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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1666-0.txt b/1666-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a45163 --- /dev/null +++ b/1666-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7541 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Golden Asse + +Author: Lucius Apuleius + +Translator: William Adlington + +Release Date: March, 1999 [eBook #1666] +[Most recently updated: September 17, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Donal O’Danachair and David Widger + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + + + + +The Golden Asse + +by Lucius Apuleius _“Africanus”_ + +Translated by William Adlington + +First published 1566 This version as reprinted +from the edition of 1639. The original spelling, +capitalisation and punctuation have been retained. + + +Contents + + Dedication + The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described + The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus + + THE FIRST BOOKE + THE FIRST CHAPTER + THE SECOND CHAPTER + THE THIRD CHAPTER + THE FOURTH CHAPTER + THE FIFTH CHAPTER + THE SIXTH CHAPTER + THE SEVENTH CHAPTER + + THE SECOND BOOKE + THE EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE NINTH CHAPTER + THE TENTH CHAPTER + THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER + + THE THIRD BOOKE + THE TWELFTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER + THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER + THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER + THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER + THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER + + THE FOURTH BOOKE + THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER + THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER + + THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES + THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER + + THE SIXTH BOOKE + THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER + + THE SEVENTH BOOKE + THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER + + THE EIGHTH BOOKE + THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + + THE NINTH BOOKE + THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER + THE FORTIETH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER + THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER + THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER + + THE TENTH BOOKE + THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + + THE ELEVENTH BOOKE + THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + + + + +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 and 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 feast. 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. + +Then 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. O happy and twice happy is hee to whom you give leave and +licence but to touch you there. Then 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 goe 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 or 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 fear 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 their 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. + +Then 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 returne from 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 thou 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. + +Then I thought 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 in 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 for 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 hand 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. +Then 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 be married to a +dire and fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such +as hunt about in the countrey, affirme that they 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 and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of +his body. And if 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, hee fled away without utterance of any word, from the +eyes 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 and 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? 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, but 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 now +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 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 I 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, I 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, but 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 the +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 he 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 be 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 he 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 bare 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 the 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 came 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, that 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 I 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 +and 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 be 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 +months, 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, but 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 maist 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 be 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 be 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 +dastard-like 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 he 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 meane 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, but 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 he 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 came 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 corner 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 he 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 mee 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 mee 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 have +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 expell 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 like 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 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 the 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 THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Golden Asse</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lucius Apuleius</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: William Adlington</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March, 1999 [eBook #1666]<br /> +[Most recently updated: September 17, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Donal O’Danachair and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE ***</div> + +<h1>The Golden Asse</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by Lucius Apuleius <i>“Africanus”</i></h2> + +<h3>Translated by William Adlington</h3> + +<h4>First published 1566 This version as reprinted<br/> +from the edition of 1639. The original spelling,<br/> +capitalisation and punctuation have been retained.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0001"> Dedication</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0002"> The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0003"> The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus<br/><br/></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <b>THE FIRST BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE FIRST CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0006"> THE SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0007"> THE THIRD CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE SIXTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE SEVENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0012"> <b>THE SECOND BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE TENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0017"> <b>THE THIRD BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE TWELFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0022"> THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0023"> THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0024"> <b>THE FOURTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0025"> THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0026"> THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0027"> THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0028"> THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0029"> <b>THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0030"> THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0031"> <b>THE SIXTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0032"> THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0033"> <b>THE SEVENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0034"> THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0035"> THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0036"> THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0037"> THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0038"> THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0039"> THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0040"> THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0041"> THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0042"> <b>THE EIGHTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0043"> THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0044"> THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0045"> THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0046"> THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0047"> THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0048"> <b>THE NINTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0049"> THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0050"> THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0051"> THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0052"> THE FORTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0053"> THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0054"> THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0055"> THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0056"> <b>THE TENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0057"> THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0058"> THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0059"> THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0060"> <b>THE ELEVENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0061"> THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0062"> THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"></a> +Dedication</h2> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 and 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. +</p> + +<p> +From Vniversity Colledge in Oxenforde, the xviij. of September, 1566. +</p> + +<p> +Your Honours most bounden, +</p> + +<p> +WIL. ADLINGTON. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"></a> +The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described</h2> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"></a> +The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus</h2> + +<p class="center"> +And unto the Readers of this Book +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +That I to thee some joyous jests<br/> + may show in gentle gloze,<br/> +And frankly feed thy bended eares<br/> + with passing pleasant prose:<br/> +So that thou daine in seemly sort<br/> + this wanton booke to view,<br/> +That is set out and garnisht fine,<br/> + with written phrases new.<br/> +I will declare how one by hap<br/> + his humane figure lost,<br/> +And how in brutish formed shape,<br/> + his loathed life he tost.<br/> +And how he was in course of time<br/> + from such a state unfold,<br/> +Who eftsoone turn’d to pristine shape<br/> + his lot unlucky told. +</p> + +<p> +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 feast. Whereunto gentle Reader if thou wilt give attendant +eare, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou shalt be +contented withall. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"></a> +THE FIRST BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"></a> +THE FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with two +strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of Witches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"></a> +THE SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius told to the strangers, what he saw a jugler do in Athens. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"></a> +THE THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was spoyled and robbed, +and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a Witch. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"></a> +THE FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Meroe the Witch turned divers persons into miserable beasts. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"></a> +THE FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Socrates and Aristomenus slept together in one Chamber, and how they were +handled by Witches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"></a> +THE SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius came unto a city named Hipate, and was lodged in one Milos house, +and brought him letters from one Demeas of Corinth. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"></a> +THE SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius going to buy fish, met with his companion Pythias. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"></a> +THE SECOND BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"></a> +THE EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"></a> +THE NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. O happy and twice happy is +hee to whom you give leave and licence but to touch you there. Then 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"></a> +THE TENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius, and how hee talked with Milo of +Diophanes, and how he lay with Fotis. +</p> + +<p> +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 goe +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"></a> +THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius supped with Byrrhena, and what a strange tale Bellephoron told at +the table. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 or 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 fear 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"></a> +THE THIRD BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"></a> +THE TWELFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was taken and put in prison for murther. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"></a> +THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused by an old man, and how he answered for himselfe. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 their 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"></a> +THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused by two women, and how the slaine bodies were found +blowne bladders. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"></a> +THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Fotis told to Apuleius, what witchcraft her mistresse did use. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 returne from 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. +</p> + +<p> +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 thou 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"></a> +THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"></a> +THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius thinking to be turned into a Bird, was turned into an Asse, and +how he was led away by Theves. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then I thought 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"></a> +THE FOURTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"></a> +THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius thinking to eat Roses, was cruelly beaten by a Gardener, and +chased by dogs. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 in 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 for 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"></a> +THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was prevented of his purpose, and how the Theeves came to their +den. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 hand +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"></a> +THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Thrasileon was disguised in a Beares skin, and how he was handled. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +In this manner we lost our Captain Thrasileon, but he left not his fame and +honour. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"></a> +THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Theeves stole away a Gentlewoman, and brought her to their den. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"></a> +THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"></a> +THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +The most pleasant and delectable tale of the marriage of Cupid and Psyches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Let Psyches corps be clad in mourning weed,<br/> +And set on rock of yonder hill aloft:<br/> +Her husband is no wight of humane seed,<br/> +But Serpent dire and fierce as might be thought.<br/> +Who flies with wings above in starry skies,<br/> +And doth subdue each thing with firie flight.<br/> +The gods themselves, and powers that seem so wise,<br/> +With mighty Jove, be subject to his might,<br/> +The rivers blacke, and deadly flouds of paine<br/> +And darkness eke, as thrall to him remaine. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Come in (quoth Psyches) into our house, and refresh your afflicted mindes with +your sister. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +Then 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 be married to a dire and +fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such as hunt about in +the countrey, affirme that they 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 and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his +body. And if 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +The god beeing burned in this sort, and perceiving that promise and faith was +broken, hee fled away without utterance of any word, from the eyes 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 and 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but he was gotten +into his mothers chamber and there bewailed the sorrowful wound which he caught +by the oyle of a burning lamp. +</p> + +<p> +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 now 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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 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 I 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, I 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but +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 the 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"></a> +THE SIXTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"></a> +THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"></a> +THE SEVENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"></a> +THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"></a> +THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed. +</p> + +<p> +After supper they began to talke, and declare unto him the going away of the +Gentlewoman, and how I bare 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"></a> +THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new companion. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0037" id="link2H_4_0037"></a> +THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the theeves were +asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038"></a> +THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was made a common Asse to fetch home wood, and how he was handled +by a boy. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0039" id="link2H_4_0039"></a> +THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused of Lechery by the boy. +</p> + +<p> +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 the 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040"></a> +THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood. +</p> + +<p> +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 came 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, that 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 I 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0041" id="link2H_4_0041"></a> +THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that was slaine. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0042" id="link2H_4_0042"></a> +THE EIGHTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0043" id="link2H_4_0043"></a> +THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a young man came and declared the miserable death of Lepolemus and his wife +Charites. +</p> + +<p> +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 and +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 be 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 months, +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0044" id="link2H_4_0044"></a> +THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper: and what danger he was in. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0045" id="link2H_4_0045"></a> +THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to cure their wounds. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0046" id="link2H_4_0046"></a> +THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a woman killed her selfe and her child, because her husband haunted +harlots. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0047" id="link2H_4_0047"></a> +THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons, and how they looked in his mouth +to know his age. +</p> + +<p> +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, but 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 maist 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0048" id="link2H_4_0048"></a> +THE NINTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0049" id="link2H_4_0049"></a> +THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of other +things that happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0050" id="link2H_4_0050"></a> +THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0051" id="link2H_4_0051"></a> +THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison, and how +Apuleius was sold to a Baker. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p> +Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut in futurum loeta germinent sata +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0052" id="link2H_4_0052"></a> +THE FORTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was handled by the Bakers wife, which was a harlot. +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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: +</p> + +<p> +Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to your lover, who as me +seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, and dastard-like 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0053" id="link2H_4_0053"></a> +THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee should be kept +close in his house, and what happened. +</p> + +<p> +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 +he 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. +</p> + +<p> +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 meane 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0054" id="link2H_4_0054"></a> +THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was sold to a Gardener, and what +dreadfull things happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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 came 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0055" id="link2H_4_0055"></a> +THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was found by his shadow. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p> +Quorsum vacuum ducis Asinum? +</p> + +<p> +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 corner 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.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0056" id="link2H_4_0056"></a> +THE TENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0057" id="link2H_4_0057"></a> +THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a Captaines house, and +what happened there. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Never knowne, never done. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0058" id="link2H_4_0058"></a> +THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was sold to two brethren, whereof one was a Baker, and the other a +Cooke, and how finely and daintily he fared. +</p> + +<p> +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 mee 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 mee 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0059" id="link2H_4_0059"></a> +THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a certaine Matron fell in love with Apuleius, how hee had his pleasure with +her, and what other things happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 have 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 expell 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0060" id="link2H_4_0060"></a> +THE ELEVENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0061" id="link2H_4_0061"></a> +THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 like 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 +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 the 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0062" id="link2H_4_0062"></a> +THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the parents and friends of Apuleius heard news that he was alive and in +health. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN +ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +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 + diff --git a/old/1998-10-01-gldns10.zip b/old/1998-10-01-gldns10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6ed1ee --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1998-10-01-gldns10.zip diff --git a/old/2006-02-21-1666.txt b/old/2006-02-21-1666.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..328878a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2006-02-21-1666.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7345 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Golden Asse + +Author: Lucius Apuleius + +Translator: William Adlington + +Release Date: February 21, 2006 [EBook #1666] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + + + + +Produced by Donal O'Danachair and David Widger + + + + + +THE GOLDEN ASSE + + +by Lucius Apuleius "Africanus" + + + +Translated by William Adlington + + +First published 1566 This version as reprinted from the edition of +1639. 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 feast. 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 in 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 for 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 they 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 and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body. And +if 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 +eyes 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 and 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? 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, but 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 +I 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, I 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, but 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 bare 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 came 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 I 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 and 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 months, 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, but 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 maist +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 be 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 +dastard-like 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, but 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 +came 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 corner 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 have 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 line, 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 the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + +***** This file should be named 1666.txt or 1666.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1666/ + +Produced by Donal O'Danachair and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/2006-02-21-1666.zip b/old/2006-02-21-1666.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9c74a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2006-02-21-1666.zip diff --git a/old/2021-08-12-1666-0.txt b/old/2021-08-12-1666-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58bbe32 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2021-08-12-1666-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7543 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Golden Asse, by Lucius Apuleius + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Golden Asse + +Author: Lucius Apuleius + +Translator: William Adlington + +Release Date: March, 1999 [eBook #1666] +[Most recently updated: August 12, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Donal O’Danachair and David Widger + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + + + + +The Golden Asse + +by Lucius Apuleius _“Africanus”_ + +Translated by William Adlington + +First published 1566 This version as reprinted +from the edition of 1639. The original spelling, +capitalisation and punctuation have been retained. + + +Contents + + Dedication + The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described + The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus + + THE FIRST BOOKE + THE FIRST CHAPTER + THE SECOND CHAPTER + THE THIRD CHAPTER + THE FOURTH CHAPTER + THE FIFTH CHAPTER + THE SIXTH CHAPTER + THE SEVENTH CHAPTER + + THE SECOND BOOKE + THE EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE NINTH CHAPTER + THE TENTH CHAPTER + THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER + + THE THIRD BOOKE + THE TWELFTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER + THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER + THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER + THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER + THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER + + THE FOURTH BOOKE + THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER + THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER + + THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES + THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER + + THE SIXTH BOOKE + THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER + + THE SEVENTH BOOKE + THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER + + THE EIGHTH BOOKE + THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + + THE NINTH BOOKE + THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER + THE FORTIETH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER + THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER + THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER + + THE TENTH BOOKE + THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER + + THE ELEVENTH BOOKE + THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER + THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER + + + + +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 and 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 feast. 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. + +Then 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. O happy and twice happy is hee to whom you give leave and +licence but to touch you there. Then 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 goe 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 or 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 fear 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 their 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. + +Then 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 returne from 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 thou 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. + +Then I thought 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 in 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 for 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 hand 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 be married to a +dire and fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such +as hunt about in the countrey, affirme that they 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 and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of +his body. And if 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 +eyes 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 and 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? 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, but 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 now +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 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 I 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, I 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, but 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 he 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 be 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 he 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 bare 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 came 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, that 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 I 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 +and 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 +months, 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, but 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 maist 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 be 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 be 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 +dastard-like 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 he 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 meane 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, but 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 came 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 corner 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 he 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 mee 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 have +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 expell 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 line, +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 like 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 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 THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Golden Asse</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lucius Apuleius</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: William Adlington</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March, 1999 [eBook #1666]<br /> +[Most recently updated: August 12, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Donal O’Danachair and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE ***</div> + +<h1>The Golden Asse</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by Lucius Apuleius <i>“Africanus”</i></h2> + +<h3>Translated by William Adlington</h3> + +<h4>First published 1566 This version as reprinted<br/> +from the edition of 1639. The original spelling,<br/> +capitalisation and punctuation have been retained.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0001"> Dedication</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0002"> The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0003"> The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus<br/><br/></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <b>THE FIRST BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE FIRST CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0006"> THE SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0007"> THE THIRD CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE SIXTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE SEVENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0012"> <b>THE SECOND BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE TENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0017"> <b>THE THIRD BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE TWELFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0022"> THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0023"> THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0024"> <b>THE FOURTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0025"> THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0026"> THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0027"> THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0028"> THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0029"> <b>THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0030"> THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0031"> <b>THE SIXTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0032"> THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0033"> <b>THE SEVENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0034"> THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0035"> THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0036"> THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0037"> THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0038"> THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0039"> THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0040"> THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0041"> THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0042"> <b>THE EIGHTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0043"> THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0044"> THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0045"> THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0046"> THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0047"> THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0048"> <b>THE NINTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0049"> THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0050"> THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0051"> THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0052"> THE FORTIETH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0053"> THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0054"> THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0055"> THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0056"> <b>THE TENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0057"> THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0058"> THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0059"> THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</a><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0060"> <b>THE ELEVENTH BOOKE</b></a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0061"> THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#link2H_4_0062"> THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</a> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"></a> +Dedication</h2> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 and 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. +</p> + +<p> +From Vniversity Colledge in Oxenforde, the xviij. of September, 1566. +</p> + +<p> +Your Honours most bounden, +</p> + +<p> +WIL. ADLINGTON. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"></a> +The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described</h2> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"></a> +The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus</h2> + +<p class="center"> +And unto the Readers of this Book +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +That I to thee some joyous jests<br/> + may show in gentle gloze,<br/> +And frankly feed thy bended eares<br/> + with passing pleasant prose:<br/> +So that thou daine in seemly sort<br/> + this wanton booke to view,<br/> +That is set out and garnisht fine,<br/> + with written phrases new.<br/> +I will declare how one by hap<br/> + his humane figure lost,<br/> +And how in brutish formed shape,<br/> + his loathed life he tost.<br/> +And how he was in course of time<br/> + from such a state unfold,<br/> +Who eftsoone turn’d to pristine shape<br/> + his lot unlucky told. +</p> + +<p> +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 feast. Whereunto gentle Reader if thou wilt give attendant +eare, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou shalt be +contented withall. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"></a> +THE FIRST BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"></a> +THE FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with two +strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of Witches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"></a> +THE SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius told to the strangers, what he saw a jugler do in Athens. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"></a> +THE THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was spoyled and robbed, +and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a Witch. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"></a> +THE FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Meroe the Witch turned divers persons into miserable beasts. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"></a> +THE FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Socrates and Aristomenus slept together in one Chamber, and how they were +handled by Witches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"></a> +THE SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius came unto a city named Hipate, and was lodged in one Milos house, +and brought him letters from one Demeas of Corinth. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"></a> +THE SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius going to buy fish, met with his companion Pythias. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"></a> +THE SECOND BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"></a> +THE EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"></a> +THE NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. O happy and twice happy is +hee to whom you give leave and licence but to touch you there. Then 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"></a> +THE TENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius, and how hee talked with Milo of +Diophanes, and how he lay with Fotis. +</p> + +<p> +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 goe +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"></a> +THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius supped with Byrrhena, and what a strange tale Bellephoron told at +the table. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 or 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 fear 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"></a> +THE THIRD BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"></a> +THE TWELFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was taken and put in prison for murther. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"></a> +THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused by an old man, and how he answered for himselfe. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 their 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"></a> +THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused by two women, and how the slaine bodies were found +blowne bladders. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"></a> +THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Fotis told to Apuleius, what witchcraft her mistresse did use. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 returne from 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. +</p> + +<p> +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 thou 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"></a> +THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"></a> +THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius thinking to be turned into a Bird, was turned into an Asse, and +how he was led away by Theves. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then I thought 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"></a> +THE FOURTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"></a> +THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius thinking to eat Roses, was cruelly beaten by a Gardener, and +chased by dogs. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 in 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 for 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"></a> +THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was prevented of his purpose, and how the Theeves came to their +den. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 hand +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"></a> +THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Thrasileon was disguised in a Beares skin, and how he was handled. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +In this manner we lost our Captain Thrasileon, but he left not his fame and +honour. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"></a> +THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Theeves stole away a Gentlewoman, and brought her to their den. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"></a> +THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"></a> +THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +The most pleasant and delectable tale of the marriage of Cupid and Psyches. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Let Psyches corps be clad in mourning weed,<br/> +And set on rock of yonder hill aloft:<br/> +Her husband is no wight of humane seed,<br/> +But Serpent dire and fierce as might be thought.<br/> +Who flies with wings above in starry skies,<br/> +And doth subdue each thing with firie flight.<br/> +The gods themselves, and powers that seem so wise,<br/> +With mighty Jove, be subject to his might,<br/> +The rivers blacke, and deadly flouds of paine<br/> +And darkness eke, as thrall to him remaine. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Come in (quoth Psyches) into our house, and refresh your afflicted mindes with +your sister. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 be married to a dire and +fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such as hunt about in +the countrey, affirme that they 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 and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his +body. And if 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 eyes 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 and 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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? 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but he was gotten +into his mothers chamber and there bewailed the sorrowful wound which he caught +by the oyle of a burning lamp. +</p> + +<p> +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 now 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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 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 I 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, I 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"></a> +THE SIXTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"></a> +THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"></a> +THE SEVENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"></a> +THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"></a> +THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed. +</p> + +<p> +After supper they began to talke, and declare unto him the going away of the +Gentlewoman, and how I bare 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"></a> +THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new companion. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0037" id="link2H_4_0037"></a> +THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the theeves were +asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038"></a> +THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was made a common Asse to fetch home wood, and how he was handled +by a boy. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0039" id="link2H_4_0039"></a> +THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was accused of Lechery by the boy. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040"></a> +THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood. +</p> + +<p> +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 came 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, that 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 I 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0041" id="link2H_4_0041"></a> +THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that was slaine. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0042" id="link2H_4_0042"></a> +THE EIGHTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0043" id="link2H_4_0043"></a> +THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a young man came and declared the miserable death of Lepolemus and his wife +Charites. +</p> + +<p> +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 and +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 months, +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0044" id="link2H_4_0044"></a> +THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper: and what danger he was in. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0045" id="link2H_4_0045"></a> +THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to cure their wounds. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0046" id="link2H_4_0046"></a> +THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a woman killed her selfe and her child, because her husband haunted +harlots. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0047" id="link2H_4_0047"></a> +THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons, and how they looked in his mouth +to know his age. +</p> + +<p> +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, but 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 maist 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0048" id="link2H_4_0048"></a> +THE NINTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0049" id="link2H_4_0049"></a> +THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of other +things that happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0050" id="link2H_4_0050"></a> +THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0051" id="link2H_4_0051"></a> +THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison, and how +Apuleius was sold to a Baker. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p> +Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut in futurum loeta germinent sata +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0052" id="link2H_4_0052"></a> +THE FORTIETH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was handled by the Bakers wife, which was a harlot. +</p> + +<p> +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 be 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: +</p> + +<p> +Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to your lover, who as me +seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, and dastard-like 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0053" id="link2H_4_0053"></a> +THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee should be kept +close in his house, and what happened. +</p> + +<p> +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 +he 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. +</p> + +<p> +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 meane 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. +</p> + +<p> +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, but 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0054" id="link2H_4_0054"></a> +THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was sold to a Gardener, and what +dreadfull things happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 came 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0055" id="link2H_4_0055"></a> +THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was found by his shadow. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p> +Quorsum vacuum ducis Asinum? +</p> + +<p> +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 corner 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.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0056" id="link2H_4_0056"></a> +THE TENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0057" id="link2H_4_0057"></a> +THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a Captaines house, and +what happened there. +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Never knowne, never done. +</p> + +<p> +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 he 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0058" id="link2H_4_0058"></a> +THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius was sold to two brethren, whereof one was a Baker, and the other a +Cooke, and how finely and daintily he fared. +</p> + +<p> +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 mee 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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0059" id="link2H_4_0059"></a> +THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How a certaine Matron fell in love with Apuleius, how hee had his pleasure with +her, and what other things happened. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 have 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 expell 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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0060" id="link2H_4_0060"></a> +THE ELEVENTH BOOKE</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0061" id="link2H_4_0061"></a> +THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 line, 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. +</p> + +<p> +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 like 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 +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0062" id="link2H_4_0062"></a> +THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the parents and friends of Apuleius heard news that he was alive and in +health. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN ASSE ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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