second said she should be throwne out to wild beasts: the third said,
she should be hanged upon a gibbet: the fourth said she should be
flead alive: thus was the death of the poore Maiden scanned
betweene them foure. But one of the theeves after every man had
declared his judgement, did speake in this manner: it is not
convenient unto the oath of our company, to suffer you to waxe
more cruell then the quality of the offence doth merit, for I would
that shee should not be hanged nor burned, nor throwne to beasts,
nor dye any sodaine death, but by my council I would have her
punished according to her desert. You know well what you have
determined already of this dull Asse, that eateth more then he is
worth, that faineth lamenesse, and that was the cause of the flying
away of the Maid : my mind is that he shall be slaine to morrow,
and when all the guts and entrailes of his body is taken out, let the
Maide be sowne into his belly, then let us lay them upon a great
stone against the broiling heate of the Sunne, so they shall both
sustaine all the punishments which you have ordained : for first the
Asse shall be slaine as you have determined, and she shall have her
members torne and gnawn with wild beasts, when as she is bitten
and rent with wormes, shee shall endure the paine of the fire, when
as the broyling heat of the Sunne shall scortch and parch the belly
of the Asse, shee shall abide the gallows when the Dogs and
Vultures shall have the guts of her body hanging in their ravenous
mouthes.  I pray you number all the torments which she shall suffer
: First shee shall dwell within the paunch of an Asse : secondly her
nosethrilles shall receive a carraine stinke of the beast : thirdly shee
shall dye for hunger : last of all, shee shall finde no meane to ridde
her selfe from her paines, for her hand shalt be sowen up within the
skinne of the Asse : This being said, all the Theeves consented, and
when I (poore Asse) heard and understood all their device, I did
nothing else but lament and bewayle my dead carkasse, which
should be handled in such sort on the next morrow.




THE SEVENTH BOOKE



THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER


How hee that was left behinde at Hippata did bring newes
concerning the robbery of Miloes house, came home and declared
to his Company, that all the fault was laid to one Apuleius his
charge.

  A soone as night was past, and the cleare Chariot of the Sunne
had spred his bright beames on every coast, came one of the
company of the theeves, (for so his and their greeting together did
declare) who at the first entry into the Cave (after hee had
breathed himselfe, and was able to speake) told these tydings unto
his companions in this sort.  Sirs, as touching the house of Milo of
Hippata, which we forcibly entred and ransackt the last day, we
may put away all feare and doubt nothing at all.  For after that ye
by force of armes, had spoyled and taken away all things in the
house, and returned hither into our Cave; I (thrusting my selfe
amongst the presse of the people, and shewing my selfe as though I
were sad and sorrowful for the mischance) consulted with them for
the boulting out of the matter, and devising what meanes might be
wrought for the apprehension of the theeves, to the intent I might
learne and see all that was done to make relation thereof unto you
as you willed me, insomuch that the whole fact at length by
manifest and evident proofes as also by the common opinion and
judgement of the people, was laid to one Lucius Apuleius charge as
manifest author of this common robbery, who a few dayse before
by false and forged letters and colored honesty, fell so farre in
favour with this Milo, that he entertained him into his house, and
received him as a chiefe of his familiar friends, which Lucius after
that he had sojourned there a good space, and won the heart of
Miloes Maid, by fained love, did thoroughly learne the waies and
doores of all the house, and curiously viewed the cofers and chests,
wherein was laid the whole substance of Milo: neither was there
small cause given to judge him culpable, since as the very same
night that this robbery was done he fled away, and could not be
found in no place: and to the intent hee might cleane escape, and
better prevent such as made hew and crie after him, he tooke his
white horse and galloped away, and after this, his servant was
found in the house, who (accused as accessary to the fellony and
escape of his Master) was committed to the common gaole, and
the next day following was cruelly scourged and tormented till hee
was welnigh dead, to the intent hee should confesse the matter, but
when they could wreast or learne no such thing of him, yet sent
they many persons after, towardes Lucius Countrey to enquire him
out, and so to take him prisoner. As he declared these things, I did
greatly lament with my selfe, to thinke of mine old and pristine
estate, and what felicity I was sometimes in, in comparison to the
misery that I presently susteined, being changed into a miserable
Asse, then had I no small occasion to remember, how the old and
ancient Writers did affirme, that fortune was starke blind without
eies, because she alwaies bestoweth her riches upon evil persons,
and fooles, and chooseth or favoureth no mortall person by
judgement, but is alwaies conversent, especially with much as if she
could see, she should most shunne, and forsake, yea and that which
is more worse, she sheweth such evill or contrary opinions in men,
that the wicked doe glory with the name of good, and contrary the
good and innocent be detracted and slandred as evill.  Furthermore
I, who by her great cruelty, was turned into a foure footed Asse, in
most vile and abject manner : yea, and whose estate seemed
worthily to be lamented and pittied of the most hard and stonie
hearts, was accused of theft and robbing of my deare host Milo,
which villany might rather be called parricide then theft, yet might
not I defend mine owne cause or denie the fact any way, by reason
I could not speake; howbeit least my conscience should seeme to
accuse me by reason of silence, and againe being enforced by
impatience I endevored to speake, and faine would have said,
Never did I that fact, and verely the first word, never, I cried out
once or twise, somewhat handsome, but the residue I could in no
wise pronounce, but still remaining in one voice, cried, Never,
never, never.  howbeit I settled my hanging lips as round as I could
to speake the residue : but why should I further complaine of the
crueltie of my fortune, since as I was not much ashamed, by reason
that my servant and my horse, was likewise accused with me of
the robbery.

While I pondered with my selfe all these things, a great care
[came] to my remembrance, touching the death, which the theeves
provised for me and the maiden, and still as I looked downe to my
belly, I thought of my poore gentlewoman that should be closed
within me.  And the theefe which a little before had brought the
false newes against me, drew out of the skirt of his coate, a
thousand crowns, which he had rifled from such as hee met, and
brought it into the common treasury.  Then hee carefully enquired
how the residue of his companions did.  To whom it was declared
that the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers manners,
whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a certaine
season, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places, that by
the exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band might be
reduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were
unwilling, might be compelled by menaces and threatnings, and
such as were willing might be incouraged forward with reward.
Further be said, that there were some, which (seeing the profite
which they had) would forsake their base and servile estate, and
rather bee contented to live like tyrants amongst them.  Moreover
he declared, that for his part he had spoken with a certaine tall
man, a valiant companion, but of young age, stout in body, and
couragious in fight, whom he had fully perswaded to exercise his
idle hands, dull with slothfullnesse, to his greater profit, and (while
he might) to receive the blisse of better Fortune, and not to hold out
his sturdy arme to begge for a penny, but rather to take as much
gold and silver as hee would.  Then everyone consented, that hee
that seemed so worthy to be their companion, should be one of their
company, and that they would search for others to make up the
residue of the number, whereupon he went out, and by and by
(returning againe) brought in a tall young man (as he promised) to
whom none of the residue might bee compared, for hee was higher
then they by the head, and of more bignesse in body, his beard
began to burgen, but hee was poorely apparelled, insomuch that you
might see all his belly naked. As soone as he was entred in he said,
God speed yee souldiers of Mars and my faithfull companions, I
pray you make me one of your band, and I will ensure you, that you
shall have a man of singular courage and lively audacity : for I had
rather receive stripes upon my backe, then money or gold in my
hands.  And as for death (which every man doth feare) I passe
nothing at all, yet thinke you not that I am an abject or a begger,
neither judge you my vertue and prowesse by ragged clothes, for I
have beene a Captaine of a great company, and subdued all the
countrey of Macedonia.  I am the renowned theefe Hemes the
Thracian, whose name all countreys and nations do so greatly feare
: I am the sonne of Theron the noble theefe, nourished with humane
bloud, entertained amongst the stoutest; finally I am inheritour and
follower of all my fathers vertues, yet I lost in a short time all my
company and all my riches, by one assault, which I made upon a
Factor of the Prince, which sometime had beene Captaine of two
hundred men, for fortune was cleane against me; harken and I will
tell you the whole matter.  There was a certaine man in the court
of the Emperour, which had many offices, and in great favour, who
at last by the envy of divers persons, was banished away and
compelled to forsake the court : his wife Platina, a woman of rare
faith and singular shamefastnes having borne ten children to her
husband, despised all worldly Pompe and delicacy, and determined
to follow her husband, and to be partaker of his perils and danger,
wherefore shee cut off her haire, disguised her selfe like a man,
and tooke with her all her treasure, passing through the hands of
the souldiers, and the naked swords without any feare, whereby
she endured many miseries, and was partaker of much affliction, to
save the life of her husband, such was her love which she bare
unto him.  And when they had escaped many perillous dangers, as
well by land as by sea, they went together towards Zacynthe, to
continue there according as fortune had appointed.  But when they
were arived on the sea coast of Actium (where we in our returne
from Macedony were roving about) when night came, they
returned into a house not far distant from their ship, where they lay
all night.  Then we entred in and tooke away all their substance, but
verely we were in great danger : for the good matron perceiving us
incontinently by the noise of the gate, went into the chamber, and
called up every man by his name, and likewise the neighbors that
dwelled round about, insomuch that by reason of the feare that
every one was in, we hardly escaped away, but this most holy
woman, faithfull and true to her husband (as the truth must be
declared) returned to Caesar, desiring his aid and puissance, and
demanding vengeance of the injury done to her husband, who
granted all her desire : then went my company to wracke, insomuch
that every man was slaine, so great was the authority and word of
the Prince.  Howbeit, when all my band was lost, and taken by
search of the Emperours army, I onely stole away and delivered
my selfe from the violence of the souldiers, for I clothed my selfe in
a womans attire, and mounted upon an Asse, that carryed barly
sheafes, and (passing through the middle of them all) I escaped
away, because every one deemed that I was a woman by reason I
lacked a beard.  Howbeit I left not off for all this, nor did
degenerate from the glory of my father, or mine own vertue, but
freshly comming from the bloody skirmish, and disguised like a
woman, I invaded townes and castles alone to get some pray.  And
therewithall he pulled out two thousand crownes, which he had
under his coate, saying : Hold here the dowry which I present unto
you, hold eke my person, which you shall alwayes find trusty and
faithfull, if you willingly receive me: and I will ensure you that in so
doing, within short space I wilt make and turne this stony house of
yours into gold.  Then by and by every one consented to make him
their Captaine, and so they gave him better garments, and threw
away his old.  When they had changed his attire, hee imbraced
them one after another, then placed they him in the highest roome
of the table, and drunk unto him in token of good lucke.



THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER


How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed.

After supper they began to talke, and declare unto him the going
away of the Gentlewoman, and how I hare her upon my backe, and
what death was ordained for us two.  Then he desired to see her,
whereupon the Gentlewoman was brought forth fast bound, whom
as soone as he beheld, he turned himselfe wringing his nose, and
blamed them saying : I am not so much a beast, or so rash a fellow
to drive you quite from your purpose, but my conscience will not
suffer me to conceale any thing that toucheth your profit, since I
am as carefull for you, howbeit if my counsell doe displease you,
you may at your liberty proceed in your enterprise.  I doubt not but
all theeves, and such as have a good judgement, will preferre their
owne lucre and gain above all things in the world, and above their
vengeance, which purchaseth damage to divers persons. 
Therefore if you put this virgin in the Asses belly, you shall but
execute your indignation against her, without all manner of profit;
But I would advise you to carry the virgin to some towne and to sell
her : and such a brave girle as she is, may be sold for a great
quantity of money.  And I my selfe know certaine bawdy
Marchants, amongst whom peradventure one will give us summes
of gold for her.  This is my opinion touching this affaire : but advise
you what you intend to do, for you may rule me in this case.  In this
manner the good theefe pleaded and defended our cause, being a
good Patron to the silly virgin, and to me poore Asse.  But they
staied hereupon a good space, with long deliberation, which made
my heart (God wot) and spirit greatly to quaile.  Howbeit in the end
they consented to his opinion, and by and by the Maiden was
unloosed of her bonds, who seeing the young man, and hearing the
name of brothels and bawdy Merchants, began to wax joyfull, and
smiled with herself.  Then began I to deeme evill of the generation
of women, when as I saw the Maiden (who was appointed to be
married to a young Gentleman, and who so greatly desired the
same) was now delighted with the talke of a wicked brothel house,
and other things dishonest.  In this sort the consent and manners of
women depended in the judgement of an Asse.


 THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER

 How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new
companion.

Then the young man spake againe, saying, Masters, why goe wee
not about to make our prayers unto Mars, touching this selling of
the Maiden, and to seeke for other companions. But as farre as I
see, here is no other manner of beast to make sacrifice withall, nor
wine sufficient for us to drinke.  Let me have (quoth hee) tenne
more with me, and wee will goe to the next Castle, to provide for
meat and other things necessary.  So he and tenne more with him,
went their way : In the meane season, the residue made a great fire
and an Alter with greene turfes in the honour of Mars.  By and by
after they came againe, bringing with them bottles of wine, and a
great number of beasts, amongst which there was a big Ram Goat,
fat, old, and hairy, which they killed and offered unto Mars.  Then
supper was prepared sumptuously, and the new companion said
unto the other, You ought to accompt me not onely your Captaine
in robbery and fight, but also in pleasures and jolity, whereupon by
and by with pleasant cheere he prepared meat, and trimming up the
house he set all things in order, and brought the pottage and dainty
dishes to the Table: but above all he plyed them wel with great pots
and jugs of wine.  Sometimes (seeming to fetch somewhat) hee
would goe to the Maiden and give her pieces of meate, which he
privily tooke away, and would drinke unto her, which she willingly
tooke in good part.  Moreover, hee kissed her twice or thrice
whereof she was well pleased but I (not well contented thereat)
thought in my selfe : O wretched Maid, thou hast forgotten thy
marriage, and doest esteeme this stranger and bloudy theefe above
thy husband which thy Parents ordained for thee, now perceive I
well thou hast no remorse of conscience, but more delight to tarry
and play the harlot heere amongst so many swords.  What?
knowest thou not how the other theeves if they knew thy
demeanour would put thee to death as they had once appointed,
and so worke my destruction likewise?  Well now I perceive thou
hast a pleasure in the dammage and hurt of other. While I did
angerly devise with my selfe all these things, I perceived by
certaine signes and tokens (not ignorant to so wise an Asse) that he
was not the notable theefe Hemus, but rather Lepolemus her
husband, for after much communication he beganne to speake
more franckly, not fearing at all my presence, and said, Be of good
cheere my sweete friend Charites, for thou shalt have by and by all
these thy enemies captive unto thee.  Then hee filled wine to the
theeves more and more, and never ceased, till as they were all
overcome with abundance of meat and drinke, when as hee
himselfe abstained and bridled his owne appetite.  And truely I did
greatly suspect, least hee had mingled in their cups some deadly
poyson, for incontinently they all fell downe asleepe on the ground
one after an other, and lay as though they had beene dead.



 THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER

How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the
theeves were asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of.

 When the theeves were all asleepe by their great and immoderate
drinking, the young man Lepolemus took the Maiden and set her
upon  my backe, and went homeward.  When we were come
home, all the people of the Citie, especially her Parents, friends, and
family, came running forth joyfully, and the children and Maidens of
the towne gathered together to see this virgin in great triumph
sitting upon an Asse. Then I (willing to shew as much joy as I
might, as present occasion served) I set and pricked up my long
eares, ratled my nosethrils, and cryed stoutly, nay rather I made the
towne to ring againe with my shrilling sound : when wee were
come to her fathers house, shee was received in a chamber
honourably : as for me, Lepolemus (accompanied with a great
number of Citizens) did presently after drive me backe againe with
other horses to the cave of the theeves, where wee found them all
asleepe lying on the ground as wee left them; then they first
brought out all the gold, and silver, and other treasure of the house,
and laded us withall, which when they had done, they threw many
of the theeves downe into the bottome of deepe ditches, and the
residue they slew with their swords : after this wee returned home
glad and merry of so great vengeance upon them, and the riches
which wee carried was commited to the publike treasurie.  This
done, the Maid was married to Lepolemus, according to the law,
whom by so much travell he had valiantly recovered : then my good
Mistresse looked about for me, and asking for me commanded the
very same day of her marriage, that my manger should be filled
with barly, and that I should have hay and oats aboundantly, and
she would call me her little Camell.  But how greatly did I curse
Fotis, in that shee transformed me into an Asse, and not into a
dogge, because I saw the dogges had filled their paunches with the
reliks and bones of so worthy a supper.  The next day this new
wedded woman (my Mistresse) did greatly commend me before
her Parents and husband, for the kindnesse which I had shewed
unto her, and never leaved off untill such time as they promised to
reward me with great honours. Then they called together all their
friends, and thus it was concluded : one said, that I should be closed
in a stable and never worke, but continually to be fedde and fatted
with fine and chosen barly and beanes and good littour, howbeit
another prevailed, who wishing my liberty, perswaded them that it
was better for me to runne in the fields amongst the lascivious
horses and mares, whereby I might engender some mules for my
Mistresse : then he that had in charge to keepe the horse, was
called for, and I was delivered unto him with great care, insomuch
that I was right pleasant and joyous, because I hoped that I should
carry no more fardels nor burthens, moreover I thought that when I
should thus be at liberty, in the spring time of the yeere when the
meddows and fields were greene, I should find some roses in some
place, whereby I was fully perswaded that if my Master and
Mistresse did render to me so many thanks and honours being an
Asse, they would much more reward me being turned into a man :
but when he (to whom the charge of me was so straightly
committed) had brought me a good way distant from the City, I
perceived no delicate meates nor no liberty which I should have,
but by and by his covetous wife and most cursed queane made me
a mill Asse, and (beating me with a cudgill full of knots) would
wring bread for her selfe and her husband out of my skinne. Yet
was she not contented to weary me and make me a drudge with
carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired of her
neighbours to beare their sackes likewise, howbeit shee would not
give me such meate as I should have, nor sufficient to sustaine my
life withall, for the barly which I ground for mine owne dinner she
would sell to the Inhabitants by.  And after that I had laboured all
day, she would set before me at night a little filthy branne, nothing
cleane but full of stones.  Being in this calamity, yet fortune worked
me other torments, for on a day I was let loose into the fields to
pasture, by the commandement of my master. O how I leaped for
joy, how I neighed to see my selfe in such liberty, but especially
since I beheld so many Mares, which I thought should be my wives
and concubines; and I espied out and chose the fairest before I
came nigh them; but this my joyfull hope turned into otter
destruction, for incontinently all the stone Horses which were well
fedde and made strong by ease of pasture, and thereby much more
puissant then a poore Asse, were jealous over me, and (having no
regard to the law and order of God Jupiter) ranne fiercely and
terribly against me; one lifted up his forefeete and kicked me
spitefully, another turned himselfe, and with his hinder heeles
spurned me cruelly, the third threatning with a malicious neighing,
dressed his eares and shewing his sharpe and white teeth bit me on
every side.  In like sort have I read in Histories how the King of
Thrace would throw his miserable ghests to be torne in peeces and
devoured of his wild Horses, so niggish was that Tyrant of his
provender, that he nourished them  with the bodies of men.



THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was made a common Asse to fetch home wood, and
how he was handled by a boy.

 After that I was thus handled by horses, I was brought home
againe to the Mill, but behold fortune (insatiable of my torments)
had devised a  new paine for me.  I was appointed to bring home
wood every day from a high hill, and who should drive me thither
and home again, but a boy that was the veriest hangman in all the
world, who was not contented with the great travell that I tooke in
climbing up the hill, neither pleased when he saw my hoofe torne
and worne away by sharpe flintes, but he beat me cruelly with a
great staffe, insomuch that the marrow of my bones did ake for
woe, for he would strike me continually on the right hip, and still in
one place, whereby he tore my skinne and made of my wide sore a
great hole or trench, or rather a window to looke out at, and
although it runne downe of blood, yet would he not cease beating
me in that place : moreover he laded me with such great burthens
of wood that you would thinke they had  been rather prepared for
Elephants then for me, and when he perceived that my wood
hanged more on one side then another, (when he should rather take
away the heavy sides, and so ease me, or else lift them up to make
them equall with the other) he laid great stones upon the weaker
side to remedy the matter, yet could be not be contented with this
my great misery and immoderate burthens of wood, but when hee
came to any river (as there were many by the way) he to save his
feete from water, would leape upon my loynes likewise, which was
no small loade upon loade.  And if by adversity I had fell downe in
any dirty or myrie place, when he should have pulled me out either
with ropes, or lifted me up by the taile, he would never helpe me,
but lay me on from top to toe with a mighty staffe, till he had left no
haire on all my body, no not so much as on mine eares, whereby I
was compelled by force of blowes to stand up.  The same hangman
boy did invent another torment for me : he gathered a great many
sharp thornes as sharp as needles and bound them together like a
fagot, and tyed them at my tayle to pricke me, then was I afflicted
on every side, for if I had indeavoured to runne away, the thornes
would have pricked me, if I had stood still, the boy would have
beaten mee, and yet the boy beate mee to make me runne,
whereby I perceived that the hangman did devise nothing else save
only to kill me by some manner of meanes, and he would sweare
and threaten to do me worse harme, and because hee might have
some occasion to execute his malicious minde, upon a day (after
that I had endeavoured too much by my patience) I lifted up my
heeles and spurned him welfavouredly.  Then he invented this
vengeance against me, after that he had well laded me with shrubs
and rubble, and trussed it round upon my backe, hee brought me out
into the way : then hee stole a burning coale out of a mans house of
the next village, and put it into the middle of the rubbell; the rubbell
and shrubs being very dry, did fall on a light fire and burned me on
every side.  I could see no remedy how I might save my selfe, and
in such a case it was not best for me to stand still but fortune was
favourable towards me, perhaps to reserve me for more dangers,
for I espyed a great hole full of raine water that fell the day before,
thither I ranne hastily and plunged my selfe therein, in such sort that
I quenched the fire, and was delivered from that present perill, but
the vile boy to excuse himselfe declared to all the neighbours and
shepheards about, that I willingly tumbled in the fire as I passed
through the village.  Then he laughed upon me saying : How long
shall we nourish and keepe this fiery Asse in vaine?



THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius was accused of Lechery by the boy.

A few dayes after, the boy invented another mischiefe: For when
he had sold all the wood which I bare, to certaine men dwelling in a
village by, he lead me homeward unladen : And then he cryed that
he was not able to rule me, and that hee would not drive mee any
longer to the hill for wood, saying : Doe you not see this slow and
dulle Asse, who besides all the mischiefes that he hath wrought
already, inventeth daily more and more. For he espyeth any woman
passing by the way, whether she be old or marryed, or if it be a
young child, hee will throw his burthen from his backe, and runneth
fiercely upon them.  And after that he hath thrown them downe, he
will stride over them to commit his buggery and beastly pleasure,
moreover hee will faine as though hee would kisse them, but he will
bite their faces cruelly, which thing may worke us great
displeasure, or rather to be imputed unto us as a crime : and even
now when he espyed an honest maiden passing by die high way, he
by and by threw downe his wood and runne after her : And when
he had throwne her down upon the ground, he would have ravished
her before the face of all the world, had it not beene that by reason
of her crying out, she was succored and pulled from his heeles, and
so delivered.  And if it had so come to passe that this fearefull maid
had beene slaine by him, what danger had we beene in?  By these
and like lies, he provoked the shepheards earnestly against me,
which grieved mee (God wot) full sore that said nothing. Then one
of the shepheards said : Why doe we not make sacrifice of this
common adulterous Asse?  My sonne (quoth he) let us kill him and
throw his guts to the dogges, and reserve his flesh for the labourers
supper.  Then let us cast dust upon his skinne, and carry it home to
our master, and say that the Woolves have devoured him.  The boy
that was my evill accuser made no delay, but prepared himselfe to
execute the sentence of the shepheard, rejoycing at my present
danger, but O how greatly did I then repent that the stripe which I
gave him with my heele had not killed him.  Then he drew out his
sword and made it sharp upon the whetstone to slay me, but
another of the shepheards gan say, Verely it is a great offence to
kill so faire an Asse, and so (by accusation of luxurie and lascivious
wantonnesse) to lack so necessarie his labour and service, where
otherwise if ye would cut off his stones, he might not onely be
deprived of his courage but also become gentle, that we should be
delivered from all feare and danger.  Moreover he would be
thereby more fat and better in flesh.  For I know my selfe as well
many Asses, as also most fierce horses, that by reason of their
wantonnesse have beene most mad and terrible, but (when they
were gelded and cut) they have become gentle and tame, and
tractable to all use.  Wherefore I would counsell you to geld him.
And if you consent thereto, I will by and by, when I go to the next
market fetch mine irons and tooles for the purpose : And I ensure
you after that I have gelded and cut off his stones, I will deliver him
unto you as tame as a lambe.  When I did perceive that I was
delivered from death, and reserved to be gelded, I was greatly
sorrie, insomuch that I thought all the hinder part of my body and
my stones did ake for woe, but I sought about to kill my selfe by
some manner of meanes, to the end if I should die, I would die with
unperished members.



THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER


How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood.

 While I devised with my selfe in what manner I might end my life,
the roperipe boy on the next morrow lead me to the same hill
againe, and tied me to a bow of a great Oke, and in the meane
season he tooke his hatchet and cut wood to load me withall, but
behold there crept out of a cave by, a marvailous great Beare,
holding out his mighty head, whom when I saw, I was sodainly
stroken in feare, and (throwing all the strength of my body into my
hinder heeles)  lifted up my strained head and brake the halter,
wherewith I was tied.  Then there was no need to bid me runne
away, for I scoured not only on foot, but tumbled over the stones
and rocks with my body till I carne into the open fields, to the intent
I would escape from the terrible Beare, but especially from the boy
that was worse than the Beare. Then a certaine stranger that
passed by the way (espying me alone as a stray Asse) tooke me up
and roade upon my backe, beating me with a staffe (which he bare
in his hand) through a wide and unknowne lane, whereat I was
nothing displeased, but willingly went forward to avoid the cruell
paine of gelding, which the shepherds had ordained for me, but as
for the stripes I was nothing moved, since I was accustomed to be
beaten so every day.  But evill fortune would not suffer me to
continue in so good estate long : For the shepheards looking about
for a Cow that they had lost (after they had sought in divers places)
fortuned to come upon us unwares, who when they espied and
knew me, they would have taken me by the halter, but he that rode
upon my backe resisted them saying, O Lord masters, what intend
you to do?  Will you rob me? Then said the shepheards, What?
thinkest thou we handle thee otherwise then thou deservest, which
hast stollen away our Asse?  Why dost thou not rather tell us
where thou hast hidden the boy whom thou hast slaine?  And
therewithall they pulled him downe to the ground, beating him with
their fists, and spurning him with their feete.  Then he answered
unto them saying, titathat he saw no manner of boy, but onely found
the Asse loose and straying abroad, which he tooke up to the intent
to have some reward for the finding of him and to restore him
againe to his Master. And I would to God (quoth he) that this Asse
(which verely was never seene) could speake as a man to give
witnesse of mine innocency : Then would you be ashamed of the
injury which you have done to me.  Thus (reasoning for Himselfe)
he nothing prevailed, for they tied the halter about my necke, and
(maugre his face) pulled me quite away, and lead me backe againe
through the woods of the hill to the place where the boy
accustomed to resort.  And after they could find him in no place, at
length they found his body rent and torne in peeces, and his
members dispersed in sundry places, which I well knew was done
by the cruell Beare : and verely 1 would have told it if I might have
spoken, but (which I could onely do) I greatly rejoiced at his death,
although it came too late.  Then they gathered together the peeces
of his body and buried them. By and by they laid the fault to my
new Master, that tooke me up by the way, and (bringing him home
fast bound to their houses) purposed on the next morrow to accuse
him of murther, and to lead him before the Justices to have
judgement of death.



THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER

How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that
was slaine.

In the meane season, while the Parents of the boy did lament and
weepe for the death of their sonne, the shepheard (according to his
promise) came with his instruments and tooles to geld me. Then
one of them said, Tush we little esteeme the mischiefe he did
yesterday, but now we are contented that to morrow his stones
shall not onely be cut off, but also his head. So was it brought to
passe, that my death was delayed till the next morrow, but what
thanks did I give to that good boy, who (being so slaine) was the
cause of my pardon for one short day. Howbeit I had no time then
to rest my selfe, for the Mother of the boy, weeping and lamenting
for his death, attired in mourning vesture, tare her haire and beat
her breast, and came presently into the stable, saying, Is it reason
that this carelesse beast should do nothing all day but hold his head
in the manger, filling and belling his guts with meat without
compassion of my great miserie, or remembrance of the pittiful
death of his slaine Master : and contemning my age and infirmity,
thinketh that I am unable to revenge his mischiefs, moreover he
would perswade me, that he were not culpable.  Indeed, it is a
convenient thing to looke and plead for safety, when as the
conscience doeth confesse the offence, as theeves and malefactors
accustome to do.  But O good Lord, thou cursed beast, if thou
couldest utter the contents of thine owne mind, whom (though it
were the veriest foole in all the world) mightest thou perswade that
this murther was voide or without thy fault, when as it lay in thy
power, either to keepe off the theeves with thy heeles, or else to
bite and teare them with thy teeth?  Couldest not thou (that so often
in his life time diddest spurne and kicke him) defend him now at the
point of death by the like meane?  Yet at least, thou shouldest have
taken him upon thy backe, and so brought him from the cruell hands
of the theeves : where contrary thou runnest away alone, forsaking
thy good Master, thy pastor and conductor.  Knowest thou not, that
such as denie their wholsome help and aid to them which lie in
danger of death, ought to be punished, because they have offended
against good manners, and the law naturall? But I promise thee,
thou shalt not long rejoyce at my harmes, thou shalt feele the smart
of thy homicide and offence, I will see what I can doe.  And
therewithall she unclosed her apron, and bound all my feete
together, to the end I might not help my selfe, then she tooke a
great barre, which accustomed to bar the stable doore, and never
ceased beating me till she was so weary that the bar fell out of her
hands, whereupon she (complaining of the soone faintnesse of her
armes) ran to her fire and brought a firebrand and thrust it under
my taile, burning me continually, till such time as (having but one
remedy) I arayed her face and eies with my durty dunge, whereby
(what with the stinke thereof, and what with the filthinesse that fell
in her eies) she was welnigh blinded : so I enforced the queane to
leave off, otherwise I had died as Meleager did by the sticke, which
his mad mother Althea cast into the fire.




THE EIGHTH BOOKE



THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER


How a young man came and declared the miserable death of
Lepolemus and his wife Charites.

 About midnight came a young man, which seemed to be one of the
family of the good woman Charites, who sometimes endured so
much misery and calamity with mee amongst the theeves, who
after that hee had taken a stoole, and sate downe before the
fireside,  in the company of the servants, began to declare many
terrible things that had happened unto the house of Charites, saying:
O yee house-keepers, shepheards and cowheards, you shall
understand that wee have lost our good mistris Charites miserably
and by evill adventure: and to the end you may learne and know all
the whole matter, I purpose to tell you the circumstances of every
point, whereby such as are more learned then I (to whom fortune
hath ministred more copious stile) may painte it out in paper in
forme of an History. There was a young Gentleman dwelling in the
next City, borne of good parentage, valiant in prowesse, and riche
in substance, but very much given and adicted to whorehunting, and
continuall revelling.  Whereby he fell in company with Theeves, and
had his hand ready to the effusion of humane blood; his name was
Thrasillus. The matter was this according to the report of every
man.  Hee demanded Charites in marriage, who although he were
a man more comely then the residue that wooed her, and also had
riches abundantly, yet because he was of evill fame, and a man of
wicked manners and conversation, he had the repulse and was put
off by Charites, and so she married with Lepolemus.  Howbeit this
young man secretly loved her, yet moved somewhat at her refusall,
hee busily searched some meanes to worke his damnable intent.
And (having found occasion and opportunity to accomplish his
purpose, which he had long time concealed) brought to passe, that
the same day that Charites was delivered by the subtill meane and
valiant audacity of her husband, from the puissance of the Theeves,
he mingled himselfe among the assembly, faining that he was glad
of the new marriage, and comming home againe of the maiden,
Whereby (by reason that he came of so noble parents) he was
received and entertained into the house as one of their chiefe and
principall friends : Howbeit under cloake of a faithfull welwiller, hee
dissimuled his mischievous mind and intent : in continuance of time
by much familiarity and often conversation and banketting together,
he fell more and more in favour, like as we see it fortuneth to
Lovers, who first doe little delight themselves in love : till as by
continuall acquaintance they kisse and imbrace each other.
Thrasillus perceiving that it was a hard matter to breake his minde
secretly to Charites, whereby he was wholly barred from the
accomplishment of his luxurious appetite, and on the other side
perceiving that the love of her and her husband was so strongly
lincked together, that the bond betweene them might in no wise be
dissevered, moreover, it was a thing impossible to ravish her,
although he had consented thereto, yet was hee still provoked
forward by vehement lust, when as hee saw himselfe unable to
bring his purpose to passe.  Howbeit at length the thing which
seemed so hard and difficill, thorough hope of his fortified love, did
now appeare easie and facill : but marke I pray you diligently to
what end the furious force of his inordinate desire came.  On a day
Lepolemus went to the chase with Thrasillus, to hunt for Goates,
for his wife Charites desired him earnestly to meddle with no other
beasts, which were of more fierce and wilde nature.  When they
were come within the chase to a great thicket fortressed about with
bryers and thornes, they compassed round with their Dogs and
beset every place with nets : by and by warning was given to let
loose.  The Dogs rushed in with such a cry, that all the Forrest rang
againe with the noyse, but behold there leaped out no Goat, nor
Deere, nor gentle Hinde, but an horrible and dangerous wild Boare,
hard and thicke skinned, bristeled terribly with thornes, foming at
the mouth, grinding his teeth, and looking direfully with fiery eyes.
The Dogs that first set upon him, he tare and rent with his tuskes,
and then he ranne quite through the nets, and escaped away.
When wee saw the fury of this beast, wee were greatly striken
with feare, and because wee never accustomed to chase such
dreadfull Boares, and further because we were unarmed and
without weapons, we got and hid our selves under bushes and
trees.  Then Thrasillus having found opportunity to worke his
treason, said to Lepolemus : What stand we here amazed?  Why
show we our selves like dastards?  Why leese we so worthy a prey
with our feminine hearts?  Let us mount upon our Horses, and
pursue him incontinently : take you a hunting staffe, and I will take
a chasing speare.  By and by they leaped upon their Horses, and
followed the beast.  But hee returning against them with furious
force, pryed with his eyes, on whom hee might first assayle with his
tuskes : Lepolemus strooke the beast first on the backe with his
hunting staffe.  Thrasillus faining to ayde and assist him, came
behind, and cut off the hinder legges of Lepolemus Horse, in such
sort that hee fell downe to the ground with his master : and
sodainely the Boare came upon Lepolemus and furiously tare and
rent him with his teeth.  Howbeit, Thrasillus was not sufficed to see
him thus wounded, but when he desired his friendly help, he thrust
Lepolemus through the right thigh with his speare, the more
because he thought the wound of the speare would be taken for a
wound of the Boars teeth, then he killed the beast likewise, And
when he was thus miserably slaine, every one of us came out of
our holes, and went towards our slaine master. But although that
Thrasillus was joyfull of the death of Lepolemus, whom he did
greatly hate, yet he cloked the matter with a sorrowfull
countenance, he fained a dolorous face, he often imbraced the body
which himselfe slew, he played all the parts of a mourning person,
saving there fell no teares from his eyes.  Thus hee resembled us in
each point, who verily and not without occasion had cause to
lament for our master, laying all the blame of this homicide unto the
Boare.  Incontinently after the sorrowfull newes of the death of
Lepolemus, came to the eares of all the family, but especially to
Charites, who after she had heard such pitifull tydings, as a mad
and raging woman, ran up and down the streets, crying and howling
lamentably. All the Citizens gathered together, and such as they
met bare them company running towards the chasse.  When they
came to the slaine body of Lepolemus, Charites threw her selfe
upon him weeping and lamenting grievously for his death, in such
sort, that she would have presently ended her life, upon the corps of
her slaine husband, whom shee so entirely loved, had it not beene
that her parents and friends did comfort her, and pulled her away.
The body was taken up, and in funerall pompe brought to the City
and buried.  In the meane season, Thrasillus fained much sorrow
for the death of Lepolemus, but in his heart he was well pleased
and joyfull.  And to counterfeit the matter, he would come to
Charites and say : O what a losse have I had of my friend, my
fellow, my companion Lepolemus? O Charites comfort your selfe,
pacifie your dolour, refraine your weeping, beat not your breasts :
and with such other and like words and divers examples he
endeavoured to suppresse her great sorrow, but he spake not this
for any other intent but to win the heart of the woman, and to
nourish his odious love with filthy delight.  Howbeit Charites after
the buriall of her husband sought the meanes to follow him, and (not
sustaining the sorrows wherein she was Wrapped) got her secretly
into a chamber and purposed to finish her life there with dolour and
tribulation.  But Thrasillus was very importunate, and at length
brought to passe, that at the intercession of the Parents and friends
of Charites, she somewhat refreshed her fallen members with
refection of meate and baine.  Howbeit, she did it more at the
commandement of her Parents, then for any thing else : for she
could in no wise be merry, nor receive any comfort, but tormented
her selfe day and night before the Image of her husband which she
made like unto Bacchus, and rendred unto him divine honours and
services.  In the meane season Thrasillus not able to refraine any
longer, before Charites had asswaged her dolor, before her troubled
mind had pacified her fury, even in the middle of all her griefes,
while she tare her haire and rent her garments, demanded her in
marriage, and so without shame, he detected the secrets and
unspeakeable deceipts of his heart. But Charites detested and
abhorred his demand, and as she had beene stroken with some clap
of thunder, with some storme, or with the lightning of Jupiter, she
presently fell downe to the ground all amazed.  Howbeit when her
spirits were revived arid that she returned to her selfe, perceiving
that Thrasillus was so importunate, she demanded respite to
deliberate and to take advise on the matter.  In the meane season,
the shape of Lepolemus that was slaine so miserably, appeared to
Charites saying, O my sweet wife (which no other person can say
but I) I pray thee for the love which is betweene us two, if there he
any memorie of me in thy heart, or remembrance of my pittifull
death, marry with any other person, so that thou marry not with the
traitour Thrasillus, have no conference with him, eate not with him,
lie not with him, avoid the bloudie hand of mine enemie, couple not
thy selfe with a paricide, for those wounds (the bloud whereof thy
teares did wash away) were not the wounds of the teeth of the
Boare, but the speare of Thrasillus, that deprived me from thee.
Thus spake Lepolemus, unto his loving wife, and declared the
residue of the damnable fact.  Then Charites, awaking from sleepe,
began to renew her dolour, to teare her garments, and to beate her
armes with her comely hands, howbeit she revealed the vision
which she saw to no manner of person, but dissimuling that she
knew no part of the mischiefe, devised with her selfe how she
might be revenged on the traitor, and finish her owne life to end and
knit up all sorrow.  Incontinently came Thrasillus, the detestable
demander of sodaine pleasure, and wearied the closed eares of
Charites with talke of marriage, but she gently refused his
communication, and coloring the matter, with passing craft in the
middest of his earnest desires gan say, Thrasillus you shall
understand that yet the face of your brother and my husband, is
alwayes before mine eies, I smell yet the Cinamon sent of his
pretious body, I yet feele Lepolemus alive in my heart : wherefore
you shall do well if you grant to me miserable woman, necessarie
time to bewaile his death, that after the residue of a few moneths,
the whole yeare may be expired, which thing toucheth as well my
shame as your wholsome profit, lest peradventure by your speed
and quicke marriage we should justly raise and provoke the spirit of
my husband to worke our destruction.  Howbeit, Thrasillus was not
contented with this promise, but more and more came upon her :
Insomuch, that she was enforced to speake to him in this manner :
My friend Thrasillus, if thou be so contented untill the whole yeare
be compleate and finished, behold here is my bodie, take thy
pleasure, but in such sort and so secret that no servant of the house
may perceive it.  Then Thrasillus trusting to the false promises of
the woman, and preferring his inordinate pleasure above all things
in the world, was joyfull in his heart and looked for night, when as
he might have his purpose.  But come thou about midnight (quoth
Charites) disguised without companie, and doe but hisse at my
chamber doore, and my nourse shall attend and let thee in. This
counsell pleased Thrasillus marveilously, who (suspecting no
harme) did alwaies looke for night, and the houre assigned by
Charites. The time was scarce come, when as (according to her
commandement) he disguised himselfe, and went straight to the
chamber, where he found the nourse attending for him, who (by the
appointment of her Mistresse) fed him with flattering talke, and
gave him mingled and doled drinke in a cup, excusing the absence
of her Mistresse Charites, by reason that she attended on her
Father being sick, untill such time, that with sweet talke and
operation of the wine, he fell in a sound sleepe: Now when he lay
prostrate on the ground readie to all adventure, Charites (being
called for) came in, and with manly courage and bold force stood
over the sleeping murderer, saying: Behold the faithfull companion
of my husband, behold this valiant hunter; behold me deere spouse,
this is the hand which shed my bloud, this is the heart which hath
devised so many subtill meanes to worke my destruction, these be
the eies whom I have ill pleased, behold now they foreshew their
owne destinie: sleepe carelesse, dreame that thou art in the hands
of the mercifull, for I will not hurt thee with thy sword or any other
weapon: God forbid that I should slay thee as thou slewest my
husband, but thy eies shall faile thee, and thou shalt see no more,
then that whereof thou dreamest: Thou shalt thinke the death of
thine enemie more sweet then thy life: Thou shalt see no light, thou
shalt lacke the aide of a leader, thou shalt not have me as thou
hopest, thou shalt have no delight of my marriage, thou shalt not die,
and yet living thou shalt have no joy, but wander betweene light and
darknesse as an unsure Image: thou shalt seeke for the hand that
pricked out thine eies, yet shalt thou not know of whom thou
shouldest complaine: I will make sacrifice with the bloud of thine
eies upon the grave of my husband. But what gainest thou through
my delay?  Perhaps thou dreamest that thou embracest me in thy
armes: leave off the darknesse of sleepe and awake thou to receive
a penall deprivation of thy sight, lift up thy face, regard thy
vengeance and evill fortune, reckon thy miserie; so pleaseth thine
eies to a chast woman, that thou shall have blindnesse to thy
companion, and an everlasting remorse of thy miserable
conscience. When she had spoken these words, she tooke a great
needle from her head and pricked out both his eies: which done, she
by and by caught the naked sword which her husband Lepolemus
accustomed to weare, and ranne throughout all the Citie like a mad
woman towards the Sepulchre of her husband.  Then all we of the
house, with all the Citizens, ranne incontinently after her to take the
sword out of her hand, but she clasping about the tombe of
Lepolemus, kept us off with her naked weapon, and when she
perceived that every one of us wept and lamented, she spake in this
sort : I pray you my friends weepe not, nor lament for me, for I
have revenged the death of my husband, I have punished
deservedly the wicked breaker of our marriage; now is it time to
seeke out my sweet Lepolemus, and presently with this sword to
finish my life.  And therewithall after she had made relation of the
whole matter, declared the vision which she saw and told by what
meane she deceived Thrasillus, thrusting her sword under her right
brest, and wallowing in her owne bloud, at length with manly
courage yeelded up the Ghost.  Then immediately the friends of
miserable Charites did bury her body within the same Sepulchre.
Thrasillus hearing all the matter, and knowing not by what meanes
he might end his life, for he thought his sword was not sufficient to
revenge so great a crime, at length went to the same Sepulchre,
and cryed with a lowd voice, saying: o yee dead spirites whom I
have so highly and greatly offended, vouchsafe to receive me,
behold I make Sacrifice unto you with my whole body : which said,
hee closed the Sepulchre, purposing to famish himselfe, and to
finish his life there in sorrow.  These things the young man with
pitifull sighes and teares, declared unto the Cowheards and
Shepheards, which caused them all to weepe : but they fearing to
become subject unto new masters, prepared themselves to depart
away.



THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER


How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper : and what
danger he was in.

By and by the Horsekeeper, to whom the charge of me was
committed, brought forth all his substance, and laded me and other
Horses withall, and so departed thence : we bare women, children,
pullets, sparrowes, kiddes, whelpes, and other things which were
not able to keepe pace with us, and that which I bare upon my
backe, although it was a mighty burthen, yet seemed it very light
because I was driven away from him that most terribly had
appointed to kill me.  When we had passed over a great mountaine
full of trees, and were come againe into the open fields, behold we
approached nigh to a faire and rich Castell, where it was told unto
us that we were not able to passe in our journey that night, by
reason of the great number of terrible Wolves which were in the
Country about, so fierce and cruell that they put every man in
feare, in such sort that they would invade and set upon such which
passed by like theeves, and devoure both them and their beasts.
Moreover, we were advertised that there lay in the way where we
should passe, many dead bodies eaten and torne with wolves.
Wherefore we were willed to stay there all night, and on the next
morning, to goe close and round together, whereby we might passe
and escape all dangers.  But (notwithstanding this good counsell)
our caitife drivers were so covetous to goe forward, and so
fearefull of pursuite, that they never stayed till the morning : But
being welnigh midnight, they made us trudge in our way apace.
Then I fearing the great danger which might happen, ran amongst
the middle of the other Horses, to the end I might defend and save
my poore buttocks from the Wolves, whereat every man much
marvelled to see, that I scowred away swifter then the other
Horses. But such was my agility, not to get me any prayse, but
rather for feare: at that time I remembered with my selfe, that the
valiant Horse Pegasus did fly in the ayre more to avoyd the danger
of dreadful Chimera, then for any thing else.  The shepheards
which drave us before them were well armed like warriours: one
had a speare, another had a sheepehooke, some had darts, some
clubbes, some gathered up great stones, some held up their sharp
Javelings, and some feared away the Woolves with light firebrands.
Finally wee lacked nothing to make up an Army, but onely
Drummes and Trumpets.  But when we had passed these dangers,
not without small feare, wee fortuned to fall into worse, for the
Woolves came not upon us, either because of the great multitude of
our company, or else because [of] our firebrands, or peradventure
they were gone to some other place, for wee could see none, but
the Inhabitants of the next villages (supposing that wee were
Theeves by reason of the great multitude) for the defence of their
owne substance, and for the feare that they were in, set great and
mighty masties upon us, which they had kept and nourished for the
safety of their houses, who compassing us round about leaped on
every side, tearing us with their teeth, in such sort that they pulled
many of us to the ground: verily it was a pittifull sight to see so
many Dogs, some following such as flyed, some invading such as
stood still, some tearing those which lay prostrate, but generally
there were none which escaped cleare: Behold upon this another
danger ensued, the Inhabitants of the Towne stood in their garrets
and windowes, throwing great stones upon our heads, that wee
could not tell whether it were best for us to avoyd the gaping
mouthes of the Dogges at hand or the perill of the stones afarre,
amongst whome there was one that hurled a great flint upon a
woman, which sate upon my backe, who cryed out pitiously,
desiring her husband to helpe her.  Then he (comming to succour
and ayd his wife) beganne to speake in this sort: Alas masters,
what mean you to trouble us poore labouring men so cruelly? What
meane you to revenge your selves upon us, that doe you no harme?
What thinke you to gaine by us?  You dwell not in Caves or
Dennes: you are no people barbarous, that you should delight in
effusion of humane blood. At these words the tempest of stones did
cease, and the storme of the Dogges vanished away. Then one
(standing on the toppe of a great Cypresse tree) spake unto us
saying : Thinke you not masters that we doe this to the intent to
rifle or take away any of your goods, but for the safeguard of our
selves and family : now a Gods name you may depart away. So we
went forward, some wounded with stones, some bitten with Dogs,
but generally there was none which escaped free.



THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER


How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to
cure their wounds.

 When we had gone a good part of our way, we came to a certaine
wood invironed with great trees and compassed about with pleasant
meddowes, whereas the Shepheards appointed to continue a
certaine space to cure their wounds and sores; then they sate
downe on the ground to refresh their wearie minds, and afterwards
they sought for medicines, to heale their bodies: some washed
away their blood with the water of the running River: some stopped
their wounds with Spunges and cloutes, in this manner every one
provided for his owne safety.  In the meane season wee perceived
an old man, who seemed to be a Shepheard, by reason of the
Goates and Sheep that fed round about him. Then one of our
company demanded whether he had any milke, butter, or cheese to
sell.  To whom he made answere saying : Doe you looke for any
meate or drinke, or any other refection here?  Know you not in
what place you be?

 And therewithall he tooke his sheepe and drave them away as fast
as he might possible. This answere made our shepheards greatly to
feare, that they thought of nothing else, but to enquire what Country
they were in : Howbeit they saw no manner of person of whom
they might demand. At length as they were thus in doubt, they
perceived another old man with a staffe in his hand very weary
with travell, who approaching nigh to our company, began to weepe
and complaine saying : Alas masters I pray you succour me
miserable caitife, and restore my nephew to me againe, that by
following a sparrow that flew before him, is fallen into a ditch
hereby, and verily I thinke he is in danger of death.  As for me, I
am not able to helpe him out by reason of mine old age, but you that
are so valiant and lusty may easily helpe me herein, and deliver me
my boy, my heire and guide of my life. These words made us all to
pity him.  And then the youngest and stoutest of our company, who
alone escaped best the late skirmish of Dogges and stones, rose up
and demanded in what ditch the boy was fallen : Mary (quod he)
yonder, and pointed with his finger, and brought him to a great
thicket of bushes and thornes where they both entred in.  In the
meane season, after we cured our wounds, we tooke up our packs,
purposing to depart away.  And because we would not goe away
without the young man our fellow : The shepheards whistled and
called for him, but when he gave no answer, they sent one out of
their company to seeke him out, who after a while returned againe
with a pale face and sorrowfull newes, saying that he saw a terrible
Dragon eating and devouring their companion : and as for the old
man, hee could see him in no place.  When they heard this,
(remembring likewise the words of the first old man that shaked his
head, and drave away his sheep) they ran away beating us before
them, to fly from this desart and pestilent Country.



 THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER

 How a woman killed her selfe and her child, because her husband
haunted harlots.

 After that we had passed a great part of our journey, we came to
a village where we lay all night, but harken, and I will tell you what
mischiefe happened there : you shall understand there was a
servant to whom his Master had committed the whole government
of his house, and was Master of the lodging where we lay : this
servant had married a Maiden of the same house, howbeit he was
greatly in love with a harlot of the towne, and accustomed to resort
unto her, wherewith his wife was so highly displeased and became
so jealous, that she gathered together all her husbands substance,
with his tales and books of account, and threw them  into a light fire
: she was not contented with this, but she tooke a cord and bound
her child which she had by her husband, about her middle and cast
her selfe headlong into a deepe pit.  The Master taking in evill part
the death of these twaine, tooke his servant which was the cause
of this murther by his luxurie, and first after that he had put off all
his apparell, he annointed his body with honey, and then bound him
sure to a fig-tree, where in a rotten stocke a great number of
Pismares had builded their neasts, the Pismares after they had felt
the sweetnesse of the honey came upon his body, and by little and
little (in continuance of time) devoured all his flesh, in such sort,
that there remained on the tree but his bare bones : this was
declared unto us by the inhabitants of the village there, who greatly
sorrowed for the death of this servant : then we avoiding likewise
from this dreadfull lodging incontinently departed away.



THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons, and how they
looked in his mouth to know his age.



 After this we came to a faire Citie very populous, where our
shepheards determined to continue, by reason that it seemed a
place where they might live unknowne, far from such as should
pursue them, and because it was a countrey very plentifull of corne
and other victuals, where when we had remained the space of
three dayes, and that I poore Asse and the other horses were fed
and kept in the stable to the intent we might seeme more saleable,
we were brought out at length to the market, and by and by a crier
sounded with his horne to notifie that we were to be sold : all my
companion horses were bought up by Gentlemen, but as for me I
stood still forsaken of all men.  And when many buiers came by
and looked in my mouth to know mine age, I was so weary with
opening my jawes that at length (unable to endure any longer)
when one came with a stinking paire of hands and grated my
gummes with his filthy fingers, I bit them cleane off, which thing
caused the standers by to forsake me as being a fierce and cruell
beast: the crier when he had gotten a hoarse voice with crying, and
saw that no man would buy me, began to mocke me saying, To
what end stand we here with this wilde Asse, this feeble beast, this
slow jade with worne hooves, good for nothing but to make sives of
his skin?  Why do we not give him to some body for he earneth not
his hay?  In this manner he made all the standers by to laugh
exceedingly, but my evill fortune which was ever so cruell against
me, whom I by travell of so many countreys could in no wise
escape, did more and more envie me, with invention of new
meanes to afflict my poore body in giving me a new Master as
spitefull as the rest.  There was an old man somewhat bald, with
long and gray haire, one of the number of those that go from door
to door, throughout all the villages, bearing the Image of the
goddesse Syria, and playing with Cimbals to get the almes of good
and charitable folks, this old man came hastely towards the cryer,
and demanded where I was bred : Marry (quoth he) in Cappadocia
: Then he enquired what age I was of, the cryer answered as a
Mathematician, which disposed to me my Planets, that I was five
yeares old, and willed the old man to looke in my mouth : For I
would not willingly (quoth he) incur the penalty of the law Cornelia,
in selling a free Citizen for a servile slave, buy a Gods name this
faire beast to ride home on, and about in the countrey : But this
curious buier did never stint to question of my qualities, and at
length he demanded whether I were gentle or no : Gentle (quoth
the crier) as gentle as a Lambe, tractable to all use, he will never
bite, he will never kicke, hut you would rather thinke that under the
shape of an Asse there were some well advised man, which verely
you may easily conject, for if you would thrust your nose in his taile
you shall perceive how patient he is : Thus the cryer mocked the
old man, but he perceiving his taunts and jests, waxed very angry
saying, Away doting cryer, I pray the omnipotent and omniparent
goddesse Syria, Saint Sabod, Bellona, with her mother Idea, and
Venus, with Adonis, to strike out both thine eies, that with taunting
mocks hast scoffed me in this sort : Dost thou thinke that I will put
a goddesse upon the backe of any fierce beast, whereby her divine
Image should be throwne downe on the ground, and so I poore
miser should be compelled (tearing my haire) to looke for some
Physition to helpe her?  When I heard him speake thus, I thought
with my selfe sodainly to leap upon him like a mad Asse, to the
intent he should not buy me, but incontinently there came another
Marchant that prevented my thought, and offered 17 Pence for me,
then my Master was glad and received the money, and delivered
me to my new Master who was called Phelibus, and he caried his
new servant home, and before he came to his house, he called out
his daughters saying, Behold my daughters, what a gentle servant I
have bought for you : then they were marvailous glad, and comming
out pratling and shouting for joy, thought verely that he had brought
home a fit and conveniable servant for their purpose, but when they
perceived that it was an Asse, they began to provoke him, saying
that he had not bought a servant for his Maidens, but rather an
Asse for himselfe.  Howbeit (quoth they) keepe him not wholly for
your owne riding, but let us likewise have him at commandement.
Therewithall they led me into the stable, and tied me to the manger
: there was a certaine yong man with a mighty body, wel skilled in
playing on instruments before the gods to get money, who (as
soone as he had espied me) entertained me verie well, for he filled
my racke and maunger full of meat, and spake merrily saying, O
master Asse, you are very welcome, now you shall take my office
in hand, you are come to supply my roome, and to ease me of my
miserable labour : but I pray God thou rnaist long live and please
my Master well, to the end thou maist continually deliver me from
so great paine.  When I heard these words I did prognosticate my
miserie to come.

 The day following I saw there a great number of persons
apparelled in divers colours, having painted faces, mitres on their
heads, vestiments coloured like saffron, Surplesses of silke, and on
their feet yellow shooes, who attired the goddesse in a robe of
Purple, and put her upon my backe. Then they went forth with their
armes naked to their shoulders, bearing with them great swords and
mightie axes, and dancing like mad persons.  After that we had
passed many small villages, we fortuned to come to one Britunis
house, where at our first entrie they began to hurle themselves
hither and thither, as though they were mad.  They made a
thousand gestures with their feete and their hands, they would bite
themselves, finally, every one tooke his weapon and wounded his
armes in divers places.

 Amongst whom there was one more mad then the rest, that let
many deepe sighes from the bottome of his heart, as though he had
beene ravished in spirite, or replenished with divine power.  And
after that, he somewhat returning to himselfe, invented and forged
a great lye, saying, that he had displeased the divine majesty of the
goddesse, by doing of some thing which was not convenable to the
order of their holy religion, wherefore he would doe vengeance of
himselfe : and therewithall he tooke a whip, and scourged his owne
body, that the bloud issued out aboundantly, which thing caused me
greatly to feare, to see such wounds and effusion of bloud, least the
same goddesse desiring so much the bloud of men, should likewise
desire the bloud of an Asse.  After they were wearie with hurling
and beating themselves, they sate downe, and behold, the
inhabitants came in, and offered gold, silver, vessels of wine, milke,
cheese, flower, wheate and other things : amongst whom there was
one, that brought barly to the Asse that carried the goddesse, but
the greedie whoresons thrust all into their sacke, which they
brought for the purpose and put it upon my backe, to the end I
might serve for two purposes, that is to say, for the barne by reason
of my corne, and for the Temple by reason of the goddesse.  In this
sort, they went from place to place, robbing all the Countrey over.
At length they came to a certaine Castle where under colour of
divination, they brought to passe that they obtained a fat sheepe of
a poore husbandman for the goddesse supper and to make sacrifice
withall.  After that the banket was prepared, they washed their
bodies, and brought in a tall young man of the village, to sup with
them, who had scarce tasted a few pottage, when hee began to
discover their beastly customes and inordinate desire of luxury.  For
they compassed him round about, sitting at the table, and abused
the young man, contrary to all nature and reason.  When I beheld
this horrible fact, I could not but attempt to utter my mind and say,
O masters, but I could pronounce no more but the first letter O,
which I roared out so valiantly, that the young men of the towne
seeking for a straie Asse, that they had lost the same night, and
hearing my voice, whereby they judged that I had beene theirs,
entred into the house unwares, and found these persons committing
their vile abhomination, which when they saw, they declared to all
the inhabitants by, their unnatural villany, mocking and laughing at
this the pure and cleane chastity of their religion. In the meane
season, Phelibus and his company, (by reason of the bruit which
was dispersed throughout all the region there of their beastly
wickednesse) put all their trumpery upon my backe, and departed
away about midnight. When we had passed a great part of our
journey, before the rising of the Sun, we came into a wild desart,
where they conspired together to slay me. For after they had taken
the goddesse from my backe and set her gingerly upon the ground,
they likewise tooke off my harnesse, and bound me surely to an
Oake, beating me with their whip, in such sort that all my body was
mortified. Amongst whom there was one that threatened to cut off
my legs with his hatchet, because by my noyse I diffamed his
chastity, but the other regarding more their owne profit than my
utility, thought best to spare my life, because I might carry home
the goddesse. So they laded me againe, driving me before them
with their naked swords, till they came to a noble City: where the
principall Patrone bearing high reverence unto the goddesse, Came
in great devotion before us with Tympany, Cymbals, and other
instruments, and received her, and all our company with much
sacrifice and veneration.  But there I remember, I thought my selfe
in most danger, for there was one that brought to the Master of the
house, a side of a fat Bucke for a present, which being hanged
behind the kitchin doore, not far from the ground, was cleane eaten
up by a gray hound, that came in. The Cooke when he saw the
Venison devoured, lamented and wept pitifully. And because
supper time approached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too
much negligence, he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife
perceiving whereabout he went, ran incontinently to him, and taking
the halter in both her hands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O
husband, are you out of your writs? pray husband follow my
counsel, cary this strange Asse out into some secret place and kill
him, which done, cut off one of his sides, and sawce it well like the
side of the Bucke, and set it before your Master.  Then the Cooke
hearing the counsell of his wife, was well pleased to slay me to
save himselfe: and so he went to the whetstone, to sharpe his tooles
accordingly.




THE NINTH BOOKE



 THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter,
and of other things that happened.

 In this manner the traiterous Cooke prepared himselfe to slay me :
and when he was ready with his knives to doe his feat, I devised
with my selfe how I might escape the present perill, and I did not
long delay : for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was
tied, and flinging my heeles hither and thither to save my selfe, at
length I ran hastily into a Parlour, where the Master of the house
was feasting with the Priests of the goddesse Syria, and disquieted
all the company, throwing downe their meats and drinks from the
table.  The Master of the house dismayed at my great disorder,
commanded one of his servants to take me up, and locke me in
some strong place, to the end I might disturb them no more.  But I
little regarded my imprisonment, considering that I was happily
delivered from the hands of the traiterous Cooke. Howbeit fortune,
or the fatall disposition of the divine providence, which neither can
be avoided by wise counsell, neither yet by any wholesome
remedie, invented a new torment, for by and by a young ladde
came running into the Parlour all trembling, and declared to the
Master of the house, that there was a madde Dog running about in
the streetes, which had done much harme, for he had bitten many
grey hounds and horses in the Inne by: And he spared neither man
nor beast. For there was one Mitilius a Mulettour, Epheseus, a
Cooke, Hyppanius a chamberlaine, and Appolonius a Physition,
who (thinking to chase away the madde Dogge) were cruelly
wounded by him, insomuch that many Horses and other beasts
infected with the venyme of his poysonous teeth became madde
likewise. Which thing caused them all at the table greatly to feare,
and thinking that I had beene bitten in like sort, came out with
speares, Clubs, and Pitchforks purposing to slay me, and I had
undoubtedly beene slaine, had I not by and by crept into the
Chamber, where my Master intended to lodge all night.  Then they
closed and locked fast the doores about me, and kept the chamber
round, till such time as they thought that the pestilent rage of
madnesse had killed me. When I was thus shutte in the chamber
alone, I laid me downe upon the bed to sleepe, considering it was
long time past, since I lay and tooke my rest as a man doth.  When
morning was come, and that I was well reposed, I rose up lustily.
In the meane season, they which were appointed to watch about
the chamber all night, reasoned with themselves in this sort, Verely
(quoth one) I think that this rude Asse be dead. So think I (quoth
another) for the outragious poyson of madness hath killed him, but
being thus in divers opinions of a poore Ass, they looked through a
crevis, and espied me standing still, sober and quiet in the middle of
the chamber; then they opened the doores, and came towards me,
to prove whether I were gentle or no. Amongst whom there was
one, which in my opinion, was sent from Heaven to save my life,
that willed the other to set a bason of faire water before me, and
thereby they would know whether I were mad or no, for if I did
drinke without feare as I accustomed to do, it was a signe that I
was whole, and in mine Assie wits, where contrary if I did flie and
abhorre the tast of the water, it was evident proofe of my madness,
which thing he said that he had read in ancient and credible books,
whereupon they tooke a bason of cleere water, and presented it
before me: but I as soone as I perceived the wholesome water of
my life, ran incontinently, thrusting my head into the bason, drank as
though I had beene greatly athirst; then they stroked me with their
hands, and bowed mine eares, and tooke me by the halter, to prove
my patience, but I taking each thing in good part, disproved their
mad presumption, by my meeke and gentle behaviour: when I was
thus delivered from this double danger, the next day I was laded
againe with the goddesse Siria, and other trumpery, and was
brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbals to beg in the
villages which we passed by according to our custome. And after
that we had gone through a few towns and Castles, we fortuned to
come to a certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitants
there affirme) upon the foundation of a famous ancient Citie. And
after that we had turned into the next Inne, we heard of a prettie
jest committed in the towne there, which I would that you should
know likewise.



 THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER


 Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold.

There was a man dwelling in the towne very poore, that had
nothing but that which he got by the labour and travell of his hands:
his wife was a faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given to
the appetite and desire of the flesh.  It fortuned on a day, that while
this poore man was gone betimes in the morning to the field about
his businesse, according as he accustomed to doe, his wives lover
secretly came into his house to have his pleasure with her.  And so
it chanced that during the time that shee and he were basking
together, her husband suspecting no such matter, returned home
praising the chast continency of his wife, in that hee found his
doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was, he whistled to
declare his comming.  Then his crafty wife ready with shifts,
caught her lover and covered him under a great tub standing in a
corner, and therewithall she opened the doore, blaming her husband
in this sort : Commest thou home every day with empty hands, and
bringest nothing to maintaine our house? thou hast no regard for our
profit, neither providest for any meate or drinke, whereas I poore
wretch doe nothing day and night but occupie my selfe with
spinning, and yet my travell will scarce find the Candels which we
spend.  O how much more happy is my neighbour Daphne, that
eateth and drinketh at her pleasure and passeth the time with her
amorous lovers according to her desire.  What is the matter (quoth
her husband) though Our Master hath made holiday at the fields,
yet thinke not but I have made provision for our supper; doest thou
not see this tub that keepeth a place here in our house in vaine, and
doth us no service?  Behold I have sold it to a good fellow (that is
here present) for five pence, wherefore I pray thee lend me thy
hand, that I may deliver him the tub.  His wife (having invented a
present shift) laughed on her husband, saying : What marchant I
pray you have you brought home hither, to fetch away my tub for
five pence, for which I poore woman that sit all day alone in my
house have beene proffered so often seaven : her husband being
well apayed of her words demanded what he was that had bought
the tub : Looke (quoth she) he is gone under, to see where it be
sound or no : then her lover which was under the tub, began to
stirre and rustle himselfe, and because his words might agree to the
words of the woman, he sayd : Dame will you have me tell the
truth, this tub is rotten and crackt as me seemeth on every side.
And then turning to her husband sayd : I pray you honest man light
a Candle, that I may make cleane the tub within, to see if it be for
my purpose or no. for I doe not mind to cast away my money
wilfully : he by and by (being made a very Oxe) lighted a candle,
saying, I pray you good brother put not your selfe to so much paine,
let me make the tub cleane and ready for you. Whereupon he put
off his coate, and crept under the tub to rub away the filth from the
sides.  In the meane season this minion lover cast his wife on the
bottome of the tub and had his pleasure with her over his head, and
as he was in the middest of his pastime, hee turned his head on this
side and that side, finding fault with this and with that, till as they
had both ended their businesse, when as he delivered seaven pence
for the tub, and caused the good man himselfe to carry it on his
backe againe to his Inne.


THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER


How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison,
and how Apuleius was sold to a Baker.

After that we had tarried there a few dayes at the cost and
charges of the whole Village, and had gotten much mony by our
divination and prognostication of things to come:  The priests of the
goddesse Siria invented a new meanes to picke mens purses, for
they had certaine lotts, whereon were written :

Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut in futurum loeta germinent
sata

That is to say : The Oxen tied and yoked together, doe till the
ground to the intent it may bring forth his increase : and by these
kind of lottes they deceive many of the simple sort, for if one had
demanded whether he should have a good wife or no, they would
say that his lot did testifie the same, that he should. be tyed and
yoked to a good woman and have increase of children.  If one
demanded whether he should buy lands and possession, they said
that he should have much ground that should yeeld his increase. If
one demanded whether he should have a good and prosperous
voyage, they said he should have good successe, and it should be
for the increase of his profit.  If one demanded whether hee should
vanquish his enemies, and prevaile in pursuite of theeves, they said
that this enemy should be tyed and yoked to him: and his pursuits
after theeves should be prosperous.  Thus by the telling of fortunes,
they gathered a great quantity of money, but when they were
weary with giving of answers, they drave me away before them
next night, through a lane which was more dangerous and stony
then the way which we went the night before, for on the one side
were quagmires and foggy marshes, on the other side were falling
trenches and ditches, whereby my legges failed me, in such sort
that I could scarce come to the plaine field pathes. And behold by
and by a great company of inhabitants of the towne armed with
weapons and on horsebacke overtooke us, and incontinently
arresting Philebus and his Priests, tied them by the necks and beate
them cruelly, calling them theeves and robbers, and after they had
manacled their hands: Shew us (quoth they) the cup of gold, which
(under the colour of your solemne religion) ye have taken away,
and now ye thinke to escape in the night without punishment for
your fact. By and by one came towards me, and thrusting his hand
into the bosome of the goddesse Siria, brought out the cup which
they had stole. Howbeit for all they appeared evident and plaine
they would not be confounded nor abashed, but jesting and laughing
out the matter, gan say: Is it reason masters that you should thus
rigorously intreat us, and threaten for a small trifling cup, which the
mother of the Goddesse determined to give to her sister for a
present? Howbeit for all their lyes and cavellations, they were
carryed backe unto the towne, and put in prison by the Inhabitants,
who taking the cup of gold, and the goddesse which I bare, did put
and consecrate them amongst the treasure of the temple. The next
day I was carryed to the market to be sold, and my price was set at
seaven pence more then Philebus gave for me.  There fortuned to
passe by a Baker of the next village, who after that he had bought
a great deale of corne, bought me likewise to carry it home, and
when he had well laded me therewith, be drave me through a
thorny and dangerous way to his bake house; there I saw a great
company of horses that went in the mill day and night grinding of
corne, but lest I should be discouraged at the first, my master
entertained me well, for the first day I did nothing but fare daintily,
howbeit such mine ease and felicity did not long endure, for the
next day following I was tyed to the mill betimes in the morning
with my face covered, to the end in turning amid winding so often
one way, I should not become giddy, but keepe a certaine course,
but although when I was a man I had seen many such horsemills
and knew well enough how they should be turned, yet feining my
selfe ignorant of such kind of toile, I stood still and would not goe,
whereby I thought I should be taken from the mill as an Asse
unapt, and put to some other light thing, or else to he driven into the
fields to pasture, but my subtility did me small good, for by and by
when the mill stood still, the servants came about me, crying and
beating me forward, in such sort that I could not stay to advise my
selfe, whereby all the company laughed to see so suddaine a
change. When a good part of the day was past, that I was not able
to endure any longer, they tooke off my harnesse, and tied me to
the manger, but although my bones were weary, and that I needed
to refresh my selfe with rest and provender, yet I was so curious
that I did greatly delight to behold the bakers art, insomuch that I
could not eate nor drinke while I looked on.

O good Lord what a sort of poore slaves were there; some had
their skinne blacke and blew, some had their backes striped with
lashes, some were covered with rugged sackes, some had their
members onely hidden: some wore such ragged clouts, that you
might perceive all their naked bodies, some were marked and
burned in the heads with hot yrons, some had their haire halfe
clipped, some had lockes of their legges, some very ugly and evill
favoured, that they could scarce see, their eyes and face were so
blacke and dimme with smoake, like those that fight in the sands,
and know not where they strike by reason of dust : And some had
their faces all mealy.  But how should I speake of the horses my
companions, how they being old and weake, thrust their heads into
the manger : they had their neckes all wounded and worne away :
they rated their nosethrilles with a continuall cough, their sides were
bare with their harnesse and great travell, their ribs were broken
with beating, their hooves were battered broad with incessant
labour, and their skinne rugged by reason of their lancknesse.
When I saw this dreadfull sight, I began to feare, least I should
come to the like state : and considering with my selfe the good
fortune which I was sometime in when I was a man, I greatly
lamented, holding downe my head, and would eate no meate, but I
saw no comfort or consolation of my evill fortune, saving that my
mind was somewhat recreated to heare and understand what every
man said, for they neither feared nor doubted my presence.  At that
time I remembred how Homer the divine author of ancient Poetry,
described him to be a wise man, which had travelled divers
countries and nations, wherefore I gave great thanks to my Asse
for me, in that by this meanes I had seene the experience of many
things, and was become more wise (notwithstanding the great
misery and labour which I daily sustained) : but I will tell you a
pretty jest, which commeth now to my remembrance, to the intent
your eares may be delighted in hearing the same.



 THE FORTIETH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was handled by the Bakers wife, which was a
harlot.

 The Baker which bought me was an honest and sober man; but his
wife was the most pestilent woman in all the world, insomuch that
he endured many miseries and afflictions with her, so that I my
selfe did secretly pitty his estate, and bewaile his evill fortune : for
she had not one fault alone, but all the mischiefes that could be
devised : shee was crabbed, cruell, lascivious, drunken, obstinate,
niggish, covetous, riotous in filthy expenses, and an enemy to faith
and chastity, a despise of all the Gods, whom other did honour, one
that affirmed that she had a God by her selfe, wherby she deceived
all men, but especially her poore husband, one that abandoned her
body with continuall whoredome.  This mischievous queane hated
me in such sort, that shee commanded every day before she was
up, that I should he put into the mill to grind : and the first thing
which she would doe in the morning, was to see me cruelly beaten,
and that I should grind when the other beasts did feed and take
rest.  When I saw that I was so cruelly handled, she gave me
occasion to learne her conversation and life, for I saw oftentimes a
yong man which would privily goe into her chamber whose face I
did greatly desire to see, but I could not by reason mine eyes were
covered every day.  And verily if I had beene free and at liberty, I
would have discovered all her abhomination.  She had an old
woman, a bawd, a messenger of mischiefe that daily haunted to her
house, and made good cheere with her to the utter undoing and
impoverishment of her husband, but I that was greatly offended
with the negligence of Fotis, who made me an Asse, in stead of a
Bird, did yet comfort my selfe by this onely meane, in that to the
miserable deformity of my shape, I had long eares, whereby I might
heare all things that was done : On a day I heard the old bawd say
to the Bakers wife :

Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to your
lover, who as me seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, and
dastardlike coucheth at the frowning looke of your odious husband,
whereby you have no delight nor pleasure with him : how farre
better is the young man Philesiterus who is comely, beautifull, in the
flower of his youth, liberall, courteous, valiant and stout against the
diligent pries and watches of your husband, whereby to embrace
the worthiest dames of this country, and worthy to weare a crowne
of gold, for one part that he played to one that was jealous over his
wife.  Hearken how it was and then judge the diversity of these
two Lovers : Know you not one Barbarus a Senator of our towne,
whom the vulgar people call likewise Scorpion for his severity of
manners? This Barbarus had a gentlewoman to his wife, whom he
caused daily to be enclosed within his house, with diligent custody.
Then the Bakers wife said, I know her very well, for we two
dwelleth together in one house:  Then you know (quoth the old
woman) the whole tale of Philesiterus? No verily (said she) but I
greatly desire to know it : therefore I pray you mother tell me the
whole story.  By and by the old woman which knew well to babble,
began to tell as followeth.



THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER


How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee
should be kept close in his house, and what happened.

You shall understand that on a day this Barbarus preparing
himselfe to ride abroad, and willing to keepe the chastity of his wife
(whom he so well loved) alone to himselfe, called his man Myrmex
(whose faith he had tryed and proved in many things) and secretly
committed to him the custody of his wife, willing him that he should
threaten, that if any man did but touch her with his finger as he
passed by, he would not onely put him in prison, and bind him hand
and foote, but also cause him to be put to death, or else to be
famished for lacke of sustenance, which words he confirmed by an
oath of all the Gods in heaven, and so departed away : When
Barbarus was gone, Myrmex being greatly astonied of his masters
threatnings, would not suffer his mistresse to goe abroad, but as she
sate all day a Spinning, he was so carefull that he sate by her;
when night came he went with her to the baines, holding her by the
garment, so faithfull he was to fulfill the commandement of his
master : Howbeit the beauty of this matron could not be hidden
from the burning eyes of Philesiterus, who considering her great
chastity and how she was diligently kept by Myrmex, thought it
impossible to have his purpose, yet (indeavouring by all kind of
meanes to enterprise the matter, and remembring the fragility of
man, that might be intised and corrupted with money, since as by
gold the adamant gates may be opened) on a day, when he found
Myrmex alone, he discovered his love, desiring him to shew his
favour, (otherwise he should certainly dye) with assurance that he
need not to feare when as he might privily be let in and out in the
night, without knowledge of any person.  When he thought, with
these and other gentle words to allure and prick forward the
obstinate mind of Myrmex he shewed him glittering gold in his
hand, saying that he would give his mistresse twenty crowns and
him ten, but Myrmex hearing these words, was greatly troubled,
abhorring in his mind to commit such a mischiefe:  wherfore he
stopped his eares, and turning his head departed away:  howbeit the
glittering view of these crownes could never be out of his mind, but
being at home he seemed to see the money before his eyes, which
was so worthy a prey, wherefore poore Myrmex being in divers
opinions could not tell what to doe, for on the one side lie
considered the promise which he made to his master, and the
punishment that should ensue if he did contrary.  On the other side
he thought of the gaine, and the passing pleasure of the crownes of
gold; in the end the desire of the money did more prevaile then the
feare of death, for the beauty of the flowrishing crownes did so
sticke in his mind, that where the menaces of his master compelled
him to tarry at home, the pestilent avarice of gold egged him out a
doores, wherefore putting all shame aside, without further delay, he
declared all the whole matter to his Mistresse, who according to the
nature of a woman, when she heard him speake of so great a
summe she bound chastity in a string, and gave authority to
Myrmex to rule her in that case. Myrmex seeing the intent of his
Mistresse, was very glad, and for great desire of the gold, he ran
hastily to Philesiterus, declaring that his Mistresse was consented to
his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold which he promised.
Then incontinently Philesiterus delivered him tenne Crownes, and
when night came, Myrmex brought him disguised into his
mistresses Chamber.  About Midnight when he and she were
naked together, making sacrifice unto the Goddesse Venus, behold
her husband (contrary to their expectation) came and knocked at
the doore, calling with a loud voice to his Servant Myrmex : whose
long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master, in such sort that
he threatned to beat Myrmex cruelly : but he being troubled with
feare, and driven to his latter shifts, excused the matter saying : that
he could not find the key : by reason it was so darke. In the meane
season Philesiterus hearing the noise at the doore, slipt on his coat
and privily ran out of the Chamber. When Myrmex had opened the
doore to his Master that threatned terribly, and had let him in, he
went into the Chamber to his wife : In the mean while Myrmex let
out Philesiterus, and barred the doores fast, and went againe to
bed.  The next morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two
unknown slippers lying under his bed, which Philesiterus had
forgotten when he went away. Then he conceived a great suspition
and jealousie in mind, howbeit he would not discover it to his wife,
neither to any other person, but putting secretly the slippers into his
bosome, commanded his other Servants to bind Myrmex
incontinently, and to bring him bound to the Justice after him,
thinking verily that by the meane of the slippers he might boult out
the matter.  It fortuned that while Barbarus went towards the
Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, followed him
weeping, not because he was accused before his master, but by
reason he knew his owne conscience guilty : behold by adventure
Philesiterus (going about earnest businesse) fortuned to meet with
them by the way, who fearing the matter which he committed the
night before, and doubting lest it should be knowne, did suddainly
invent a meane to excuse Myrmex, for he ran upon him and beate
him about the head with his fists, saying : Ah mischievous varlet
that thou art, and perjured knave.  It were a good deed if the
Goddesse and thy master here, would put thee to death, for thou art
worthy to be imprisoned and to weare out these yrons, that stalest
my slippers away when thou werest at my baines yester night.
Barbarus hearing this returned incontinently home, and called his
servant Myrmex, commanding him to deliver the slippers againe to
the right owner.

 The old woman had scant finished her tale when the Bakers wife
gan say : Verily she is blessed and most blessed, that hath the
fruition of so worthy a lover, but as for me poore miser, I am fallen
into the hands of a coward, who is not onely afraid of my husband
but also of every clap of the mill, and dares not doe nothing, before
the blind face of yonder scabbed Asse.  Then the old woman
answered, I promise you certainly if you will, you shall have this
young man at your pleasure, and therewithall when night came, she
departed out of her chamber.  In the meane season, the Bakers
wife made ready a supper with abundance of wine and exquisite
fare : so that there lacked nothing, but the comming of the young
man, for her husband supped at one of her neighbours houses.
When time came that my harnesse should be taken off and that I
should rest my selfe, I was not so joyfull of my liberty, as when the
vaile was taken from mine eyes, I should see all the abhomination
of this mischievous queane.  When night was come and the Sunne
gone downe, behold the old bawd and the young man, who seemed
to be but a child, by reason he had no beard, came to the doore.
Then the Bakers wife kissed him a thousand times and received
him courteously, placed him downe at the table : but he had scarce
eaten the first morsell, when the good man (contrary to his wives
expectation) returned home, for she thought he would not have
come so soone : but Lord how she cursed him, praying God that he
might breake his necke at the first entry in.  In the meane season,
she caught her lover and thrust him into the bin where she bolted
her flower, and dissembling the matter, finely came to her husband
demanding why he came home so soone. I could not abide (quoth
he) to see so great a mischiefe and wicked fact, which my
neighbours wife committed, but I must run away : O harlot as she
is, how hath she dishonoured her husband, I sweare by the
goddesse Ceres, that if I had [not] seene it with mine eyes, I would
never I have beleeved it.  His wife desirous to know the matter,
desired him to tell what she had done: then hee accorded to the
request of his wife, and ignorant of the estate of his own house,
declared the mischance of another.  You shall understand (quoth
he) that the wife of the Fuller my companion, who seemed to me a
wise and chast woman, regarding her own honesty and profit of her
house, was found this night with her knave.  For while we went to
wash our hands, hee and she were together : who being troubled
with our presence ran into a corner, and she thrust him into a mow
made with twigs, appoynted to lay on clothes to make them white
with the smoake of fume and brymstone.  Then she sate down with
us at the table to colour the matter : in the meant season the young
man covered in the mow, could not forbeare sneesing, by reason of
the smoake of the brymstone.  The good man thinking it had beene
his wife that sneesed, cryed, Christ helpe. But when he sneesed
more, he suspected the matter, and willing to know who it was,
rose from the table, and went to the mow, where hee found a
young man welnigh dead with smoke.  When hee understood the
whole matter, he was so inflamed with anger that he called for a
sword to kill him, and undoubtedly he had killed him, had I not
restrained his violent hands from his purpose, assuring him, that his
enemy would dye with the force of his brimstone, without the
harme which he should doe.  Howbeit my words would not
appease his fury, but as necessity required he tooke the young man
well nigh choked, and carried him out at the doores.  In the meane
season, I counsailed his wife to absent her selfe at some of her
Neighbours houses, till the choller of her husband was pacified, lest
he should be moved against her, as he was against the young man.
And so being weary of their supper, I forthwith returned home.
When the Baker had told his tale, his impudent wife began to curse
and abhorre the wife of the Fuller, and generally all other wives,
which abandon their bodies with any other then with their owne
Husbands, breaking the faith and bond of marriage, whereby she
said, they were worthy to be burned alive.  But knowing her owne
guilty conscience and proper whoredome, lest her lover should be
hurt lying in the bin, she willed her husband to goe to bed, but he
having eaten nothing, said that he would sup before he went to rest
: whereby shee was compelled to maugre her eies, to set such
things on the Table as she had prepared for her lover.

 But I, considering the great mischiefe of this wicked queane,
devised with my selfe how I might reveale the matter to my
Master, and by kicking away the cover of the binne (where like a
Snaile the young-man was couched) to make her whoredome
apparent and knowne.  At length I was ayded by the providence of
God, for there was an old man to whom the custody of us was
committed, that drave me poore Asse, and the other Horses the
same time to the water to drinke; then had I good occasion
ministred, to revenge the injury of my master, for as I passed by, I
perceived the fingers of the young-man upon the side of the binne,
and lifting up my heeles, I spurned off the flesh with the force of
my hoofes, whereby he was compelled to cry out, and to throw
downe the binne on the ground, and so the whoredome of the
Bakers wife was knowne and revealed.  The Baker seeing this
was not a little moved at the dishonesty of his wife, but hee tooke
the young-man trembling for feare by the hand, and with cold and
courteous words spake in this sort : Feare not my Sonne, nor thinke
that I am so barbarous or cruell a person, that I would stiffle thee
up with the smoke of Sulphur as our neighbour accustometh, nor I
will not punish thee according to the rigour of the law of Julia,
which commandeth the Adulterers should be put to death : No no, I
will not execute my cruelty against so faire and comely a young
man as you be, but we will devide our pleasure betweene us, by
lying all three in one bed, to the end there may be no debate nor
dissention betweene us, but that either of us may be contented, for
I have alwayes lived with my wife in such tranquillity , that
according to the saying of the wisemen, whatsoever I say, she
holdeth for law, and indeed equity will not suffer, but that the
husband should beare more authority then the wife : with these and
like words he led the young-man to his Chamber, and closed his
wife in another Chamber.  On the next morrow, he called two of
the most sturdiest Servants of his house, who held up the young-
man, while he scourged his buttockes welfavouredly with rods like
a child.  When he had well beaten him, he said : Art not thou
ashamed, thou that art so tender and delicate a child, to desire the
violation of honest marriages, and to defame thy selfe with wicked
living, whereby thou hast gotten the name of an Adulterer? After
he had spoken these and like words, he whipped him againe, and
chased him out of his house.  The young-man who was the
comeliest of all the adulterers, ran away, and did nothing else that
night save onely bewaile his striped and painted buttockes.  Soone
after the Baker sent one to his wife, who divorced her away in his
name, but she beside her owne naturall mischiefe, (offended at this
great contumely, though she had worthily deserved the same) had
recourse to wicked arts and trumpery, never ceasing untill she had
found out an Enchantresse, who (as it was thought) could doe what
she would with her Sorcery and conjuration.  The Bakers wife
began to intreate her, promising that she would largely recompence
her, if shee could bring one of these things to passe, eyther to make
that her husband may be reconciled to her againe, or else if hee
would not agree thereto, to send an ill spirit into him, to dispossesse
the spirit of her husband.  Then the witch with her abhominable
science, began to conjure and to make her Ceremonies, to turne the
heart of the Baker to his wife, but all was in vaine, wherefore
considering on the one side that she could not bring her purpose to
passe, and on the other side the losse of her gaine, she ran hastily
to the Baker, threatning to send an evill spirit to kill him, by meane
of her conjurations.  But peradventure some scrupulous reader may
demand me a question, how I, being an Asse, and tyed alwayes in
the mill house, could know the secrets of these women : Verily I
answer, notwithstanding my shape of an Asse, I had the sence and
knowledge of a man, and curiously endeavoured to know out such
injuries as were done to my master.  About noone there came a
woman into the Milhouse, very sorrowfull, raggedly attired, with
bare feete, meigre, ill-favoured, and her hayre scattering upon her
face : This woman tooke the Baker by the hand, and faining that
she had some secret matter to tell him, went into a chamber, where
they remained a good space, till all the corne was ground, when as
the servants were compelled to call their master to give them more
corne, but when they had called very often, and no person gave
answer, they began to mistrust, insomuch that they brake open the
doore : when they were come in, they could not find the woman,
hut onely their master hanging dead upon a rafter of the chamber,
whereupon they cryed and lamented greatly, and according to the
custome, when they had washed themselves, they tooke the body
and buried it.  The next day morrow, the daughter of the Baker,
which was married but a little before to one of the next Village,
came crying and beating her breast, not because she heard of the
death of her father by any man, but because his lamentable spirit,
with a halter about his necke appeared to her in the night, declaring
the whole circumstance of his death, and how by inchantment he
was descended into hell, which caused her to thinke that her father
was dead.  After that she had lamented a good space, and was
somewhat comforted by the servants of the house, and when nine
dayes were expired, as inheretrix to her father, she sold away all
the substance of the house, whereby the goods chanced into divers
mens hands.



THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER


 How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was sold to a
Gardener, and what dreadfull things happened.

There was a poore Gardener amongst the rest, which bought me
for the summe of fifty pence, which seemed to him a great price,
but he thought to gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my
body. The matter requireth to tell likewise, how I was handled in his
service.  This Gardener accustomed to drive me, every morning
laded with hearbes to the next Village, and when he had sold his
hearbes, hee would mount upon my backe and returne to the
Garden, and while he digged the ground and watered the hearbes,
and went about other businesse, I did nothing but repose my selfe
with great ease, but when Winter approached with sharpe haile,
raine and frosts, and I standing under a hedge side, was welnigh
killed up with cold, and my master was so poore that he had no
lodging for himselfe, much lesse had he any littor or place to cover
me withall, for he himselfe alwayes lay under a little roofe
shadowed with boughes.  In the morning when I arose, I found my
hoofes shriveled together with cold, and unable to passe upon the
sharpe ice, and frosty mire, neither could I fill my belly with meate,
as I accustomed to doe, for my master and I supped together, and
had both one fare : howbeit it was very slender since as wee had
nothing else saving old and unsavoury sallets which were suffered
to grow for seed, like long broomes, and that had lost all their sweet
sappe and juice.

 It fortuned on a day that an honest man of the next village was
benighted and constrained by reason of the rain to lodge (very
lagged and weary).in our Garden, where although he was but
meanely received, yet it served well enough considering time and
necessity.  This honest man to recompence our entertainment,
promised to give my master some corne, oyle, and two bottels of
wine : wherefore my master not delaying the matter, laded me with
sackes and bottels, and rode to the Towne which was seaven miles
off.

 When we came to the honest mans house, he entertained and
feasted my master exceedingly.  And it fortuned while they eate
and dranke together as signe of great amity there chanced a
strange and dreadfull case : for there was a Hen which ran
kackling about the yard, as though she would have layed an Egge.
The good man of the house perceiving her, said : O good and
profitable pullet that feedest us every day with thy fruit, thou
seemest as though thou wouldest give us some pittance for our
dinner : Ho boy put the Pannier in the corner that the Hen may lay.
Then the boy did as his master commanded, but the Hen forsaking
the Pannier, came toward her master and laid at his feet not an
Egge, which every man knoweth, but a Chickin with feathers,
clawes, and eyes, which incontinently ran peeping after his damme.
By and by happened a more strange thing, which would cause any
man to abhorre: under the Table where they sate, the ground
opened, and there appeared a great well and fountain of bloud,
insomuch that the drops thereof sparckled about the Table.  At the
same time while they wondred at this dreadfull sight one of the
Servants came running out of the Seller, and told that all the wine
was boyled out of the vessels, as though there had beene some
great fire under.  By and by a Weasel was scene that drew into the
house a dead Serpent, and out of the mouth of a Shepheards dog
leaped a live frog, and immediately after one brought word that a
Ram had strangled the same dog at one bit.  All these things that
happened, astonied the good man of the house, and the residue that
were present, insomuch that they could not tell what to doe, or with
what sacrifice to appease the anger of the gods.  While every man
was thus stroken in feare, behold, one brought word to the good
man of the house, that his three sonnes who had been brought up in
good literature, and endued with good manners were dead, for they
three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man
which was their neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next
unto him dwelled another young man very rich both in lands and
goods, but bending from the race of his progenies dissentions, and
ruling himselfe in the towne according to his owne will. This young
royster did mortally hate this poore man, insomuch that he would
kill his sheepe, steale his oxen, and spoyle his corne and other fruits
before the time of ripenesse, yet was he not contented with this, but
he would encroch upon the poore mans ground, and clayme all the
heritage as his owne. The poore man which was very simple and
fearefull, seeing all his goods taken away by the avarice of the rich
man, called together and assembled many of his friends to shew
them all his land, to the end he might have but so much ground of
his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, he found
these three brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in his
adversity and tribulation.

 Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wise
perswade him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause any
temperance of his tongue, but the more they went about with gentle
words to tell him his faults, the more would he fret and likewise
fume, swearing all the oathes under God, that he little regarded the
presence of the whole City, whereupon incontinently he
commanded his servants to take the poore man by the eares, and
carry him out of his ground, which greatly offended all the standers
by. Then one of the brethren spake unto him somewhat boldly,
saying : It is but a folly to have such affiance in your riches,
whereby you should use your tyranny against the poore, when as
the law is common for all men, and a redresse may be had to
suppresse your insolency. These words chafed him more then the
burning oile, or flaming brimstone, or scourge of whipps, saying :
that they should be hanged and their law too, before he would be
subject unto any person : and therewithall he called out his
bandogges and great masties, which accustomed to eate the carrion
and carkases of dead beasts in the fields, and to set upon such as
passed by the way: then he commanded they should be put upon all
the assistance to teare them in peeces : who as soone as they
heard the hisse of their master, ran fiercely upon them invading
them on every side, insomuch that the more they flied to escape
away, the more cruell and terrible were the dogges. It fortuned
amongst all this fearefull company, that in running, the youngest of
the three brethren stombled at a stone, and fell down to the ground :
Then the dogs came upon him and tare him in peeces with their
teeth, whereby he was compelled to cry for succour : His other two
brethren hearing his lamentable voice ran towards him to helpe him,
casting their cloakes about their left armes, tooke up stones to
chase away the dogs, but all was in vaine, for they might see their
brother dismembred in every part of his body :  Who lying at the
very point of death, desired his brethren to revenge his death
against that cruell tyrant : And therewithall lie gave up the ghost.
The other two brethren perceiving so great a murther, and
neglecting their owne lives, like desperate persons dressed
themselves against the tyrant, and threw a great number of stones
at him, but the bloudy theefe exercised in such and like mischiefes,
tooke a speare and thrust it cleane through the body : howbeit he
fell not downe to the ground.  For the speare that came out at his
backe ran into the earth, and sustained him up.  By and by carne
one of these tyrants servants the most sturdiest of the rest to helpe
his master, who at the first comming tooke up a stone and threw at
the third brother, but by reason the stone ran along his arme it did
not hurt him, which chanced otherwise then all mens expectation
was : by and by the young man feigning that his arme was greatly
wounded, spake these words unto the cruell bloud sucker : Now
maist thou, thou wretch, triumph upon the destruction of all our
family, now hast thou fed thy insatiable cruelty with the bloud of
three brethren, now maist thou rejoyce at the fall of us Citizens, yet
thinke not but that how farre thou dost remove and extend the
bounds of thy land, thou shalt have some neighbor, but how greatly
am I sorry in that I have lost mine arme wherewithall I minded to
cut off thy head.  When he had spoken these words, the furious
theefe drew out his dagger, and running upon the young man
thought verily to have slaine him, but it chanced otherwise: For the
young man resisted him stoutly, and in buckling together by violence
wrested the dagger out of his hand : which done, he killed the rich
theefe with his owne weapon, and to the intent the young man
would escape the hands of the servants which came running to
assist their master, with the same dagger he cut his owne throat.
These things were signified by the strange and dreadfull wondres
which fortuned in the house of the good man, who after he had
heard these sorrowfull tydings could in no wise weepe, so farre
was he stroken with dolour, but presently taking his knife
wherewith he cut his cheese and other meate before, he cut his
owne throat likewise, in such sort that he fell upon the bord and
imbraced the table with the streames of his blond, in most miserable
manner. Hereby was my master the Gardener deprived of his hope,
and paying for his dinner the watry teares of his eyes, mounted
upon my backe and so we went homeward the same way as wee
came.



THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER


 How Apuleius was found by his shadow.

As wee passed by the way wee met with a tall souldier (for so his
habite and countenance declared) who with proud and arrogant
words spake to my master in this sort:

Quorsum vacuum ducis Asinum?

 My master somewhat astonied at the strange sights which he saw
before, and ignorant of the Latine tongue, roade on and spake
never a word : The souldier unable to refraine his insolence, and
offended at his silence, strake him on the shoulders as he sate on
my backe; then my master gently made answer that he understood
not what he said, whereat the souldier angerly demanded againe,
whither he roade with his Asse?  Marry (quoth he) to the next City
: But I (quoth the souldier) have need of his helpe, to carry the
trusses of our Captaine from yonder Castle, and therewithall he
tooke me by the halter and would violently have taken me away :
but my master wiping away the blood of the blow which he
received of the souldier, desired him gently and civilly to take some
pitty upon him, and to let him depart with his owne, swearing and
affirming that his slow Asse, welnigh dead with sicknesse, could
scarce carry a few handfuls of hearbs to the next towne, much
lesse he was able to beare any greater trusses : but when he saw
the souldier would in no wise be intreated, but ready with his staffe
to cleave my masters head, my master fell down at his feete, under
colour to move him to some pitty, but when he saw his time, he
tooke the souldier by the legs and cast him upon the ground: Then
he buffetted him, thumped him, bit him, and tooke a stone and beat
his face and his sides, that he could not turne and defend himselfe,
but onely threaten that if ever he rose, he would choppe him in
pieces.  The Gardener when he heard him say so, drew out his
javelin which hee had by his side, and when he had throwne it
away, he knockt and beate him more cruelly then he did before,
insomuch that the souldier could not tell by what meanes to save
himselfe, but by feining that he was dead,  Then my master tooke
the javelin and mounted upon my backe, riding in all hast to the next
village, having no regard to goe to his Garden, and when he came
thither, he turned into one of his friends house and declared all the
whole matter, desiring him to save his life and to hide himselfe and
his Asse in some secret place, untill such time as all danger were
past.  Then his friends not forgetting the ancient amity betweene
them, entertained him willingly and drew me up a paire of staires
into a chamber, my master crept into a chest, and lay there with the
cover closed fast : The souldier (as I afterwards learned) rose up
as one awaked from a drunken sleepe, but he could scarce goe by
reason of his wounds : howbeit at length by little and little through
ayd of his staffe he came to the towne, but hee would not declare
the matter to any person nor complaine to any justice, lest he should
be accused of cowardise or dastardnesse, yet in the end he told
some of his companions of all the matter that happened : then they
tooke him and caused him to be closed in some secret place,
thinking that beside the injury which he had received, he should be
accused of the breach of his faith, by reason of the losse of his
speare, and when they had learned the signes of my master, they
went to search him out : at last there was an unfaithfull neighbour
that told them where he was, then incontinently the souldiers went
to the Justice declaring that they had lost by the way a silver goblet
of their Captaines, and that a Gardener had found it, who refusing
to deliver the goblet, was hidden in one of his friends houses : by
and by the Magistrates understanding the losse of the Captaine,
came to the doores where we were, commanded our host to deliver
my master upon paine of death: howbeit these threatnings could not
enforce him to confesse that he was within his doores, but by
reason of his faithfull promise and for the safeguard of his friend,
he said, that hee saw not the Gardener a great while, neither knew
where he was : the souldiers said contrary, whereby to know the
verity of the matter, the Magistrates commanded their Seargants
and ministers to search every comer of the house, but when they
could find neither Gardener nor Asse, there was a great contention
betweene the souldiers and our Host, for they sayd we were within
the house : and he said no, but I that was very curious to know the
matter, when I heard so great a noyse, put my head out of the
window to learne what the stirre and tumult did signifie.  It fortuned
that one of the souldiers perceived my shadow, whereupon he
began to cry, saying : that hee had certainly seene me; then they
were all glad and came up into the chamber, and pulled me downe
like a prisoner.  When they had found mee, they doubted nothing of
the Gardener, but seeking about more narrowly, at length they
found him couched in a chest.  And so they brought out the poore
gardener to the Justices, who was committed immediately to prison,
but they could never forbeare laughing from the time they found me
by my shadow, wherefore is risen a common Proverbe : ' The
shadow of the Asse.'




THE TENTH BOOKE



THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER


 How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a
Captaines house, and what happened there.

 The next day how my master the Gardener sped, I knew not, but
the gentle souldier, who was well beaten for his cowardise, lead me
to his lodging without the contradiction of any man : Where hee
laded me well, and garnished my body (as seemed to me) like an
Asse of armes.  For on the one side I bare an helmet that shined
exceedingly : On the other side a Target that glistered more a
thousand folde.  And on the top of my burthen he put a long speare,
which things he placed thus gallantly, not because he was so expert
in warre (for the Gardener proved the contrary) but to the end he
might feare those which passed by, when they saw such a
similitude of warre.  When we had gone a good part of our journey,
over the plaine and easie fields, we fortuned to come to a little
towne, where we lodged at a certaine Captaines house.  And there
the souldier tooke me to one of the servants, while he himselfe
went towards his captaine; who had the charge of a thousand men.
And when we had remained there a few dayes, I understood of a
wicked and mischievous fact committed there, which I have put in
writing to the end you may know the same. The master of the
house had a sonne instructed in good literature, and endued with
vertuous manners, such a one as you would desire to have the like.
Long time before his mother dyed, and when his father married a
new wife, and had another child of the age of xii. yeares. The
stepdame was more excellent in beauty then honesty : for she loved
this young man her sonne in law, either because she was unchast
by nature, or because she was enforced by fate of stepmother, to
commit so great a mischiefe.  Gentle reader, thou shalt not read of
a fable, but rather a tragedy : This woman when her love began
first to kindle in her heart, could easily resist her desire and
inordinate appetite by reason of shame and feare, lest her intent
should be knowne: But after it compassed and burned every part of
her brest, she was compelled to yeeld unto the raging flame of
Cupid, and under colour of the disease and infirmity of her body, to
conceale the wound of her restlesse mind.  Every man knoweth
well the signes and tokens of love, and the malady convenient to
the same : Her countenance was pale, her eyes sorrowfull, her
knees weake, and there was no comfort in her, but continuall
weeping and sobbing, insomuch that you would have thought that
she had some spice of an ague, saving that she wept unmeasurably:
the Phisitians knew not her disease, when they felt the beating of
her veines, the intemperance of her heart, the sobbing sighes, and
her often tossing of every side : No, no, the cunning Phisitian knew
it not, but a scholler of Venus Court might easily conjecture the
whole. After that she had beene long time tormented in her
affliction, and was no more able to conceale her ardent desire, shee
caused her sonne to be called for, (which word son she would faine
put away if it were not for shame :) Then he nothing disobedient to
the commandement of his mother, with a sad and modest
countenance, came into the chamber of his stepdame, the mother
of his brother, but she speaking never a word was in great doubt
what she might doe, and could not tell what to say first, by reason
of shame.  The young man suspecting no ill, with humble courtesie
demanded the cause of her present disease. Then she having found
an occasion to utter her intent, with weeping eyes and covered
face, began boldly to speake unto him in this manner : Thou, thou,
art the originall cause of all my dolour : Thou art my comfort and
onely health, for those thy comely eyes are so enfastned within my
brest, that unlesse they succour me, I shall certainly die : Have pitty
therefore upon me, be not the occasion of my destruction, neither
let my conscience reclaime to offend thy father, when as thou shalt
save the life of thy mother. Moreover since thou dost resemble thy
fathers shape in every point, it giveth me cause the more to fancy
thee : Now is ministred unto thee time and place : Now hast thou
occasion to worke thy will, seeing that we are alone.  And it is a
common saying :

 Never knowne, never done.

 This young man troubled in mind at so suddaine an ill, although hee
abhorred to commit so beastly a crime, yet hee would not cast her
off with a present deniall, but warily pacified her mind with delay of
promise.  Wherefore he promised to doe all according to her desire
: And in the meane season, he willed his mother to be of good
cheere, and comfort her selfe till as he might find some convenient
time to come unto her, when his father was ridden forth :
Wherewithall hee got him away from the pestilent sight of his
stepdame.  And knowing that this matter touching the ruine of all
the whole house needed the counsell of wise and grave persons, he
went incontinently to a sage old man and declared the whole
circumstance of the matter.  The old man after long deliberation,
thought there was no better way to avoyd the storme of cruell
fortune to come, then to run away.  In the meane season this
wicked woman impatient of her love, and the long delay of her
sonne, egged her husband to ride abroad into farre countreyes. And
then she asked the young-man the accomplishment of his promise,
but he to rid himselfe entirely from her hands, would find alwayes
excuses, till in the end she understood by the messengers that came
in and out, that he nothing regarded her.  Then she by how much
she loved him before, by so much and more she hated him now.
And by and by she called one of her servants, ready to all
mischiefes : To whom she declared all her secrets.  And there it
was concluded betweene them two, that the surest way was to kill
the young man : Whereupon this varlet went incontinently to buy
poyson, which he mingled with wine, to the intent he would give it
to the young man to drinke, and thereby presently to kill him.  But
while they were in deliberation how they might offer it unto him,
behold here happened a strange adventure.  For the young sonne of
the woman that came from schoole at noone (being very thirsty)
tooke the pot wherein the poyson was mingled, and ignorant of the
venim, dranke a good draught thereof, which was prepared to kill
his brother : whereby he presently fell downe to the ground dead.
His schoolemaster seeing his suddaine change, called his mother,
and all the servants of the house with a lowd voyce.  Incontinently
every man declared his opinion, touching the death of the child : but
the cruell woman the onely example of stepmothers malice, was
nothing moved by the bitter death of her sonne, or by her owne
conscience of paracide, or by the misfortune of her house, or by the
dolour of her husband, but rather devised the destruction of all her
family.  For by and by shee sent a messenger after her husband to
tell him the great misfortune which happened after his departure.
And when lie came home, the wicked woman declared that his
sonne had empoysoned his brother, because he would not consent
to his will, and told him divers other leasings, adding in the end that
hee threatned to kill her likewise, because she discovered the fact :
Then the unhappy father was stroken with double dolour of the
death of his two children, for on the one side he saw his younger
sonne slaine before his eyes, on the other side, he seemed to see
the elder condemned to dye for his offence : Againe, where he
beheld his wife lament in such sort, it gave him further occasion to
hate his sonne more deadly; but the funerals of his younger sonne
were scarce finished, when the old man  the father with weeping
eyes even at the returne from  the grave, went to the Justice and
accused his sonne of the slaughter of his brother, and how he
threatned to slay his wife, whereby the rather at his weeping and
lamentation, he moved all the Magistrates and people to pitty,
insomuch that without any delay, or further inquisition they cryed all
that hee should be stoned to death, but the Justices fearing a farther
inconvenience to arise by the particular vengeance, and to the end
there might fortune no sedition amongst the people, prayed the
decurions and other Officers of the City, that they might proceed
by examination of witnesses, and with order of justice according to
the ancient custome before the judging of any hasty sentence or
judgment, without the hearing of the contrary part, like as the
barbarous and cruell tyrants accustome to use: otherwise they
should give an ill example to their successours. This opinion pleased
every man, wherefore the Senatours and counsellors were called,
who being placed in order according to their dignity, caused the
accuser and defender to be brought forth, and by the example of
the Athenian law, and judgement materiall, their Advocates were
commanded to plead their causes briefly without preambles or
motions of the people to pitty, which were too long a processe.
And if you demand how I understood all this matter, you shall
understand that I heard many declare the same, but to recite what
words the accuser used in his invective, what answer the defender
made, the orations and pleadings of each party, verily I am not able
to doe : for I was fast bound at the manger.  But as I learned and
knew by others, I will God willing declare unto you.  So it was
ordered, that after the pleadings of both sides was ended, they
thought best to try and boult out the verity by witnesses, all
presumptions and likelihood set apart, and to call in the servant,
who onely was reported to know all the matter : by and by the
servant came in, who nothing abashed, at the feare of so great a
judgment, or at the presence of the Judges, or at his owne guilty
conscience, which hee so finely fained, but with a bold countenance
presented himselfe before the justices and confirmed the
accusation against the young man, saying: O yee judges, on a day
when this young man loathed and hated his stepmother, hee called
mee, desiring mee to poyson his brother, whereby hee might
revenge himselfe, and if I would doe it and keepe the matter secret,
hee promised to give me a good reward for my paines : but when
the young man perceived that I would not accord to his will, he
threatned to slay mee, whereupon hee went himselfe and bought
poyson, and after tempered it with wine, and then gave it me to
give the child, which when I refused he offered it to his brother
with his own hands.  When the varlet with a trembling countenance
had ended these words which seemed a likelihood of truth, the
judgement was ended : neither was there found any judge or
counsellor, so mercifull to the young  man accused, as would not
judge him culpable, but that he should be put and sowne in a skin,
with a dogge, a Cocke, a Snake, and an Ape, according to the law
against parricides : wherefore they wanted nothing but (as the
ancient custome was) to put white stones and black into a pot, and
to take them out againe, to see whether the young-man accused
should be acquitted by judgment or condemned, which was a thing
irrevocable.

 In the mean season he was delivered to the hands of the
executioner.  But there arose a sage and ancient Physitian, a man
of a good conscience and credit throughout all the  City, that
stopped the mouth of the pot wherein the stones were cast, saying:
I am right glad ye reverend judges, that I am a man of name and
estimation amongst you, whereby I am accompted such a one as
will not suffer any person to be put to death by false and untrue
accusations, considering there hath bin no homicide or murther
committed by this yong man in this case, neither you (being  sworn
to judge uprightly) to be misinformed and abused by invented lyes
and tales.  For I cannot but declare and open my conscience, least I
should be found to beare small honour and faith to the Gods,
wherefore I pray you give eare, and I will shew you the whole truth
of the matter. You shall understand that this servant which hath
merited to be hanged, came one of these dayes to speake with me,
promising to give me a hundred crownes, if I would give him
present poyson, which would cause a man to dye suddenly, saying,
that he would have it for one that was sicke of an incurable
disease, to the end he might be delivered from all torment, but I
smelling his crafty and subtill fetch, and fearing least he would
worke some mischiefe withall, gave him a drinke; but to the intent I
might cleare my selfe from all danger that might happen, I would
not presently take the money which he offered. But least any of the
crownes should lacke weight or be found counterfeit, I willed him
to scale the purse wherein they were put, with his manuell signe,
whereby the next day we might goe together to the Goldsmith to try
them, which he did; wherefore understanding that he was brought
present before you this day, I hastily commanded one of my
servants to fetch the purse which he had sealed, and here I bring it
unto you to see whether he will deny his owne signe or no: and you
may easily conject that his words are untrue, which he alleadged
against the young man, touching the buying of the poyson,
considering hee bought the poyson himselfe.  When the Physitian
had spoken these words you might perceive how the trayterous
knave changed his colour, how hee sweat for feare, how he
trembled in every part of his body: and how he set one leg upon
another, scratching Ibis head and grinding his teeth, whereby there
was no person but would judge him culpable.  In the end, when he
was somewhat returned to his former subtility, he began to deny all
that was said, and stoutly affirmed, that the Physitian did lye. But
the Physitian perceiving that he was rayled at and his words
denyed, did never cease to confirme his sayings, and to disprove
the varlet, till such time as the Officers by the commandment of the
Judges, bound his hands and brought out the seale, wherewith he
had sealed the purse which augmented suspition which was
conceived of him first. Howbeit, neither the feare of the wheele or
any other torment according to the use of the Grecians, which were
ready prepared, no, nor yet the fire could enforce him to confesse
the matter, so obstinate and grounded was he in his mischievous
mind.  But the Physitian perceiving that the menaces of these
torments did nothing prevaile, gan say: I cannot suffer or abide that
this young man who is innocent, should against all law and
conscience, be punished and condemned to die, and the other which
is culpable, should escape so easily, and after mocke and flowte at
your judgement: for I will give you an evident proofe and argument
of this present crime. You shall understand, that when this caytiffe
demanded of me a present and strong poyson, considering that it
was not my part to give occasion of any others death, but rather to
cure and save sicke persons by meane of medicines : and on the
other side, fearing least if I should deny his request, I might minister
a further cause of his mischiefe, either that he would buy poyson of
some other, or else returne and worke his wicked intent, with a
sword or some dangerous weapon, I gave him no poyson, but a
doling drinke of Mandragora, which is of such force, that it will
cause any man to sleepe as though he were dead.  Neither is it any
marvaile if this most desperate man, who is certainly assured to be
put to death, ordained by an ancient custome, can suffer and abide
these facill and easie torments, but if it be so that the child hath
received the drinke as I tempered it with mine owne hands, he is
yet alive and doth but sleepe, and after his sleepe he shall returne to
life againe, but if he be dead indeed, then may you further enquire
of the causes of his death. The opinion of this ancient Physitian
was found good, and every man had a desire to goe to the
Sepulchre where the child was layd; there was none of the
Justices, none of any  reputation of the towne, nor any of the
common people, but went to see this strange sight.  Amongst them
all the father of the child remooved with his owne hands the stone
of the Sepulchre, and found his Sonne rising up after his dead and
soporiferous sleepe, whom when he beheld, he imbraced him in his
armes, and presented him before the people, with great joy and
consolation, and as he was wrapped and bound in his grave, so he
brought him before the Judges, whereupon the wickednesse of the
Servant, and, the treason of the stepdame was plainely discovered,
and the verity of the matter revealed, whereby the woman was
perpetually exiled, the Servant hanged on a Gallowes, and the
Physitian had the Crownes, which was prepared to buy the poyson.
Behold how the fortune of the old man was changed, who thinking
to be deprived of all his race and posterity, was in one moment
made the Father of two Children.  But as for me, I was ruled and
handled by fortune, according to her pleasure.




THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius was sold to two brethren, whereof one was a Baker,
and the other a Cooke, and how finely and daintily he fared.

 THE Souldier that payed never a peny for me, by the
commandement of his Captaine was sent unto Rome, to cary
Letters to the great Prince, and Generall of the Campe.  Before he
went, he sold me for eleven pence to two of his Companions, being
Servants to a man of worship, whereof one was a Baker that
baked sweet bread and delicates, the other a Cooke, which dressed
fine and excellent meats for his Master.  These two lived in
common, and would drive me from place to place, to carry such
things as was necessary, insomuch that I was received by these
two, as a third Brother, and Companion, and I thought I was never
better placed, then with them : for when night came that Supper
was done, and their businesse ended, they would bring many good
morsels into their Chamber for themselves.  One would bring Pigs,
Chickens, fish, and other good meates, the other fine bread, pasties,
tarts, custards and other delicate Junkets dipped in hony. And when
they had shut their chamber doore, and went to the bains : (O Lord)
how I would fill my guts with these goodly dishes : neither was I so
much a foole, or so very an Asse, to leave the dainty meats, and to
grind my teeth upon hard hay. In this sort I continued a great space,
for I played the honest Asse, taking but a little of one dish, and a
little of another, wherby no man distrusted me.  In the end, I was
more hardier and began to devoure the whole messes of the sweet
delicates, which caused the Baker and the Cooke to suspect,
howbeit they nothing mistrusted me, but searched about to
apprehend the theefe. At length they began to accuse one another
of theft, and to set the dishes and morsels of meat in order, one by
another, because they would learne what was taken away,
whereby one of them was compelled to say thus to his fellow : Is it
reason to breake promise and faith in this sort, by stealing away the
best meat, and to sell it to augment thy good, and yet neverthelesse
to have thy part in the residue that is left : if our partnership doe
mislike thee, we will be partners and brothers in other things, but in
this we will breake of : for I perceive that the great losse which I
sustain, will at length be a cause of great discord betweene us.
Then answered the other, Verily I praise thy great constancy and
subtilnesse, in that (when thou hast secretly taken away the meat)
[thou] dost begin to complaine first, whereas I by long space of
time have suffered thee, because I would not seeme to accuse my
brother of theft, but I am right glad in that wee are fallen into
communication of the matter, least by our silence, like contention
might arise betweene us, as fortuned betweene Eteocles and his
Brother.  When they had reasoned together in this sort, they swore
both earnestly, that neither of them stale or tooke away any jote of
the meate, wherefore they concluded to search out the Theefe by
all kind of meanes.  For they could not imagin or thinke, the Asse
who stood alone there, would eate any such meates, neither could
they thinke that Mice or Flyes, were so ravenous, as to devouer
whole dishes of meat, like the Birds Harpies which carried away
the meates of Phineus the King of Archadia. In the Meane season
while I was fed with dainty morsels, I gathered together my flesh,
my skin waxed soft, my haire began to shine, and was gallant on
every part, but such faire and comely shape of my body, was cause
of my dishonour, for the Baker and Cooke marvelled to see me so
slick and fine, considering I did eate no hay at all. Wherefore on a
time at their accustomed houre, they went to the baines, and locked
their chamber doore.  It fortuned that ere they departed away, they
espyed me through a hole, how I fell roundly to my victuals: then
they marvelled greatly, and little esteemed the losse of their meate,
laughed exceedingly, calling the servants of the house, to shew
them the greedy gorge and appetite of the Asse. Their laughing
was so immoderate that the master of the house heard them, and
demanded the cause of their laughter, and when hee understood all
the matter, hee looked through the hole likewise, wherewith he took
such a delectation that hee commanded the doore to be opened,
that hee might see mee at his pleasure. Then I perceiving every
man laugh, was nothing abashed, but rather more bold, whereby I
never rested eating, till such time as the master of the house
commanded me to be brought into his parler as a novelty, and there
caused all kinds of meates which were never touched to be set on
the table, which (although I had eaten sufficiently before, yet to win
the further favour of the master of the house) I did greedily
devoure and made a cleane riddance of all the delicate meates.
And to prove my nature wholly, they gave met such meates as
every Asse doth abhorre: for they put before mee beefe and
vinegar, birds and pepper, fish and verjuice: in the meane season
they that beheld met at the table did nothing but laugh. Then one of
the servants of the house sayd to his master, I pray you sir give him
some drinke to his supper: Marry (quoth hee) I thinke thou saist
true, for it may be, that to his meate hee would drinke likewise a
cup of wine. Hoe boy, wash yonder pot, and fill it with wine, which
done, carry it to the Asse, and say that I have drunke to him. Then
all the standers by looked on, to see what would come to passe :
but I (as soone as I beheld the cup) staied not long, but gathering
my lips together, supped up all the wine at one draught.  The
master being right joyfull hereat caused the Baker and Cooke
which had bought me, to come before him, to whom he delivered
foure times as much for me, as they paid, which done he committed
me to one of his rich Libertines, and charged him to looke well to
me, and that I should lacke nothing, who obeied his masters
commandement in every point : and to the end he would creepe
further into his favour, he taught me a thousand qualities.  First he
instructed me to sit at the table upon my taile, and how I should
leape and dance, holding up my former feete: moreover hee taught
me how I should answer when any body spake unto me, with
nodding my head, which was a strange and marvailous thing, and if
I did lacke drinke, I should looke still upon the pot.  All which things
I did willingly bring to passe, and obeyed his doctrine : howbeit, I
could have done all these things without his teaching, but I feared
greatly lest in shewing my selfe cunning without a master, I should
pretend some great and strange wonder, and thereby be throwne
out to wild beasts.  But my fame was spred about in every place,
and the qualities which I could doe, insomuch that my master was
renowned throughout all the Country by reason of mee.  For every
man would say: Behold the Gentleman that hath an Asse, that will
eate and drinke with him, that will dance, and understand what is
said to him, will shew his fantasie by signes.  But first I will tell you
(which I should have done before) who my master was, and of
what country.  His name was Thiasus, hee was borne at Corinth,
which is a principall towne of Achaia, and he had passed many
offices of honor, till hee had taken upon him the degree
Quinquenuall, according as his birth and dignity required, who to
shew his worthinesse, and to purchase the benevolence of every
person, appointed publike joyes and triumphs, to endure the space
of three dayes, and to bring his endeavour to passe, he came into
Thessaly to buy excellent Beasts, and valiant fighters for the
purpose.



THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER


How a certaine Matron fell in love with Apuleius, how hee had his
pleasure with her, and what other things happened.

When he had bought such things as was necessary, he would not
returne home into his Countrey in Chariots, or waggon, neither
would he ride upon Thessalian Horses, or Jenets of France, or
Spanish Mules, which be most excellent as can be found, but
caused me to be garnished and trimmed with trappers and barbs of
Gold, with brave harnesse, with purple coverings, with a bridle of
silver, with pictured cloths, and with shrilling bells, and in this
manner he rode upon me lovingly, speaking and intreating me with
gentle words, but above all things he did greatly rejoyce in that I
was his Servant to beare him upon my backe, and his Companion to
feed with him at the Table : After long time when we had travelled
as well by Sea as Land, and fortuned to arrive at Corinth, the
people of the Towne came about us on every side, not so much to
doe honour to Thiasus, as to see me : For my fame was so greatly
spread there, that I gained my master much money, and when the
people was desirous to see me play prankes, they caused the Gates
to be shut, and such as entered in should pay money, by meanes
whereof I was a profitable companion to them every day : There
fortuned to be amongst the Assembly a noble and rich Matron that
conceived much delight to behold me, and could find no remedy to
her passions and disordinate appetite, but continually desired to
have her pleasure with me, as Pasiphae had with a Bull.  In the end
she promised a great reward to my keeper for the custody of me
one night, who for gaine of a little money accorded to her desire,
and when I had supped in a Parler with my Master, we departed
away and went into our Chamber, where we found the faire
Matron, who had tarried a great space for our comming : I am not
able to recite unto you how all things were prepared : there were
foure Eunuches that lay on a bed of downe on the ground with
Boulsters accordingly for us to lye on, the Coverlet was of cloth of
Gold, and the pillowes soft and tender, whereon the delicate Matron
had accustomed to lay her head.  Then the Eunuches not minding
to delay any longer the pleasure of their Mistresse closed the
doores of the Chamber and departed away: within the Chamber
were Lamps that gave a cleare light all the place over : Then she
put off all her Garments to her naked skinne, and taking the Lampe
that stood next to her, began to annoint all her body with balme, and
mine likewise, but especially my nose, which done, she kissed me,
not as they accustome to doe at the stews, or in brothel houses, or
in the Curtain Schools for gaine of money, but purely, sincerely, and
with great affection, casting out these and like loving words : Thou
art he whom I love, thou art he whom I onely desire, without thee I
cannot live, and other like preamble of talke as women can use well
enough, when as they mind to shew or declare their burning
passions and great affection of love: Then she tooke me by the
halter and cast me downe upon the bed, which was nothing strange
unto me, considering that she was so beautifull a Matron and I so
wel bolded out with wine, and perfumed with balme, whereby I
was readily prepared for the purpose: But nothing grieved me so
much as to think, how I should with my huge and great legs
imbrace so faire a Matron, or how I should touch her fine, dainty,
and silken skinne, with my hard hoofes, or how it was possible to
kisse her soft, pretty and ruddy lips, with my monstrous mouth and
stony teeth, or how she, who was young and tender, could be able
to receive me.

And I verily thought, if I should hurt the woman by any kind of
meane, I should be throwne to the wild Beasts : But in the meane
season she kissed me, and looked in my mouth with burning eyes,
saying : I hold thee my canny, I hold thee my noose, my sparrow,
and therewithall she eftsoones imbraced my body round about, and
had her pleasure with me, whereby I thought the mother of
Miniatures did not ceaseless quench her inordinate desire with a
Bull.  When night was passed, with much joy and small sleepe, the
Matron went before day to my keeper to bargain with him another
night, which he willingly granted, partly for gaine of money, and
partly to finde new pastime for my master.  Who after he was
informed of all the history of my luxury, was right glad, and
rewarded my keeper well for his paine, minding to shew before the
face of all the people, what I could doe : but because they would
not suffer the Matron to abide such shame, by reason of her
dignity, and because they could finde no other that would
endeavour so great a reproach, at length they obtained for money a
poore woman, which was condemned to be eaten of wilde beasts,
with whom I should openly have to doe : But first I will tell you
what tale I heard concerning this woman.  This woman had a
husband, whose father minding to ride forth, commanded his wife
which he left at home great with child, that if she were delivered of
a daughter, it should incontinently be killed.  When the time of her
delivery came, it fortuned that she had a daughter, whom she would
not suffer to be slaine, by reason of the naturall affection which she
hare unto her child, but secretly committed her to one of her
neighbours to nurse.  And when her husband returned home, shee
declared unto him that shee was delivered of a daughter, whom (as
hee commanded), shee had caused to be put to death.  But when
this child came to age, and ready to be married, the mother knew
not by what meanes shee should endow her daughter, but that her
husband should understand and perceive it.  Wherefore shee
discovered the matter to her sonne, who was the husband of this
woman, condemned to be eaten of wild beasts : For shee greatly
feared least hee should unawares fancie or fall in love with his
owne sister.  The young man understanding the whole matter (to
please and gratify his mother) went immediately to the young
maiden, keeping the matter secret in his heart, for feare of
inconvenience, and (lamenting to see his sister forsaken both of
mother and father) incontinently after endowed her with part of his
owne goods, and would have married her to one of his especial and
trusty friends : But although hee brought this to passe very secretly
and sagely, yet in the end cruell fortune sowed great sedition in his
house.  For his wife who was now condemned to beasts, waxed
jealous of her husband and began to suspect the young woman as a
harlot and common queane, insomuch that shee invented all manner
of meanes to dispatch her out of the way.  And in the end shee
invented this kind of mischiefe : She privily stale away her
husbands ring, and went into the country, whereas she commanded
one of her trusty servants to take the ring and carry it to the
mayden.  To whom he should declare that her brother did pray her
to come into the country to him, and that she should come alone
without any person.  And to the end shee should not delay but
come with all speed he should deliver her the ring, which should be
a sufficient testimony of the message.  This mayden as soone as
she had received the ring of her brother, being very willing and
desirous to obey his commandement : (For she knew no otherwise
but that he had sent for her) went in all hast as the messenger
willed her to doe. But when she was come to the snare and engine
which was prepared for her, the mischievous woman, like one that
were mad, and possessed with some ill spirit, when the poore
maiden called for helpe with a loud voyce to her brother, the
wicked harlot (weening that she had invented and feined the
matter) tooke a burning firebrand and thrust it into her secret place,
whereby she died miserably.  The husband of this maiden but
especially her brother, advertised of her death, came to the place
where she was slain, and after great lamentation and weeping, they
caused her to be buried honourably.  This yong man her brother
taking in ill part the miserable death of his sister, as it was
convenient he should, conceived so great dolour within his mind and
was strucken with so pestilent fury of bitter anguish, that he fell into
the burning passions of a dangerous ague, whereby he seemed in
such necessity, that he needed to have some speedy remedy to
save his life.  The woman that slew the Maiden having lost the
name of wife together with her faith, went to a traiterous Physician,
who had killed a great many persons in his dayes and promised him
fifty peeces of Gold, if he would give her a present poyson to kill
her husband out of hand, but in presence of her Husband, she
feined that it was necessary for him to receive a certaine kind of
drink, which the Maisters and Doctours of Physicke doe call a
sacred Potion, to the intent he might purge Choller and scoure the
interiour parts of his body.  But the Physitian in stead of that drinke
prepared a mortall and deadly poyson, and when he had tempered it
accordingly, he tooke the pot in the presence of the family, and
other neighbours and friends of the sick yong man, and offered it to
his patient.  But the bold and hardy woman, to the end she might
accomplish her wicked intent, and also gaine the money which she
had promised the Physitian, staid the pot with her hand, saying: I
pray you master Physitian, minister not this drinke unto my deare
Husband, untill such time as you have drunke some part thereof
your selfe: For what know I, whether you have mingled any poyson
in the drinke or no, wherein I would have you not to be offended :
For I know that you are a man of wisedome and learning, but this I
do to the intent the conscience and love that I beare to the health
and safeguard of my husband, may be apparent.  The Physitian
being greatly troubled at the wickednesse of this mischievous
woman, as voyd of all counsell and leysure to consider of the
matter, and least he might give any cause of suspition to the
standers by, or shew any scruple of his guilty conscience, by reason
of long delay, tooke the pot in his hand, and presently drunke a good
draught thereof, which done, the young man having no mistrust,
drunke up the residue.  The Physitian would have gone immediately
home to receive a counterpoyson, to expeth and drive out the first
poyson : But the wicked woman persevering in her mischiefe,
would not suffer him to depart a foot, untill such time as the poyson
began to worke in him, and then by much prayer and intercession
she licensed him to goe home: By the way the poyson invaded the
intrailes and bowels of the whole body of the Physitian, in such sort
that with great paine he came to his owne house, where he had
scarce time to speake to his wife, and to will her to receive the
promised salitary of the death of two persons, but he yeelded up the
ghost : And the other young man lived not long after, but likewise
dyed, amongst the feined and deceitfull teares of his cursed wife.
A few dayes after, when the young man was buried and the
funerall ended, the Physitians wife demanded of her the fifty
peeces of gold which she promised her husband for the drinke,
whereat the ill disposed woman, with resemblance of honesty,
answered her with gentle words, and promised to give her the fifty
peeces of gold, if she would fetch her a little of that same drinke, to
proceed and make an end of all her enterprise.  The Physitians
wife partly to winne the further favour of this rich woman, and
partly to gaine the money, ranne incontinently home, and brought
her a whole roote of poyson, which when she saw, having now
occasion to execute her further malice, and to finish the damnable
plot, began to stretch out her bloody hands to murther.  She had a
daughter by her husband (that was poysoned) who according to
order of law, was appointed heire of all the lands and goods of her
father : but this woman knowing that the mothers succoured their
children, and received all their goods after their death, purposed to
shew her selfe a like parent to her child, as she was a wife to her
husband, whereupon she prepared a dinner with her owne hands,
and empoysoned both the wife of the Physitian and her owne
daughter : The child being young and tender dyed incontinently by
force of the drinke, but the Physitians wife being stout and strong
of complexion, feeling the poison to trill down into her body,
doubted the matter, and thereupon knowing of certainty that she
had received her bane, ran forthwith to the judges house, that what
with her cryes, and exclamations, she raised up the people of the
towne, and promising them to shew divers wicked and mischievous
acts, caused that the doores and gates were opened.  When she
came in she declared from the beginning to the end the
abhomination of this woman: but shee had scarce ended her tale,
when opening her falling lips, and grinding her teeth together, she
fell downe dead before the face of the Judge, who incontinently to
try the truth of the matter, caused the cursed woman, and her
servants to be pulled out of the house, and enforced by paine of
torment to confesse the verity, which being knowne, this
mischievous woman farre lesse then she deserved, but because
there could be no more cruell a death invented for the quality of her
offence, was condemned to be eaten with wild beasts. Behold with
this woman was I appointed to have to doe before the face of the
people, but I being wrapped in great anguish, and envying the day
of the triumph, when we two should so abandon our selves
together, devised rather to sley my selfe, then to pollute my body
with this mischievous harlot, and so for ever to remaine defamed:
but it was impossible for me so to doe, considering that I lacked
hands, and was not able to hold a knife in my hoofes: howbeit
standing in a pretty cabin, I rejoyced in my selfe to see that spring
time was come, and that all things flourished, and that I was in good
hope to find some Roses, to render me my humane shape. When
the day of triumph came, I was led with great pompe and
benevolence to the appointed place, where when I was brought, I
first saw the preamble of that triumph, dedicated with dancers and
merry taunting jests, and in the meane season was placed before
the gate of the Theater, whereas on the one side I saw the greene
and fresh grasse growing before the entry thereof, whereon I
greatly desired to feed: on the other side I conceived a great
delectation to see when the Theater gates were opened, how all
things was finely prepared and set forth: For there I might see
young children and maidens in the flowre of their youth of excellent
beauty, and attired gorgiously, dancing and mooved in comely order,
according to the order of Grecia, for sometime they would dance in
length, sometime round together, sometime divide themselves into
foure parts, and sometime loose hands on every side: but when the
trumpet gave warning that every man should retire to his place,
then began the triumph to appeare.  First there was a hill of wood,
not much unlike that which the Poet Homer called Idea, for it was
garnished about with all sort of greene verdures and lively trees,
from the top whereof ran downe a cleare and fresh fountaine,
nourishing the waters below, about which wood were many young
and tender Goates, plucking and feeding daintily on the budding
trees, then came a young man a shepheard representing Paris,
richly arrayed with vestments of Barbary, having a mitre of gold
upon his head, and seeming as though he kept the goates.  After
him ensued another young man all naked, saving that his left
shoulder was covered with a rich cloake, and his head shining with
glistering haires, and hanging downe, through which you might
perceive two little wings, whereby you might conjecture that he
was Mercury, with his rod called Caduceus, he bare in his right
hand an Apple of gold, and with a seemely gate went towards him
that represented Paris, and after hee had delivered him the Apple,
he made a signe, signifying that Jupiter had commanded him so to
doe : when he had done his message he departed away.  And by
and by, there approached a faire and comely mayden, not much
unlike to Juno, for she had a Diademe of gold upon her head, and in
her hand she bare a regall scepter : then followed another
resembling Pallas, for she had on her head a shining sallet, whereon
was bound a garland of Olive branches, having in one hand a target
or shield : and in the other a speare as though she would fight : then
came another which passed the other in beauty, and presented the
Goddesse Venus, with the color of Ambrosia, when she was a
maiden, and to the end she would shew her perfect beauty, shee
appeared all naked, saving that her fine and dainty skin was
covered with a thin smocke, which the wind blew hither and thither
to testifie the youth and flowre of the age of the dame.  Her colour
was of two sorts, for her body was white as descended from
heaven, and her smocke was blewish, as arrived from the sea :
After every one of the Virgins which seemed goddesses, followed
certaine waiting servants, Castor and Pollus went behind Juno,
having on their heads helmets covered with starres.  This Virgin
Juno sounded a Flute, which shee bare in her hand, and mooved her
selfe towards the shepheard Paris, shewing by honest signes and
tokens, and promising that hee should be Lord of all Asia, if hee
would judge her the fairest of the three, and to give her the apple of
gold : the other maiden which seemed by her armour to be Pallas,
was accompanied with two young men armed, and brandishing
their naked swords in their hands, whereof one named Terror, and
the other Feare; behind them approached one sounding his trumpet
to provoke and stirre men to battell; this maiden began to dance and
shake her head, throwing her fierce and terrible eyes upon Paris
and promising that if it pleased him to give her the victory of
beauty, shee would make him the most strong and victorious man
alive.  Then came Venus and presented her selfe in the middle of
the Theater, with much favour of all the people, for shee was
accompanied with a great many of youth, whereby you would have
judged them all to be Cupidoes, either to have flowne from heaven
or else from the river of the sea, for they had wings, arrowes, and
the residue of their habit according in each point, and they bare in
their hands torches lighted, as though it had beene a day of
marriage.  Then came in a great multitude of faire maidens : on the
one side were the most comely Graces : on the other side, the most
beautifull Houres carrying garlands and loose flowers, and making
great honor to the goddesse of pleasure; the flutes and Pipes
yeelded out the sweet sound of Lydians, whereby they pleased the
minds of the standers by exceedingly, but the more pleasing Venus
mooved forward more and more, and shaking her head answered
by her motion and gesture, to the sound of the instruments.  For
sometimes she would winke gently, sometimes threaten and looke
aspishly, and sometimes dance onely with her eyes : As soone as
she was come before the Judge, she made a signe and token to
give him the most fairest spouse of all the world, if he would prefer
her above the residue of the goddesses.  Then the young Phrygian
shepheard Paris with a willing mind delivered the golden Apple to
Venus, which was the victory of beauty.

Why doe ye marvell, ye Orators, ye Lawyers, and Advocates, if
many of our judges now a daies sell their judgements for money,
when as in the beginning of the world one onely Grace corrupted
the sentence betweene God and men, and that one rusticall Judge
and shepheard appointed by the counsell of great Jupiter, sold his
judgement for a little pleasure, which was the cause afterward of
the ruine of all his progeny?  By like manner of meane, was
sentence given between the noble Greekes: For the noble and
valiant personage Palamedes was convicted and attainted of
treason, by false perswasion and accusation, and Ulisses being but
of base condition, was preferred in Martiall prowesse above great
Ajax.  What judgement was there likewise amongst the Athenian
lawyers, sage and expert in all sciences?  Was not Socrates who
was preferred by Apollo, above all the wise men in the world, by
envy and malice of wicked persons impoysoned with the herbe
Cicuta, as one that corrupted the youth of the countrey, whom
alwaies be kept under by correction?  For we see now a dayes
many excellent Philosophers greatly desire to follow his sect, and
by perpetual study to value and revolve his workes, but to the end I
may not be reproved of indignation by any one that might say :
What, shall we suffer an Asse to play the Philosopher?  I will
returne to my further purpose.

 After the judgement of Paris was ended, Juno and Pallas departed
away angerly, shewing by their gesture, that they would revenge
themselves on Paris, but Venus that was right pleased and glad in
her heart, danced about the Theater with much joy.  This done
from the top of the hill through a privy spout, ran a floud of the
colour of Saffron, which fell upon the Goates, and changed their
white haire into yellow, with a sweet odour to all them of the
Theater.  By and by after by certaine engines, the ground opened,
and swallowed up the hill of wood : and then behold there came a
man of armes through the multitude, demanding by the consent of
the people, the woman who was condemned to the beasts, and
appointed for me to have to doe withall : our bed was finely and
bravely prepared, and covered with silke and other things
necessary. But I, beside the shame to commit this horrible fact, and
to pollute my body with this wicked harlot did greatly feare the
danger of death: for I thought in my selfe, that when she and I
were together, the savage beast appointed to devoure the woman,
was not so instructed and taught, or would so temper his
greedinesse, as that hee would teare her in peeces lying under mee,
and spare mee with a regard of mine innocency. Wherefore I was
more carefull for the safeguard of my life, then for the shame that I
should abide, but in the meane season while my master made ready
the bed, all the residue did greatly delight to see the hunting and
pleasantnesse of the triumph, I began to thinke and devise for my
selfe. 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.




 THE ELEVENTH BOOKE



 THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER


 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.  Grant peace and rest if it
please thee to my adversities, for I have endured too much labour
and perill.  Remoove from me my shape of mine Asse, and render
to me my pristine estate, and if I have offended in any point of
divine Majesty, let me rather dye then live, for I am full weary of
my life.  When I had ended this orison, and discovered my plaints to
the Goddesse, I fortuned to fall asleepe, and by and by appeared
unto me a divine and venerable face, worshipped even of the Gods
themselves.  Then by little and little I seemed to see the whole
figure of her body, mounting out of the sea and standing before
mee, wherefore I purpose to describe her divine semblance, if the
poverty of my humane speech will suffer me, or her divine power
give me eloquence thereto. First shee had a great abundance of
haire, dispersed and scattered about her neck, on the crowne of her
head she bare many garlands enterlaced with floures, in the middle
of her forehead was a compasse in fashion of a glasse, or
resembling the light of the Moone, in one of her hands she bare
serpents, in the other, blades of corne, her vestiment was of fine
silke yeelding divers colours, sometime yellow, sometime rosie,
sometime flamy, and sometime (which troubled my spirit sore)
darke and obscure, covered with a blacke robe in manner of a
shield, and pleated in most subtill fashion at the skirts of her
garments, the welts appeared comely, whereas here and there the
starres glimpsed, and in the middle of them was placed the Moone,
which shone like a flame of fire, round about the robe was a
coronet or garland made with flowers and fruits. In her right hand
shee had a timbrell of brasse, which gave a pleasant sound, in her
left hand shee bare a cup of gold, out of the mouth whereof the
serpent Aspis lifted up his head, with a swelling throat, her
odoriferous feete were covered with shoes interlaced and wrought
with victorious palme.  Thus the divine shape breathing out the
pleasant spice of fertill Arabia, disdained not with her divine voyce
to utter these words unto me: Behold Lucius I am come, thy
weeping and prayers hath mooved mee to succour thee. I am she
that is the naturall mother of all things, mistresse and governesse of
all the Elements, the initiall progeny of worlds, chiefe of powers
divine, Queene of heaven! the principall of the Gods celestiall, the
light of the goddesses: at my will the planets of the ayre, the
wholesome winds of the Seas, and the silences of hell be diposed;
my name, my divinity is adored throughout all the world in divers
manners, in variable customes and in many names, for the
Phrygians call me the mother of the Gods: the Athenians, Minerva:
the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians, Diana: the Sicilians Proserpina:
the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, other Bellona, other Hecate: and
principally the Aethiopians which dwell in the Orient, and the
Aegyptians which are excellent in all kind of ancient doctrine, and
by their proper ceremonies accustome to worship mee, doe call
mee Queene Isis.  Behold I am come to take pitty of thy fortune
and tribulation, behold I am present to favour and ayd thee, leave
off thy weeping and lamentation, put away all thy sorrow, for
behold the healthfull day which is ordained by my providence,
therefore be ready to attend to my commandement.  This day
which shall come after this night, is dedicated to my service, by an
eternall religion, my Priests and Ministers doe accustome after the
tempests of the Sea, be ceased, to offer in my name a new ship as
a first fruit of my Navigation.  I command thee not to prophane or
despise the sacrifice in any wise, for the great Priest shall carry this
day following in procession by my exhortation, a Garland of Roses,
next the timbrell of his right hand : follow thou my procession
amongst the people, and when thou commest to the Priest make as
though thou wouldest kisse his hand, but snatch at the Roses,
whereby I will put away the skin and shape of an Asse, which kind
of beast I have long time abhorred and despised, but above all
things beware thou doubt not nor feare any of those things, as hard
and difficill to bee brought to passe, for in the same houre that I am
come to thee, I have commanded the Priest by a vision what he
shall doe, and all the people by my commandement shall be
compelled to give thee place and say nothing !  Moreover, thinke
not that amongst so faire and joyfull Ceremonies, and in so good a
company that any person shall abhorre thy ill-favoured and
deformed figure, or that any man shall be so hardy, as to blame and
reprove thy suddaine restoration to humane shape, wherby they
should gather or conceive any sinister opinion : and know thou this
of certaine, that the residue of thy life untill the houre of death shall
be bound and subject to me !  And think it not an injury to be
alwayes serviceable towards me, since as by my meane and
benefit thou shalt become a man : thou shalt live blessed in this
world, thou shalt live glorious by my guide and protection, and when
thou descendest to Hell, where thou shalt see me shine in that
subterene place, shining (as thou seest me now) in the darkness of
Acheron, and raigning in the deepe profundity of Stix, thou shalt
worship me, as one that hath bin favourable to thee, and if I
perceive that thou art obedient to my commandement, addict to my
religion, and merite my divine grace, know thou, that I will prolong
thy dales above the time that the fates have appointed, and the
celestial Planets ordeined.

When the divine Image had spoken these words, she vanished
away !  By and by when I awaked, I arose, haveing the members
of my bodie mixed with feare, joy and sweate, and marvailed at the
cleare presence of the puissant goddesse, and being sprinkled with
the water of the sea, I recounted orderly her admonitions and divine
commandements.  Soone after, the darknes chased away, and the
cleare and golden sunne arose, when as behold I saw the streets
replenished with people going in a religious sort and in great
triumph.  All things seemed that day to be joyfull, as well all manner
of beasts and houses, as also the very day it selfe seemed to
rejoyce.  For after the hore-frost, ensued the hot and temperat sun,
whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come,
did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously : the mother of stars,
the parent of times, and mistres of all the world : The fruitfull trees
rejoyced at their fertility : The barren and sterill were contented at
their shadow, rendering sweete and pleasant shrills !  The seas
were quiet from winds and tempests : the heaven had chaced away
the clouds, and appeared faire and cleare with his proper light.
Behold then more and more appeared the pomps and processions,
attired in regall manner and singing joyfully : One was girded about
the middle like a man of armes : Another bare and spare, and had a
cloake and high-shooes like a hunter ! another was attired in a robe
of silke, and socks of gold, having his haire laid out, and dressed in
forme of a woman !  There was another ware legge-harnesse, and
bare a target, a sallet, and a speare like a martial souldier : after
him marched one attired in purple with vergers before him like a
magistrate ! after him followed one with a maurell, a staffe, a paire
of pantofles, and with a gray beard, signifying a philosopher : after
him went one with lime, betokening a fowler, another with hookes
declaring a fisher: I saw there a meeke and tame beare, which in
matron habite was carried on a stoole : An Ape with a bonet on his
head, and covered with lawne, resemling a shepheard, and bearing
a cup of gold in his hand: an Asse which had wings glewed to his
backe, and went after an old man, whereby you would judge the
one to be Pegasus, and the other Bellephoron.  Amongst the
pleasures and popular delectations, which wandered hither and
thither, you might see the pompe of the goddesse triumphantly
march forward : The woman attired in white vestiments, and
rejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads,
bedspread the waies with hearbes, which they bare in their aprons,
where this regall and devout procession should passe : Other caried
glasses on their backes, to testifie obeisance to the goddess which
came after.  Other bare combs of Ivory, and declared by their
gesture and motions of their armes, that they were ordained and
readie to dresse the goddesse : Others dropped in the wayes as
they went Balme and other pretious ointments : Then came a great
number, as well of men as women, with Candels, torches, and other
lights, doing honour to the celestiall goddesse :  After that sounded
the musical harmony of instruments : then came a faire companie
of youth, apparelled in white vestiments, singing both meter and
verse, with a comely grade which some studious Poet had made in
honour of the Muses : In the meane season, arrived the blowers of
trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapes, and to the temple
before them were officers and beadles, preparing roome for the
goddess to passe.  Then came the great company of men and
women, which had taken divine orders, whose garments glistered
all the streets over.  The women had their haire annointed and their
heads covered with linnen : but the men had their crownes shaven,
which were the terrene stars of the goddesse, holding in their hand
instruments of brasse, silver and gold, which rendered a pleasant
sound.

The principall Priests which were apparelled with white surplesses
hanging downe to the ground, bare the relikes of the puissant
goddesse.  One carried in his hand a light, not unlike to those which
we used in our houses, saving that in the middle thereof appeared a
bole which rendred a more bright flame.  The second attired hike
the other bare in his hand an Altar, which the goddesse her selfe
named the succor of nations.  The third held a tree of palme with
leaves of gold, and the verge of Mercurie. The fourth shewed out a
token of equitie by his left hand, which was deformed in every
place, signifiing thereby more equitie then by the right hand.  The
same Priest carried a round vessell of gold, in forme of a cap.  The
fifth bare a van, wrought with springs of gold, and another carried a
vessell for wine : By and by after the goddesse followed a foot as
men do, and specially Mercurie, the messenger of the goddesse
infernall and supernall, with his face sometime blacke, sometime
faire, lifting up the head of the dogges Annubis, and bearing in his
left hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of a palme
tree, after whom followed a cow with an upright gate, representing
the figure of the great goddesse, and he that guided her, marched
on with much gravity.  Another carried after the secrets of their
religion, closed in a coffer.  There was one that bare on his
stomacke a figure of his god, not formed like any beast, bird,
savage thing or humane shape, but made by a new invention,
whereby was signified that such a religion should not be discovered
or revealed to any person.  There was a vessel wrought with a
round bottome, haveing on the one side, pictures figured like unto
the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other side was an eare,
whereupon stood the Serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly necke.
Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortun according
to the promise of the goddesse. For the great Priest which bare the
restoration of my human shape, by the commandement of the
goddes, Approached more and more, bearing in his left hand the
timbrill, and in the other a garland of Roses to give me, to the end I
might be delivered from cruel fortune, which was alwaies mine
enemie, after the sufferance of so much calamitie and paine, and
after the endurance of so manie perilles: Then I not returning
hastilie, by reason of sodaine joye, lest I should disturbe the quiet
procession with mine importunitie, but going softly through the
prease of the people, which gave me place on every side, went
after the Priest.  The priest being admonished the night before, as I
might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand, thrust out
the garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a
great affection: And as soone as I had eaten them, I was not
deceived of the promise made unto me. For my deforme and Assie
face abated, and first the rugged haire of my body fell off, my thick
skin waxed soft and tender, the hooves of my feet changed into
toes, my hands returned againe, my neck grew short, my head and
mouth began round, my long eares were made little, my great and
stonie teeth waxed lesse like the teeth of men, and my tayle which
combred me most, appeared no where: then the people began to
marvaile, and the religious honoured the goddesse, for so evident a
miracle, they wondered at the visions which they saw in the night,
and the facilitie of my reformation, whereby they rendered
testimonie of so great a benefit which I received of the goddesse.
When I saw my selfe in such estate, I stood still a good space and
said nothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I
shoulde first speake, nor what thanks I should render to the
goddesse, but the great Priest understanding all my fortune and
miserie, by divine advertisement, commanded that one should give
me garments to cover me: Howbeit as soone as I was transformed
from an asse to my humane shape, I hid the privitie of my body
with my hands as shame and necessity compelled mee.  Then one
of the company put off his upper robe and put it on my backe:
which done, the Priest looked upon me, with a sweete and benigne
voice, gan say in this sort: O my friend Lucius, after the endurance
of so many labours, and the escape of so many tempests of fortune,
thou art at length come to the port and haven of rest and mercy:
neither did thy noble linage, thy dignity, thy doctrine, or any thing
prevaile, but that thou hast endured so many servil pleasures, by a
little folly of thy youthfullnes, whereby thou hast had a sinister
reward for thy unprosperous curiositie, but howsoever the blindnes
of fortune tormented thee in divers dangers : so it is, that now
unwares to her, thou art come to this present felicitie : let fortune
go, and fume with fury in another place, let her finde some other
matter to execute her cruelty, for fortune hath no puissance against
them which serve and honour our goddesse.  For what availed the
theeves : the beasts savage : thy great servitude : the ill and
dangerous waits : the long passages : the feare of death every day?
Know thou, that now thou art safe, and under the protection of her,
who by her cleare light doth lighten the other gods : wherefore
rejoyce and take a convenable countenance to thy white habit,
follow the pomp of this devout and honorable procession, to the end
that such which be not devout to the Goddes, may see and
acknowledge their errour.  Behold Lucius, thou art delivered from
so great miseries, by the providence of the goddesse Isis, rejoyce
therefore and triumph of the victory of fortune; to the end thou
maist live more safe and sure, make thy selfe one of this holy order,
dedicate thy minde to the Obsequy of our Religion, and take upon
thee a a voluntary yoake of ministrie : And when thou beginnest to
serve and honour the goddes, then thou shalt feele the fruit of thy
liberty : After that the great Priest had prophesied in this manner,
with often breathings, he made a conclusion of his words : Then I
went amongst the company of die rest and followed the procession
: everie one of the people knew me, and pointing at me with their
fingers, said in this sort : Behold him who is this day transformed
into a man by the puissance of the soveraigne goddesse, verily he is
blessed and most blessed that hath merited so great grace from
heaven, as by the innocencie of his former life, and as it were by a
new regeneration is reserved to the obsequie of the goddesse.  In
the meane season by little and little we approached nigh unto the
sea cost, even to that place where I lay the night before being an
Asse.  There after the images and reliques were orderly disposed,
the great Priest compassed about with divers pictures according to
the fashion of the Aegyptians, did dedicate and consecrate with
certaine prayers a fair ship made very cunningly, and purified the
same with a torch, an egge, and sulphur; the saile was of white
linnen cloath, whereon was written certaine letters, which testified
the navigation to be prosperous, the mast was of a great length,
made of a Pine tree, round and very excellent with a shining top,
the cabin was covered over with coverings of gold, and all the
shippe was made of Citron tree very faire; then all the people as
well religious as prophane tooke a great number of Vannes,
replenished with odours and pleasant smells and threw them into
the sea mingled with milke, untill the ship was filled up with large
gifts and prosperous devotions, when as with a pleasant wind it
launched out into the deep.  But when they had lost the sight of the
ship, every man caried againe that he brought, and went toward the
temple in like pompe and order as they came to the sea side.
When we were come to the temple, the great priest and those
which were deputed to carrie the divine figures, but especially
those which had long time bin worshippers of the religion, went into
the secret chamber of the goddesse, where they put and placed the
images according to their ordor.  This done, one of the company
which was a scribe or interpreter of letters, who in forme of a
preacher stood up in a chaire before the place of the holy college,
and began to reade out of a booke, and to interpret to the great
prince, the senate, and to all the noble order of chivalry, and
generally to all the Romane people, and to all such as be under the
jurisdiction of Rome, these words following (Laois Aphesus) which
signified the end of their divin service and that it was lawfull for
every man to depart, whereat all the people gave a great showt,
and replenished with much joy, bare all kind of hearbs and garlands
of flowers home to their houses, kissing and imbracing the steps
where the goddesse passed : howbeit I could not doe as the rest,
for my mind would not suffer me to depart one foot away, so
attentiv was I to behold the beauty of the goddesse, with
remembrance of the great miserie I had endured.



 THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER


How the parents and friends of Apuleius heard news that he was
alive and in health.


In the mean season newes was carried into my countrey (as swift
as the flight of birds, or as the blast of windes) of the grace and
benefit which I received of the goddesse, and of my fortune worthy
to be had in memory. Then my parents friends and servants of our
house understanding that I was not dead, as they were falsely
informed, came towards me with great diligence to see me, as a
man raised from death to life : and I which never thought to see
them againe, was as joyfull as they, accepting and taking in good
part their honest gifts and oblations that they gave, to the intent I
might buy such things as was necessarie for my body : for after I
had made relation unto them of all my pristine miserie, and present
joyes, I went before the face of the goddesse and hired me a house
within the cloister of the temple to the end I might continually be
ready to the service of the goddesse, and ordinarily frequent the
company of the priests, whereby I would wholy become devout to
the goddesse, and an inseparable worshipper of her divine name : It
fortuned that the goddesse appeared to me oftetimes in the night
perswading and commanding me to take the order of her religion,
but I, though I was indued with a desirous good will, yet the feare
of the same withheld me considering her obeysance was hard and
difficile, the chastitie of the Priests intolerable, and the life fraile
and subject to manie inconveniences. Being thus in doubt, I
refrained my selfe from all those things as seemed impossible.

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 that I must attend the celestiall
precept, although it was evident and plaine, that the goddesse had
already vouchsafed to call and appoint me to her ministery, and to
will me refraine from prophane and unlawfull meates, as those
Priests which were already received, to the end I might come more
apt and cleane to the knowledge of the secrets of religion.  Then
was I obedient unto these words, and attentive with meek
quietnesse, and probable taciturnity, I daily served at the temple : in
the end the wholesome gentlenesse of the goddesse did nothing
deceive me, for in the night she appeared to me in a vision, shewing
that the day was come which I had wished for so long, she told me
what provision and charges I should be at, and how that she had
appointed her principallest Priest Mythra to be minister with me in
my sacrifices.

When I heard these divine commandements, I greatly rejoyced :
and arose before day to speake with the great Priest, whom I
fortuned to espie comming out of his chamber: Then I saluted him,
and thought with my selfe to aske and demand his counsell with a
bold courage, but as soone as he perceived me, he began first to
say : O Lucius now know I well that thou art most happy and
blessed, whom the divine goddesse doth so greatly accept with
mercy, why dost thou delay?  Behold the day which thou desiredst
when as thou shalt receive at my hands the order of religion, and
know the most pure secrets of the gods, whereupon the old man
tooke me by the hand, and lead me to the gate of the great temple,
where at the first entrie he made a solempne celebration, and after
morning sacrifice ended, brought out of the secret place of the
temple books, partly written with unknown characters, and partly
painted with figures of beasts declaring briefly every sentence, with
tops and tailes, turning in fashion of a wheele, which were strange
and impossible to be read of the prophane people: There he
interpreted to me such things as were necessary to the use and
preparation of mine order. This done, I gave charge to certaine of
my companions to buy liberally, whatsoever was needfull and
convenient, then he brought me to the next bains accompanied with
all the religious sort, and demanding pardon of the goddesse,
washed me and purified my body, according to custome. After this,
when noone approached, he brought me backe againe to the
temple, presented me before the face of the goddesse, giving a
charge of certaine secret things unlawfull to be uttered, and
commanding me, and generally all the rest, to fast by the space of
ten continuall daies, without eating of any beast, or drinking any
wine, which thing I observed with a marvellous continencie.  Then
behold the day approached, when as the sacrifice should be done,
and when night came there arrived on every coast, a great
multitude of Priests, who according to their order offered me many
presents and gifts: then was all the Laity and prophane people
commanded to depart, and when they had put on my back a linnen
robe, they brought me to the most secret and sacred place of all the
temple. You would peradventure demand (you studious reader)
what was said and done there, verely I would tell you if it were
lawfull for me to tell, you should know if it were convenient for you
to heare, but both thy eares, and my tongue shall incur the like
paine of rash curiositie: Howbeit, I will content thy mind for this
present time, which peradventure is somewhat religious and given
to some devotion, listen therefore and beleeve it to be true: Thou
shalt understand that I approached neere unto Hell, even to the
gates of Proserpina, and after that, I was ravished throughout all
the Element, I returned to my proper place: About midnight I saw
the Sun shine, I saw likewise the gods celestiall and gods infernall,
before whom I presented my selfe, and worshipped them: Behold
now have I told thee, which although thou hast heard, yet it is
necessarie thou conceale it; this have I declared without offence,
for the understanding of the prophane.

When morning came, and that the solemnities were finished, I
came forth sanctified with xii. Stoles and in a religious habit,
whereof I am not forbidden to speake, considering that many
persons saw me at that time: there I was commanded to stand upon
a seate of wood, which stood in the middle of the temple, before
the figure and remembrance of the goddesse; my vestiment was of
fine linnen, covered and embroidered with flowers.  I had a pretious
Cope upon my shoulders hanging downe to the ground, whereon
were beasts wrought of divers colours as Indian dragons, and
Hiperborian Griphons, whom in forme of birds, the other world doth
ingender; the Priests commonly call such a habit, a celestiall Stole:
in my right hand I carried a light torch, and a garland of flowers
upon my head, with Palme leaves sprouting out on every side: I
was adorned like unto the Sun, and made in fashion of an Image, in
such sort that all the people compassed about to behold me: then
they began to solemnize the feast of the nativitie, and the new
procession with sumptuous bankets and delicate meates: the third
day was likewise celebrated with like ceremonies with a religious
dinner, and with all the consummation of the order: when I had
continued there a good space, I conceived a marvailous great
pleasure and consolation in beholding ordinarily the Image of the
goddesse, who at length admonished me to depart homeward, not
without rendring of thanks, which although it were not sufficient,
yet they were according to my power. Howbeit I could unneth be
perswaded to depart, before I had fallen prostrate before the face
of the goddesse, and wiped her steps with my face, whereby I
began so greatly to weepe and sigh that my words were
interrupted, and as devouring my prayer, I began to say in this sort:
O holy and blessed dame, the perpetuall comfort of humane kind,
who by thy bounty and grace nourishest all the world, and hearest a
great affection to the adversities of the miserable, as a loving
mother thou takest no rest, neither art thou idle at any time in giving
thy benefits, and succoring all men, as well on land as sea; thou art
she that puttest away all stormes and dangers from mans life by thy
right hand, whereby likewise thou restrainest the fatall dispositions,
appeasest the great tempests of fortune and keepest backe the
course of the stars: the gods supernall doe honour thee: the gods
infernall have thee in reverence: thou environest all the world, thou
givest light to the Sunne, thou governest the world, thou treadest
downe the power of hell: By thy meane the times returne, the
Planets rejoyce, the Elements serve: at thy commandment the
winds do blow, the clouds increase, the seeds prosper, and the
fruits prevaile, the birds of the aire, the beasts of the hill, the
serpents of the den, and the fishes of the sea, do tremble at thy
majesty, but my spirit is not able to give thee sufficient praise, my
patrimonie is unable to satisfie thy sacrifice, my voice hath no
power to utter that which I thinke, no if I had a thousand mouths
and so many tongues: Howbeit as a good religious person, and
according to my estate, I will alwaies keepe thee in remembrance
and close thee within my breast.  When I had ended mine orison, I
went to embrace the great Priest Mythra my spirituall father, and to
demand his pardon, considering I was unable to recompence the
good which he had done to me: after great greeting and thanks I
departed from him to visit my parents and friends; and within a
while after by the exhortation of the goddesse. I made up my
packet, and tooke shipping toward the Citie of Rome, where with a
prosperous winde I arrived about the xii. day of December. And
the greatest desire that I had there, was daily to make my praiers to
the soveraigne goddesse Isis, who by reason of the place where
her temple was builded, was called Campensis, and continually
adored of the people of Rome. Her minister and worshipper was I,
howbeit I was a stranger to her Church, and unknowne to her
religion there.

When the yeare was ended, and the goddesse warned me againe to
receive this new order and consecration, I marvailed greatly what it
should signifie, and what should happen, considering that I was a
sacred. person already. but it fortuned that while I partly reasoned
with my selfe, and partly examining the thing with the Priests and
Bishops, there came a new and marvailous thought in my mind, that
is to say, I was onely religious to the goddesse Isis, but not sacred
to the religion of great Osiris the soveraigne father of all the
goddesses, between whom, although there was a religious unitie
and concord, yet there was a great difference of order and
ceremony. And because it was necessary that I should likewise be
a minister unto Osiris, there was no long delay: for in the night
after, appeared unto me one of that order, covered with linnen
robes, holding in his hands speares wrapped in Ivie, and other things
not convenient to declare, which then he left in my chamber, and
sitting in my seate, recited to me such things as were necessary for
the sumptuous banket of mine entrie. And to the end I might know
him againe, he shewed me how the ankle of his left foote was
somewhat maimed, which caused him a little to halt.

After that I manifestly knew the will of the God Osiris, when
mattins was ended, I went from one to another, to find him out
which had the halting marke on his foote, according as I learned by
my vision; at length I found it true: for I perceived one of the
company of the Priests who had not onely the token of his foote,
but the stature and habite of his body, resembling in every point as
he appeared in the night: he was called Asinius Marcellus, a name
not much disagreeing from my transformation. By and by I went to
him, which knew well enough all the matter, as being monished by
like precept in the night: for the night before as he dressed the
flowers and garlands about the head of the god Osiris, he
understood by the mouth of the image which told the
predestinations of all men, how he had sent a poore man of
Madura, to whom he should minister his sacraments, to the end hee
should receive a reward by divine providence, and the other glory,
for his vertuous studies. When I saw my selfe this deputed unto
religion, my desire was stopped by reason of povertie, for I had
spent a great part of my goods in travell and peregrination, but most
of all in the Citie of Rome, whereby my low estate withdrew me a
great while.

In the end being oft times stirred forward, not without great trouble
of mind, I was constrained to sell my robe for a little money :
howbeit sufficient for all my affaires. Then the Priest spake unto
me saying, How is it that for a little pleasure thou art not afraid to
sell thy vestiments, and entring into so great ceremonies, fearest to
fall into povertie? Prepare thy selfe, and abstaine from all animall
meats, as beasts and fish.  In the meane season I frequented the
sacrifices of Serapis, which were done in the night, which thing
gave me great comfort to my peregrination, and ministred unto me
more plentifull living, considering I gained some money in haunting
the court, by reason of my Latin tongue.

Immediately after I was eftsoones called and admonished by the
god Osiris, to receive a third order of religion. Then I was greatly
astonied, because I could not tell what this new vision signified, or
what the intent of the celestiall god was, doubting least the former
Priests had given me ill counsell, and fearing that they had not
faithfully instructed me : being in this manner as it were incensed
the god Osiris appeared to me the night following, and giving me
admonition said, There is no occasion why thou shouldest be afraid
with so often order of religion, as though there were somewhat
omitted, but that thou shouldest rather rejoyce, since as it hath
pleased the gods to call thee three times, when as there was never
yet any person that atchieved to the order but once : wherefore
thou maist thinke thy selfe happy for so great benefits. And know
thou that the religion which thou must now receive, is right
necessary, if thou meane to persever in the worshipping of the
goddesse, and to make solempnity on the festivall day with the
blessed habite, which thing shalt be a glory and renowne to thee.

After this sort, the divine majesty perswaded me in my sleepe,
whereupon by and by I went towards the Priest, and declared all
that which I had seene, then I fasted ten dayes according to the
custome, and of mine owne proper will I abstained longer then I
was commanded : and verely I did nothing repent of the paine
which I had taken, and of the charges which I was at, considering
that the divine providence had given me such an order, that I gained
much money in pleading of causes : Finally after a few dayes, the
great god Osiris appeared to me in the night, not disguised in any
other forme, but in his owne essence, commanding me that I should
be an Advocate in the court, and not feare the slander and envie of
ill persons , which beare me stomacke and grudge by reason of my
doctrine, which I had gotten by much labour : moreover, he would
not that I should be any longer of the number of his Priests, but he
allotted me to be one of the Decurions and Senatours : and after he
appointed me a place within the ancient pallace, which was erected
in the time of Silla, where I executed my office in great joy with a
shaven Crowne.





End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius