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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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