THE GOLDEN ASSE

by Lucius Apuleius "Africanus"

Translated by William Adlington

First published 1566 This version as reprinted from the edition of1639. The original spelling, capitalisation and punctuation have beenretained. 

Dedication

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

After that I had taken upon me (right Honourable) in manner of thatunlearned and foolish Poet, Cherillus, who rashly and unadvisedlywrought a big volume in verses, of the valiant prowesse of Alexander theGreat, to translate this present booke, contayning the Metamorphosis ofLucius Apuleius; being mooved thereunto by the right pleasant pastimeand delectable matter therein; I eftsoones consulted with myself, towhom I might best offer so pleasant and worthy a work, devised bythe author, it being now barbarously and simply framed in our Englishtongue. And after long deliberation had, your honourable lordship cameto my remembrance, a man much more worthy, than to whom so homely andrude a translation should be presented. But when I again remembred thejesting and sportfull matter of the booke, unfit to be offered to anyman of gravity and wisdome, I was wholly determined to make no EpistleDedicatory at all; till as now of late perswaded thereunto by myfriends, 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 someserious and lofty matter, light and merry, yet the effect thereoftendeth to a good and vertuous moral, as in the following Epistle to thereader may be declared. For so have all writers in times past employedtheir travell and labours, that their posterity might receive somefruitfull profit by the same. And therfore the poets feined not theirfables in vain, considering that children in time of their firststudies, are very much allured thereby to proceed to more grave anddeepe studies and disciplines, whereas their mindes would quickly loaththe wise and prudent workes of learned men, wherein in such unripeyears they take no spark of delectation at all. And not only that profitariseth to children by such feined fables, but also the vertues ofmen are covertly thereby commended, and their vices discommended andabhorred. For by the fable of Actaeon, where it is feigned that he sawDiana washing her selfe in a well, hee was immediately turned into anHart, and so was slain of his own Dogs; may bee meant, That when aman 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 brutebeast, 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 beforehim a tree laden with pleasant apples, he being neverthelesse alwaysthirsty and hungry, betokeneth the insatiable desires of covetouspersons. The fables of Atreus, Thiestes, Tereus and Progne signifieththe wicked and abhominable facts wrought and attempted by mortall men. The fall of Icarus is an example to proud and arrogant persons, thatweeneth to climb up to the heavens. By Mydas, who obtained of Bacchus, that all things which he touched might be gold, is carped the foulsin of avarice. By Phaeton, that unskilfully took in hand to rule thechariot of the Sunne, are represented those persons which attempt thingspassing their power and capacity. By Castor and Pollux, turned into asigne in heaven called Gemini, is signified, that vertuous and godlypersons shall be rewarded after life with perpetuall blisse. And in thisfeined jest of Lucius Apuleius is comprehended a figure of mans life, ministring most sweet and delectable matter, to such as shall bedesirous to reade the same. The which if your honourable lordship shallaccept ant take in good part, I shall not onely thinke my small travelland labour well employed, but also receive a further comfort to attemptsome more serious matter, which may be more acceptable to your Lordship:desiring the same to excuse my rash and bold enterprise at this time, asI nothing doubt of your Lordships goodnesse. To whome I beseech AlmightyGod 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, bornin Madaura, a Countrey sometime inhabited by the Romans, and under thejurisdiction of Syphax, scituate and lying on the borders of Numidia andGetulia, whereby he calleth himself half a Numidian and half a Getulian:and Sidonius named him the Platonian Madaurence: his father calledTheseus had passed all offices of dignity in his countrey with muchhonour. His mother named Salvia was of such excellent vertue, thatshe passed all the Dames of her time, borne of an ancient house, anddescended from the philosopher Plutarch, and Sextus his nephew. Hiswife called Prudentila was endowed with as much vertue and riches asany woman might be. Hee himselfe was of an high and comely stature, gray eyed, his haire yellow, and a beautiful personage. He flourishedin Carthage in the time of Iolianus Avitus and Cl. Maximus Proconsuls, where he spent his youth in learning the liberall sciences, and muchprofited under his masters there, whereby not without cause hee callethhimself the Nource of Carthage, and the celestial Muse and venerablemistresse of Africke. Soone after, at Athens (where in times past thewell of all doctrine flourished) he tasted many of the cups of themuses, he learned the Poetry, Geometry, Musicke, Logicke, and theuniversall knowledge of Philosophy, and studied not in vaine the nineMuses, 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 greateloquence, and was known and approved to be excellently learned, wherebyhe might worthily be called Polyhistor, that is to say, one that knowethmuch or many things. 

And being thus no lesse endued with eloquence, than with singularlearning, he wrote many books for them that should come after: whereofpart by negligence of times be now intercepted and part now extant, doesufficiently declare, with how much wisdome and doctrine hee flourished, and with how much vertue hee excelled amongst the rude and barbarouspeople. The like was Anacharsis amongst the most luskish Scythes. Butamongst the Bookes of Lucius Apuleius, which are perished and prevented, howbeit greatly desired as now adayes, one was intituled Banquettingquestions, another entreating of the nature of fish, another of thegeneration 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 savorykind of learning, which delighteth, holdeth, and rejoiceth the readermarvellously; wherein you shall find a great variety of things, asleaping one from another: One excellent and copious Oration, containingall the grace and vertue of the art Oratory, where he cleareth himselfof the crime of art Magick, which was slanderously objected against himby his Adversaries, wherein is contained such force of eloquence anddoctrine, as he seemeth to passe and excell himselfe. There is anotherbooke of the god of the spirit of Socrates, whereof St. Augustine makethmention in his booke of the definition of spirits, and descriptionof men. Two other books of the opinion of Plato, wherein is brieflycontained that which before was largely expressed. One booke ofCosmography, comprising many things of Aristotles Meteors. The Dialogueof Trismegistus, translated by him out of Greeke into Latine, so fine, that it rather seemeth with more eloquence turned into Latine, than itwas before written in Greeke. But principally these eleven Bookes ofthe 'Golden Asse', are enriched with such pleasant matter, with suchexcellency and variety of flourishing tales, that nothing may be moresweet and delectable, whereby worthily they may be intituled The Bookesof the 'Golden Asse', for the passing stile and matter therein. For whatcan be more acceptable than this Asse of Gold indeed. Howbeit there bemany who would rather intitule it 'Metamorphosis', that is to say, atransfiguration or transformation, by reason of the argument and matterwithin. 

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 waseven I, the writer of mine own Metamorphosie and strange alteration offigure. Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephire Tenaros, and Sparta, beingfat and fertile soiles (as I pray you give credit to the bookes of moreeverlasting fame) be places where myne antient progeny and linage didsometime flourish: there I say, in Athens, when I was yong, I went firstto schoole. Soone after (as a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas bygreat industry, and without instruction of any schoolmaster, I attainedto the full perfection of the Latine tongue. Behold, I first crave andbeg your pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of youby the rude and rusticke utterance of this strange and forrein language. And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond to theenterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat, I will set forth untoyou a pleasant Grecian feast. Whereunto gentle Reader if thou wilt giveattendant eare, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter asthou shalt be contented withall. 

THE FIRST BOOKE

THE FIRST CHAPTER

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

As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certaine affaireswhich I had to doe ( for there myne auncestry by my mothers sideinhabiteth, descended of the line of that most excellent personPlutarch, and of Sextus the Philosopher his Nephew, which is to usa great honour) and after that by much travell and great paine I hadpassed over the high mountaines and slipperie vallies, and had riddenthrough the cloggy fallowed fields; perceiving that my horse did waxsomewhat slow, and to the intent likewise that I might repose andstrengthen 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 easehimself of his weariness and travell: and while he went grazing freshlyin the field (casting his head sometimes aside, as a token of rejoycingand gladnesse) I perceived a little before me two companions riding, andso I overtaking them made a third. And while I listened to heare theircommunication, the one of them laughed and mocked his fellow, saying, Leave off I pray thee and speak no more, for I cannot abide to hearethee tell such absurd and incredible lies; which when I heard, I desiredto heare some newes, and said, I pray you masters make me partakerof your talk, that am not so curious as desirous to know all yourcommunication: so shall we shorten our journey, and easily passe thishigh hill before us, by merry and pleasant talke. 

But he that laughed before at his fellow, said againe, Verily this taleis as true, as if a man would say that by sorcery and inchantment thefloods might be inforced to run against their course, the seas to beimmovable, the aire to lacke the blowing of windes, the Sunne to berestrained from his naturall race, the Moone to purge his skimme uponherbes and trees to serve for sorceries: the starres to be pulled fromheaven, 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, buttell the residue. And turning to the other I sayd, You perhappes thatare of an obstinate minde and grosse eares, mocke and contemme thosethings which are reported for truth, know you not that it is accounteduntrue by the depraved opinion of men, which either is rarely seene, seldome heard, or passeth the capacitie of mans reason, which if it bemore 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, whileI did greedily put a great morsel of meate in my mouth, that was friedwith the flower of cheese and barley, it cleaved so fast in the passageof my throat and stopped my winde in such sort that I was well nighchoked. And yet at Athens before the porch there called Peale, I sawwith these eyes a jugler that swallowed up a two hand sword, with a verykeene edge, and by and by for a little money that we who looked on gavehim, hee devoured a chasing speare with the point downeward. And afterthat 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 hadneither bone nor gristle, and verily thinke that he were the naturallSerpent, creeping and sliding on the knotted staffe, which the god ofMedicine 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 creditunto you, and for your paynes will pay your charges at the next Inne wecome unto. To whom he answered Certes sir I thank you for your gentleoffer, and at your request I wil proceed in my tale, but first I willsweare unto you by the light of this Sunne that shineth here, thatthose things shall be true, least when you come to the next city calledThessaly, you should doubt any thing of that which is rife in themouthes of every person, and done before the face of all men. And that Imay first make relation to you, what and who I am, and whither I go, andfor what purpose, know you that I am of Egin, travelling these countriesabout from Thessaly to Etolia, and from Etolia to Boetia, to provide forhoney, cheese, and other victuals to sell againe: and understanding thatat Hippata (which is the principall city of all Thessaly), is accustomedto be soulde new cheeses of exceeding good taste and relish, I fortunedon a day to go thither, to make my market there: but as it oftenhappeneth, I came in an evill houre; for one Lupus a purveyor had boughtand ingrossed up all the day before, and so I was deceived. 

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

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

But I not willing to see him any longer in such great miserie andcalamitie, took him by the hand and lifted him up from the ground: whohaving his face covered in such sort, Let Fortune (quoth he) triumph yetmore, let her have her sway, and finish that which shee hath begun. And therewithall I put off one of my garments and covered him, andimmediately 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 anddrinke, and so wee talked together: for there we might be merry andlaugh at our pleasure, and so we were, untill such time as he (fetchinga pittifull sigh from the bottom of his heart, and beating his face inmiserable sort), began to say. 

THE THIRD CHAPTER

How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was spoyled androbbed, 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 oftriall of weapons, am fallen into these miseries and wretched snaresof misfortune. For in my returne from Macedonie, wheras I sould allmy wares, and played the Merchant by the space of ten months, a littlebefore that I came to Larissa, I turned out of the way, to view thescituation of the countrey there, and behold in the bottom of a deepvalley I was suddenly environed with a company of theeves, who robbedand spoiled me of such things as I had, and yet would hardly sufferme to escape. But I beeing in such extremity, in the end was happilydelivered from their hands, and so I fortuned to come to the house of anold woman that sold wine, called Meroe, who had her tongue sufficientlyinstructed to flattery: unto whom I opened the causes of my longperegrination and careful travell, and of myne unlucky adventure: andafter that I had declared to her such things as then presently came tomy remembrance, shee gently entertained mee and made mee good cheere;and by and by being pricked with carnall desire, shee brought me to herown bed chamber; whereas I poore miser the very first night of ourlying together did purchase to my selfe this miserable face, and forher lodging I gave to her such apparel as the theeves left to cover mewithall. 

The I understanding the cause of his miserable estate, sayd unto him, Infaith thou art worthy to sustaine the most extreame misery and calamity, which hast defiled and maculated thyne owne body, forsaken thy wifetraitorously, and dishonoured thy children, parents, and friends, forthe love of a vile harlot and old strumpet. When Socrates heard meeraile against Meroe in such sort, he held up his finger to mee, and ashalfe abashed sayd, Peace peace I pray you, and looking about lest anybody should heare, I pray you (quoth he) I pray you take heed what yousay against so venerable a woman as shee is, lest by your intemperatetongue 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 youtell me. Then answered hee, Verily shee is a Magitian, which hath powerto rule the heavens, to bringe downe the sky, to beare up the earth, toturne the waters into hills and the hills into running waters, to liftup the terrestrial spirits into the aire, and to pull the gods outof the heavens, to extinguish the planets, and to lighten the deepedarknesse of hell. Then sayd I unto Socrates, Leave off this high andmysticall kinde of talke, and tell the matter in a more plaine andsimple fashion. Then answered he, Will you hear one or two, or more ofher facts which she hath done, for whereas she enforceth not onelythe inhabitants of the countrey here, but also the Indians and theEthiopians the one and the other, and also the Antictons, to love her inmost 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 certaineLover, whom by the utterance of one only word she turned into a Bever, because he loved another woman beside her: and the reason why shetransformed him into such a beast is, for that it is his nature, whenhee perceiveth the hunters and hounds to draw after him, to bite off hismembers, and lay them in the way, that the hounds may be at a stop whenthey find them, and to the intent it might so happen unto him (for thathe fancied another woman) she turned him into that kind of shape. 

Semblably she changed one of her neighbours, being an old man and onethat sold wine, into a Frog, in that he was one of her occupation, andtherefore she bare him a grudge, and now the poore miser swimming in oneof his pipes of wine, and well nigh drowned in the dregs, doth cry andcall with an hoarse voice, for his old guests and acquaintance that passby. Like wise she turned one of the Advocates of the Court (because hepleaded and spake against her in a rightful cause) into a horned Ram, and now the poore Ram is become an Advocate. Moreover she caused, thatthe wife of a certain lover that she had should never be delivered ofher childe, but according to the computation of all men, it is eightyeares past since the poore woman first began to swell, and now shee isencreased so big, that shee seemeth as though she would bring forthsome great Elephant: which when it was knowne abroad, and publishedthroughout all the towne, they tooke indignation against her, andordayned 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 herdeparture) did burn all his house, him, and his daughter: so she, by herconjurations and invocations of spirits, (which she useth in a certainehole in her house, as shee her selfe declared unto me the next dayfollowing) 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 theycould not get forth, nor open their gates nor doore, nor break downetheir walls, whereby they were inforced by mutuall consent to cry untoher, and to bind themselves strictly by oaths, that they would neverafterwards molest or hurt her: and moreover, if any did offer her anyinjury they would be ready to defend her. Whereupon shee, mooved bytheir promises, and stirred by pitty, released all the towne. But sheeconveyed the principal Author of this ordinance about midnight, withall his house, the walls, the ground, and the foundation, into anothertowne, distant from thence an hundred miles, scituate and beeing onthe top of an high hill, and by reason thereof destitute of water, andbecause the edifices and houses were so nigh built together, that it wasnot possible for the house to stand there, she threw it downe before thegate of the towne. Then I spake and said O my friend Socrates youhave declared unto me many marvellous things and strange chances, andmoreover stricken me with no small trouble of minde, yea rather withgreat feare, lest the same old woman using the like practice, shouldfortune to heare all our communication. Wherefore let us now sleepe, andafter 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 theywere handled by Witches. 

In speaking these words, and devising with my selfe of our departing thenext morrow, lest Meroe the witch should play by us as she had done bydivers other persons, it fortuned that Socrates did fall asleepe, andslept very soundly, by reason of his travell and plenty of meat and winewherewithall hee had filled him selfe. Wherefore I closed and barredfast the doores of the chamber, and put my bed behinde the doore, andso layed mee downe to rest. But I could in no wise sleepe, for the greatfeare which was in my heart, untill it was about midnight, and then Ibegan to slumber. But alas, behold suddenly the chamber doores brakeopen, and locks, bolts, and posts fell downe, that you would verily havethought that some Theeves had been presently come to have spoyled androbbed us. And my bed whereon I lay being a truckle bed, fashioned informe of a Cradle, and one of the feet broken and rotten, by violencewas turned upside downe, and I likewise was overwhelmed and coveredlying in the same. Then perceived I in my selfe, that certaine affectsof the minde by nature doth chance contrary. For as teares oftentimestrickle downe the cheekes of him that seeth or heareth some joyfullnewes, so I being in this fearfull perplexity, could not forbearelaughing, 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 peepedunder the bed to see what would happen. And behold there entred in twoold women, the one bearing a burning torch, and the other a sponge anda naked sword; and so in this habit they stood about Socrates beingfast asleep. Then shee which bare the sword sayd unto the other, Beholdsister Panthia, this is my deare and sweet heart, which both day andnight hath abused my wanton youthfulnesse. This is he, who littleregarding my love, doth not only defame me with reproachfull words, butalso intendeth to run away. And I shall be forsaken by like craft asVlysses did use, and shall continually bewaile my solitarinesse asCalipso. Which said, shee pointed towards mee that lay under thebed, and shewed me to Panthia. This is hee, quoth she, which is hisCounsellor, and perswadeth him to forsake me, and now being at the pointof death he lieth prostrate on the ground covered with his bed, and hathseene all our doings, and hopeth to escape scot-free from my hands, but I will cause that hee will repente himselfe too late, nay ratherforthwith, of his former intemperate language, and his presentcuriosity. Which words when I heard I fell into a cold sweat, and myheart trembled with feare, insomuch that the bed over me did likewiserattle and shake. Then spake Panthia unto Meroe and said, Sister let usby and by teare him in pieces or tye him by the members, and so cut themoff. Then Meroe (being so named because she was a Taverner, and lovedwel good wines) answered, Nay rather let him live, and bury the corpseof this poore wretch in some hole of the earth; and therewithall sheeturned the head of Socrates on the other side and thrust her sword up tothe hilts into the left part of his necke, and received the bloud thatgushed out, into a pot, that no drop thereof fell beside: which thingsI saw with mine own eyes, and as I thinke to the intent that she mightalter nothing that pertained to sacrifice, which she accustomed to make, she thrust her hand down into the intrals of his body, and searchingabout, at length brought forth the heart of my miserable companionSocrates, who having his throat cut in such sort, yeelded out a dolefullcry, and gave up the ghost. Then Panthia stopped up the wide wound ofhis throat with the Sponge and said, O sponge sprung and made of thesea, beware that thou not passe by running river. This being said, oneof them moved and turned up my bed, and then they strid over mee, andclapped their buttocks upon my face, and all bepissed mee until I waswringing wet. When this was over they went their wayes, and the dooresclosed fast, the posts stood in their old places, and the lockes andbolts were shut againe. But I that lay upon the ground like one withoutsoule, naked and cold, and wringing wet with pisse, like to one thatwere more than half dead, yet reviving my selfe, and appointed as Ithought for the Gallowes, began to say Alasse what shall become of me tomorrow, 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 shalltell the trueth in deed? They will say, If thou wert unable to resistthe violence of the women, yet shouldest thou have cried for help;Wouldst thou suffer the man to be slaine before thy face and saynothing? Or why did they not slay thee likewise? Why did they spare theethat stood by and saw them commit that horrible fact? Wherefore althoughthou hast escaped their hands, yet thou shalt not escape ours. WhileI pondered these things with my selfe the night passed on, and so Iresolved to take my horse before day, and goe forward on my journey. 

Howbeit the wayes were unknown to me, and thereupon I tooke up mypacket, unlocked and unbarred the doors, but those good and faithfulldoores which in the night did open of their owne accord, could thenscantly be opened with their keyes. And when I was out I cried, O sirrahHostler where art thou? Open the stable doore for I will ride away byand by. The Hostler lying behinde the stable doore upon a pallet, andhalf asleepe, What (quoth hee) doe you not know that the wayes be verydangerous? What meane you to rise at this time of night? If you perhapsguilty of some heynous crime, be weary of your life, yet thinke you notthat we are such Sots that we will die for you. Then said I, It iswell nigh day, and moreover, what can theeves take from him that hathnothing? 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 otherside, answered, What know I whether you have murthered your Companionwhom you brought in yesternight, or no, and now seeke the means toescape away? O Lord, at that time I remember the earth seemed ready toopen, and me thought I saw at hell gate the Dog Cerberus ready to devourmee, and then I verily beleeved, that Meroe did not spare my throat, mooved with pitty, but rather cruelly pardoned mee to bring mee to theGallowes. Wherefore I returned to my chamber, and there devised with myselfe in what sort I should finish my life. But when I saw that fortuneshould minister unto mee no other instrument than that which my bedprofered 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 andarbiter of such things as were done here this night, whome onely I maycall to witnesse for my innocency, render (I say) unto me some wholesomeweapon to end my life, that am most willing to dye. And therewithal Ipulled out a piece of the rope wherewith the bed was corded, and tyedone end thereof about a rafter by the window, and with the other end Imade a sliding knot, and stood upon my bed, and so put my neck intoit, 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 felldown tumbling upon Socrates that lay under: And even at that same verytime the Hostler came in crying with a loud voyce, and sayd, Whereare 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 cryof the Hostler) Socrates as waking out of sleepe, did rise up first andsayd, It is not without cause that strangers do speake evill of all suchHostlers, for this Catife in his comming in, and with his crying out, Ithinke under a colour to steale away something, hath waked me out of asound sleepe. Then I rose up joyfull with a merry countenance, saying, Behold good Hostler, my friend, my companion and my brother, whom thoudidst falsly affirme to be slaine by mee this might. And therewithall Iembraced my friend Socrates and kissed him: but hee smelling the stinkeof the pisse wherewith those Hagges had embrued me, thrust me away andsayd, Clense thy selfe from this filthy odour, and then he began gentlyto enquire, how that noysome sent hapned unto mee. But I finely feigningand colouring the matter for the time, did breake off his talk, andtooke him by the hand and sayd, Why tarry we? Why lose wee the pleasureof this faire morning? Let us goe, and so I tooke up my packet, andpayed the charges of the house and departed: and we had not gone a mileout of the Towne but it was broad day, and then I diligently looked uponSocrates throat, to see if I could espy the place where Meroe thrust inher sword: but when I could not perceive any such thing, I thought withmy selfe, What a mad man am I, that being overcome with wine yesternight, have dreamed such terrible things? Behold I see Socrates issound, 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, Verilyit is not without occasion, that Physitians of experience do affirme, That such as fill their gorges abundantly with meat and drinke, shalldreame of dire and horrible sights: for I my selfe, not tempering myappetite yester night from the pots of wine, did seeme to see this nightstrange and cruel visions, that even yet I think my self sprinkled andwet with human blood: whereunto Socrates laughing made answer andsaid, Nay, thou art not wet with the blood of men, but art embrued withstinking pisse; and verily I dreamed that my throat was cut, and thatI felt the paine of the wound, and that my heart was pulled out of mybelly, and the remembrance thereof makes me now to feare, for my kneesdo so tremble that I can scarce goe any further, and therefore I wouldfaine eat somewhat to strengthen and revive my spirits. Then said I, behold here thy breakefast, and therewithall I opened my script thathanged upon my shoulder, and gave him bread and cheese, and we satedowne under a greate Plane tree, and I eat part with him; and while Ibeheld him eating greedily, I perceived that he waxed meigre and pale, and that his lively colour faded away, insomuch that beeing in greatfear, and remembring those terrible furies of whom I lately dreamed, thefirst 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 yetyeeld it up, and moreover the small time of our being together increasedmy feare, and what is hee that seeing his companion die in the high-waybefore his face, would not greatly lament and bee sorry? But when thatSocrates had eaten sufficiently hee waxed very thirsty, for indeed hehad well nigh devoured a whole Cheese: and behold evill fortune! Therewas 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 thyfill. And then he rose and came to the River, and kneeled downe on theside of the banke to drinke, but he had scarce touched the water withlips, when as behold the wound in his throat opened wide, and the Spongesuddenly fell out into the water, and after issued out a little remnantof bloud, and his body being then without life, had fallen into theriver, had not I caught him by the leg and so pulled him up. And afterthat I had lamented a good space the death of my wretched companion, Iburied him in the Sands there by the river. 

Which done, in great feare I rode through many Outwayes and desartplaces, and as culpable of the death of Socrates, I forsooke mycountrey, my wife, and my children, and came to Etolia where I marriedanother Wife. 

This tale told Aristomenus, and his fellow which before obstinatly wouldgive no credit unto him, began to say, Verily there was never so foolisha tale, nor a more absurd lie told than this. And then he spake unto mesaying, Ho sir, what you are I know not, but your habit and countenancedeclareth that you should be some honest Gentleman, (speaking toApuleius) doe you beleeve this tale? Yea verily (quoth I), why not? Forwhatsoever the fates have appointed to men, that I beleeve shall happen. For may things chance unto me and unto you, and to divers others, whichbeeing declared unto the ignorant be accounted as lies. But verily Igive credit unto his tale, and render entire thankes unto him, in thatby the pleasant relation thereof we have quickly passed and shortned ourjourney, 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 theleft 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 Miloshouse, 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 wascalled Hipata, or no: Who answered, Yes. Then I demaunded, Whether sheknew one Milo an Alderman of the city: Whereat she laughed and said:Verily it is not without cause that Milo is called an Elderman, andaccounted 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 tellme what manner of man he is, and where he dwelleth. Mary (quoth shee) doyou see these Bay windowes, which on one side abut to the gates of thecity, and on the other side to the next lane? There Milo dwelleth, veryrich both in mony and substance, but by reason of his great avariceand insatiable covetousnes, he is evill spoken of, and he is a man thatliveth all by usurie, and lending his money upon pledges. Moreover hedwelleth in a small house, and is ever counting his money, and hath awife that is a companion of his extreame misery, neither keepeth hemore in his house than onely one maid, who goeth apparelled like unto abeggar. Which when I heard, I laughed in my self and thought, Infaith my friend Demeas hath served me well, which hath sent me being astranger, unto such a man, in whose house I shall not bee afeared eitherof 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 maidwhich said, Ho sirrah that knocks so fast, in what kinde of sort willyou borrow money? Know you not that we use to take no gage, unless it beeither plate or Jewels? To whom I answered, I pray you maid speak moregently, 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, andhave brought him letters from Demeas his friend. Then sayd the Maid, Ipray you tarry here till I tell him so, and therewithall she closed fastthe 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 Ifound him sitting upon a little bed, going to supper, and his wife sateat his feet, but there was no meat upon the table, and so by appointmentof the maid I came to him and saluted him, and delivered the letterswhich 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 soworthy a guest as you are. And therewithall hee commanded his wife tosit away and bid mee sit in her place; which when I refused by reason ofcourtesie, hee pulled me by my garment and willed me to sit downe; forwee have (quoth he) no other stool here, nor no other great storeof household stuffe, for fear of robbing. Then I according to hiscommandement, sate down, and he fell in further communication with meand sayd, Verily I doe conjecture by the comly feature of your body, and by the maidenly shamefastnesse of your face that you are a Gentlemanborne, as my friend Demeas hath no lesse declared the same in hisletters. Wherfore I pray you take in good part our poore lodging, andbehold yonder chamber is at your commaundement, use it as your owne, and if you be contented therewithall, you shall resemble and follow thevertuous qualities of your good father Theseus, who disdained not theslender and poore Cottage of Hecades. 

And then he called his maid which was named Fotis, and said, Carry thisGentlemans packet into the chamber, and lay it up safely, and bringwater quickly to wash him, and a towel to rub him, and other thingsnecessary, and then bring him to the next Baines, for I know that he isvery weary of travell. 

These things when I heard, I partly perceived the manners of Milo, andendeavouring to bring my selfe further into his favour, I sayd, Sirthere is no need of any of these things, for they have been everywhereministred unto mee by the way, howbeit I will go into the Baines, butmy chiefest care is that my horse be well looked to, for hee brought meehither roundly, and therefore I pray thee Fotis take this money and buysome 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 walkedtowards the Baines; but first I went to the market to buy some victualsfor 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 anhundred pence, I bought at length for twenty. Which when I had done, andwas departing away, one of myne old acquaintance, and fellow at Athens, named Pithias, fortuned to passe by, and viewing me at a good space, inthe 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 twosaw one another, and moreover, from the time that wee departed from ourMaster Vestius, I never heard any newes from you. I pray you Lucius tellme the cause of your peregrination hither. Then I answered and sayd, Iwill make relation thereof unto you tomorrow: but I pray you tell me, what meaneth these servitors that follow you, and these rods or vergeswhich they beare, and this habit which you wear like unto a magistrate, verily I thinke you have obtained your own desire, whereof I am rightglad. Then answered Pithias, I beare the office of the Clerke of themarket, and therfore if you will have any pittance for your supperspeake and I will purvey it for you. Then I thanked him heartily andsayd I had bought meat sufficient already. But Pithias when hee espiedmy basket wherein my fish was, tooke it and shaked it, and demanded ofme what I had payd for all my Sprots. In faith (quoth I), I could scarceinforce the fishmonger to sell them for twenty pence. Which when Iheard, he brought me backe again into the market, and enquired of meof 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, andsayd, Is it thus you serve and handle strangers, and specially ourfriends? Wherefore sell you this fish so deare, which is not worth ahalfepenny? Now perceive I well, that you are an occasion to make thisplace, which is the principall city of all Thessaly, to be forsaken ofall men, and to reduce it into an uninhabitable Desart, by reasone ofyour excessive prices of victuals, but assure yourself that you shallnot 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 andcast the fish on the ground, and commanded one of his Sergeants to treadthem under his feet. This done he perswaded me to depart, and sayd thatonely shame and reproach done unto the old Caitife did suffice him, SoI went away amazed and astonied, towards the Baines, considering withmyself and devising of the grace of my companion Pythias. Where when Ihad 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 Fotisimmediately unto mee, and said that her master desired me to come tosupper. But I not ignorant of Milos abstinence, prayed that I might bepardoned since as I thought best to ease my wearied bones rather withsleepe 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 modestlyexcuse my selfe, I will not (quoth he) depart from this place, untilsuch time as you shall goe with me: and to confirm the same, hee boundhis words with an oath, whereby he enforced me to follow him, and so hebrought me into his chamber, where hee sate him downe upon the bed, anddemaunded of mee how his friend Demeas did, his wife, his children, andall his family: and I made answer to him every question, specially heeenquired the causes of my peregrination and travell, which when I haddeclared, he yet busily demanded of the state of my Countrey, and thechief magistrates there, and principally of our Lievtenant and Viceroy;who when he perceived that I was not only wearied by travell, but alsowith talke, and that I fell asleep in the midst of my tale, and furtherthat I spake nothing directly or advisedly, he suffered me to depart tomy chamber. So scaped I at length from the prating and hungry supper ofthis rank old man, and being compelled by sleepe and not by meat, andhaving supped only with talke, I returned into my chamber, and therebetooke 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 toawake, and rose out of my bed as halfe amazed, and very desirous to knowand see some marvellous and strange things, remembring with my selfethat I was in the middle part of all Thessaly, whereas by the commonreport of all the World, the Sorceries and Inchauntments are most used, I oftentimes repeated with my self the tale of my companion Aristomenustouching the manner of this City, and being mooved by great desire, Iviewed the whole scituation thereof, neither was there any thing whichI 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 othershapes, by the wicked power of Sorcerie and Inchantment, insomuch that Ithought that the stones which I found were indurate, and turned frommen into that figure, and that the birds which I heard chirping, andthe trees without the walls of the city, and the running waters, werechanged from men into such kinde of likenesses. And further I thoughtthat the Statues, Images and Walls could goe, and the Oxen and otherbrute beasts could speake and tell strange newes, and that immediatelyI should see and heare some Oracles from the heavens, and from thegleed of the Sun. Thus being astonied or rather dismayed and vexed withdesire, knowing no certaine place whither I intended to go, I went fromstreet to street, and at length (as I curiously gazed on every thing)I fortuned unwares to come into the market place, whereas I espied acertaine woman, accompanied with a great many servants, towards whom Idrew nigh, and viewed her garments beset with gold and pretious stone, in such sort that she seemed to be some noble matron. And there wasan old man which followed her, who as soon as he espied me, said tohimself, Verily this is Lucius, and then he came and embraced me, by andby he went unto his mistresse and whispered in her eare, and came tomee againe saying, How is it Lucius that you will not salute your deereCousin and singular friend? To whom I answered, Sir I dare not be sobold as to take acquaintance of an unknown woman. Howbeit as halfeashamed I drew towards her, and shee turned her selfe and sayd, Beholdhow he resembleth the very same grace as his mother Salvia doth, beholdhis countenance and stature, agreeing thereto in each poynt, behold hiscomely state, his fine slendernesse, his Vermilion colour, his haireyellow by nature, his gray and quicke eye, like to the Eagle, and histrim and comely gate, which do sufficiently prove him to be the naturallchilde of Salvia. And moreover she sayd, O Lucius, I have nourished theewith myne owne proper hand: and why not? For I am not onely of kindredto thy mother by blood, but also by nourice, for wee both descended ofthe line of Plutarch, lay in one belly, sucked the same paps, andwere brought up together in one house. And further there is no otherdifference betweene us two, but that she is married more honourably thanI: I am the same Byrrhena whom you have often heard named among yourfriends at home: wherfore I pray you to take so much pains as to comewith me to my house, and use it as your owne. At whose words I waspartly abashed and sayd, God forbid Cosin that I should forsake myneHost Milo without any reasonable cause; but verily I will, as often as Ihave occasion to passe by thy house, come and see how you doe. And whilewe were talking thus together, little by little wee came to her house, and behold the gates of the same were very beautifully set with pillarsquadrangle wise, on the top wherof were placed carved statues andimages, but principally the Goddesse of Victory was so lively and withsuch excellencie portrayed and set forth, that you would have verilyhave thought that she had flyed, and hovered with her wings hitherand thither. On the contrary part, the image of the Goddesse Diana waswrought in white marble, which was a marvellous sight to see, for sheeseemed as though the winde did blow up her garments, and that she didencounter with them that came into the house. On each side of her wereDogs made of stone, that seemed to menace with their fiery eyes, theirpricked eares, their bended nosethrils, their grinning teeth in suchsort that you would have thought they had bayed and barked. An moreover(which was a greater marvel to behold) the excellent carver and deviserof this worke had fashioned the dogs to stand up fiercely with theirformer feet, and their hinder feet on the ground ready to fight. Behindethe back of the goddesse was carved a stone in manner of a Caverne, environed with mosse, herbes, leaves, sprigs, green branches andbowes, growing in and about the same, insomuch that within the stoneit glistered and shone marvellously, under the brim of the stone hangedapples and grapes carved finely, wherein Art envying Nature, shewedher great cunning. For they were so lively set out, that you would havethought if Summer had been come, they might have bin pulled and eaten;and while I beheld the running water, which seemed to spring and leapunder the feet of the goddesse, I marked the grapes which hanged in thewater, which were like in every point to the grapes of the vine, andseemed to move and stir by the violence of the streame. Moreover, amongst the branches of the stone appeared the image of Acteon: andhow that Diana (which was carved within the same stone, standing in thewater) because he did see her naked, did turne him into an hart, andso he was torne and slaine of his owne hounds. And while I was greatlydelighted with the view of these things, Byrrhena spake to me and sayd, Cousin all things here be at your commandement. And therewithall sheewilled secretly the residue to depart: who being gone she sayd, Mymost deare Cousin Lucius, I do sweare by the goddesse Diana, that I doegreatly tender your safety, and am as carefull for you as if you weremyne owne naturall childe, beware I say, beware of the evil arts andwicked allurements of that Pamphiles who is the wife of Milo, whomyou call your Host, for she is accounted the most chief and principallMagitian and Enchantresse living, who by breathing out certain words andcharmes over bowes, stones and other frivolous things, can throw downall the powers of the heavens into the deep bottome of hell, and reduceall the whole world againe to the old Chaos. For as soone as she espiethany comely yong man, shee is forthwith stricken with his love, andpresently setteth her whole minde and affection on him. She sowethher seed of flattery, she invades his spirit and intangleth him withcontinuall snares of unmeasurable love. 

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

Thus with great care Byrrhena gave me in charge, but I (that alwayscoveted and desired, after that I had heard talk of such Sorceries andWitchcrafts, to be experienced in the same) little esteemed to bewareof Pamphiles, but willingly determined to bestow my money in learning ofthat art, and now wholly to become a Witch. And so I waxed joyful, andwringing my selfe out of her company, as out of linkes or chaines, Ibade her farewell, and departed toward the house of myne host Milo, by the way reasoning thus with my selfe: O Lucius now take heed, bevigilant, have a good care, for now thou hast time and place to satisfiethy desire, now shake off thy childishnesse and shew thy selfe a man, but especially temper thy selfe from the love of thyne hostesse, andabstain from violation of the bed of Milo, but hardly attempt to winnethe maiden Fotis, for she is beautifull, wanton and pleasant in talke. And soone when thou goest to sleepe, and when shee bringeth you gentlyinto thy chamber, and tenderly layeth thee downe in thy bed, andlovingly covereth thee, and kisseth thee sweetly, and departethunwillingly, and casteth her eyes oftentimes backe, and stands still, then hast thou a good occasion ministred to thee to prove and try themind 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 wifeat home. 

THE NINTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis. 

When I was within the house I found my deare and sweet love Fotismincing of meat and making pottage for her master and mistresse, theCupboord was all set with wines, and I thought I smelled the savor ofsome 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 ofred silke, and she stirred the pot and turned the meat with her fair andwhite hands, in such sort that with stirring and turning the same, herloynes and hips did likewise move and shake, which was in my mind acomely sight to see. 

These things when I saw I was halfe amazed, and stood musing with myselfe, and my courage came then upon mee, which before was scant. And Ispake unto Fotis merrily and sayd, O Fotis how trimmely you can stirrethe pot, and how finely, with shaking your buttockes, you can makepottage. The shee beeing likewise merrily disposed, made answer, DepartI say, Miser from me, depart from my fire, for if the flame thereof doenever so little blaze forth, it will burne thee extreamely and none canextinguish the heat thereof but I alone, who in stirring the pot andmaking the bed can so finely shake my selfe. When she had sayd thesewords shee cast her eyes upon me and laughed, but I did not depart fromthence until such time as I had viewed her in every point. But whatshould I speak of others, when as I doe accustome abroad to marke theface and haire of every dame, and afterwards delight my selfe therewithprivately at home, and thereby judge the residue of their shape, becausethe face is the principall part of all the body, and is first open toour eyes. And whatsoever flourishing and gorgeous apparell doth work andset forth in the corporal parts of a woman, the same doth the naturalland comely beauty set out in the face. Moreover there be divers, that tothe intent to shew their grace and feature, wil cast off their partlets, collars, habiliments, fronts, cornets and krippins, and doe more delightto shew the fairnesse of their skinne, than to deck themselves up ingold 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 thehaire of any woman or deprive her of the colour of her face, though sheewere never so excellent in beauty, though shee were throwne downe fromheaven, sprung of the Seas, nourished of the flouds, though shee wereVenus her selfe, though shee were waited upon by all the Court of Cupid, though were girded with her beautifull skarfe of Love, and though sheesmelled of perfumes and musks, yet if shee appeared bald, shee could inno wise please, no not her owne Vulcanus. 

O how well doth a faire colour and a shining face agree with glitteringhair! Behold, it encountreth with the beams of the Sunne, and pleaseththe eye marvellously. Sometimes the beauty of the haire resembleth thecolour of gold and honey, sometimes the blew plumes and azured feathersabout the neckes of Doves, especially when it is either anointed withthe gumme of Arabia, or trimmely tuft out with the teeth of a finecombe, which if it be tyed up in the pole of the necke, it seemeth tothe lover that beholdeth the same, as a glasse that yeeldeth forth amore pleasant and gracious comelinesse than if it should be sparsedabroad on the shoulders of the woman, or hang down scattering behind. Finally there is such a dignity in the haire, that whatsoever sheebe, though she be never to bravely attyred with gold, silks, pretiousstones, and other rich and gorgeous ornaments, yet if her hair benot curiously set forth shee cannot seeme faire. But in my Fotis, hergarments unbrast and unlaste increased her beauty, her haire hangedabout her shoulders, and was dispersed abroad upon her partlet, and inevery part of her necke, howbeit the greater part was trussed upon herpole with a lace. Then I unable to sustain the broiling heat that I wasin, 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 thypleasure do not turn unto repentance. Tush (quoth I) my sweet heart, Iam contented for such another kiss to be broiled here upon this fire, wherwithall I embraced and kissed her more often, and shee embraced andkissed me likewise, and moreover her breath smelled like Cinnamon, andthe liquor of her tongue was like unto sweet Nectar, wherewith when mymind was greatly delighted I sayd, Behold Fotis I am yours, and shallpresently dye unlesse you take pitty upon me. Which when I had said sheeftsoone kissed me, and bid me be of good courage, and I will (quothshee) satisfie your whole desire, and it shall be no longer delayed thanuntil night, when as assure your selfe I will come and lie with you;wherfore go your wayes and prepare your selfe, for I intend valiantlyand couragiously to encounter with you this night. Thus when we hadlovingly talked and reasoned together, we departed for that time. 

THE TENTH CHAPTER

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

When noone was come, Byrrhena sent to me a fat Pigge, five hennes, and aflagon of old wine. Then I called Fotis and sayd, Behold how Bacchus theegger and stirrer of Venery, doth offer him self of his owne accord, letus therefore drink up this wine, that we may prepare our selves andget us courage against soone, for Venus wanteth no other provision thanthis, that the Lamp may be all the night replenished with oyle, and thecups with wine. The residue of the day I passed away at the Bains andin banquetting, and towards evening I went to supper, for I was bid byMilo, and so I sate downe at the table, out of Pamphiles sight asmuch as I could, being mindfull of the commandement of Byrrhena, andsometimes I would cast myne eyes upon her as upon the furies of hell, but I eftsoones turning my face behinde me, and beholding my Fotisministring at the table, was again refreshed and made merry. And beholdwhen Pamphiles did see the candle standing on the table, she said, Verily wee shall have much raine to morrow. Which when her husband didheare, 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 dothdivine of Celestiall things, and of the Sunne it selfe. Then I mused inmy minde and said unto Milo, Of truth it is a good experience and proofof divination. Neither is it any marvell, for although this light is buta small light, and made by the hands of men, yet hath it a remembranceof that great and heavenly light, as of his parent, and doth shew untous what will happen in the Skies above. For I knew at Corinth a certainman of Assyria, who would give answers in every part of the City, andfor the gaine of money would tell every man his fortune, to some hewould tel the dayes of their marriages, to others he would tell whenthey should build, that their edifices should continue. To others, whenthey should best go e about their affaires. To others, when they shouldgoe by sea or land: to me, purposing to take my journey hither, hedeclared many things strange and variable. For sometimes hee sayd thatI should win glory enough: sometimes he sayd I should write a greatHistorie: sometimes againe hee sayd that I should devise an incredibletale: and sometimes that I should make Bookes. Whereat Milo laughedagaine, 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 somewhatblacke, and hee is called Diophanes. Then sayd Milo, the same is he andno other, who semblably hath declared many things here unto us, wherebyhee got and obtained great substance and Treasure. 

But the poore miser fell at length into the hands of unpittifull andcruell fortune: For beeing on a day amongst a great assembly of people, to tell the simple sort their fortune, a certaine Cobler came untohim, and desired him to tel when it should be best for him to take hisvoyage, the which hee promised to do: the Cobler opened his purse andtold a hundred pence to him for his paines. Whereupon came a certaineyoung gentleman and took Diophanes by the Garment. Then he turninghimselfe, embraced and kissed him, and desired the Gentleman, whowas one of his acquaintance, to sit downe by him: and Diophanes beingastonied with this sudden change, forgot what he was doing, and sayd, Odeare friend you are heartily welcome, I pray you when arrived you intothese parts? Then answered he, I will tell you soone, but brother I prayyou tell mee of your comming from the isle of Euboea, and how you spedby the way? Whereunto Diophanes this notable Assyrian (not yet come untohis minde, but halfe amased) soone answered and sayd, I would to godthat all our enemies and evil willers might fall into the like dangerousperegrination and trouble. For the ship where we were in, after it wasby the waves of the seas and by the great tempests tossed hitherand thither, in great peril, and after that the mast and stern brakelikewise in pieces, could in no wise be brought to shore, but sunk intothe water, and so we did swim, and hardly escaped to land. And afterthat, whatsoever was given unto us in recompense of our losses, eitherby the pitty of strangers, or by the benevolence of our friends, wastaken away from us by theeves, whose violence when my brother Arisuatusdid assay to resist, hee was cruelly murthered by them before my face. These things when he had sadly declared, the Cobler tooke up his moneyagaine which he had told out to pay for the telling of his fortune, andran away. The Diophanes comming to himselfe perceived what he had done, and we all that stood by laughed greatly. But that (quoth Milo) whichDiophanes did tell unto you Lucius, that you should be happy and have aprosperous journey, was only true. Thus Milo reasoned with me. But Iwas 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 hisevil fortune, and get againe that which he lost by sea and land, forI verily do yet feel the wearinesse of my travell, whereof I pray youpardon mee, and give me licence to depart to bed: wherewithall I rose upand went unto my chamber, where I found all things finely prepared andthe childrens bed (because they should not heare what we did in thenight) was removed far off without the chamber doore. The table was allcovered with those meats that were left at supper, the cups were filledhalfe full with water, to temper and delay the wines, the flagon stoodready prepared, and there lacked nothing that was necessary for thepreparation of Venus. And when I was entring into the bed, behold myFotis (who had brought her mistresse to bed) came in and gave me rosesand floures which she had in her apron, and some she threw about thebed, and kissed mee sweetly, and tied a garland about my head, andbespred the chamber with the residue. Which when shee had done, sheetooke a cup of wine and delaied it with hot water, and profered it me todrinke; 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 twiceor 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, Iremoved my cloathes, and shewing to Fotis my great impatiencie I sayd, Omy sweet heart take pitty upon me and helpe me, for as you see I am nowprepared unto the battell, which you your selfe did appoint: for afterthat I felt the first Arrow of cruell Cupid within my breast, I bent mybow very strong, and now feare, (because it is bended so hard) lest mystring should breake: but that thou mayst the better please me, undressethy haire and come and embrace me lovingly: whereupon shee made no longdelay, but set aside all the meat and wine, and then she unapparelledher selfe, and unattyred her haire, presenting her amiable body unto mein 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 ofwarre, 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 becouragious, since there is no time appointed when our skirmish shallcease. In saying these words shee came to me to bed, and embraced mesweetly, and so wee passed all the night in pastime and pleasure, and never slept until it was day: but we would eftsoones refresh ourwearinesse, and provoke our pleasure, and renew our venery by drinkingof wine. In which sort we pleasantly passed away many other nightsfollowing. 

THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius supped with Byrrhena, and what a strange tale Bellephorontold at the table. 

It fortuned on a day, that Byrrhena desired me earnestly to suppe withher; and shee would in no wise take any excusation. Whereupon I went toFotis, to aske counsell of her as of some Divine, who although she wasunwilling that I should depart one foot from her company, yet at lengthshee gave me license to bee absent for a while, saying, Beware thatyou tarry not long at supper there, for there is a rabblement of commonBarrettors and disturbers of the publique peace, that rove about inthe streets and murther all such as they may take, neither can law norjustice 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 afearedat any time to walke in the streets. 

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

And so in this sort I went to supper, and behold I found in Byrrhena'shouse a great company of strangers, and the chiefe and principall of thecity: the beds made of Citron and Ivory, were richly adorned and spreadwith cloath of gold, the Cups were garnished pretiously, and there weredivers other things of sundry fashion, but of like estimation and price:here stood a glasse gorgeously wrought, there stood another of Christallfinely painted. There stood a cup of glittering silver, and there stoodanother of shining gold, and here was another of amber artificiallycarved and made with pretious stones. Finally, there was all thingsthat might be desired: the Servitors waited orderly at the table in richapparell, the pages arrayed in silke robes, did fill great gemmes andpearles made in the forme of cups, with excellent wine. Then one broughtin 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 untomee and sayd, I pray you Cousine how like you our countrey? Verily Ithink there is no other City which hath the like Temples, Baynes, andother commodities which we have here. Further we have abundance ofhousehold stuffe, we have pleasure, we have ease, and when the Romanmerchants arrive in this City they are gently and quietly entertained, and all that dwell within this province (when they purpose to solace andrepose themselves) do come to this city. Whereunto I answered, Verily(quoth I) you tell truth, for I can finde no place in all the worldwhich I like better than this, but I greatly feare the blind inevitabletrenches of witches, for they say that the dead bodies are digged out oftheir graves, and the bones of them that are burnt be stollen away, andthe toes and fingers of such as are slaine are cut off, and afflict andtorment such as live. And the old Witches as soone as they heare of thedeath of any person, do forthwith goe and uncover the hearse and spoylethe corpse, to work their inchantments. Then another sitting at thetable spake and sayd, In faith you say true, neither yet do they spareor favor the living. For I know one not farre hence that was cruellyhandled by them, who being not contented with cutting off his nose, didlikewise cut off his eares, whereat all the people laughed heartily, and looked at one that sate at the boords end, who being amased at theirgazing, and somewhat angry withall, would have risen from the table, hadnot Byrrhena spake unto him and sayd, I pray thee friend Bellerophon sitstill and according to thy accustomed curtesie declare unto us the losseof thy nose and eares, to the end that my cousin Lucius may be delightedwith the pleasantnes of the tale. To whom he answered, Madam in theoffice of your bounty shall prevaile herein, but the insolencie of someis not to be supported. This hee spake very angerly: But Byrrhena wasearnest upon him, and assured him hee should have no wrong at any manshand. Whereby he was inforced to declare the same, and so lapping up theend of the Table cloath and carpet together, hee leaned with his elbowthereon, and held out three forefingers of his right hand in manner ofan orator, and sayd, When I was a young man I went unto a certaine citycalled Milet, to see the games and triumphs there named Olympia, andbeing desirous to come into this famous province, after that I hadtravelled over all Thessaly, I fortuned in an evil hour to come to theCity Larissa, where while I went up and down to view the streets toseeke 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 marketplace, crying with a loud voice and saying, that if any man would watcha dead corps that night hee should be reasonably rewarded for thispaines. Which when I heard, I sayd to one who passed by, What is hereto 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 notwithout cause you are ignorant how you are in Thessaly, where the womenWitches bite off by morsels the flesh and faces of dead men, and therebywork their sorceries and inchantments. Then quoth I, In good fellowshiptell me the order of this custody and how it is. Marry (quoth he) firstyou must watch all the night, with your eyes bent continually upon theCorps, never looking off, nor moving aside. For these Witches do turnthemselves into sundry kindes of beasts, whereby they deceive the eyesof all men, sometimes they are transformed into birds, sometimes intoDogs and Mice, and sometimes into flies. Moreover they will charme thekeepers of the corps asleepe, neither can it be declared what meanes andshifts these wicked women do use, to bring their purpose to passe: andthe reward for such dangerous watching is no more than foure or sixeshillings. But hearken further (for I had well nigh forgotten) if thekeeper of the dead body doe not render on the morning following, thecorps whole and sound as he received the same, he shall be punished inthis sort: That is, if the corps be diminished or spoyled in any part ofhis face, hands or toes, the same shall be diminished and spoyled in thekeeper. Which when I heard him I tooke a good heart, and went unto theCrier and bid him cease, for I would take the matter in hand, and soI demanded what I should have. Marry (quoth he) a thousand pence, butbeware I say you young man, that you do wel defend the dead corps fromthe wicked witches, for hee was the son of one of the chiefest of thecity. Tush (sayd I) you speak you cannot tell what, behold I am a manmade all of iron, and have never desire to sleepe, and am more quicke ofsight than Lynx or Argus. I had scarse spoken these words, when he tookeme by the hand and brought mee to a certaine house, the gate whereof wasclosed fast, so that I went through the wicket, then he brought me intoa chamber somewhat darke, and shewed me a Matron cloathed in mourningvesture, and weeping in lamentable wise. And he spake unto her and said, Behold here is one that will enterprise to watch the corpes of yourhusband this night. Which when she heard she turned her blubbered facecovered 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 givemee any thing above that which is due to be given. Wherewith shee wascontented, and then she arose and brought me into a chamber whereas thecorps lay covered with white sheets, and shee called seven witnesses, before whom she shewed the dead body, and every part and parcellthereof, and with weeping eyes desired them all to testifie the matter. Which done, she sayd these words of course as follow: Behold, his noseis whole, his eyes safe, his eares without scarre, his lips untouched, and his chin sound: all which was written and noted in tables, andsubscribed with the hands of witnesses to confirme the same. Which doneI sayd unto the matron, Madam I pray you that I may have all things herenecessary. What is that? (quoth she). Marry (quoth I) a great lampe withoyle, pots of wine, and water to delay the same, and some other drinkeand dainty dish that was left at supper. Then she shaked her head andsayd, Away fool as thou art, thinkest thou to play the glutton here andto looke for dainty meats where so long time hath not been seene anysmoke at all? Commest thou hither to eat, where we should weepe andlament? And therewithall she turned backe, and commanded her maidenMyrrhena to deliver me a lampe with oyle, which when shee had done theyclosed the chamber doore and departed. Now when I was alone, I rubbedmyne eyes, and armed my selfe to keep the corpes, and to the intent Iwould not sleepe, I began to sing, and so I passed the time until it wasmidnight, when as behold there crept in a Wesel into the chamber, andshe came against me and put me in very great feare, insomuch that Imarvelled 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 feelemy 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 Apollohimself could not discern which of us two was the dead corps, for I layprostrat as one without life, and needed a keeper likewise. At lengththe cockes began to crow, declaring that it was day: wherewithall Iawaked, and being greatly afeard ran to the dead body with the lampin my hand, and I viewed him round about: and immediately came in thematron weeping with her Witnesses, and ran to the corps, and eftsoonskissing him, she turned his body and found no part diminished. Then shewilled Philodespotus her steward to pay me my wages forthwith. Whichwhen he had done he sayd, We thanke you gentle young man for your painesand verily for your diligence herein we will account you as one of thefamily. Whereunto I (being joyous of by unhoped gaine, and ratling mymoney in my hand) did answer, I pray you madam esteeme me as one ofyour servants, and if you want my service at any time, I am at yourcommandement. I had not fully declared these words, when as behold allthe servants of the house were assembled with weapons to drive me away, one buffeted me about the face, another about the shoulders, some strookme in the sides, some kicked me, and some tare my garments, and so I washandled amongst them and driven from the house, as the proud young manAdonis 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 wordswhich I had spoken, whereby I considered that I had deserved much morepunishment, and that I was worthily beaten for my folly. And by and bythe corps came forth, which because it was the body of one of the chiefeof the city, was carried in funeral pompe round about the market place, according to the right of the countrey there. And forthwith stepped outan old man weeping and lamenting, and ranne unto the Biere and embracedit, and with deepe sighes and sobs cried out in this sort, O masters, Ipray you by the faith which you professe, and by the duty which you oweunto the weale publique, take pitty and mercy upon this dead corps, whois miserably murdered, and doe vengeance on this wicked and cursed womanhis wife which hath committed this fact: for it is shee and no otherwhich hath poysoned her husband my sisters sonne, to the intent tomaintaine her whoredome, and to get his heritage. In this sort the oldman complained before the face of all people. Then they (astonied atthese sayings, and because the thing seemed to be true) cried out, Burneher, burne her, and they sought for stones to throw at her, and willedthe boys in the street to doe the same. But shee weeping in lamentablewise, did swear by all the gods, that shee was not culpable of thiscrime. No quoth the old man, here is one sent by the providence ofGod to try out the matter, even Zachlas an Egypptian, who is the mostprincipall Prophecier in all this countrey, and who was hired of me formoney to reduce the soule of this man from hell, and to revive his bodyfor the triall hereof. And therewithall he brought forth a certaineyoung man cloathed in linnen rayment, having on his feet a paire ofpantofiles, and his crowne shaven, who kissed his hands and knees, saying, O priest have mercy, have mercy I pray thee by the CelestiallPlanets, by the Powers infernall, by the vertue of the naturallelements, by the silences of the night, by the building of Swallows nighunto the towne Copton, by the increase of the floud Nilus, by the secretmysteries of Memphis, and by the instruments and trumpets of the IslePharos, have mercy I say, and call to life this dead body, and make thathis eyes which he closed and shut, may be open and see. Howbeit we meanenot to strive against the law of death, neither intend we to deprive theearth of his right, but to the end this fact may be knowne, we cravebut a small time and space of life. Whereat this Prophet was mooved, andtook a certaine herb and layd it three times against the mouth of thedead, and he took another and laid upon his breast in like sort. Thuswhen hee had done hee turned himself into the East, and made certaineorisons unto the Sunne, which caused all the people to marvell greatly, and to looke for this strange miracle that should happen. Then I pressedin amongst them nigh unto the biere, and got upon a stone to see thismysterie, and behold incontinently the dead body began to receivespirit, his principall veines did moove, his life came again and he heldup his head and spake in this sort: Why doe you call mee backe againe tothis transitorie life, that have already tasted of the water of Lethe, and likewise been in the deadly den of Styx? Leave off, I pray, leaveoff, and let me lie in quiet rest. When these words were uttered by thedead corps, the Prophet drew nigh unto the Biere and sayd, I chargethee to tell before the face of all the people here the occasion of thydeath: What, dost thou thinke that I cannot by my conjurations call upthe dead, and by my puissance torment thy body? Then the corps movedhis head again, and made reverence to the people and sayd, Verily I waspoisoned by the meanes of my wicked wife, and so thereby yeelded mybed unto an adulterer. Whereat his wife taking present audacity, andreproving his sayings, with a cursed minde did deny it. The people werebent against her sundry wayes, some thought best that shee should beburied alive with her husband: but some said that there ought no creditto be given to the dead body. Which opinion was cleane taken away, bythe words which the corps spoke againe and sayd, Behold I will giveyou some evident token, which never yet any other man knew, wherebyyou shall perceive that I declare the truth: and by and by he pointedtowards me that stood on the stone, and sayd, When this the good Gard ofmy body watched me diligently in the night, and that the wicked Witchesand enchantresses came into the chamber to spoyle mee of my limbes, andto bring such their purpose did transforme themselves into the shapeof beasts: and when as they could in no wise deceive or beguile hisvigilant eyes, they cast him into so dead and sound a sleepe, that bytheir witchcraft he seemed without spirit or life. After this they didcall me by my name, and never did cease til as the cold members of mybody began by little and little and little to revive. Then he being ofmore lively soule, howbeit buried in sleep, in that he and I were namedby 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, andthen his ears, and so that was done to him which was appointed to bedone to me. And that such their subtility might not be perceived, theymade him a like paire of eares and nose of wax: wherfore you may seethat the poore miser for lucre of a little mony sustained losse of hismembers. Which when he had said I was greatly astonied, and minding toprove whether his words were true or no, put my hand to my nose, and mynose fell off, and put my hand to my ears and my ears fell off. Wheratall the people wondred greatly, and laughed me to scorne: but I beeingstrucken in a cold sweat, crept between their legs for shame and escapedaway. So I disfigured returned home againe, and covered the losse ofmyne ears with my long hair, and glewed this clout to my face to hide myshame. As soon as Bellephoron had told his tale, they which sate at thetable replenished with wine, laughed heartily. And while they drank oneto another, Byrrhena spake to me and said, from the first foundation ofthis city we have a custome to celebrate the festivall day of the godRisus, and to-morrow is the feast when as I pray you to bee present, toset out the same more honourably, and I would with all my heart that youcould find or devise somewhat of your selfe, that might be in honourof so great a god. To whom I answered, verily cousin I will do as youcommand me, and right glad would I be, if I might invent any laughingor merry matter to please of satisfy Risus withall. Then I rose from thetable and took leave of Byrrhena and departed. And when I came into thefirst street my torch went out, that with great pain I could scarce gethome, by reason it was so dark, for ear of stumbling: and when I waswell 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 theywere nothing afeard, but assaied with more force to break down the doreswhereby they gave mee occasion, and not without cause, to thinke thatthey were strong theeves. Whereupon I by and by drew out my sword whichI carried for that purpose under my cloak, and ran in amongst them, andwounded them in such sort that they fell downe dead before my face. Thus when I had slaine them all, I knocked sweating and breathing atthe doore til Fotis let me in. And then full weary with the slaughter ofthose Theeves, like Hercules when he fought against the king Gerion, Iwent 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 burnedsore 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 imaginedwith my selfe, that I was brought before the Judge in the Judgementplace, and that he awarded sentence against me, and that the hangman wasready to lead me to the gallows. And further I imagined and sayd, Alassewhat Judge is he that is so gentle or benigne, that will thinke that Iam unguilty of the slaughter and murther of these three men. Howbeit theAssyrian Diophanes did firmely assure unto me, that my peregrinationand voyage hither should be prosperous. But while I did thus unfold mysorrowes, and greatly bewail my fortune, behold I heard a great noyseand cry at the dore, and in came the Magistrates and officers, whocommanded two sergeants to binde and leade me to prison, whereunto I waswillingly obedient, and as they led me through the street, all the Citygathered together and followed me, and although I looked always on theground for very shame, yet sometimes I cast my head aside and marvelledgreatly that among so many thousand people there was not one but laughedexceedingly. Finally, when they had brought me through all the streetsof the city, in manner of those that go in procession, and do sacrificeto 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 commandedall men to keep silence, and people desired the Judges to give sentencein the great Theatre, by reason of the great multitude that was there, whereby they were in danger of stifling. And behold the prease of peopleincreased stil, some climed to the top of the house, some got upon thebeames, some upon the Images, and some thrust their heads through thewindowes, little regarding the dangers they were in, so they might seeme. 

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 anoise, 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 inhis hand, dropping out softly, who desired that hee might have libertyto speake during the time of the continuance of the water. Which when itwas granted, he began his oration in this sort. 

THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER

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

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

This night past, when as at our accustomed houre I diligently searchedevery part of the City, behold I fortuned to espy this cruell young mandrawing out his sword against three Citisens, and after a long combatfoughten between them, he murthered one after another miserably: whichwhen hee had done, moved in his conscience at so great a crime hee ranaway, and aided by the reason of darknes, slipt into a house, and therelay hidden all night, but by the providence of the Gods, which sufferethno heynous offence to pass unpunished, hee was taken by us this morningbefore he escaped any further, and so brought hither to your honourablepresence to receive his desert accordingly. 

So have you here a guilty person, a culpable homicide, and an accusedstranger, wherefore pronounce you judgement against this man beeingan alien, when as you would most severely and sharply revenge suchan offence found in a known Citisen. In this sort the cruell accuserfinished and ended his terrible tale. Then the Crier commanded me tospeake, if I had any thing to say for my selfe, but I could in no wiseutter any word at all for weeping. And on the other side I esteemed notso much his rigorous accusation, as I did consider myne owne miserableconscience. Howbeit, beeing inspired by divine Audacity, at length I gansay, Verily I know that it is an hard thing for him that is accused tohave slaine three persons, to perswade you that he is innocent, althoughhe should declare the whole truth, and confesse the matter how it wasindeed, but if your honours will vouchsafe to give me audience, I willshew you, that if I am condemned to die, I have not deserved it as myneowne desert, but that I was mooved by fortune and reasonable cause todoe that fact. For returning somewhat late from supper yester night(beeing well tippled with wine, which I will not deny) and approachingnigh to my common lodging, which was in the house of one Milo a Citisenof this city, I fortuned to espy three great theeves attempting to breakdown his walls and gates, and to open the locks to enter in. And whenthey had removed the dores out of the hookes, they consulted amongstthemselves, how they would handle such as they found in the house. Andone of them being of more courage, and of greater stature than therest, spake unto his fellows and sayd, Tush you are but boyes, take menshearts unto you, and let us enter into every part of the house, and suchas we find asleep let us kill, and so by that meanes we shall escapewithout danger. Verily ye three Judges, I confess that I drew out mysword against those three Citizens, but I thought it was the office andduty 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 spoylmy friend Milo. But when those cruell and terrible men would in no caserun away, nor feare my naked sword, but boldly resist against me, Iran upon them and fought valiantly. One of them which was the captaininvaded me strongly, and drew me by the haire with both his hands, andbegan to beat me with a great stone: but in the end I proved the hardierman, and threw him downe at my feet and killed him. I tooke likewise thesecond that clasped me about the legs and bit me, and slew him also. And the third that came running violently against me, after that Ihad strucken him under the stomacke fell downe dead. Thus when I haddelivered my selfe, the house, Myne host, and all his family from thispresent danger, I thought that I should not onely escape unpunished, butalso have some great reward of the city for my paines. 

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

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

THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER

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

When this was done, out came a woman in the middle of the Theatrearrayed in mourning vesture, and bearing a childe in her armes. And after her came an old woman in ragged robes, crying and howlinglikewise: and they brought with them the Olive boughs wherewith thethree slaine bodies were covered on the Beere, and cried out in thismanner: O right Judges, we pray by the justice and humanity which is inyou, to have mercy upon these slaine persons, and succour our Widowhoodand losse of our deare husbands, and especially this poore infant, whois now an Orphan, and deprived of all good fortune: and execute yourjustice by order and law, upon the bloud of this Theefe, who is theoccasion of all our sorrowes. When they had spoken these words, one ofthe most antient Judges did rise and say, Touching this murther, whichdeserveth great punishment, this malefactor himselfe cannot deny, butour duty is to enquire and try out, whether he had Coadjutors to helphim. For it is not likely that one man alone could kill three such greatand 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 thenest of these mischievous murtherers. And there was no long delay, butaccording to the custome of Grecia, the fire, the wheele, and many othertorments were brought in. Then my sorrow encreased or rather doubled, inthat I could not end my life with whole and unperished members. Andby 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, Imight uncover the bodies which I had slaine, that every man mightsee their comely shape and youthfull beauty, and that I might receivecondign and worthy punishment, according to the quality of my offence:and therewithall shee made a sign of joy. Then the Judge commanded meforthwith 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 wouldnot make my fact apparent to the eies of all men, the Sergeant chargedme by commandement of the Judges, and thrust me forward to do thesame. 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 asthough 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 newsight, so far was I amased and astonied thereat: for why, the bodies ofthe three slaine men were no bodies, but three blown bladders mangledin divers places, and they seemed to be wounded in those parts whereI remembred I wounded the theeves the night before. Whereat the peoplelaughed exceedingly: some rejoyced marvellously at the remembrancethereof, some held their stomackes that aked with joy, but every mandelighted at this passing sport, so passed out of the theatre. But Ifrom 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 Iinto my right senses, until such time as Milo my Host came and tooke meeby 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 methrough many blind wayes and lanes to his house, where he went about tocomfort me, beeing sad and yet fearfull, with gentle entreaty of talke. But he could in no wise mitigate my impatiency of the injury which Iconceived within my minde. And behold, by and by the Magistrates andJudges with their ensignes entred into the house, and endeavoured topacify mee in this sort, saying, O Lucius, we are advertised of yourdignity, and know the genealogie of your antient lineage, for thenobility of your Kinne doe possesse the greatest part of all thisProvince: and thinke not that you have suffered the thing wherfore youweepe, to any reproach and ignominy, but put away all care and sorrowout of your minde. For this day, which we celebrate once a yeare inhonour of the god Risus, is alwaies renowned with some solemne novel, and the god doth continually accompany with the inventor therof, and wilnot suffer that he should be sorrowfull, but pleasantly beare a joyfullface. And verily all the City for the grace that is in you, intend toreward you with great honours, and to make you a Patron. And furtherthat 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 thefamous City of Thessaly, I yeeld and render the most entire thanks, butas touching the setting up of any statues or images, I would wish thatthey should bee reserved for myne Auntients, and such as are more worthythan I. 

And when I had spoken these words somewhat gravely, and shewed my selfemore merry than I was before, the Judges and magistrates departed, and Ireverently 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 yourpromise yester night, to come to supper, for it is ready. But Igreatly fearing to goe any more to her house in the night, said to themessenger, My friend I pray you tell to my cousine your mistresse, thatI would willingly be at her commandement, but for breaking my troth andcredit. For myne host Milo enforced me to assure him, and compelledme by the feast of this present day, that I should not depart from hiscompany, wherefore I pray you to excuse, and to defer my promise toanother time. 

And while I was speaking these words, Milo tooke me by the hand, and ledme 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 suchan occasion of laughter. And when I had washed and wiped my selfe, andreturned home againe, I never remembred any such thing, so greatly wasI abashed at the nodding and pointing of every person. Then went I tosupper with Milo, where God wot we fared but meanly. Wherefore feigningthat my head did ake by reason of my sobbing and weeping all day, Idesired 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 griefesthat I was in the day before, until such time as my love Fotis, havingbrought her mistresse to sleepe, came into the chamber, not as shee waswont to do, for she seemed nothing pleasant neither in countenance nortalke, 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 thisday, and therewith shee pulled out a whippe from under her apron, anddelivered it unto mee saying, Revenge thyself upon mee mischievousharlot, or rather slay me. 

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

The I, very curious and desirous to know the matter, answered, In faith(quoth I), this most pestilent and evill favoured whip which thou hastbrought to scourge thee withal, shal first be broken in a thousandpieces, than it should touch or hurt thy delicate and dainty skin. But Ipray you tell me how have you been the cause and mean of my trouble andsorrow? For I dare sweare by the love that I beare unto you, and I willnot be perswaded, though you your selfe should endeavour the same, thatever you went to trouble or harm me: perhaps sometimes you imagined anevil thought in your mind, which afterwards you revoked, but that is notto bee deemed as a crime. 

When I had spoken these words, I perceived by Fotis eys being wet withtears and well nigh closed up that shee had a desire unto pleasure andspecially because shee embraced and kissed me sweetly. And when she wassomewhat restored unto joy shee desired me that shee might first shutthe chamber doore, least by the untemperance of her tongue, inuttering 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 witha soft voice and said, I doe greatly feare to discover the privitiesof this house, and to utter the secret mysteries of my dame. But I havesuch confidence in you and in your wisedome, by reason that you are comeof so noble a line, and endowed with so profound sapience, and furtherinstructed in so many holy and divine things, that you will faithfullykeepe silence, and that whatsoever I shall reveale or declare untoyou, you would close them within the bottome of your heart, and neverdiscover 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 ourhouse, now shal you know the hidden secrets of my mistres, unto whomethe powers of hel do obey, and by whom the celestial planets aretroubled, the gods made weake, and the elements subdued, neither is theviolence of her art in more strength and force, than when she espiethsome comly young man that pleaseth her fancie, as oftentimes it hapneth, for now she loveth one Boetian a fair and beautiful person, on whom sheemployes al her sorcerie and enchantment, and I heard her say with mineown ears yester night, that if the Sun had not then presently gon downe, and the night come to minister convenient time to worke her magicallenticements, she would have brought perpetuall darkness over all theworld her selfe. And you shall know, that when she saw yester night, this Boetian sitting at the Barbers a polling, when she came from theBaines shee secretly commanded me to gather up some of the haires of hishead which lay dispersed upon the ground, and to bring it home. Whichwhen I thought to have done the Barber espied me, and by reason it wasbruited though all the City that we were Witches and Enchantresses, he cried out and said, Wil you never leave off stealing of young menshaires? In faith I assure you, unlesse you cease your wicked sorceries, I will complaine to the Justices. Wherewithall he came angerly towardsme, 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 shewould not be contented but beat me cruelly. 

Wherefore I intended to runne away, but the remembrance of you putalwayes the thought out of my minde, and so I came homeward verysorrowful: but because I would not seeme to come to my mistresse sightwith empty hands, I saw a man shearing of blowne goat skinnes, and thehayre which he had shorne off was yellow, and much resembled the haireof the Boetian, and I tooke a good deale thereof, and colouring of thematter, I brought it to my mistresse. And so when night came, beforeyour return form supper, she to bring her purpose to passe, went up toa high Gallery of her house, opening to the East part of the world, andpreparing her selfe according to her accustomed practise, shee gatheredtogether all substance for fumigations, she brought forth plates ofmettal carved with strange characters, she prepared the bones of such aswere drowned by tempest in the seas, she made ready the members of deadmen, as the nosethrils and fingers, shee set out the lumps of flesh ofsuch as were hanged, the blood which she had reserved of such as wereslaine and the jaw bones and teeth of willed beasts, then she saidcertaine charmes over the haire, and dipped it in divers waters, as inWel water, Cow milk, mountain honey, and other liquor. Which when shehad done, she tied and lapped it up together, and with many perfumesand smells threw it into an hot fire to burn. Then by the great forceof this sorcerie, and the violence of so many confections, those bodieswhose haire was burning in the fire, received humane shape, and felt, heard and walked: And smelling the sent of their owne haire, came andrapped at our doores in stead of Boetius. Then you being well tipled, and deceived by the obscurity of the night, drew out your swordcourageously like furious Ajax, and kild not as he did, whole heardof beastes, but three blowne skinnes, to the intent that I, after theslaughter of so many enemies, without effusion of bloud might embraceand 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, asGerion with three bodies, and as Cerberus with three heads, for I haveslaine three blown goat skinnes. But to the end that I may pardon theeof that thing which though hast committed, perform, the thing whichI most earnestly desire of thee, that is, bring me that I may see andbehold when thy mistresse goeth about any Sorcery or enchantment, andwhen she prayeth unto the gods: for I am very desirous to learne thatart, and as it seemeth unto mee, thou thy selfe hath some experience inthe same. For this I know and plainly feele, That whereas I have alwaysyrked and loathed the embrace of Matrones, I am so stricken and subduedwith thy shining eyes, ruddy cheekes, glittering haire, sweet cosses, and lilly white paps, that I have neither minde to goe home, nor todepart hence, but esteeme the pleasure which I shall have with thee thisnight, 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 isso hated, she getteth her selfe into solitary places, and out of thepresence of every person, when she mindeth to work her enchantments. Howbeit I regarde more to gratify your request, than I doe esteeme thedanger of my life: and when I see opportunitie and time I will assuredlybring you word, so that you shal see all her enchantments, but alwaysupon this condition, that you secretly keepe close such things as aredone. 

Thus as we reasoned together the courage of Venus assailed, as well ourdesires as our members, and so she unrayed herself and came to bed, andwe passed the night in pastime and dalliance, till as by drowsie andunlusty 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 hermistresse, to work her sorceries on such as shee loved, intended thenight following to transforme her selfe into a bird, and to fly whithershe pleased. Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare my selfe to seethe 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 sheeput off all her garments, and took out of a certain coffer sundry kindesof Boxes, of the which she opened one, and tempered the ointment thereinwith her fingers, and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole ofthe foot to the crowne of the head, and when she had spoken privily withher selfe, having the candle in her hand, she shaked the parts of herbody, and behold, I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen out, hernose waxed crooked and hard, her nailes turned into clawes, and so shebecame 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 bylittle 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 byno kind of charme, yet I thought that I seemed not to have the likenesseof Lucius, for so was I banished from my sences, amazed in madnesse, andso I dreamed waking, that I felt myne eyes, whether I were asleepe orno. 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 mesome of this oyntment. O Fotis I pray thee by thy sweet paps, to makethat in the great flames of my love I may be turned into a bird, soI will ever hereafter be bound unto you, and obedient to yourcommandement. Then said Fotis, Wil you go about to deceive me now, andinforce me to work my own sorrow? Are you in the mind that you will nottarry in Thessaly? If you be a bird, where shall I seek you, and whenshall I see you? Then answered I, God forbid that I should commit sucha crime, for though I could fly in the aire as an Eagle or though I werethe 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 firstloved thee, I never fancied any other person: moreover, this commeth tomy 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 weretransformed into Owles: Moreover, when they are taken in any place theyare nayled upon posts, and so they are worthily rewarded, because itis 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 anOwle, I shall return to my pristine shape, and become Lucius againe. Feare not (quoth she) for my mistres hath taught me the way to bringthat to passe, neither thinke you that she did it for any good will andfavour, but to the end that I might help her, and minister some remedywhen she returneth home. 

Consider I pray you with your selfe, with what frivolous trifles somarvellous a thing is wrought: for by Hercules I swear I give hernothing else save a little Dill and Lawrell leaves, in Well water, thewhich she drinketh and washeth her selfe withall. Which when she hadspoken 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] goodsuccesse in my purpose. And then I put off all my garments, and greedilythrust my hand into the box, and took out a good deale of oyntment andrubbed 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 hoveredwith myne armes, and moved my selfe, looking still when I should beechanged into a Bird as Pamphiles was, and behold neither feathers norappearance of feathers did burgen out, but verily my haire did turnein ruggednesse, and my tender skin waxed tough and hard, my fingers andtoes losing the number of five, changed into hoofes, and out of mynearse grew a great taile, now my face became monstrous, my nosthrilswide, my lips hanging downe, and myne eares rugged with haire: neithercould I see any comfort of my transformation, for my members encreasedlikewise, and so without all helpe (viewing every part of my poore body)I perceived that I was no bird, but a plaine Asse. 

The I though to blame Fotis, but being deprived as wel of language asof 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 wretchthat I am, I am utterly cast away. The feare I was in, and my haste hathbeguiled me, but especially the mistaking of the box, hath deceived me. But it forceth not much, in regard a sooner medicine may be gotten forthis than for any other thing. For if thou couldst get a rose and eatit, thou shouldst be delivered from the shape of an Asse, and becomemy Lucius againe. And would to God I had gathered some garlands thisevening past, according to my custome, then thou shouldst not continuean 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 perfectasse, and for Lucius a brute beast, did yet retaine the sence andunderstanding of a man. And did devise a good space with my selfe, whether it were best for me to teare this mischievous and wicked harlotwith my mouth, or to kicke and kill her with my heels. But a betterthought reduced me from so rash a purpose: for I feared lest by thedeath of Fotis I should be deprived of all remedy and help. Then shakingmyne head, and dissembling myne ire, and taking my adversity in goodpart, I went into the stable to my owne horse, where I found anotherasse of Milos, somtime my host, and I did verily think that mine ownehorse (if there were any natural conscience or knowledge in brutebeasts) 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 wereconsented together to work my harm, and fearing lest I should eat uptheir provender, would in no wise suffer me to come nigh the manger, butkicked me with their heels from their meat, which I my self gave themthe night before. Then I being thus handled by them, and driven away, got me into a corner of the stable, where while I remembred theiruncurtesie, and how on the morrow I should return to Lucius by the helpof a Rose, when as I thought to revenge my selfe of myne owne horse, Ifortuned to espy in the middle of a pillar sustaining the rafters of thestable the image of the goddesse Hippone, which was garnished and deckedround 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 myneck, and with my lips coveting to snatch some roses. But in an evillhoure I did go about that enterprise, for behold the boy to whom I gavecharge of my horse, came presently in, and finding me climbing upon thepillar, ranne fretting towards me and said, How long shall wee sufferthis wild Asse, that doth not onely eat up his fellowes meat, but alsowould spoyl the images of the gods? Why doe I not kill this lame theefeand weake wretch. And therewithall looking about for some cudgel, heeespied where lay a fagot of wood, and chusing out a crabbed truncheonof the biggest hee could finde, did never cease beating of mee poorewretch, until such time as by great noyse and rumbling, hee heardthe doores of the house burst open, and the neighbours crying in mostlamentable sort, which enforced him being stricken in feare, to fly hisway. And by and by a troupe of theeves entred in, and kept every partand corner of the house with weapons. And as men resorted to aid andhelp them which were within the doores, the theeves resisted and keptthem 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. Thenthey brake open a great chest with double locks and bolts, wherein waslayd all the treasure of Milo, and ransackt the same: which when theyhad done they packed it up and gave every man a portion to carry: butwhen they had more than they could beare away, yet were they loth toleave any behind, but came into the stable, and took us two poore assesand my horse, and laded us with greater trusses than wee were able tobeare. And when we were out of the house, they followed us with greatstaves, and willed one of their fellows to tarry behind, and bringthem tydings what was done concerning the robbery: and so they beat usforward over great hils out of the way. But I, what with my heavyburden and long journy, did nothing differ from a dead asse: wherfore Idetermined with my self to seek some civil remedy, and by invocationof the name of the prince of the country to be delivered from so manymiseries: and on a time I passed through a great faire, I came among amultitude of Greeks, and I thought to call upon the renowned name of theEmperor and say, O Cesar, and cried out aloud O, but Cesar I could inno wise pronounce. The Theeves little regarding my crying, did lay me onand beat my wretched skinne in such sort, that after it was neither aptnor meet to make Sives or Sarces. Howbeit at last Jupiter administredto me an unhoped remedy. For when we had passed through many townesand villages, I fortuned to espy a pleasant garden, wherein beside manyother flowers of delectable hiew, were new and fresh roses: and beingvery joyful, and desirous to catch some as I passed by, I drew neererand neerer: and while my lips watered upon them, I thought of a betteradvice more profitable for me, lest if from an asse I should become aman, I might fall into the hands of the theeves, and either by suspitionthat 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 ofRoses, and enduring my present adversity, I did eat hay as other Assesdid. 

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 mostpower, we turned into a village to certaine of the theeves acquaintanceand friends, for verily their meeting and embracing together did giveme, poore asse, cause to deeme the same, and they tooke the trusse frommy backe, and gave them part of the Treasure which was in it, and theyseemed to whisper and tell them that it was stollen goods, and afterthat we were unladen of our burthens, they let us loose in a medow topasture, but myne own horse and Miloes Asse would not suffer me to feedthere with them, but I must seeke my dinner in some other place. 

Wherefore I leaped into a garden which was behinde the stable, and beingwell nigh perished with hunger, although I could find nothing therebut raw and green fallets, yet I filled my hungry guts therwithallabundantly, and praying unto all the gods, I looked about in every placeif I could espy any red roses in the gardens by, and my solitary beingalone did put me in good hope, that if I could find any remedy, I shouldpresently of an Asse be changed into Lucius out of every mans sight. Andwhile I considered these things, I loked about, and behold I saw a farreoff a shadowed valley adjoyning nigh unto a wood, where amongst diversother hearbes and pleasant verdures, me thought I saw bright flourishingRoses of bright damaske colour; and said within my bestaill minde, Verily that place is the place of Venus and the Graces, where secretlyglistereth the royall hew, of so lively and delectable a floure. Then Idesiring the help of the guide of my good fortune, ranne lustily towardsthe wood, insomuch that I felt myself that I was no more an Asse, but aswift coursing horse: but my agility and quicknes could not prevent thecruelty of my fortune, for when I came to the place I perceived thatthey were no roses, neither tender nor pleasant, neither moystened withthe heavenly drops of dew, nor celestial liquor, which grew out of thethicket and thornes there. Neither did I perceive that there was anyvalley at all, but onely the bank of the river, environed with greatthick trees, which had long branches like unto lawrell, and bearing aflour without any manner of sent, and the common people call them by thename of Lawrel roses, which be very poyson to all manner of beasts. Thenwas I so intangled with unhappy fortune that I little esteemed mine owndanger, and went willingly to eat of these roses, though I knew them tobe present poyson: and as I drew neere I saw a yong man that seemedto be the gardener, come upon mee, and when he perceived that I haddevoured all his hearbes in the garden, he came swearing with a greatstaffe in his hand, and laid upon me in such sort, that I was well nighdead, but I speedily devised some remedy my self, for I lift up my legsand kicked him with my hinder heels, that I left him lying at the hillfoot 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 sheemight purchase to me present destruction. Then all the persons of thetown, moved by her noise came forth, and cried for dogs to teare medown. Out came a great company of Bandogs and mastifes, more fit topul down bears and lions than me, whom when I beheld I thought verilyI should presently die: but I turned myself about, and ranne as fast asever I might to the stable from whence I came. Then the men of the townecalled 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, andthey would undoubtedly have slaine me, had it not come to passe, thatwhat with the paine of their beating, and the greene hearbes that lay inmy guts, I caught such a laske that I all besprinkled their faces withmy liquid dung, and enforced them to leave off. 

THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER

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

Not long after, the theeves laded us againe, but especially me, andbrought us forth of the stable, and when wee had gone a good part of ourjourney 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 Isaw a little before mee a river running with fair water, and I said tomyself, Behold, now I have found a good occasion: for I will fall downwhen I come yonder, and surely I will not rise againe, neither withscourging 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 thatthe theeves when they did see me so feeble and weake that I could nottravell, to the intent they would not stay in their journey, they wouldtake the burthen from my backe and put it on my fellowes, and so formy further punishment to leave me as a prey to the wolves and raveningbeasts. But evill fortune prevented so good a consideration; for theother Asse being of the same purpose that I was of, by feigned andcoloured wearinesse fell downe first, with all his burthen on the groundas though hee were dead, and he would not rise neither with beating norwith pricking, nor stand upon his legs, though they pulled him by thetail, by his legs, and by his eares: which when the theeves beheld, aswithout all hope they said one unto another, What should we stand hereso long about a dead or rather a stony asse? let us bee gone: and sothey 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 threwhis body from the point of a hill down into a great valley. Then Iconsidering with my selfe of the evill fortune of my poore companion, and purposed now to forget all subtility and deceit, and to play thegood Asse to get my masters favour, for I perceived by their talke thatwe were come home well nigh at our journeys end. And after that wee hadpassed over a little hill, we came to our appointed place, and when wewere unladen of our burthens, and all things carried in, I tumbled andwallowed in the dust, to refresh my selfe in stead of water. The thingand the time compelleth me to make description of the places, andespecially of the den where the theeves did inhabit, I will prove mywit in what I can doe, and the consider you whether I was an Asse injudgement and sence, or no. For first there was an exceeding great hillcompassed about with big trees very high, with many turning bottoms fullof sharp stones, whereby it was inaccessible. There was many windingand hollow vallies, environed with thickets and thornes, and naturallyfortressed round about. From the top of the hill ranne a running wateras cleare as silver, that watered all the valleyes below, that it seemedlike unto a sea inclosed, or a standing floud. Before the dennewhere was no hill stood an high tower, and at the foot thereof weresheep-coats fenced and walled with clay. Before the gate of the housewere pathes made in stead of wals, in such sort that you could easilyjudge it to be a very den for theeves, and there was nothing else excepta little coat covered with thatch, wherein the theeves did nightlyaccustome to watch by order, as I after perceived. And when they wereall crept into the house, and we were all tied fast with halters at thedore, they began to chide with an old woman there, crooked with age, whohad the government and rule of all the house, and said, How is it oldwitch, old trot, and strumpet, that thou sittest idley all day at home, and having no regard to our perillous labours, hast provided nothing forour suppers, but sittest eating and swilling thyself from morning tillnight? Then the old woman trembled, and scantly able to speak gansay, Behold my puissant and faithfull masters, you shall have meat andpottage enough by and by: here is first store of bread, wine plenty, filled in cleane rinsed pots, likewise here is hot water prepared tobathe you. 

Which when she had said, they put off all their garments and refreshedthemselves by the fire. And after they were washed and noynted withoyle, they sate downe at the table garnished with all kind of daintymeats. They were no sooner sate downe, but in came another company ofyong men more in number than was before, who seemed likewise to beeTheeves, for they brought in their preyes of gold and silver, Plate, jewels, and rich robes, and when they had likewise washed, they sateamong the rest, and served one another by order. Then they drank and eatexceedingly, laughing, crying and making much noyse, that I thought thatI was among the tyrannous and wilde Lapithes, Thebans, and Centaures. At length one of them more valiant than the rest, spake in this sort, Weverily have manfully conquered the house of Milo of Hippata, and besideall the riches and treasure which by force we have brought away, we areall come home safe, and are increased the more by this horse and thisAsse. But you that have roved about in the country of Boetia, have lostyour valiante captaine Lamathus, whose life I more regarded than all thetreasure which you have brought: and therfore the memory of him shallbee renowned for ever amongst the most noble kings and valiant captains:but you accustome when you goe abroad, like men with ganders hearts tocreepe through every corner and hole for every trifle. Then one of themthat came last answered, Why are you only ignorant, that the greater thenumber is, the sooner they may rob and spoyle the house? And althoughthe family be dispersed in divers lodgings, yet every man had ratherto defend his own life, than to save the riches of his master: butwhen there be but a few theeves, then will they not only rather regardthemselves, 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: weewere come nothing nigh to Thebes, where is the fountain of our art andscience, 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 withaboundance of treasure, and went daily in ragged and torn apparel. Wherefore wee devised with our selves to go to his house and spoyl himof all his riches. And when night came we drew towards the dore, whichwas so strongly closed, that we could neither move it, nor lift it outof the hooks, and we thought it best not to break it open lest by thenoyse we should raise up to our harm the neighbours by. Then our strongand valiant captaine Lamathus trusting in his own strength and force, thrust in his had through a hole in the dore, and thought to pull backthe bolt: but the covetous caitif Chriseros being awake, and making nonoise came softly to the dore and caught his hand and with a great nailenailed it fast to the post: which when he had done, he ran up to thehigh chamber and called every one of his neighbours by name, desiringthem to succour him with all possible speed, for his own house was onfire. Then every one for fear of his owne danger came running out to aidhim, wherewith we fearing our present peril, knew not what was best tobe don, whether wee should leave our companion there, or yeeld ourselvesto die with him: but we by his consent devised a better way, for we cutoff his arm by the elbow and so let it hang there: then wee bound hiswound with clouts, lest we should be traced by the drops of blood: whichdon we took Lamathus and led him away, for fear we would be taken: butbeing so nigh pursued that we were in present danger, and that Lamathuscould not keepe our company by reason of faintnesse; and on the otherside perceiving that it was not for his profit to linger behinde, hespake unto us as a man of singular courage and vertue, desiring us bymuch entreaty and prayer and by the puissance of the god Mars, and thefaith of our confederacy, to deliver his body from torment and miserablecaptivity: and further he said, How is it possible that so courageous aCaptaine can live without his hand, wherewith he could somtime rob andslay so many people? I would thinke myself sufficiently happy if I couldbe slaine by one of you. But when he saw that we all refused to commitany such fact, he drew out his sword with his other hand, and afterthat he had often kissed it, he drove it clean through his body. Thenwe honoured the corps of so puissant a man, and wrapped it in linnencloathes and threw it into the sea. So lieth our master Lamathus, buriedand 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 notbeware by Lamathus, nor voide himselfe from evill fortune, for on a daywhen he had entred into an old womans house to rob her, he went up intoa high chamber, where hee should first have strangled her: but he hadmore 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 leavenothing behinde, he went into the old womans bed where she lay asleep, and would have taken off the coverlet to have thrown downe likewise, butshee 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 myneighbours houses, for they are rich enough, and need no such things. Then Alcinus thinking her words to be true, was brought in beleefe, thatsuch things as he had throwne out already, and such things as hee shouldthrow out after, was not fallen downe to his fellowes, but to other menshouses, wherefore hee went to the window to see, and as hee thought tobehold the places round about, thrusting his body out of the window, theold woman marked him wel, and came behind him softly, and though sheehad but small strength, yet with sudden force she tooke him by theheeles and thrust him out headlong, and so he fell upon a marvellousgreat stone and burst his ribs, wherby he vomited and spewed greatflakes of blood, and presently died. Then wee threw him to the riverlikewise, as we had done Lamathus before. 

When we had thus lost two of our companions, we liked not Thebes, butmarched towards the next city called Platea, where we found a man ofgreat 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 goodhouse, marvellous rich, liberall, and wel deserved that which he had andhad prepared many showes and pleasures for the Common people, insomuchthat there is no man can either by wit or eloquence shew in words hisworthy preparations: for first he had provided all sorts of armes, heegreatly delighted in hunting and chasing, he ordained great towers andTables to move hither and thither: hee made many places to chase andencounter in: he had ready a great number of men and wilde beasts, andmany condemned persons were brought from the Judgement place, to tryand fight with those beasts. But amongst so great preparations of nobleprice, he bestowed the most part of his patrimony in buying of Beares, which he nourished to his great cost, and esteemed more than all theother beasts, which either by chasing hee caught himself, or which hedearely bought, or which were given him from divers of his friends. 

Howbeit for all his sumptuous cost, hee could not be free from themalitious eyes of envy, for some of them were well nigh dead with toolong tying up, some meagre with the broyling heat of the sunne, somelanguished with lying, but all having sundry diseases, were so afflictedthat they died one after another, and there was well nigh none left, insuch sort that you might see them lying in the streets pittiously dead. And the common people having no other meat to feed on, little regardingany curiosity, would come forth and fill their bellies with the fleshof the beares. Then by and by Babulus and I devised a pretty sport, weedrew one of the greatest of the Beares to our lodging, as though weewould prepare to eat thereof, where wee flayed of his skinne, and kepthis ungles whole, but we medled not with the head, but cut it off bythe necke, and so let it hang to the skinne. Then we rased off the fleshfrom 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 wedevised with our selves, that one of us being more valiant than the restboth in body and courage (so that he would consent thereto) shouldput on the skin, and feigning that he were a Beare, should be led toDemochares house in the night, by which means we thought to be receivedand let in. Many were desirous to play the Beare, but especially oneThrasileon 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 thehaire, that it might not be seen. After this we made little holesthrough the bears head, and through his nosthrils and eyes, forThrasileon to see out and take wind at, in such sort that he seemed avery lively and natural beast: when this was don we went into a cavewhich we hired for the purpose, and he crept in after like a bear witha good courage. Thus we began our subtility, and then wee imagined thus, wee feigned letters as though they came from one Nicanor which dweltin the Country of Thracia, which was of great acquaintance with thisDemochares, wherein we wrote, that hee had sent him being his friend, the first fruits of his coursing and hunting. When night was come, whichwas a meet time for our purpose, we brought Thrasileon and our forgedletters and presented them to Demochares. When Demochares beheldthis mighty Beare, and saw the liberality of Nicanor his friend, heecommanded his servants to deliver unto us x. Crowns, having great storein his coffers. Then (as the novelty of a thing doth accustom to stirmens minds to behold the same) many persons came on every side to seethis bear: but Thrasileon, lest they should by curious viewing andprying perceive the truth, ran upon them to put them in feare that theydurst not come nigh. The people said, Verily Demochares is right happy, in that after the death of so many beasts, hee hath gotten maugrefortunes head, so goodly a bear. Then Demochares commanded him with allcare to be put in the park with all the other beasts: but immediatelyI spake unto him and said, Sir I pray you take heed how you put a beasttired with the heat of the sun and with long travell, among others whichas I hear say have divers maladies and diseases, let him rather lie insome open place in your house nie some water, where he may take air andease himself, for doe you not know that such kind of beasts do greatlydelight to couch under the shadow of trees and hillocks neer pleasantwells and waters? Hereby Demochares admonished, and remembring how manyhe had before that perished, was contented that we should put thebear where we would. Moreover we said unto him, that we ourselves weredetermined to lie all night neer the Bear, to look unto him, and to givehim meat and drink at his due houre. 

Then he answered, Verily masters you need not put yourselves to suchpaines, for I have men that serve for nothing but that purpose. So weetooke leave of him and departed: and when we were come without the gatesof the town, we perceived before us a great sepulchre standing out ofthe highway in a privy and secret place, and thither we went andopened the mouth thereof, whereas we found the sides covered with thecorruption of man, and the ashes and dust of his long buried body, wherein we got ourselves to bring our purpose to passe, and havingrespect to the dark time of night, according to our custome, whenwe thought that every one was asleepe, we went with our weapons andbesieged the house of Demochares round about. Then Thrasileon was readyat hand, and leaped out of the caverne, and went to kill all such as hefound asleepe: but when he came to the Porter, he opened the gates andlet us in, and then he shewed us a large Counter, wherein we saw thenight before a great aboundance of treasure: which when by violencewe had broke open, I bid every one of my fellows take as much gold andsilver as they could carry away: and beare it to the sepulchre, andstill as they carried away I stood at the gate, watching diligently whenthey would returne. The Beare running about the house, to make such ofthe family afeared as fortuned to wake and come out. For who is he thatis so puissant and couragious, that at the ougly sight of so great amonster 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 apittifull case, for as I looked for my companions that should come fromthe sepulchre, behold there was a Boy of the house that fortuned tolooke out of a window, and espied the Bear running about, and he wentand told all the servants of the house. Whereupon incontinently theycame forth with Torches, Lanthornes, and other lights, that they mightsee all the yard over: they came with clubs, speares, naked swords, Greyhounds, and Mastifes to slay the poore beast. Then I during thisbroyle thought to run away, but because I would see Thrasileon fightwith the Dogs, I lay behinde the gate to behold him. And although Imight perceive that he was well nigh dead, yet remembred he his ownefaithfulnes and ours, and valiantly resisted the gaping and ravenousmouths of the hell hounds, so tooke hee in gree the pagiant whichwillingly he tooke in hand himself, and with much adoe tumbled at lengthout of the house: but when hee was at liberty abroad yet could he notsave himself, for all the dogs of the Streete joyned themselves to thegreyhounds and mastifes of the house, and came upon him. 

Alas what a pittifull sight it was to see our poore Thrasileon thusenvironed and compassed with so many dogs that tare and rent himmiserably. Then I impatient of so great a misery, ranne in among theprease of people, and ayding him with my words as much as I might, exhorted them all in this manner: O great and extreame mischance, whata pretious and excellent beast have we lost. But my words did nothingprevaile, for there came out a tall man with a speare in his hand, thatthrust him cleane through, and afterwards many that stood by drew outtheir swords, and so they killed him. But verily our good CaptaineThrasileon, 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 withweapons, did yeeld forth a dolefull cry, more like unto a beast than aman. And taking his present fortune in good part, with courage and gloryenough did finish his life, with such a terror unto the assembly, thatno person was hardy until it was day, as to touch him, though hee werestarke dead: but at last there came a Butcher more valiant than therest, who opening the panch of the beast, slit out an hardy and ventroustheefe. 

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

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

Thus when they had spoken in memory of their slaine companions, theytooke cups of gold, and sung hymns unto the god mars, and layd themdowne to sleep. Then the old woman gave us fresh barley without measure, insomuch that my horse fed so abundantly that he might well thinke heewas at some banquet that day. But I that was accustomed to eat branand flower, thought that but a sower kinde of meate. Wherfore espying acorner where lay loaves of bread for all the house I got me thither andfilled 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 hadbuckled on their weapons, and disguised their faces with visards, theydeparted. And yet for all the great sleep that came upon me, I could inno wise leave eating: and whereas when I was a man I could be contentedwith one or two loaves at the most, now my huts were so greedy thatthree panniers full would scantly serve me, and while I considered thesethings the morning came, and being led to a river, notwithstandingmy Assie shamefastnesse I quencht my thirst. And suddenly after, theTheeves returned home carefull and heavy, bringing no burthens withthem, no not so much as traffe or baggage, save only a maiden, thatseemed by her habit to be some gentlewoman borne, and the daughter ofsome worthy matron of that country, who was so fair and beautiful, thatthough I were an Asse, yet I had a great affection for her. The virginlamented and tare her hair, and rent her garments, for the great sorrowshe was in; but the theeves brought her within the cave, and assistedher to comfort in this sort, Weep not fair gentlewoman we pray you, forbe you assured we wil do no outrage or violence to your person: but takepatience a while for our profit, for necessity and poore estate hathcompelled us to do this enterprise: we warrant you that your parents, although they bee covetous, will be contented to give us a greatquantity of mony to redeeme and ransome you from our hands. 

With such and like flattering words they endeavoured to appease thegentlewoman, howbeit shee would in no case be comforted, but put herhead betwixt her knees, and cried pittiously. Then they called the oldwoman, and commaunded her to sit by the maiden, and pacify her doloras much as shee might. And they departed away to rob, as they wereaccustomed to doe, but the virgin would not asswage her griefes, normitigate her sorrow by any entreaty of the old woman, but howled andsobbed in such sort, that she made me poore Asse likewise to weepe, andthus she said, Alas can I poore wench live any longer, that am come ofso good a house, forsaken of my parents, friends, and family, made arapine and prey, closed servilely in this stony prison, deprived of allpleasure, wherein I have been brought up, thrown in danger, ready to berent in pieces among so many sturdy theeves and dreadful robbers, canI (I say) cease from weeping, and live any longer? Thus she cried andlamented, and after she had wearied herself with sorrow and blubberedher face with teares, she closed the windowes of her hollow eyes, andlaid her downe to sleepe. And after that she had slept, she rose againlike a furious and mad woman, and beat her breast and comely face morethat she did before. 

Then the old woman enquired the causes of her new and suddenlamentation. To whom sighing in pittifull sort she answered, Alas now Iam utterly undone, now am I out of all hope, O give me a knife to killme, 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, andwhy after her sleep, she should renew her dolour and miserable weeping. What, thinke you (quoth she) to deprive our young men of the price ofyour ransome? No, no therefore cease your crying, for the Theeves doelittle esteeme your howling, and if you do not, I will surely burn youalive. Hereat the maiden was greatly feared, and kissed her hand andsaid, O mother take pitty upon me and my wretched fortune, and give melicense a while to speake, for I think I shall not long live, let therebe mercy ripe and franke in thy venerable hoare head, and hear the sumof my calamity. 

There was a comely young man, who for his bounty and grace was belovedentirely of all the towne, my cousine Germane, and but three years olderthan I; we two were nourished and brought up in one house, lay under oneroofe, and in one chamber, and at length by promise of marriage, and byconsent of our parents we were contracted together. The marriage day wascome, the house was garnished with lawrel, and torches were set inevery place in the honour of Hymeneus, my espouse was accompanied by hisparents, kinsfolke, and friends, and made sacrifices in the temples andpublique places. And when my unhappy mother pampered me in her lap, anddecked me like a bride, kissing me sweetly, and making me a parent forChildren, behold there came in a great multitude of theeves armed likemen of warre, with naked swords in their hands, who went not aboutto doe any harme, neither to take any thing away, but brake into thechamber 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 Hyppodameand Perithous. But behold my good mother, now my unhappy fortune isrenewed and encreased: For I dreamed in my sleepe, that I was pulled outof our house, out of our chamber, and out of my bed, and that I removedabout in solitary and unknowne places, calling upon the name of myunfortunate husband, and how that he, as soone as he perceived that hewas taken away, even smelling with perfumes and crowned with garlands, did trace me by the steppes, desiring the aid of the people to assisthim, in that his wife was violently stollen away, and as he went cryingup and down, one of the theeves mooved with indignation, by reason ofhis pursuit, took up a stone that lay at his feet, and threw it at myhusband and killed him. By the terror of which sight, and the feare ofso dreadfull a dreame, I awaked. 

Then the old woman rendring out like sighes, began to speake in thissort: My daughter take a good heart unto you, and bee not afeared atfeigned and strange visions and dreams, for as the visions of the dayare accounted false and untrue, so the visions of the night doe oftenchange contrary. And to dream of weeping, beating, and killing, is atoken of good luck and prosperous change. Whereas contrary to dreameof laughing, carnal dalliance, and good cheere, is a signe of sadnesse, sicknesse, loss of substance, and displeasure. But I will tell thee apleasant 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 andPsyches. 

There was sometimes a certaine King, inhabiting in the West parts, who had to wife a noble Dame, by whom he had three daughters exceedingfair: of whom the two elder were of such comly shape and beauty, asthey did excell and pass all other women living, whereby they werethought 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 youngestdaughter did so farre surmount and excell then two, as no earthlycreature could by any meanes sufficiently expresse or set out the same. 

By reason wherof, after the fame of this excellent maiden was spreadabout in every part of the City, the Citisens and strangers there beeinginwardly 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 lessworship and reverence her with crosses, signes, and tokens, and otherdivine adorations, according to the custome of the old used rites andceremonies, than if she were the Lady Venus indeed, and shortly afterthe fame was spread into the next cities and bordering regions, that thegoddess whom the deep seas had born and brought forth, and the froth ofthe waves had nourished, to the intent to show her high magnificencieand 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 notthe sea, by a new concourse and influence of the celestiall planets, had budded and yeelded forth a new Venus, endued with the floure ofvirginity. 

So daily more and more encreased this opinion, and now is her flyingfame dispersed into the next Island, and well nigh unto every part andprovince of the whole world. Wherupon innumerable strangers resortedfrom farre Countries, adventuring themselves by long journies onland and by great perils on water, to behold this glorious virgin. Byoccasion wherof such a contempt grew towards the goddesse Venus, that noperson travelled unto the Towne Paphos, nor to the Isle Gyndos, norto Cythera to worship her. Her ornaments were throwne out, her templesdefaced, her pillowes and cushions torne, her ceremonies neglected, herimages and Statues uncrowned, and her bare altars unswept, and fowl withthe ashes of old burnt sacrifice. For why, every person honoured andworshipped this maiden in stead of Venus, and in the morning at herfirst comming abroad offered unto her oblations, provided banquets, called her by the name of Venus, which was not Venus indeed, and in herhonour presented floures and garlands in most reverend fashion. 

This sudden change and alteration of celestiall honour, did greatlyinflame and kindle the love of very Venus, who unable to temper herselfe from indignation, shaking her head in raging sort, reasoned withher selfe in this manner, Behold the originall parent of all theseelements, behold the Lady Venus renowned throughout all the world, with whome a mortall maiden is joyned now partaker of honour: my nameregistred in the city of heaven is prophaned and made vile by terreneabsurdities. If I shall suffer any mortall creature to present myMajesty on earth, or that any shall beare about a false surmisedshape of her person, then in vaine did Paris the sheepheard (in whosejudgement and competence the great Jupiter had affiance) preferre meabove the residue of the goddesses, for the excellency of my beauty: butshe, whatever she be that hath usurped myne honour, shal shortly repenther of her unlawful estate. And by and by she called her winged sonneCupid, rash enough and hardy, who by his evill manners contemning allpublique justice and law, armed with fire and arrowes, running up anddown in the nights from house to house, and corrupting the lawfullmarriages of every person, doth nothing but that which is evill, whoalthough that hee were of his owne proper nature sufficiently prone toworke mischiefe, yet she egged him forward with words and brought him tothe city, and shewed him Psyches (for so the maid was called) and havingtold the cause of her anger, not without great rage, I pray thee (quothshe) my dear childe, by motherly bond of love, by the sweet woundsof thy piercing darts, by the pleasant heate of thy fire, revenge theinjury which is done to thy mother by the false and disobedient beautyof a mortall maiden, and I pray thee, that without delay shee may fallin love with the most miserablest creature living, the most poore, themost crooked, and the most vile, that there may bee none found in allthe world of like wretchednesse. When she had spoken these words sheembraced 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 ofNereus, singing with tunes melodiously: Portunus with his bristled andrough beard, Salita with her bosome full of fish, Palemon the driver ofthe Dolphine, the Trumpetters of Tryton, leaping hither and thither, andblowing 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 fruitof honor. She was wondred at of all, she was praised of all, but sheperceived that no King nor Prince, nor any one of the superiour sortdid repaire to wooe her. Every one marvelled at her divine beauty, as itwere some Image well painted and set out. Her other two sisters, whichwere nothing so greatly exalted by the people, were royally married totwo Kings: but the virgin Psyches, sitting alone at home, lamented hersolitary life, and being disquieted both in mind and body, althoughshe pleased all the world, yet hated shee in her selfe her owne beauty. Whereupon the miserable father of this unfortunate daughter, suspectingthat the gods and powers of heaven did envy her estate, went to the towncalled Milet to receive the Oracle of Apollo, where he made his prayersand offered sacrifice, and desired a husband for his daughter: butApollo though he were a Grecian, and of the country of Ionia, because ofthe foundation of Milet, yet hee gave answer in Latine verse, the sencewhereof 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 miserableand unhappy fate of his daughter. Then they began to lament and weep, and passed over many dayes in great sorrow. But now the time approachedof Psyches marriage, preparation was made, blacke torches were lighted, the pleasant songs were turned into pittifull cries, the melody ofHymeneus was ended with deadly howling, the maid that should be marrieddid wipe her eyes with her vaile. All the family and people of the cityweeped likewise, and with great lamentation was ordained a remisse timefor that day, but necessity compelled that Psyches should be brought toher appointed place, according to the divine appointment. 

And when the solemnity was ended, they went to bring the sorrowfulspowse, not to her marriage, but to her final end and burial. And whilethe father and mother of Psyches did go forward weeping and crying untothis enterprise, Psyches spake unto them in this sort: Why torment yourunhappy age with continuall dolour? Why trouble you your spirits, whichare 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? whypull you your hory haires? Why knocke ye your breasts for me? Now yousee the reward of my excellent beauty: now, now you perceive, but toolate, the plague of envy. When the people did honour me, and call menew Venus, then yee should have wept, then you should have sorrowed asthough I had been dead: for now I see and perceive that I am come tothis misery by the only name of Venus, bring mee, and as fortune hasappointed, place me on the top of the rocke, I greatly desire to end mymarriage, I greatly covet to see my husband. Why doe I delay? why shouldI refuse him that is appointed to destroy all the world. 

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

Thus poore Psyches being left alone, weeping and trembling on the toppeof the rocke, was blowne by the gentle aire and of shrilling Zephyrus, and carried from the hill with a meek winde, which retained her garmentsup, 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 tenderhearbs, as in a bed of sweet and fragrant floures, and having qualifiedthe thoughts and troubles of her restlesse minde, was now well reposed. And when she had refreshed her selfe sufficiently with sleepe, she rosewith a more quiet and pacified minde, and fortuned to espy a pleasantwood invironed with great and mighty trees. Shee espied likewise arunning river as cleare as crystall: in the midst of the wood well nighat the fall of the river was a princely Edifice, wrought and builded notby the art or hand of man, but by the mighty power of God: and you wouldjudge at the first entry therin, that it were some pleasant and worthymansion for the powers of heaven. For the embowings above were ofCitron and Ivory, propped and undermined with pillars of gold, the wallscovered and seeled with silver, divers sorts of beasts were graven andcarved, that seemed to encounter with such as entered in. All thingswere so curiously and finely wrought, that it seemed either to be theworke of some Demy god, or of God himselfe. The pavement was all ofpretious stones, divided and cut one from another, whereon was carveddivers kindes of pictures, in such sort that blessed and thrice blessedwere they that might goe upon such a pavement: Every part and angle ofthe house was so well adorned, that by reason of the pretious stones andinestimable treasure there, it glittered and shone in such sort, thatthe chambers, porches, and doores gave light as it had beene the Sunne. Neither otherwise did the other treasure of the house disagree untoso great a majesty, that verily it seemed in every point an heavenlyPalace, fabricate and built for Jupiter himselfe. 

Then Psyches moved with delectation approched nigh and taking a boldheart entred into the house, and beheld every thing there with greataffection, she saw storehouses wrought exceedingly fine, and replenishedwith aboundance of riches. Finally, there could nothing be devisedwhich lacked there: but among such great store of treasure this wasmost marvellous, that there was no closure, bolt, nor locke to keepe thesame. And when with great pleasure shee had viewed all these things, sheheard a voyce without any body, that sayd, Why doe you marvell Madameat 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 beeyour servants, and ready to minister unto you according to your desire. In the meane season, royall meats and dainty dishes shall be preparedfor you. 

Then Psyches perceived the felicity of divine providence, and accordingto the advertisement of the incorporeall voyces she first reposed herselfe upon the bed, and then refreshed her body in the baines. Thisdone, shee saw the table garnished with meats, and a chaire to sitdowne. 

When Psyches was set downe, all sorts of divine meats and wines werebrought in, not by any body, but as it were with a winde, for she saw noperson before her, but only heard voyces on every side. After that allthe 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 theInstruments did so greatly shrill in her eares, that though there wereno manner of person, yet seemed she in the midst of a multitude ofpeople. 

All these pleasures finished, when night aproched Psyches went to bed, and when she was layd, that the sweet sleep came upon her, she greatlyfeared her virginity, because shee was alone. Then came her unknownehusband and lay with her: and after that hee had made a perfectconsummation of the marriage, he rose in the morning before day, anddeparted. Soone after came her invisible servants, and presented to hersuch things as were necessary for her defloration. And thus she passedforth a great while, and as it happeneth, the novelty of the things bycontinuall custome did encrease her pleasure, but especially the soundof the instruments was a comfort to her being alone. 

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

The night following, Psyches husband spake unto her (for she might feelehis eyes, his hands, and his ears) and sayd, O my sweet Spowse and dearwife, fortune doth menace unto thee imminent danger, wherof I wish theegreatly to beware: for know that thy sisters, thinking that thou artdead, bee greatly troubled, and are coming to the mountain by thy steps. Whose lamentations if thou fortune to heare, beware that thou doe in nowise make answer, or looke up towards them, for if thou doe thou shaltpurchase to mee great sorrow, and to thyself utter destruction. Psyches hearing her Husband, was contented to doe all things as hee hadcommanded. 

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

Incontinently after came her husband, who when he had embraced hersweetly, 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 thenight 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 itso, then remember my words, and repent but too late. Then she desiredher husband more and more, assuring him that shee should die, unlesse hewould grant that she might see her sisters, wherby she might speak withthem and comfort them, wherat at length he was contented, and moreoverhee willed that shee should give them as much gold and jewels as shewould. But he gave her a further charge saying, Beware that ye covetnot (being mooved by the pernicious counsell of you sisters) to see theshape of my person, lest by your curiosity you deprive your selfe of sogreat and worthy estate. Psyches being glad herewith, rendered unto himmost entire thankes, and said, Sweet husband, I had rather die than tobee separated from you, for whosoever you bee, I love and retaine youwithin my heart, as if you were myne owne spirit or Cupid himselfe: butI pray you grant this likewise, that you would commaund your servantZephyrus to bring my sisters downe into the valley as he brought mee. 

Wherewithall shee kissed him sweetly, and desired him gently to granther request, calling him her spowse, her sweetheart, her Joy and herSolace. Wherby she enforced him to agree to her mind, and when morningcame he departed away. 

After long search made, the sisters of Psyches came unto the hill whereshe was set on the rocke, and cried with a loud voyce in such sort thatthe stones answered againe. And when they called their sister by hername, that their lamentable cries came unto her eares, shee came forthand said, Behold, heere is shee for whom you weepe, I pray you tormentyour selves no more, cease your weeping. And by and by she commaundedZephyrus by the appointment of her husband to bring them downe. Neitherdid he delay, for with gentle blasts he retained them up and laid themsoftly in the valley. I am not able to expresse the often embracing, kissing and greeting which was between them three, all sorrows and tearswere then layd apart. 

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

After this she shewed them the storehouses of treasure, shee caused themto hear the voyces which served her, the bain was ready, the meats werebrought in, and when they had filled themselves with divine delecates, they conceived great envy within their hearts, and one of them beingcurious, did demand what her husband was, of what estate, and who wasLord of so pretious a house? But Psyches remembring the promise whichshe had made to her husband, feigned that hee was a young man, of comelystature, with a flaxen beard, and had great delight in hunting the dalesand hills by. And lest by her long talke she should be found to trip orfaile 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 wayeshomeward to their owne houses, and murmured with envy that they bareagainst Psyches, saying, behold cruell and contrary fortune, behold howwe, borne all of one Parent, have divers destinies: but especiallywe that are the elder two bee married to strange husbands, made ashandmaidens, and as it were banished from our Countrey and friends. Whereas our younger sister hath great abundance of treasure, and hathgotten a god to her husband, although shee hath no skill how to use suchgreat plenty of riches. Saw you not sister what was in the house, whatgreat store of jewels, what glittering robes, what Gemmes, what gold wetrod on? That if shee hath a husband according as shee affirmeth, thereis none that liveth this day more happy in all the world than she. Andso it may come to passe, at length for the great affection which hee maybeare unto her that hee may make her a goddesse, for by Hercules, suchwas her countenance, so she behaved her self, that as a goddesse she hadvoices 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 upall day in the house. 

Then said the other sister, And in faith I am married to a husband thathath the gout, twyfold, crooked, nor couragious in paying my debt, I amfaine 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 anddainty hands with the corruption of filthy clouts, not using my selflike a wife, but more like a servant. And you my sister seem likewise tobe in bondage and servitude, wherefore I cannot abide to see ouryounger sister in such felicity; saw you not I pray you how proudly andarrogantly she handled us even now? And how in vaunting her selfe sheuttered her presumptuous minde, how she cast a little gold into ourlaps, and being weary of our company, commanded that we should be borneand blown away?

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

But now let us goe home to our husbands and poore houses, and when weare better instructed, let us return to suppresse her pride. So thisevill counsell pleased these two evil women, and they hid the treasurewhich Psyches gave them, and tare their haire, renewing their false andforged teares. When their father and mother beheld them weep and lamentstill, they doubled their sorrowes and griefes, but full of yre andforced with Envy, they tooke their voyage homeward, devising theslaughter and destruction of their sister. 

In the meane season the husband of Psyches did warne her againe in thenight with these words: Seest thou not (quoth he) what perill and dangerevill fortune doth threaten unto thee, whereof if thou take not goodheed it will shortly come upon thee. For the unfaithfull harlots doegreatly endeavor to set their snares to catch thee, and their purpose isto make and perswade thee to behold my face, which if thou once fortuneto see, as I have often told, thou shalt see no more. Wherfore if thesenaughty hagges, armed with wicked minds, doe chance to againe (as Ithink no otherwise but that they will) take heed that thou talk not withthem but simply suffer them to speake what they will, howbeit if thoucanst not refraine thy selfe, beware that thou have no communicationof thy husband, nor answer a word if they fortune to question of me, sowill we encrease our stocke, and this young and tender childe, couchedin this young and tender belly of thine, shall be made an immortall god, otherwise a mortal creature. Then Psyches was very glad that she shouldbring forth a divine babe, and very joyfull in that she should behonored as a mother. She reckened and numbered carefully the days andmonths that passed, and beeing never with child before, did marvelgreatly that in so short a time her belly should swel so big. But thosepestilent and wicked furies breathing out their Serpentine poyson, tookshipping to bring their enterprise to passe. The Psyches was warnedagain by her husband in this sort: Behold the last day, the extreamcase, and the enemies of thy blood, hath armed themselves against us, pitched their campe, set their host in array, and are marching towardsus, for now thy two sisters have drawn their swords and are readyto slay thee. O with what force are we assailed on this day! O sweetPsyches I pray thee to take pitty on thy selfe, of me, and deliver thyhusband and this infant within thy belly from so great danger, and seenot, neither heare these cursed women, which are not worthy to be calledthy sisters, for their great hatred and breach of sisterly amity, forthey wil come like Syrens to the mountains, and yeeld out their pittiousand lamentable cries. When Psyches had heard these words she sighedsorrowfully and said, O deare husband this long time have you hadexperience and triall of my faith, and doubt you not that I willpersever in the same, wherefore command your winde Zephyrus, that heemay doe as hee hath done before, to the intent that where you havecharged me not to behold your venerable face, yet that I may comfortmyself with the sight of my sisters. I pray you by these beautifullhaires, by these round cheekes delicate and tender, by your pleasant hotbreast, whose shape and face I shall learn at length by the childe in mybelly, grant the fruit of my desire, refresh your deare Spowse Psycheswith joy, who is bound and linked unto you for ever. I little esteeme tosee your visage and figure, little doe I regard the night and darknessethereof, for you are my only light. 

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

Now her sisters arrived on land, and never rested til they came to therock, without visiting their parents, and leapt down rashly from thehill themselves. Then Zephyrus according to the divine commandmentbrought them down, although it were against his wil, and laid them inthe vally without any harm: by and by they went into the palace to theirsister without leave, and when they had eftsoone embraced their prey, and thanked her with flattering words for the treasure which she gavethem, they said, O deare sister Psyches, know you that you are now nomore a child, but a mother: O what great joy beare you unto us in yourbelly? What a comfort will it be unto all the house? How happy shallwe be, that shall see this Infant nourished amongst so great plenty ofTreasure? 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 ofmeasures they went about to winne Psyches by little and little, butbecause they were wearie with travell, they sate them downe in chaires, and after that they had washed their bodies in baines they went into aparlour, where all kinde of meats were ready prepared. Psyches commandedone to play with his harpe, it was done. Then immediately others sung, others tuned their instruments, but no person was seene, by whose sweetharmony and modulation the sisters of Psyches were greatly delighted. 

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

In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves, saying, Howsay you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches? First she sayd that herhusband 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 inso short a space can become so old? You shall finde it no otherwise mysister, but that either this cursed queane hath invented a great lie, orelse that she never saw the shape of her husband. And if it be so thatshe never saw him, then verily she is married to some god, and hath ayoung god in her belly. But if it be a divine babe, and fortune to cometo the eares of my mother (as God forbid it should) then may I go andhang my selfe: wherfore let us go to our parents, and with forged lieslet us colour the matter. 

After they were thus inflamed, and had visited their Parents, theyreturned againe to the mountaine, and by the aid of the winde Zephyruswere carried down into the valley, and after they had streined their eyelids, to enforce themselves to weepe, they called unto Psyches in thissort, Thou (ignorant of so great evill) thinkest thy selfe sure andhappy, and sittest at home nothing regarding thy peril, whereas wee goeabout thy affaires and are carefull lest any harme should happen untoyou: 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 ravenousgaping throat, that lieth with thee every night Remember the Oracleof Apollo, who pronounced that thou shouldest he married to a dire andfierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such as huntabout in the countrey, affirme that they saw him yesternight returningfrom pasture and swimming over the River, whereby they doe undoubtedlysay, that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate meats, but whenthe time of delivery shall approach he will devoure both thee and thychild: wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou wilt agree unto usthat are carefull of thy safety, and so avoid the perill of death, beecontented to live with thy sisters, or whether thou remaine with theSerpent and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body. Andif it be so that thy solitary life, thy conversation with voices, thisservile and dangerous pleasure, and the love of the Serpent doe moredelight thee, say not but that we have played the parts of naturallsisters in warning thee. 

Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was mooved with the feare ofso dreadful words, and being amazed in her mind, did cleane forget theadmonitions of her husband, and her owne promises made unto him, andthrowing her selfe headlong into extreame misery, with a wanne andsallow countenance, scantly uttering a third word, at length gan say inthis sort: O my most deare sisters, I heartily thanke you for your greatkindnesse toward me, and I am now verily perswaded that they which haveinformed you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth, for I neversaw the shape of my husband, neither know I from whence he came, onlyI heare his voice in the night, insomuch that I have an uncertainehusband, and one that loveth not the light of the day: which causeth meto suspect that he is a beast, as you affirme. Moreover, I doe greatlyfeare 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 lovingsisters if you have any wholeome remedy for your sister in danger, giveit now presently. Then they opened the gates of their subtill mindes, and did put away all privy guile, and egged her forward in her fearefullthoughts, perswading her to doe as they would have her whereupon oneof them began and sayd, Because that wee little esteeme any perill ordanger, to save your life we intend to shew you the best way and meaneas we may possibly do. Take a sharpe razor and put it under the pillowof your bed; and see that you have ready a privy burning lampe withoyle, hid under some part of the hanging of the chamber, and finelydissembling the matter when according to his custome he commeth to bedand sleepeth soundly, arise you secretly, and with your bare feet goeand take the lampe, with the Razor in your right hand and with valiantforce cut off the head of the poysonous serpent, wherein we will aid andassist you: and when by the death of him you shall be made safe, we wilmarry you to some comely man. 

After they had thus inflamed the heart of their sister fearing lest somedanger might happen unto them by reason of their evill counsell, theywere carried by the wind Zephyrus to the top of the mountaine, and sothey 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 thewaves of the sea, and although her wil was obstinate, and resisted toput in execution the counsell of her Sisters, yet she was in doubtfulland divers opinions touching her calamity. Sometime she would, sometimeshe would not, sometime she is bold, sometime she feareth, sometimeshee mistrusteth, somtime she is mooved, somtime she hateth the beast, somtime she loveth her husband: but at length night came, when as sheprepared for her wicked intent. 

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

But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee greatly feared, and amazedin mind, with a pale countenance all trembling fel on her kneesand thought to hide the razor, yea verily in her owne heart, whichdoubtlesse she had done, had it not through feare of so great anenterprise fallen out of her hand. And when she saw and beheld thebeauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her mind, she sawhis haires of gold, that yeelded out a sweet savor, his neck more whitethan milk, his purple cheeks, his haire hanging comely behinde andbefore, the brightnesse whereof did darken the light of the lamp, histender plume feathers, dispersed upon his sholders like shining flours, and trembling hither and thither, and his other parts of his body sosmooth 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 weaponsof so great a god: which when Psyches did curiously behold, shemarvelling at her husbands weapons, took one of the arrows out of thequiver, and pricked her selfe withall, wherwith she was so grievouslywounded that the blood followed, and thereby of her owne accord sheeadded love upon love; then more broyling in the love of Cupid sheeembraced him and kissed him and kissed him a thousand times, fearing themeasure of his sleepe But alas while shee was in this great joy, whetherit were for envy for desire to touch this amiable body likewise, therefell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe upon the right shoulderof the god. O rash and bold lampe, the vile ministery of love, howdarest thou bee so bold as to burne the god of all fire? When as heinvented thee, to the intent that all lovers might with more joy passethe nights in pleasure. 

The god beeing burned in this sort, and perceiving that promise andfaith was broken, bee fled away without utterance of any word, from theeyes and hands of his most unhappy wife. But Psyches fortuned to catchhim as hee was rising by the right thigh, and held him fast as hee flewabove in the aire, until such time as constrained by wearinesse shee letgoe and fell downe upon the ground. But Cupid followed her downe, andlighted upon the top of a Cypresse tree, and angerly spake unto her inthis manner: O simple Psyches, consider with thy selfe how I, littleregarding the commandement of my mother (who willed mee that thoushouldst bee married to a man of base and miserable condition) did comemy selfe from heaven to love thee, and wounded myne owne body with myproper weapons, to have thee to my Spowse: And did I seeme a beast untothee, that thou shouldst go about to cut off my head with a razor, wholoved thee so well? Did not I alwayes give thee a charge? Did not Igently will thee to beware? But those cursed aides and Counsellors ofthine shall be worthily rewarded for their pains. As for thee thou shaltbe sufficiently punished by my absence. When hee had spoken these wordshe 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 himinto the aire, weeping and lamenting pitteously: but when hee was goneout 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 herhusband, howbeit the water would not suffer her to be drowned, but tookepity upon her, in the honour of Cupid which accustomed to broyle andburne 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 whomwere feeding the young and tender Goats, after that he perceived Psychesin sorrowful case, not ignorant (I know not by what meanes) of hermiserable estate, endeavored to pacific her in this sort: O faire maid, I am a rusticke and rude heardsman, howbeit by reason of my old ageexpert in many things, for as farre as I can learnt by conjecture (whichaccording as wise men doe terme is called divination) I perceive by youruncertaine gate, your pale hew, your sobbing sighes, and your wateryeyes, that you are greatly in love. Wherefore hearken to me, and goenot about to slay your selfe, nor weepe not at all, but rather adoreand worship the great god Cupid, and winne him unto you by your gentlepromise 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 cometo a city where the husband of one of her Sisters did dwell. Which whenPsyches did understand, shee caused that her sister had knowledge ofher comming, and so they met together, and after great embracing andsalutation, the sister of Psyches demaunded the cause of her travellthither. Marry (quoth she) doe you not remember the counsell you gaveme, whereby you would that I should kill the beast which under colour ofmy husband did lie with mee every night? You shall understand, thatas soone as I brought forth the lampe to see and behold his shape, Iperceived that he was the sonne of Venus, even Cupid himselfe that laywith mee. Then I being stricken with great pleasure, and desirous toembrace him, could not thoroughly asswage my delight, but alas by evillill chance the oyle of the lampe fortuned to fall on his shoulder whichcaused 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 meand 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, andby and by hee commaunded Zephyrus to carry me away from the bounds ofhis house. 

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

Neither was the vengeance of the other delayed, for Psyches travellingin that country, fortuned to come to another city where her other sisterdid dwel; to whom when shee had declared all such things as she told toher other sister shee ran likewise unto the rock and was slaine in likesort Then Psyches travelled about in the countrey to seeke her husbandCupid, but he was gotten into his mothers chamber and there bewailed thesorrowful 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 herselfe: to whom she declared that her son was burned and in danger ofdeath, and moreover that it was a common brute in the mouth of everyperson (who spake evill of all the family of Venus) that her son dothnothing but haunt harlots in the mountain, and she her self lasciviouslyuse to ryot in the sea: wherby they say that they are flow becomeno more gratious, pleasant nor gentle, but incivile, monstrous andhorrible. Moreover, that marriages are not for any amity, or for love ofprocreation, but full of envy, discord, and debate. This the curious Guldid clatter in the ears of Venus, reprehending her son. But Venus beganto cry and sayd, What hath my sonne gotten any Love? I pray thee gentlebird that doest serve me so faithfully, tell me what she is, and what isher name that hath troubled my son in such sort? whether shee be any ofthe 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 knownot what shee is, but this I know that she is called Psyches. Then Venuswith 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 shewhe fell acquainted with the maid? And immediately she departed and wentto 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 thisreason, that thou hast violated and broken the commandement of thymother and soveraign mistresse: and whereas thou shouldst have vexed myenemy with loathsom love, thou hast done otherwise?

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

Thou presumest and thinkest, thou trifling boy, thou Varlet, and withoutall reverence, that thou art most worthy and excellent, and that I amnot able by reason of myne age to have another son, which if I shouldhave, thou shouldst well understand that I would beare a more worthierthan thou. But to worke thee a greater despight, I do determine to adoptone 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, notto this purpose, neither is any thing given thee of thy father for thisintent: but first thou hast been evill brought up and instructed in thyyouth thou hast thy hands ready and sharpe. Thou hast often offended thyantients, and especially me that am thy mother, thou hast pierced meewith thy darts thou contemnest me as a widow, neither dost t thouregard thy valiant and invincible father, and to anger me more, thou artamorous of harlots and wenches: hot I will cause that thou shalt shortlyrepent thee, and that this marriage shal be dearely bought. To what apoint am I now driven? What shall I do? Whither shall I goe? How shallI represse this beast? Shall I aske ayd of myne enemy Sobriety, whom Ihave often offended to engender thee? Or shall I seeke for counsel ofevery poore rusticall woman? No, no, yet had I rather dye, howbeit Iwill not cease my vengeance, to her must I have recourse for helpe, andto none other (I meane to Sobriety), who may correct thee sharpely, takeaway thy quiver, deprive thee of thy arrowes, unbend thy bow, quench thyfire, and which is more subdue thy body with punishment: and when thatI have rased and cut off this thy haire, which I have dressed with myneowne hands, and made to glitter like gold, and when I have clipped thywings, which I my selfe have caused to burgen, then shall I thinke tohave revenged my selfe sufficiently upon thee for the injury which thouhast done. When shee had spoken these words shee departed in a greatrage out of her chamber. 

Immediatelie as she was going away came Juno and Ceres, demaunding thecause of her anger. Then Venus answered, Verily you are come to comfortmy sorrow, but I pray you with all diligence to seeke out one whose nameis Psyches, who is a vagabond, and runneth about the Countries, and (asI thinke) you are not ignorant of the brute of my son Cupid, and of hisdemeanour, which I am ashamed to declare. Then they understanding thewhole matter, endeavoured to mitigate the ire of Venus in this sort:What is the cause Madam, or how hath your son so offended, that youshold so greatly accuse his love, and blame him by reason that he isamorous? 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 tothe mind of any maiden: what do you not know that he is a young man? Orhave you forgotten of what yeares he is? Doth he seeme alwayes untoyou to be a childe? You are his mother, and a kind woman, will youcontinually search out his dalliance? Will you blame his luxury? Willyou bridle his love? and will you reprehend your owne art and delightsin him? What God or man is hee, that can endure that you should sowe ordisperse your seed of love in every place, and to make restraint thereofwithin your owne doores? certes you will be the cause of the suppressionof the publike paces of young Dames. In this sort this goddesseendeavoured 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 theydid rather trifle and taunt at her injuries) she departed from them, and tooke her voiage towards the sea in all haste. In the meane seasonPsyches hurled her selfe hither and thither, to seeke her husband, therather because she thought that if he would not be appeased with thesweet flattery of his wife, yet he would take mercy on her at herservile and continuall prayers. And (espying a Church on the top of ahigh hill) she said, What can I tell whether my husband and master bethere or no? wherefore she went thitherward, and with great paineand travell, moved by hope, after that she climbed to the top of themountaine, she came to the temple, and went in, wheras behold she espiedsheffes of corn lying on a heap, blades withered with garlands, andreeds of barly, moreover she saw hooks, sithes, sickles, and otherinstruments, to reape, but every thing lay out of order, and as it werecast in by the hands of laborers which when Psyches saw she gatheredup and put everything in order, thinking that she would not despise orcontemne the temples of any of the Gods, but rather get the favour andbenevolence of them all: by and by Ceres came in, and beholding herbusie and curious in her chapell, cried out a far off, and said, OPsyches needfull of mercy, Venus searcheth for thee in every place torevenge her selfe and to punish thee grievously, but thou hast more mindto be heere, and carest for nothing lesse, then for thy safety. ThenPsyches fell on her knees before her, watring her feet with her teares, wiping the ground with her haire, and with great weeping and lamentationdesired pardon, saying, O great and holy Goddesse, I pray thee by thyplenteous and liberall right hand, by the joyfull ceremonies of thyharvest, by the secrets of thy Sacrifice, by the flying chariots ofthy dragons, by the tillage of the ground of Sicilie, which thou hastinvented, by the marriage of Proserpin, by the diligent inquisition ofthy daughter, and by the other secrets which are within the temple ofEleusis in the land of Athens, take pitty on me thy servant Psyches, andlet me hide my selfe a few dayes amongst these sheffes of corne, untillthe ire of so great a Goddesse be past, or until that I be refreshed ofmy great labour and travell. Then answered Ceres, Verely Psyches, I amgreatly moved by thy prayers and teares, and desire with all my heartto aide thee, but if I should suffer thee to be hidden here, I shouldincrease the displeasure of my Cosin, with whom I have made a treatieof peace, and an ancient promise of amity: wherefore I advise thee todepart hence and take it not in evil part in that I will not suffer theeto abide and remaine here within my temple. Then Psyches driven awaycontrary to her hope, was double afflicted with sorrow and so shereturned back againe. And behold she perceived a far off in a vallya Temple standing within a Forest, faire and curiously wrought, andminding to over-passe no place whither better hope did direct her, andto the intent she would desire pardon of every God, she approached nighunto the sacred doore, whereas she saw pretious riches and vestimentsingraven with letters of gold, hanging upon branches of trees, and theposts of the temple testifying the name of the goddesse Juno, to whomthey were dedicate, then she kneeled downe upon her knees, and imbracedthe 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 andworshipped amongst the great temples of Samos, called upon by womenwith child, worshipped at high Carthage, because thou wast brought fromheaven 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 ofgoddesses; 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 mytribulations, deliver me from the great danger which pursueth me, andsave me that am weary with so long labours and sorrow, for I know thatit is thou that succorest and helpest such women as are with child andin danger. Then Juno hearing the prayers of Psyches, appeared unto herin all her royalty, saying, Certes Psyches I would gladly help thee, butI am ashamed to do any thing contrary to the will of my daughter in lawVenus, whom alwaies I have loved as mine owne child, moreover I shallincurre the danger of the law, intituled, De servo corrupto, wherebyam forbidden to retaine any servant fugitive, against the will of hisMaster. Then Psyches cast off likewise by Juno, as without all hope ofthe recovery of her husband, reasoned with her selfe in this sort: Nowwhat comfort or remedy is left to my afflictions, when as my prayerswill nothing availe with the goddesses? what shall I do? whither shall Igo? In what cave or darknesse shall I hide my selfe, to avoid thefuror of Venus? Why do I not take a good heart, and offer my selfe withhumilitie unto her, whose anger I have wrought? What do I know whetherhe (whom I seeke for) be in his mothers house or no? Thus being indoubt, poore Psyches prepared her selfe to her owne danger, and devisedhow she might make her orison and prayer unto Venus. After that Venuswas weary with searching by Sea and Land for Psyches, shee returnedtoward heaven, and commanded that one should prepare her Chariot, whichher husband Vulcanus gave unto her by reason of marriage, so finelywrought that neither gold nor silver could be compared to thebrightnesse therof. Four white pigeons guided the chariot with greatdiligence, and when Venus was entred in a number of sparrowes flewchirping about, making signe of joy, and all other kind of birds sangsweetly, foreshewing the comming of the great goddesse: the clouds gaveplace, the heavens opened, and received her joyfully, the birds thatfollowed nothing feared the Eagle, Hawkes, or other ravenous foules ofthe aire. Incontinently she went unto the royall Pallace of God Jupiter, and with a proud and bold petition demanded the service of Mercury, incertaine of her affaires, whereunto Jupiter consented: then with muchjoy shee descended from Heaven with Mercury, and gave him an earnestcharge to put in execution her words, saying: O my Brother, bornein Arcadia, thou knowest well, that I (who am thy sister) did neverenterprise to doe any thing without thy presence, thou knowest also howlong I have sought for a girle and cannot finde her, wherefore thereresteth nothing else save that thou with thy trumpet doe pronounce thereward to such as take her: see thou put in execution my commandment, and declare that whatsoever he be that retaineth her wittingly, againstmy will shall not defend himselfe by any meane or excusation: which whenshe had spoken, she delivered unto him a libell, wherein was containedthe name of Psyches, and the residue of his publication, which done, she departed away to her lodging. By and by, Mercurius (not delaying thematter) proclaimed throughout all the world, that whatsoever hee werethat could tell any tydings of a Kings fugitive Daughter, the servantof Venus, named Psyches, should bring word to Mercury, and for reward ofhis paines, he should receive seaven sweet kisses of Venus After thatMercury had pronounced these things, every man was enflamed with desireto search out Psyches. 

This proclamation was the cause that put all doubt from Psyches, who wasscantly come in the sight of the house of Venus, but one of her servantscalled Custome came out, who espying Psyches, cried with a loud voyce, saying: O wicked harlot as thou art, now at length thou shalt knowthat thou hast a mistresse above thee. What, dost thou make thy selfeignorant, as though thou didst not understand what travell wee havetaken in searching for thee? I am glad that thou art come into myhands, thou art now in the golfe of hell, and shalt abide the paine andpunishment of thy great contumacy, and therewithall she tooke her by thehaire, and brought her in, before the presence of the goddesse Venus. When Venus spied her, shee began to laugh, and as angry personsaccustome to doe, she shaked her head, and scratched her right earesaying, O goddesse, goddesse, you are now come at length to visit yourhusband that is in danger of death, by your meanes: bee you assured, I will handle you like a daughter: where be my maidens, Sorrow andSadnesse? To whom (when they came) she delivered Psyches to be cruellytormented; then they fulfilled the commandement of their Mistresse, and after they had piteously scourged her with rods and whips, theypresented her againe before Venus; then she began to laugh againe, saying: Behold she thinketh (that by reason of her great belly, whichshe hath gotten by playing the whore) to move me to pitty, and to makeme a grandmother to her childe. Am not I happy, that in the flourishingtime of al mine age, shall be called a grandmother, and the sonne ofa vile harlot shall bee accounted the nephew of Venus: howbeit I am afoole to tearm him by the name of my son, since as the marriage was madebetweene unequall persons, in the field without witnesses, and not bythe consent of parents, wherefore the marriage is illegitimate, and thechilde (that shall be borne) a bastard; if we fortune to suffer thee tolive so long till thou be delivered. When Venus had spoken these wordsshe leaped upon the face of poore Psyches, and (tearing her apparell)tooke her by the haire, and dashed her head upon the ground. Then shetooke a great quantity of wheat, of barly, poppy seede, peason, lintles, and beanes, and mingled them altogether on a heape saying: Thou evilfavoured girle, thou seemest unable to get the grace of thy lover, byno other meanes, but only by diligent and painefull service, wherefore Iwill prove what thou canst doe: see that thou separate all these grainesone from another, disposing them orderly in their quantity, and let itbe done before night. When she had appointed this taske unto Psyches, she departed to a great banket that was prepared that day. But Psycheswent not about to dissever the graine, (as being a thing impossible tobe brought to passe by reason it lay so confusedly scattered) butbeing astonyed at the cruell commandement of Venus, sate still and saidnothing. Then the little pismire the emote, taking pitty of her greatdifficulty and labour, cursing the cruellnesse of the daughter ofJupiter, and of so evill a mother, ran about, hither and thither, andcalled to all her friends, Yee quick sons of the ground, the mother ofall things, take mercy on this poore maid, espouse to Cupid, who is ingreat danger of her person, I pray you helpe her with all diligence. Incontinently one came after another, dissevering and dividing thegraine, and after that they had put each kinde of corne in order, theyranne away againe in all haste. When night came, Venus returned homefrom the banket wel tippled with wine, smelling of balme, and crownedwith 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 isamorous of thee: then she gave her a morsel of brown bread, and went tosleep. In the mean season, Cupid was closed fast in the surest chamberof the house, partly because he should not hurt himself with wantondalliance, and partly because he should not speake with his love: sothese two lovers were divided one from another. When night was passedVenus called Psyches, and said, Seest thou yonder Forest that extendethout 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 thitherand bring me home some of the wooll of their fleeces. Psyches arosewillingly not to do her commandement, but to throw her selfe headlonginto water to end her sorrows. Then a green reed inspired by divineinspiration, with a gratious tune and melody gan say, O Psyches I praythee not to trouble or pollute my water by the death of thee, and yetbeware 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 sunneis in his force, then seeme they most dreadfull and furious, with theirsharpe hornes, their stony foreheads and their gaping throats, wherewiththey arme themselves to the destruction of mankinde. But untill theyhave refreshed themselves in the river, thou must hide thy selfe hereby me, under this great plaine tree, and as soone as their great fury ispast, thou maist goe among the thickets and bushes under the wood sideand gather the lockes their golden Fleeces, which thou shalt findehanging upon the briers. Then spake the gentle and benigne reed, shewinga mean to Psyches to save her life, which she bore well in memory, andwith all diligence went and gathered up such lockes as shee found, and put them in her apron, and carried them home to Venus. Howbeit thedanger of this second labour did not please her, nor give her sufficientwitnesse of the good service of Psyches, but with a sower resemblance oflaughter, did say: Of a certaine I know that this is not thy fact, but Iwill prove if that thou bee of so stout, so good a courage, and singularprudency as thou seemest to bee. Then Venus spake unto Psyches againesaying: Seest thou the toppe of yonder great Hill, from whence thererunneth downe waters of blacke and deadly colour, which nourisheth thefloods of Stix, Cocytus? I charge thee to goe thither, and bring me avessell of that water: wherewithall she gave her a bottle of Christall, menacing and threatening her rigorously. Then poor Psyches went in allhaste to the top of the mountaine, rather to end her life, then tofetch any water, and when she was come up to the ridge of the hill, sheperceived that it was impossible to bring it to passe: for she saw agreat rocke gushing out most horrible fountaines of waters, which randowne and fell by many stops and passages into the valley beneath: oneach side shee did see great Dragons, which were stretching out theirlong and bloody Neckes, that did never sleepe, but appointed to keepethe river there: the waters seemed to themselves likewise saying, Away;away, what wilt thou doe? flie, flie, or else thou wilt be slaine. ThenPsyches (seeing the impossibility of this affaire) stood still as thoughshe 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 perillwhich she saw, insomuch that she could not comfort her self withweeping, such was the present danger that she was in. But the royallbird of great Jupiter, the Eagle remembring his old service which he haddone, when as by the pricke of Cupid he brought up the boy Ganimedes, tothe heavens, to be made butler of Jupiter, and minding to shew the likeservice in the person of the wife of Cupid, came from the high-house ofthe 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 Godsthemselves do greatly feare at the sight thereof. What, have you notheard, that it is a custome among men to sweare by the puissance of theGods, and the Gods do sweare by the majesty of the river Stix? but giveme thy bottle, and sodainly he tooke it, and filled it with the waterof the river, and taking his flight through those cruell and horribledragons, brought it unto Psyches: who being very joyfull thereof, presented it to Venus, who would not yet be appeased, but menacingmore and more said, What, thou seemest unto me a very witch andenchauntresse, that bringest these things to passe, howbeit thou shaltdo nothing more. Take this box and to Hell to Proserpina, and desire herto send me a little of her beauty, as much as will serve me the space ofone day, and say that such as I had is consumed away since my sonnefell sicke, but returne againe quickly, for I must dresse my selfetherewithall, and goe to the Theatre of the Gods: then poore Psychesperceived the end of all fortune, thinking verely that she should neverreturne, and not without cause, when as she was compelled to go to thegulfe and furies of hell. Wherefore without any further delay, she wentup to an high tower to throw her selfe downe headlong (thinking that itwas the next and readiest way to hell) but the tower (as inspired) spakeunto 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 thouthat if thy spirit be once separated from thy body, thou shalt surely goto hell, but never to returne againe, wherefore harken to me; Lacedemona Citie in Greece is not farre hence: go thou thither and enquire forthe hill Tenarus, whereas thou shalt find a hold leading to hell, evento the Pallace of Pluto, but take heede thou go not with emptie handsto that place of darknesse: but Carrie two sops sodden in the flour ofbarley and Honney in thy hands, and two halfepence in thy mouth. Andwhen thou hast passed a good part of that way, thou shalt see a lameAsse carrying of wood, and a lame fellow driving him, who will desirethee to give him up the sticks that fall downe, but passe thou on and donothing; by and by thou shalt come unto a river of hell, whereas Charonis ferriman, who will first have his fare paied him, before he willcarry the soules over the river in his boat, whereby you may see thatavarice raigneth amongst the dead, neither Charon nor Pluto will do anything for nought: for if it be a poore man that would passe over andlacketh money, he shal be compelled to die in his journey before theywill shew him any reliefe, wherefore deliver to carraine Charon one ofthe halfpence (which thou bearest for thy passage) and let him receiveit out of thy mouth. And it shall come to passe as thou sittest in theboat thou shalt see an old man swimming on the top of the river, holdingup 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 thefloud, thou shalt espie old women spinning, who will desire thee tohelpe them, but beware thou do not consent unto them in any case, forthese and like baits and traps will Venus set to make thee let fallone of thy sops, and thinke not that the keeping of thy sops is a lightmatter, for if thou leese one of them thou shalt be assured never toreturne againe to this world. Then shalt thou see a great and marvailousdogge, with three heads, barking continually at the soules of such asenter in, but he can do them no other harme, he lieth day and nightbefore the gate of Proserpina, and keepeth the house of Pluto with greatdiligence, to whom if thou cast one of thy sops, thou maist have accesseto Proserpina without all danger: shee will make thee good cheere, andentertaine thee with delicate meate and drinke, but sit thou upon theground, and desire browne bread, and then declare thy message unto her, and when thou hast received such beauty as she giveth, in thy returneappease the rage of the dogge with thy other sop, and give thy otherhalfe penny to covetous Charon, and come the same way againe into theworld as thou wentest: but above all things have a regard that thoulooke not in the boxe, neither be not too curious about the treasureof the divine beauty. In this manner tire tower spake unto Psyches, andadvertised her what she should do: and immediately she tooke two halfepence, two sops, and all things necessary, and went to the mountaineTenarus to go towards hell. After that Psyches had passed by the lameAsse, paid her halfe pennie for passage, neglected the old man in theriver, denyed to helpe the woman spinning, and filled the ravenous monthof the dogge with a sop, shee came to the chamber of Proserpina. TherePsyches would not sit in any royall seate, nor eate any delicate meates, but kneeled at the feete of Proserpina, onely contented with coursebread, declared her message, and after she had received a mysticallsecret in a boxe, she departed, and stopped the mouth of the dogge withthe other sop, and paied the boatman the other halfe penny. When Psycheswas returned from hell, to the light of the world, shee was ravishedwith great desire, saying, Am not I a foole, that knowing that I carriehere the divine beauty, will not take a little thereof to garnish myface, to please my love withall? And by and by shee opened the boxewhere she could perceive no beauty nor any thing else, save onely aninfernall and deadly sleepe, which immediatly invaded all her members assoone as the boxe was uncovered, in such sort that she fell downe uponthe ground, and lay there as a sleeping corps. 

But Cupid being now healed of his wound and Maladie, not able to endurethe absence of Psyches, got him secretly out at a window of the chamberwhere hee was enclosed, and (receiving his wings, ) tooke his flighttowards his loving wife, whom when he had found, hee wiped away thesleepe from her face, and put it againe into the boxe, and awaked herwith the tip of one of his arrows, saying: O wretched Caitife, beholdthou 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 hisflight into the aire, and Psyches brought her present to Venus. 

Cupid being more and more in love with Psyches, and fearing thedispleasure of his Mother, did pearce into the heavens, and arrivedbefore Jupiter to declare his cause: then Jupiter after that hee hadeftsoone embraced him, gan say in this manner: O my well beloved sonne, although thou haste not given due reverence and honour unto me as thououghtest 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 thediscipline Julia, and the utility of the publike weale, in transformingmy divine beauty into serpents, fire, savage beasts, birds, and intoBulles: howbeit remembring my modesty, and that I have nourished theewith mine owne proper hands, I will doe and accomplish all thy desire, so that thou canst beware of spitefull and envious persons. And if therebe any excellent Maiden of comely beauty in the world, remember yet thebenefit which I shall shew unto thee by recompence of her love towardsme againe. When lie had spoken these words he commanded Mercury to callall the gods to counsell, and if any of the celestiall powers didfaile of appearance he would be condemned in ten thousand pounds: whichsentence was such a terrour to all the goddesses, that the high Theatrewas 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 Cupidwhom I have nourished with mine owne hands, whose raging flames of hisfirst youth, I thought best to bridle and restraine. It sufficeth thathee is defamed in every place for his adulterous living, wherefore alloccasion ought to bee taken away by meane of marriage: he hath chosen aMaiden 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 nocare, neither feare the dishonour of your progeny and estate, neitherhave regard in that it is a mortall marriage, for it seemeth unto mejust, lawfull, and legitimate by the law civill. Incontinently afterJupiter commanded Mercury to bring up Psyches, the spouse of Cupid, intothe 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 thatCupid may be thine everlasting husband. By and by the great banket andmarriage feast was sumptuously prepared, Cupid sate downe with his dearespouse between his armes: Juno likewise with Jupiter, and all the othergods in order, Ganimedes filled the pot of Jupiter, and Bacchus servedthe rest. Their drinke was Nectar the wine of the gods, Vulcanusprepared supper, the howers decked up the house with roses and othersweet smells, the graces threw about blame, the Muses sang with sweetharmony, Apollo tuned pleasantly to the Harpe, Venus danced finely:Satirus and Paniscus plaid on their pipes; and thus Psyches was marriedto Cupid, and after she was delivered of a child whom we call Pleasure. This the trifling old woman declared unto the captive maiden: but Ipoore Asse, not standing farre of, was not a little sorry in that Ilacked 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 takenagaine 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 themwhich were of strongest courage (leaving behind such as were lame andwounded, to heale and aire themselves) said they would returne backeagaine to fetch the rest of their pillage, which they had hidden ina certaine cave, and so they snatched up their dinner greedily, andbrought us forth into the way and beate us before them with staves. About night (after that we had passed over many hilles and dales) wecame to a great cave, where they laded us with mighty burthens, andwould not suffer us to refresh our selves any season but brought usagaine in our way, and hied so fast homeward, that what with their hasteand 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 thighand my left hoofe, and one of them said, What shall we do with this lameIll 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 thinkehe came unto our house with evill lucke, for we have had great woundssince, and losse of our valiant captaines, and other said, As soone ashe hath brought home his burthen, I will surely throw him out upon themountaine to be a pray for wild beasts: While these gentlemen reasonedtogether of my death, we fortuned to come home, for the feare that I wasin, caused my feet to turne into wings: after that we were dischargedof our burthens, they went to their fellowes that were wounded, andtold them of our great tardity and slownesse by the way, neither was Ibrought into small anguish, when I perceived my death prepared beforemy face: Why standest thou still Lucius? Why dost thou not looke forthy death? Knowst thou not that the theeves have ordained to slay thee?seest thou not these sharpe and pointed flints which shall bruise andteare thee in peeces, if by adventure thou happen upon them? Thy gentleMagitian hath not onely given thee the shape and travell of an Asse, butalso a skinne so soft and tender as it were a swallow: why dost thou nottake courage and runne away to save thy selfe? Art thou afraid of theold woman more then halfe dead, whom with a stripe of thy heele thoumaist easily dispatch? But whither shall I fly? What lodging shall Iseek? See my Assy cogitation. Who is he that passeth by the way andwill not take me up? While I devised these things, I brake the halterwherewith I was tyed and ran away with all my force, howbeit I could notescape the kitish eyes of the old woman, for shee ran after me, and withmore audacity then becommeth her kind age, caught me by the halter andthought to pull me home: but I not forgetting the cruell purpose of thetheeves, was mooved with small pity, for I kicked her with my hinderheeles to the ground and had welnigh slaine her, who (although shee wasthrowne and hurled downe) yet shee held still the halter, and would notlet 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 oldwoman, came out to see what the matter was, and perceiving her hangingat 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 beganto runne, and shee gently kicked mee forward, whereof I was nothingdispleased, for I had as great a desire to escape as shee: insomuchthat I seemed to scowre away like a horse. And when the Gentlewomandid speake, I would answere her with my neighing, and oftentimes (undercolour to rub my backe) I would sweetly kisse her tender feet. Then sheefetching a sigh from the bottome of her heart, lifted up her eyes to theheavens, saying: O soveraigne Gods, deliver mee if it be your pleasure, from these present dangers: and thou cruell fortune cease thy wrath, letthe sorrow suffice thee which I have already sustained. And thou littleAsse, that art the occasion of my safety and liberty, if thou canstonce render me safe and sound to my parents, and to him that so greatlydesireth to have me to his wife, thou shalt see what thankes I willgive: 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 willI finely combe thy maine, I will tye up thy rugged tayle trimly, I willdecke thee round about with golden trappes, in such sort that thou shaltglitter like the starres of the skie, I will bring thee daily in myapron the kirnels of nuts, and will pamper thee up with delicates; Iwill set store by thee, as by one that is the preserver of my life:Finally, thou shalt lack no manner of thing. Moreover amongst thyglorious fare, thy great ease, and the blisse of thy life, thou shaltnot be destitute of dignity, for thou shalt be chronicled perpetually inmemory of my present fortune, and the providence divine. All the wholehistory shall be painted upon the wall of our house, thou shalt herenowned throughout all the world. And it shall be registred in thebookes of Doctours, that an Asse saved the life of a young maiden thatwas captive amongst Theeves: Thou shalt be numbred amongst the ancientmiracles: wee beleeve that by like example of truth Phryxus savedhimselfe from drowning upon the Ram, Arion escaped upon a Dolphin, andthat Europa was delivered by the Bull. If Jupiter transformed himselfeinto a Bull, why may it not be that under the shape of this Asse, ishidden the figure of a man, or some power divine? While that the Virgindid thus sorrowfully unfold her desires, we fortuned to come to a placewhere three wayes did meet, and shee tooke me by the halter, and wouldhave me to turne on the right hand to her fathers house: but I (knowingthat the theeves were gone that way to fetch the residue of theirpillage) resisted with my head as much as I might, saying within myselfe: What wilt thou doe unhappy maiden? Why wouldst thou goe sowillingly to hell? Why wilt thou runne into destruction by meane of myfeet? Why dost thou seek thine own harme, and mine likewise? And whilewe strived together whether way we might take, the theeves returned, laiden with their pray, and perceived us a farre off by the light of theMoon: and after they had known us, one of them gan say, Whither goe youso hastely? Be you not afraid of spirits? And you (you harlot) doe younot goe to see your parents? Come on, we will beare you company? Andtherewithall 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 thegriefe of my hoofe, began to shake my head, and to waxe lame, but hethat led me by the halter said, What, dost thou stumble? Canst thou notgoe? These rotten feet of thine ran well enough, but they cannot walke:thou couldest mince it finely even now with the gentlewoman, that thouseemedst to passe the horse Pegasus in swiftnesse. In saying of thesewords they beat mee againe, that they broke a great staffe upon mee. Andwhen we were come almost home, we saw the old woman hanging upon a bowof a Cipresse tree; then one of them cut downe the bowe whereon sheehanged, and cast her into the bottome of a great ditch: after thisthey bound the maiden and fell greedily to their victuals, which themiserable old woman had prepared for them. At which time they began todevise with themselves of our death, and how they might be revenged;divers was the opinions of this divers number: the first said, that heethought best the Mayd should be burned alive: the second said she shouldbe throwne out to wild beasts: the third said, she should be hanged upona gibbet: the fourth said she should be flead alive: thus was the deathof the poore Maiden scanned betweene them foure. But one of the theevesafter 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 waxemore cruell then the quality of the offence doth merit, for I would thatshee should not be hanged nor burned, nor throwne to beasts, nor dye anysodaine death, but by my council I would have her punished according toher desert. You know well what you have determined already of this dullAsse, that eateth more then he is worth, that faineth lamenesse, andthat was the cause of the flying away of the Maid: my mind is that heshall be slaine to morrow, and when all the guts and entrailes of hisbody is taken out, let the Maide be sowne into his belly, then let uslay them upon a great stone against the broiling heate of the Sunne, sothey shall both sustaine all the punishments which you have ordained:for first the Asse shall be slaine as you have determined, and she shallhave her members torne and gnawn with wild beasts, when as she is bittenand rent with wormes, shee shall endure the paine of the fire, when asthe broyling heat of the Sunne shall scortch and parch the belly of theAsse, shee shall abide the gallows when the Dogs and Vultures shallhave the guts of her body hanging in their ravenous mouthes. I pray younumber all the torments which she shall suffer: First shee shall dwellwithin the paunch of an Asse: secondly her nosethrilles shall receive acarraine stinke of the beast: thirdly shee shall dye for hunger: last ofall, shee shall finde no meane to ridde her selfe from her paines, forher hand shalt be sowen up within the skinne of the Asse: This beingsaid, all the Theeves consented, and when I (poore Asse) heard andunderstood all their device, I did nothing else but lament and bewaylemy dead carkasse, which should be handled in such sort on the nextmorrow. 

THE SEVENTH BOOKE

THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER

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

A soone as night was past, and the cleare Chariot of the Sunne hadspred his bright beames on every coast, came one of the company of thetheeves, (for so his and their greeting together did declare) who at thefirst entry into the Cave (after hee had breathed himselfe, and was ableto speake) told these tydings unto his companions in this sort. Sirs, as touching the house of Milo of Hippata, which we forcibly entred andransackt the last day, we may put away all feare and doubt nothing atall. For after that ye by force of armes, had spoyled and taken away allthings in the house, and returned hither into our Cave; I (thrusting myselfe amongst the presse of the people, and shewing my selfe as thoughI were sad and sorrowful for the mischance) consulted with them for theboulting out of the matter, and devising what meanes might be wroughtfor the apprehension of the theeves, to the intent I might learne andsee all that was done to make relation thereof unto you as you willedme, insomuch that the whole fact at length by manifest and evidentproofes as also by the common opinion and judgement of the people, waslaid to one Lucius Apuleius charge as manifest author of this commonrobbery, who a few dayse before by false and forged letters and coloredhonesty, fell so farre in favour with this Milo, that he entertained himinto 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 theheart of Miloes Maid, by fained love, did thoroughly learne the waiesand doores of all the house, and curiously viewed the cofers and chests, wherein was laid the whole substance of Milo: neither was there smallcause given to judge him culpable, since as the very same night thatthis 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 asmade 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 asaccessary to the fellony and escape of his Master) was committed tothe common gaole, and the next day following was cruelly scourged andtormented till hee was welnigh dead, to the intent hee should confessethe matter, but when they could wreast or learne no such thing of him, yet sent they many persons after, towardes Lucius Countrey to enquirehim out, and so to take him prisoner. As he declared these things, I didgreatly 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 Ipresently susteined, being changed into a miserable Asse, then had I nosmall occasion to remember, how the old and ancient Writers didaffirme, that fortune was starke blind without eies, because she alwaiesbestoweth her riches upon evil persons, and fooles, and chooseth orfavoureth no mortall person by judgement, but is alwaies conversent, especially with much as if she could see, she should most shunne, andforsake, yea and that which is more worse, she sheweth such evill orcontrary opinions in men, that the wicked doe glory with the name ofgood, and contrary the good and innocent be detracted and slandred asevill. Furthermore I, who by her great cruelty, was turned into a fourefooted Asse, in most vile and abject manner: yea, and whose estateseemed worthily to be lamented and pittied of the most hard and stoniehearts, was accused of theft and robbing of my deare host Milo, whichvillany might rather be called parricide then theft, yet might not Idefend mine owne cause or denie the fact any way, by reason I could notspeake; howbeit least my conscience should seeme to accuse me by reasonof silence, and againe being enforced by impatience I endevored tospeake, and faine would have said, Never did I that fact, and verely thefirst word, never, I cried out once or twise, somewhat handsome, but theresidue I could in no wise pronounce, but still remaining in one voice, cried, Never, never, never, howbeit I settled my hanging lips as roundas I could to speake the residue: but why should I further complaine ofthe crueltie of my fortune, since as I was not much ashamed, by reasonthat my servant and my horse, was likewise accused with me of therobbery. 

While I pondered with my selfe all these things, a great care [came] tomy remembrance, touching the death, which the theeves provised for meand the maiden, and still as I looked downe to my belly, I thought of mypoore gentlewoman that should be closed within me. And the theefe whicha little before had brought the false newes against me, drew out of theskirt of his coate, a thousand crowns, which he had rifled from suchas hee met, and brought it into the common treasury. Then hee carefullyenquired how the residue of his companions did. To whom it was declaredthat the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers manners, whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a certaineseason, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places, that bythe exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band might bereduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were unwilling, might be compelled by menaces and threatnings, and such as were willingmight be incouraged forward with reward. Further be said, that therewere some, which (seeing the profite which they had) would forsake theirbase and servile estate, and rather bee contented to live like tyrantsamongst them. Moreover he declared, that for his part he had spoken witha certaine tall man, a valiant companion, but of young age, stout inbody, and couragious in fight, whom he had fully perswaded to exercisehis idle hands, dull with slothfullnesse, to his greater profit, and(while he might) to receive the blisse of better Fortune, and not tohold out his sturdy arme to begge for a penny, but rather to take asmuch gold and silver as hee would. Then everyone consented, that heethat seemed so worthy to be their companion, should be one of theircompany, and that they would search for others to make up the residueof 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 residuemight bee compared, for hee was higher then they by the head, and ofmore bignesse in body, his beard began to burgen, but hee was poorelyapparelled, insomuch that you might see all his belly naked. As sooneas he was entred in he said, God speed yee souldiers of Mars and myfaithfull companions, I pray you make me one of your band, and I willensure you, that you shall have a man of singular courage and livelyaudacity: for I had rather receive stripes upon my backe, then money orgold in my hands. And as for death (which every man doth feare) I passenothing 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 havebeene a Captaine of a great company, and subdued all the countrey ofMacedonia. I am the renowned theefe Hemes the Thracian, whose name allcountreys and nations do so greatly feare: I am the sonne of Theronthe noble theefe, nourished with humane bloud, entertained amongstthe stoutest; finally I am inheritour and follower of all my fathersvertues, 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 sometimehad beene Captaine of two hundred men, for fortune was cleane againstme; harken and I will tell you the whole matter. There was a certaineman in the court of the Emperour, which had many offices, and in greatfavour, who at last by the envy of divers persons, was banished away andcompelled to forsake the court: his wife Platina, a woman of rare faithand singular shamefastnes having borne ten children to her husband, despised all worldly Pompe and delicacy, and determined to follow herhusband, and to be partaker of his perils and danger, wherefore shee cutoff her haire, disguised her selfe like a man, and tooke with her allher treasure, passing through the hands of the souldiers, and the nakedswords without any feare, whereby she endured many miseries, and waspartaker of much affliction, to save the life of her husband, suchwas her love which she bare unto him. And when they had escaped manyperillous dangers, as well by land as by sea, they went together towardsZacynthe, to continue there according as fortune had appointed. But whenthey were arived on the sea coast of Actium (where we in our returnefrom Macedony were roving about) when night came, they returned into ahouse not far distant from their ship, where they lay all night. Thenwe entred in and tooke away all their substance, but verely we were ingreat danger: for the good matron perceiving us incontinently by thenoise of the gate, went into the chamber, and called up every man by hisname, and likewise the neighbors that dwelled round about, insomuch thatby 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 thetruth must be declared) returned to Caesar, desiring his aid andpuissance, and demanding vengeance of the injury done to her husband, who granted all her desire: then went my company to wracke, insomuchthat every man was slaine, so great was the authority and word of thePrince. Howbeit, when all my band was lost, and taken by search ofthe Emperours army, I onely stole away and delivered my selfe from theviolence of the souldiers, for I clothed my selfe in a womans attire, and mounted upon an Asse, that carryed barly sheafes, and (passingthrough the middle of them all) I escaped away, because every one deemedthat I was a woman by reason I lacked a beard. Howbeit I left not offfor all this, nor did degenerate from the glory of my father, or mineown vertue, but freshly comming from the bloody skirmish, and disguisedlike a woman, I invaded townes and castles alone to get some pray. Andtherewithall he pulled out two thousand crownes, which he had under hiscoate, saying: Hold here the dowry which I present unto you, hold ekemy person, which you shall alwayes find trusty and faithfull, if youwillingly receive me: and I will ensure you that in so doing, withinshort 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 sothey gave him better garments, and threw away his old. When they hadchanged his attire, hee imbraced them one after another, then placedthey him in the highest roome of the table, and drunk unto him in tokenof 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 awayof the Gentlewoman, and how I bare her upon my backe, and what deathwas ordained for us two. Then he desired to see her, whereupon theGentlewoman was brought forth fast bound, whom as soone as he beheld, heturned himselfe wringing his nose, and blamed them saying: I am not somuch 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 touchethyour profit, since I am as carefull for you, howbeit if my counsell doedisplease you, you may at your liberty proceed in your enterprise. I doubt not but all theeves, and such as have a good judgement, willpreferre 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 butexecute your indignation against her, without all manner of profit; ButI 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 quantityof money. And I my selfe know certaine bawdy Marchants, amongst whomperadventure one will give us summes of gold for her. This is my opiniontouching this affaire: but advise you what you intend to do, for youmay rule me in this case. In this manner the good theefe pleaded anddefended our cause, being a good Patron to the silly virgin, and tome poore Asse. But they staied hereupon a good space, with longdeliberation, which made my heart (God wot) and spirit greatly toquaile. Howbeit in the end they consented to his opinion, and by andby the Maiden was unloosed of her bonds, who seeing the young man, andhearing the name of brothels and bawdy Merchants, began to wax joyfull, and smiled with herself. Then began I to deeme evill of the generationof women, when as I saw the Maiden (who was appointed to be married to ayoung Gentleman, and who so greatly desired the same) was now delightedwith the talke of a wicked brothel house, and other things dishonest. Inthis sort the consent and manners of women depended in the judgement ofan 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 aboutto make our prayers unto Mars, touching this selling of the Maiden, andto seeke for other companions. But as farre as I see, here is no othermanner of beast to make sacrifice withall, nor wine sufficient for us todrinke. Let me have (quoth hee) tenne more with me, and wee will goe tothe next Castle, to provide for meat and other things necessary. Sohe and tenne more with him, went their way: In the meane season, theresidue made a great fire and an Alter with greene turfes in the honourof Mars. By and by after they came againe, bringing with them bottlesof wine, and a great number of beasts, amongst which there was a big RamGoat, fat, old, and hairy, which they killed and offered unto Mars. Thensupper was prepared sumptuously, and the new companion said unto theother, You ought to accompt me not onely your Captaine in robberyand fight, but also in pleasures and jolity, whereupon by and by withpleasant cheere he prepared meat, and trimming up the house he set allthings in order, and brought the pottage and dainty dishes to theTable: 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 andgive her pieces of meate, which he privily tooke away, and would drinkeunto her, which she willingly tooke in good part. Moreover, hee kissedher twice or thrice whereof she was well pleased but I (not wellcontented thereat) thought in my selfe: O wretched Maid, thou hastforgotten thy marriage, and doest esteeme this stranger and bloudytheefe above thy husband which thy Parents ordained for thee, nowperceive I well thou hast no remorse of conscience, but more delight totarry and play the harlot heere amongst so many swords. What? knowestthou not how the other theeves if they knew thy demeanour would putthee to death as they had once appointed, and so worke my destructionlikewise? Well now I perceive thou hast a pleasure in the dammageand hurt of other. While I did angerly devise with my selfe all thesethings, I perceived by certaine signes and tokens (not ignorant toso wise an Asse) that he was not the notable theefe Hemus, but ratherLepolemus her husband, for after much communication he beganne to speakemore franckly, not fearing at all my presence, and said, Be of goodcheere my sweete friend Charites, for thou shalt have by and by allthese thy enemies captive unto thee. Then hee filled wine to the theevesmore and more, and never ceased, till as they were all overcome withabundance of meat and drinke, when as hee himselfe abstained and bridledhis owne appetite. And truely I did greatly suspect, least hee hadmingled in their cups some deadly poyson, for incontinently they allfell downe asleepe on the ground one after an other, and lay as thoughthey had beene dead. 

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER

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

When the theeves were all asleepe by their great and immoderatedrinking, the young man Lepolemus took the Maiden and set her upon mybacke, and went homeward. When we were come home, all the people of theCitie, especially her Parents, friends, and family, came running forthjoyfully, and the children and Maidens of the towne gathered together tosee this virgin in great triumph sitting upon an Asse. Then I (willingto shew as much joy as I might, as present occasion served) I set andpricked up my long eares, ratled my nosethrils, and cryed stoutly, nayrather I made the towne to ring againe with my shrilling sound: whenwee were come to her fathers house, shee was received in a chamberhonourably: as for me, Lepolemus (accompanied with a great number ofCitizens) did presently after drive me backe againe with other horses tothe cave of the theeves, where wee found them all asleepe lying on theground as wee left them; then they first brought out all the gold, andsilver, and other treasure of the house, and laded us withall, whichwhen they had done, they threw many of the theeves downe into thebottome of deepe ditches, and the residue they slew with their swords:after this wee returned home glad and merry of so great vengeance uponthem, and the riches which wee carried was commited to the publiketreasurie. This done, the Maid was married to Lepolemus, according tothe law, whom by so much travell he had valiantly recovered: then mygood Mistresse looked about for me, and asking for me commanded the verysame day of her marriage, that my manger should be filled with barly, and that I should have hay and oats aboundantly, and she would callme her little Camell. But how greatly did I curse Fotis, in that sheetransformed me into an Asse, and not into a dogge, because I saw thedogges had filled their paunches with the reliks and bones of so worthya supper. The next day this new wedded woman (my Mistresse) did greatlycommend me before her Parents and husband, for the kindnesse which I hadshewed unto her, and never leaved off untill such time as they promisedto reward me with great honours. Then they called together all theirfriends, and thus it was concluded: one said, that I should be closedin a stable and never worke, but continually to be fedde and fattedwith fine and chosen barly and beanes and good littour, howbeit anotherprevailed, who wishing my liberty, perswaded them that it was betterfor me to runne in the fields amongst the lascivious horses and mares, whereby I might engender some mules for my Mistresse: then he that hadin charge to keepe the horse, was called for, and I was delivered untohim 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 springtime of the yeere when the meddows and fields were greene, I shouldfind some roses in some place, whereby I was fully perswaded that if myMaster and Mistresse did render to me so many thanks and honours beingan Asse, they would much more reward me being turned into a man: butwhen he (to whom the charge of me was so straightly committed) hadbrought me a good way distant from the City, I perceived no delicatemeates nor no liberty which I should have, but by and by his covetouswife and most cursed queane made me a mill Asse, and (beating me with acudgill full of knots) would wring bread for her selfe and her husbandout of my skinne. Yet was she not contented to weary me and make me adrudge with carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired ofher neighbours to beare their sackes likewise, howbeit shee would notgive me such meate as I should have, nor sufficient to sustaine my lifewithall, for the barly which I ground for mine owne dinner she wouldsell to the Inhabitants by. And after that I had laboured all day, shewould set before me at night a little filthy branne, nothing cleanebut full of stones. Being in this calamity, yet fortune worked me othertorments, for on a day I was let loose into the fields to pasture, bythe commandement of my master. O how I leaped for joy, how I neighedto see my selfe in such liberty, but especially since I beheld so manyMares, which I thought should be my wives and concubines; and I espiedout and chose the fairest before I came nigh them; but this my joyfullhope turned into otter destruction, for incontinently all the stoneHorses which were well fedde and made strong by ease of pasture, andthereby much more puissant then a poore Asse, were jealous over me, and(having no regard to the law and order of God Jupiter) ranne fiercelyand terribly against me; one lifted up his forefeete and kicked mespitefully, another turned himselfe, and with his hinder heeles spurnedme cruelly, the third threatning with a malicious neighing, dressed hiseares and shewing his sharpe and white teeth bit me on every side. Inlike sort have I read in Histories how the King of Thrace would throwhis miserable ghests to be torne in peeces and devoured of his wildHorses, so niggish was that Tyrant of his provender, that he nourishedthem with the bodies of men. 

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER

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

After that I was thus handled by horses, I was brought home againe tothe Mill, but behold fortune (insatiable of my torments) had devised anew paine for me. I was appointed to bring home wood every day from ahigh hill, and who should drive me thither and home again, but a boythat was the veriest hangman in all the world, who was not contentedwith the great travell that I tooke in climbing up the hill, neitherpleased when he saw my hoofe torne and worne away by sharpe flintes, buthe beat me cruelly with a great staffe, insomuch that the marrow of mybones did ake for woe, for he would strike me continually on the righthip, and still in one place, whereby he tore my skinne and made of mywide 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 beatingme in that place: moreover he laded me with such great burthens of woodthat you would thinke they had been rather prepared for Elephants thenfor me, and when he perceived that my wood hanged more on one side thenanother, (when he should rather take away the heavy sides, and so easeme, or else lift them up to make them equall with the other) he laidgreat stones upon the weaker side to remedy the matter, yet could be notbe 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 tosave his feete from water, would leape upon my loynes likewise, whichwas no small loade upon loade. And if by adversity I had fell downe inany dirty or myrie place, when he should have pulled me out either withropes, or lifted me up by the taile, he would never helpe me, but layme on from top to toe with a mighty staffe, till he had left no haire onall my body, no not so much as on mine eares, whereby I was compelledby force of blowes to stand up. The same hangman boy did invent anothertorment for me: he gathered a great many sharp thornes as sharp asneedles and bound them together like a fagot, and tyed them at mytayle to pricke me, then was I afflicted on every side, for if I hadindeavoured to runne away, the thornes would have pricked me, if I hadstood still, the boy would have beaten mee, and yet the boy beate mee tomake me runne, whereby I perceived that the hangman did devise nothingelse save only to kill me by some manner of meanes, and he would sweareand threaten to do me worse harme, and because hee might have someoccasion to execute his malicious minde, upon a day (after that I hadendeavoured too much by my patience) I lifted up my heeles and spurnedhim welfavouredly. Then he invented this vengeance against me, afterthat he had well laded me with shrubs and rubble, and trussed it roundupon my backe, hee brought me out into the way: then hee stole a burningcoale out of a mans house of the next village, and put it into themiddle of the rubbell; the rubbell and shrubs being very dry, did fallon a light fire and burned me on every side. I could see no remedy how Imight save my selfe, and in such a case it was not best for me to standstill but fortune was favourable towards me, perhaps to reserve me formore dangers, for I espyed a great hole full of raine water that fellthe day before, thither I ranne hastily and plunged my selfe therein, insuch sort that I quenched the fire, and was delivered from thatpresent perill, but the vile boy to excuse himselfe declared to all theneighbours and shepheards about, that I willingly tumbled in the fire asI passed through the village. Then he laughed upon me saying: How longshall 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 hadsold all the wood which I bare, to certaine men dwelling in a villageby, he lead me homeward unladen: And then he cryed that he was not ableto rule me, and that hee would not drive mee any longer to the hill forwood, saying: Doe you not see this slow and dulle Asse, who besides allthe mischiefes that he hath wrought already, inventeth daily more andmore. For he espyeth any woman passing by the way, whether she be old ormarryed, or if it be a young child, hee will throw his burthen from hisbacke, and runneth fiercely upon them. And after that he hath thrownthem downe, he will stride over them to commit his buggery and beastlypleasure, moreover hee will faine as though hee would kisse them, buthe will bite their faces cruelly, which thing may worke us greatdispleasure, or rather to be imputed unto us as a crime: and even nowwhen he espyed an honest maiden passing by die high way, he by and bythrew downe his wood and runne after her: And when he had throwne herdown upon the ground, he would have ravished her before the face of allthe world, had it not beene that by reason of her crying out, she wassuccored and pulled from his heeles, and so delivered. And if it hadso 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 theshepheards earnestly against me, which grieved mee (God wot) full sorethat said nothing. Then one of the shepheards said: Why doe we not makesacrifice of this common adulterous Asse? My sonne (quoth he) let uskill him and throw his guts to the dogges, and reserve his flesh for thelabourers supper. Then let us cast dust upon his skinne, and carry ithome to our master, and say that the Woolves have devoured him. Theboy that was my evill accuser made no delay, but prepared himselfe toexecute the sentence of the shepheard, rejoycing at my present danger, but O how greatly did I then repent that the stripe which I gave himwith my heele had not killed him. Then he drew out his sword and made itsharp upon the whetstone to slay me, but another of the shepheards gansay, Verely it is a great offence to kill so faire an Asse, and so (byaccusation of luxurie and lascivious wantonnesse) to lack so necessariehis 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 wouldbe thereby more fat and better in flesh. For I know my selfe aswell many Asses, as also most fierce horses, that by reason of theirwantonnesse have beene most mad and terrible, but (when they were geldedand 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 andtooles for the purpose: And I ensure you after that I have gelded andcut 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 tobe gelded, I was greatly sorrie, insomuch that I thought all the hinderpart of my body and my stones did ake for woe, but I sought about tokill my selfe by some manner of meanes, to the end if I should die, Iwould 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, theroperipe boy on the next morrow lead me to the same hill againe, andtied me to a bow of a great Oke, and in the meane season he tooke hishatchet and cut wood to load me withall, but behold there crept out ofa cave by, a marvailous great Beare, holding out his mighty head, whomwhen I saw, I was sodainly stroken in feare, and (throwing all thestrength of my body into my hinder heeles) lifted up my strained headand brake the halter, wherewith I was tied. Then there was no need tobid me runne away, for I scoured not only on foot, but tumbled over thestones and rocks with my body till I came into the open fields, to theintent I would escape from the terrible Beare, but especially from theboy that was worse than the Beare. Then a certaine stranger that passedby the way (espying me alone as a stray Asse) tooke me up and roade uponmy backe, beating me with a staffe (which he bare in his hand) through awide and unknowne lane, whereat I was nothing displeased, but willinglywent forward to avoid the cruell paine of gelding, which the shepherdshad ordained for me, but as for the stripes I was nothing moved, sinceI was accustomed to be beaten so every day. But evill fortune would notsuffer me to continue in so good estate long: For the shepheards lookingabout for a Cow that they had lost (after they had sought in diversplaces) fortuned to come upon us unwares, who when they espied and knewme, they would have taken me by the halter, but he that rode upon mybacke resisted them saying, O Lord masters, what intend you to do? Willyou rob me? Then said the shepheards, What? thinkest thou we handle theeotherwise then thou deservest, which hast stollen away our Asse? Whydost thou not rather tell us where thou hast hidden the boy whom thouhast slaine? And therewithall they pulled him downe to the ground, beating him with their fists, and spurning him with their feete. Then heanswered unto them saying, titathat he saw no manner of boy, but onelyfound the Asse loose and straying abroad, which he tooke up to theintent to have some reward for the finding of him and to restore himagaine 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 ofmine innocency: Then would you be ashamed of the injury which you havedone to me. Thus (reasoning for Himselfe) he nothing prevailed, for theytied the halter about my necke, and (maugre his face) pulled me quiteaway, and lead me backe againe through the woods of the hill to theplace where the boy accustomed to resort. And after they could find himin no place, at length they found his body rent and torne in peeces, andhis members dispersed in sundry places, which I well knew was doneby the cruell Beare: and verely I would have told it if I might havespoken, but (which I could onely do) I greatly rejoiced at his death, although it came too late. Then they gathered together the peeces of hisbody 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 theirhouses) purposed on the next morrow to accuse him of murther, and tolead 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 wasslaine. 

In the meane season, while the Parents of the boy did lament and weepefor 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 arecontented that to morrow his stones shall not onely be cut off, but alsohis head. So was it brought to passe, that my death was delayed till thenext morrow, but what thanks did I give to that good boy, who (being soslaine) was the cause of my pardon for one short day. Howbeit I hadno time then to rest my selfe, for the Mother of the boy, weeping andlamenting for his death, attired in mourning vesture, tare her haireand beat her breast, and came presently into the stable, saying, Is itreason that this carelesse beast should do nothing all day but holdhis head in the manger, filling and belling his guts with meat withoutcompassion of my great miserie, or remembrance of the pittiful death ofhis slaine Master: and contemning my age and infirmity, thinketh that Iam unable to revenge his mischiefs, moreover he would perswade me, thathe were not culpable. Indeed, it is a convenient thing to looke andplead for safety, when as the conscience doeth confesse the offence, astheeves and malefactors accustome to do. But O good Lord, thou cursedbeast, if thou couldest utter the contents of thine owne mind, whom(though it were the veriest foole in all the world) mightest thouperswade that this murther was voide or without thy fault, when as itlay in thy power, either to keepe off the theeves with thy heeles, orelse to bite and teare them with thy teeth? Couldest not thou (that sooften in his life time diddest spurne and kicke him) defend him now atthe point of death by the like meane? Yet at least, thou shouldest havetaken him upon thy backe, and so brought him from the cruell hands ofthe theeves: where contrary thou runnest away alone, forsaking thy goodMaster, thy pastor and conductor. Knowest thou not, that such as denietheir wholsome help and aid to them which lie in danger of death, oughtto be punished, because they have offended against good manners, andthe law naturall? But I promise thee, thou shalt not long rejoyce at myharmes, thou shalt feele the smart of thy homicide and offence, I willsee what I can doe. And therewithall she unclosed her apron, and boundall my feete together, to the end I might not help my selfe, then shetooke a great barre, which accustomed to bar the stable doore, and neverceased beating me till she was so weary that the bar fell out of herhands, 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) Iarayed her face and eies with my durty dunge, whereby (what with thestinke thereof, and what with the filthinesse that fell in her eies) shewas welnigh blinded: so I enforced the queane to leave off, otherwise Ihad died as Meleager did by the sticke, which his mad mother Althea castinto the fire. 

THE EIGHTH BOOKE

THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER

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

About midnight came a young man, which seemed to be one of the familyof the good woman Charites, who sometimes endured so much misery andcalamity with mee amongst the theeves, who after that hee had takena stoole, and sate downe before the fireside, in the company of theservants, began to declare many terrible things that had happened untothe house of Charites, saying: O yee house-keepers, shepheards andcowheards, you shall understand that wee have lost our good mistrisCharites miserably and by evill adventure: and to the end you may learneand know all the whole matter, I purpose to tell you the circumstancesof every point, whereby such as are more learned then I (to whom fortunehath ministred more copious stile) may painte it out in paper in formeof 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 continuallrevelling. Whereby he fell in company with Theeves, and had his handready to the effusion of humane blood; his name was Thrasillus. Thematter was this according to the report of every man. Hee demandedCharites in marriage, who although he were a man more comely then theresidue that wooed her, and also had riches abundantly, yet because hewas of evill fame, and a man of wicked manners and conversation, hehad the repulse and was put off by Charites, and so she married withLepolemus. Howbeit this young man secretly loved her, yet moved somewhatat her refusall, hee busily searched some meanes to worke his damnableintent. And (having found occasion and opportunity to accomplish hispurpose, which he had long time concealed) brought to passe, that thesame day that Charites was delivered by the subtill meane and valiantaudacity of her husband, from the puissance of the Theeves, he mingledhimselfe among the assembly, faining that he was glad of the newmarriage, and comming home againe of the maiden, Whereby (by reason thathe came of so noble parents) he was received and entertained into thehouse as one of their chiefe and principall friends: Howbeit undercloake of a faithfull welwiller, hee dissimuled his mischievous mindand intent: in continuance of time by much familiarity and oftenconversation and banketting together, he fell more and more in favour, like as we see it fortuneth to Lovers, who first doe little delightthemselves in love: till as by continuall acquaintance they kisse andimbrace each other. Thrasillus perceiving that it was a hard matter tobreake his minde secretly to Charites, whereby he was wholly barredfrom the accomplishment of his luxurious appetite, and on the other sideperceiving that the love of her and her husband was so strongly linckedtogether, that the bond betweene them might in no wise be dissevered, moreover, it was a thing impossible to ravish her, although he hadconsented thereto, yet was hee still provoked forward by vehement lust, when as hee saw himselfe unable to bring his purpose to passe. Howbeitat length the thing which seemed so hard and difficill, thorough hope ofhis fortified love, did now appeare easie and facill: but marke I prayyou diligently to what end the furious force of his inordinate desirecame. On a day Lepolemus went to the chase with Thrasillus, to hunt forGoates, for his wife Charites desired him earnestly to meddle with noother beasts, which were of more fierce and wilde nature. When they werecome within the chase to a great thicket fortressed about with bryersand thornes, they compassed round with their Dogs and beset every placewith nets: by and by warning was given to let loose. The Dogs rushed inwith such a cry, that all the Forrest rang againe with the noyse, butbehold there leaped out no Goat, nor Deere, nor gentle Hinde, but anhorrible and dangerous wild Boare, hard and thicke skinned, bristeledterribly with thornes, foming at the mouth, grinding his teeth, andlooking direfully with fiery eyes. The Dogs that first set upon him, hetare 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 greatlystriken with feare, and because wee never accustomed to chase suchdreadfull Boares, and further because we were unarmed and withoutweapons, we got and hid our selves under bushes and trees. ThenThrasillus having found opportunity to worke his treason, said toLepolemus: What stand we here amazed? Why show we our selves likedastards? Why leese we so worthy a prey with our feminine hearts? Let usmount upon our Horses, and pursue him incontinently: take you a huntingstaffe, and I will take a chasing speare. By and by they leaped upontheir Horses, and followed the beast. But hee returning against themwith furious force, pryed with his eyes, on whom hee might first assaylewith his tuskes: Lepolemus strooke the beast first on the backe with hishunting staffe. Thrasillus faining to ayde and assist him, came behind, and cut off the hinder legges of Lepolemus Horse, in such sort that heefell downe to the ground with his master: and sodainely the Boare cameupon Lepolemus and furiously tare and rent him with his teeth. Howbeit, Thrasillus was not sufficed to see him thus wounded, but when he desiredhis friendly help, he thrust Lepolemus through the right thigh with hisspeare, the more because he thought the wound of the speare would betaken 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 ourholes, and went towards our slaine master. But although that Thrasilluswas joyfull of the death of Lepolemus, whom he did greatly hate, yet hecloked the matter with a sorrowfull countenance, he fained a dolorousface, he often imbraced the body which himselfe slew, he played all theparts of a mourning person, saving there fell no teares from his eyes. Thus hee resembled us in each point, who verily and not without occasionhad cause to lament for our master, laying all the blame of thishomicide unto the Boare. Incontinently after the sorrowfull newes of thedeath of Lepolemus, came to the eares of all the family, but especiallyto Charites, who after she had heard such pitifull tydings, as a madand raging woman, ran up and down the streets, crying and howlinglamentably. All the Citizens gathered together, and such as they metbare them company running towards the chasse. When they came to theslaine body of Lepolemus, Charites threw her selfe upon him weeping andlamenting grievously for his death, in such sort, that she would havepresently ended her life, upon the corps of her slaine husband, whomshee so entirely loved, had it not beene that her parents and friendsdid comfort her, and pulled her away. The body was taken up, and infunerall pompe brought to the City and buried. In the meane season, Thrasillus fained much sorrow for the death of Lepolemus, but in hisheart he was well pleased and joyfull. And to counterfeit the matter, hewould 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: andwith such other and like words and divers examples he endeavoured tosuppresse her great sorrow, but he spake not this for any other intentbut to win the heart of the woman, and to nourish his odious love withfilthy delight. Howbeit Charites after the buriall of her husband soughtthe meanes to follow him, and (not sustaining the sorrows wherein shewas Wrapped) got her secretly into a chamber and purposed to finishher life there with dolour and tribulation. But Thrasillus was veryimportunate, and at length brought to passe, that at the intercession ofthe Parents and friends of Charites, she somewhat refreshed her fallenmembers with refection of meate and baine. Howbeit, she did it more atthe commandement of her Parents, then for any thing else: for she couldin no wise be merry, nor receive any comfort, but tormented her selfeday and night before the Image of her husband which she made like untoBacchus, and rendred unto him divine honours and services. In the meaneseason Thrasillus not able to refraine any longer, before Charites hadasswaged her dolor, before her troubled mind had pacified her fury, evenin the middle of all her griefes, while she tare her haire and rent hergarments, demanded her in marriage, and so without shame, he detectedthe secrets and unspeakeable deceipts of his heart. But Charitesdetested and abhorred his demand, and as she had beene stroken with someclap of thunder, with some storme, or with the lightning of Jupiter, shepresently fell downe to the ground all amazed. Howbeit when her spiritswere revived and that she returned to her selfe, perceiving thatThrasillus was so importunate, she demanded respite to deliberate and totake advise on the matter. In the meane season, the shape of Lepolemusthat was slaine so miserably, appeared to Charites saying, O my sweetwife (which no other person can say but I) I pray thee for the lovewhich is betweene us two, if there he any memorie of me in thy heart, orremembrance of my pittifull death, marry with any other person, so thatthou marry not with the traitour Thrasillus, have no conference withhim, eate not with him, lie not with him, avoid the bloudie hand ofmine enemie, couple not thy selfe with a paricide, for those wounds (thebloud whereof thy teares did wash away) were not the wounds of the teethof the Boare, but the speare of Thrasillus, that deprived me from thee. Thus spake Lepolemus, unto his loving wife, and declared the residue ofthe damnable fact. Then Charites, awaking from sleepe, began to renewher dolour, to teare her garments, and to beate her armes with hercomely hands, howbeit she revealed the vision which she saw to no mannerof person, but dissimuling that she knew no part of the mischiefe, devised with her selfe how she might be revenged on the traitor, andfinish her owne life to end and knit up all sorrow. Incontinently cameThrasillus, the detestable demander of sodaine pleasure, and wearied theclosed eares of Charites with talke of marriage, but she gently refusedhis communication, and coloring the matter, with passing craft in themiddest of his earnest desires gan say, Thrasillus you shall understandthat yet the face of your brother and my husband, is alwayes before mineeies, I smell yet the Cinamon sent of his pretious body, I yet feeleLepolemus alive in my heart: wherefore you shall do well if you grant tome miserable woman, necessarie time to bewaile his death, that after theresidue of a few months, the whole yeare may be expired, which thingtoucheth as well my shame as your wholsome profit, lest peradventure byyour speed and quicke marriage we should justly raise and provoke thespirit of my husband to worke our destruction. Howbeit, Thrasilluswas not contented with this promise, but more and more came upon her:Insomuch, that she was enforced to speake to him in this manner: Myfriend Thrasillus, if thou be so contented untill the whole yeare becompleate and finished, behold here is my bodie, take thy pleasure, butin such sort and so secret that no servant of the house may perceiveit. Then Thrasillus trusting to the false promises of the woman, andpreferring his inordinate pleasure above all things in the world, wasjoyfull in his heart and looked for night, when as he might have hispurpose. But come thou about midnight (quoth Charites) disguised withoutcompanie, and doe but hisse at my chamber doore, and my nourse shallattend and let thee in. This counsell pleased Thrasillus marveilously, who (suspecting no harme) did alwaies looke for night, and the houreassigned by Charites. The time was scarce come, when as (accordingto her commandement) he disguised himselfe, and went straight to thechamber, where he found the nourse attending for him, who (by theappointment of her Mistresse) fed him with flattering talke, and gavehim mingled and doled drinke in a cup, excusing the absence of herMistresse Charites, by reason that she attended on her Father beingsick, untill such time, that with sweet talke and operation of thewine, he fell in a sound sleepe: Now when he lay prostrate on the groundreadie to all adventure, Charites (being called for) came in, and withmanly courage and bold force stood over the sleeping murderer, saying:Behold the faithfull companion of my husband, behold this valianthunter; 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 mydestruction, these be the eies whom I have ill pleased, behold now theyforeshew their owne destinie: sleepe carelesse, dreame that thou art inthe hands of the mercifull, for I will not hurt thee with thy sword orany other weapon: God forbid that I should slay thee as thou slewest myhusband, but thy eies shall faile thee, and thou shalt see no more, thenthat whereof thou dreamest: Thou shalt thinke the death of thine enemiemore sweet then thy life: Thou shalt see no light, thou shalt lacke theaide of a leader, thou shalt not have me as thou hopest, thou shalt haveno delight of my marriage, thou shalt not die, and yet living thou shalthave no joy, but wander betweene light and darknesse as an unsure Image:thou shalt seeke for the hand that pricked out thine eies, yet shaltthou not know of whom thou shouldest complaine: I will make sacrificewith the bloud of thine eies upon the grave of my husband. But whatgainest thou through my delay? Perhaps thou dreamest that thou embracestme in thy armes: leave off the darknesse of sleepe and awake thou toreceive a penall deprivation of thy sight, lift up thy face, regard thyvengeance and evill fortune, reckon thy miserie; so pleaseth thine eiesto a chast woman, that thou shall have blindnesse to thy companion, andan everlasting remorse of thy miserable conscience. When she had spokenthese words, she tooke a great needle from her head and pricked out bothhis eies: which done, she by and by caught the naked sword which herhusband Lepolemus accustomed to weare, and ranne throughout all theCitie like a mad woman towards the Sepulchre of her husband. Then allwe of the house, with all the Citizens, ranne incontinently after herto take the sword out of her hand, but she clasping about the tombe ofLepolemus, kept us off with her naked weapon, and when she perceivedthat every one of us wept and lamented, she spake in this sort: I prayyou my friends weepe not, nor lament for me, for I have revenged thedeath of my husband, I have punished deservedly the wicked breakerof our marriage; now is it time to seeke out my sweet Lepolemus, andpresently with this sword to finish my life. And therewithall after shehad made relation of the whole matter, declared the vision which shesaw and told by what meane she deceived Thrasillus, thrusting her swordunder her right brest, and wallowing in her owne bloud, at length withmanly courage yeelded up the Ghost. Then immediately the friendsof miserable Charites did bury her body within the same Sepulchre. Thrasillus hearing all the matter, and knowing not by what meanes hemight end his life, for he thought his sword was not sufficient torevenge so great a crime, at length went to the same Sepulchre, andcryed with a lowd voice, saying: o yee dead spirites whom I have sohighly and greatly offended, vouchsafe to receive me, behold I makeSacrifice unto you with my whole body: which said, hee closed theSepulchre, purposing to famish himselfe, and to finish his life therein sorrow. These things the young man with pitifull sighes and teares, declared unto the Cowheards and Shepheards, which caused them all toweepe: but they fearing to become subject unto new masters, preparedthemselves to depart away. 

THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER

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

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 pacewith us, and that which I bare upon my backe, although it was a mightyburthen, yet seemed it very light because I was driven away from himthat most terribly had appointed to kill me. When we had passed overa great mountaine full of trees, and were come againe into the openfields, behold we approached nigh to a faire and rich Castell, whereit was told unto us that we were not able to passe in our journey thatnight, by reason of the great number of terrible Wolves which werein the Country about, so fierce and cruell that they put every manin feare, in such sort that they would invade and set upon suchwhich passed by like theeves, and devoure both them and their beasts. Moreover, we were advertised that there lay in the way where we shouldpasse, many dead bodies eaten and torne with wolves. Wherefore we werewilled to stay there all night, and on the next morning, to goe closeand round together, whereby we might passe and escape all dangers. But (notwithstanding this good counsell) our caitife drivers were socovetous to goe forward, and so fearefull of pursuite, that they neverstayed till the morning: But being welnigh midnight, they made us trudgein 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 defendand save my poore buttocks from the Wolves, whereat every man muchmarvelled to see, that I scowred away swifter then the other Horses. Butsuch was my agility, not to get me any prayse, but rather for feare: atthat time I remembered with my selfe, that the valiant Horse Pegasus didfly in the ayre more to avoyd the danger of dreadful Chimera, then forany thing else. The shepheards which drave us before them were wellarmed like warriours: one had a speare, another had a sheepehooke, somehad darts, some clubbes, some gathered up great stones, some held uptheir sharp Javelings, and some feared away the Woolves with lightfirebrands. Finally wee lacked nothing to make up an Army, but onelyDrummes and Trumpets. But when we had passed these dangers, not withoutsmall feare, wee fortuned to fall into worse, for the Woolves came notupon us, either because of the great multitude of our company, or elsebecause [of] our firebrands, or peradventure they were gone to someother place, for wee could see none, but the Inhabitants of the nextvillages (supposing that wee were Theeves by reason of the greatmultitude) for the defence of their owne substance, and for the fearethat they were in, set great and mighty masties upon us, which they hadkept and nourished for the safety of their houses, who compassing usround about leaped on every side, tearing us with their teeth, insuch sort that they pulled many of us to the ground: verily it was apittifull sight to see so many Dogs, some following such as flyed, someinvading such as stood still, some tearing those which lay prostrate, but generally there were none which escaped cleare: Behold upon thisanother danger ensued, the Inhabitants of the Towne stood in theirgarrets and windowes, throwing great stones upon our heads, that weecould not tell whether it were best for us to avoyd the gaping mouthesof the Dogges at hand or the perill of the stones afarre, amongst whomethere was one that hurled a great flint upon a woman, which sate upon mybacke, who cryed out pitiously, desiring her husband to helpe her. Thenhe (comming to succour and ayd his wife) beganne to speake in thissort: Alas masters, what mean you to trouble us poore labouring men socruelly? What meane you to revenge your selves upon us, that doe you noharme? 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 ofhumane blood. At these words the tempest of stones did cease, and thestorme of the Dogges vanished away. Then one (standing on the toppe ofa great Cypresse tree) spake unto us saying: Thinke you not masters thatwe doe this to the intent to rifle or take away any of your goods, butfor the safeguard of our selves and family: now a Gods name you maydepart away. So we went forward, some wounded with stones, some bittenwith 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 theirwounds. 

When we had gone a good part of our way, we came to a certaine woodinvironed with great trees and compassed about with pleasant meddowes, whereas the Shepheards appointed to continue a certaine space to curetheir wounds and sores; then they sate downe on the ground to refreshtheir wearie minds, and afterwards they sought for medicines, to healetheir bodies: some washed away their blood with the water of the runningRiver: some stopped their wounds with Spunges and cloutes, in thismanner every one provided for his owne safety. In the meane season weeperceived an old man, who seemed to be a Shepheard, by reason of theGoates and Sheep that fed round about him. Then one of our companydemanded whether he had any milke, butter, or cheese to sell. To whom hemade answere saying: Doe you looke for any meate or drinke, or any otherrefection here? Know you not in what place you be?

And therewithall he tooke his sheepe and drave them away as fast as hemight possible. This answere made our shepheards greatly to feare, thatthey thought of nothing else, but to enquire what Country they werein: Howbeit they saw no manner of person of whom they might demand. Atlength as they were thus in doubt, they perceived another old man with astaffe in his hand very weary with travell, who approaching nigh to ourcompany, began to weepe and complaine saying: Alas masters I pray yousuccour me miserable caitife, and restore my nephew to me againe, thatby following a sparrow that flew before him, is fallen into a ditchhereby, and verily I thinke he is in danger of death. As for me, I amnot able to helpe him out by reason of mine old age, but you that are sovaliant 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. Andthen the youngest and stoutest of our company, who alone escaped bestthe late skirmish of Dogges and stones, rose up and demanded in whatditch the boy was fallen: Mary (quod he) yonder, and pointed with hisfinger, and brought him to a great thicket of bushes and thornes wherethey both entred in. In the meane season, after we cured our wounds, wetooke up our packs, purposing to depart away. And because we would notgoe away without the young man our fellow: The shepheards whistled andcalled for him, but when he gave no answer, they sent one out of theircompany to seeke him out, who after a while returned againe with a paleface and sorrowfull newes, saying that he saw a terrible Dragon eatingand devouring their companion: and as for the old man, hee could see himin no place. When they heard this, (remembring likewise the words of thefirst old man that shaked his head, and drave away his sheep) theyran away beating us before them, to fly from this desart and pestilentCountry. 

THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER

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

After that we had passed a great part of our journey, we came to avillage where we lay all night, but harken, and I will tell you whatmischiefe happened there: you shall understand there was a servant towhom his Master had committed the whole government of his house, and wasMaster of the lodging where we lay: this servant had married a Maidenof the same house, howbeit he was greatly in love with a harlot of thetowne, and accustomed to resort unto her, wherewith his wife was sohighly displeased and became so jealous, that she gathered together allher husbands substance, with his tales and books of account, and threwthem into a light fire: she was not contented with this, but she tookea cord and bound her child which she had by her husband, about hermiddle and cast her selfe headlong into a deepe pit. The Master takingin evill part the death of these twaine, tooke his servant which was thecause of this murther by his luxurie, and first after that he had putoff all his apparell, he annointed his body with honey, and then boundhim sure to a fig-tree, where in a rotten stocke a great number ofPismares had builded their neasts, the Pismares after they had felt thesweetnesse of the honey came upon his body, and by little and little (incontinuance of time) devoured all his flesh, in such sort, that thereremained on the tree but his bare bones: this was declared unto us bythe inhabitants of the village there, who greatly sorrowed for the deathof this servant: then we avoiding likewise from this dreadfull lodgingincontinently departed away. 

THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER

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

After this we came to a faire Citie very populous, where our shepheardsdetermined to continue, by reason that it seemed a place where theymight live unknowne, far from such as should pursue them, and because itwas a countrey very plentifull of corne and other victuals, where whenwe had remained the space of three dayes, and that I poore Asse andthe other horses were fed and kept in the stable to the intent we mightseeme more saleable, we were brought out at length to the market, andby and by a crier sounded with his horne to notifie that we were to besold: all my companion horses were bought up by Gentlemen, but as forme I stood still forsaken of all men. And when many buiers came by andlooked in my mouth to know mine age, I was so weary with opening myjawes that at length (unable to endure any longer) when one came with astinking paire of hands and grated my gummes with his filthy fingers, Ibit them cleane off, which thing caused the standers by to forsake me asbeing a fierce and cruell beast: the crier when he had gotten a hoarsevoice with crying, and saw that no man would buy me, began to mockeme saying, To what end stand we here with this wilde Asse, this feeblebeast, this slow jade with worne hooves, good for nothing but to makesives of his skin? Why do we not give him to some body for he earnethnot his hay? In this manner he made all the standers by to laughexceedingly, 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 moreand more envie me, with invention of new meanes to afflict my poore bodyin giving me a new Master as spitefull as the rest. There was an old mansomewhat bald, with long and gray haire, one of the number of those thatgo from door to door, throughout all the villages, bearing the Image ofthe goddesse Syria, and playing with Cimbals to get the almes of goodand charitable folks, this old man came hastely towards the cryer, anddemanded where I was bred: Marry (quoth he) in Cappadocia: Then heenquired what age I was of, the cryer answered as a Mathematician, whichdisposed to me my Planets, that I was five yeares old, and willed theold man to looke in my mouth: For I would not willingly (quoth he) incurthe penalty of the law Cornelia, in selling a free Citizen for a servileslave, buy a Gods name this faire beast to ride home on, and about inthe countrey: But this curious buier did never stint to question of myqualities, 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 willnever bite, he will never kicke, but you would rather thinke that underthe shape of an Asse there were some well advised man, which verely youmay easily conject, for if you would thrust your nose in his taile youshall perceive how patient he is: Thus the cryer mocked the old man, buthe perceiving his taunts and jests, waxed very angry saying, Away dotingcryer, I pray the omnipotent and omniparent goddesse Syria, Saint Sabod, Bellona, with her mother Idea, and Venus, with Adonis, to strike outboth 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 fiercebeast, whereby her divine Image should be throwne downe on the ground, and so I poore miser should be compelled (tearing my haire) to lookefor some Physition to helpe her? When I heard him speake thus, I thoughtwith my selfe sodainly to leap upon him like a mad Asse, to the intenthe should not buy me, but incontinently there came another Marchant thatprevented my thought, and offered 17 Pence for me, then my Master wasglad and received the money, and delivered me to my new Master who wascalled Phelibus, and he caried his new servant home, and before he cameto his house, he called out his daughters saying, Behold my daughters, what a gentle servant I have bought for you: then they were marvailousglad, and comming out pratling and shouting for joy, thought verely thathe 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 anAsse for himselfe. Howbeit (quoth they) keepe him not wholly for yourowne riding, but let us likewise have him at commandement. Therewithallthey led me into the stable, and tied me to the manger: there wasa certaine yong man with a mighty body, wel skilled in playing oninstruments before the gods to get money, who (as soone as he had espiedme) entertained me verie well, for he filled my racke and maunger fullof 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 maistlong live and please my Master well, to the end thou maist continuallydeliver me from so great paine. When I heard these words I didprognosticate my miserie to come. 

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

Amongst whom there was one more mad then the rest, that let many deepesighes from the bottome of his heart, as though he had beene ravished inspirite, or replenished with divine power. And after that, he somewhatreturning to himselfe, invented and forged a great lye, saying, thathe had displeased the divine majesty of the goddesse, by doing of something which was not convenable to the order of their holy religion, wherefore he would doe vengeance of himselfe: and therewithall hetooke a whip, and scourged his owne body, that the bloud issued outaboundantly, which thing caused me greatly to feare, to see such woundsand effusion of bloud, least the same goddesse desiring so much thebloud of men, should likewise desire the bloud of an Asse. After theywere wearie with hurling and beating themselves, they sate downe, andbehold, the inhabitants came in, and offered gold, silver, vessels ofwine, milke, cheese, flower, wheate and other things: amongst whom therewas one, that brought barly to the Asse that carried the goddesse, butthe greedie whoresons thrust all into their sacke, which they broughtfor the purpose and put it upon my backe, to the end I might serve fortwo purposes, that is to say, for the barne by reason of my corne, andfor the Temple by reason of the goddesse. In this sort, they went fromplace to place, robbing all the Countrey over. At length they came to acertaine Castle where under colour of divination, they brought to passethat they obtained a fat sheepe of a poore husbandman for the goddessesupper and to make sacrifice withall. After that the banket wasprepared, they washed their bodies, and brought in a tall young man ofthe village, to sup with them, who had scarce tasted a few pottage, whenhee began to discover their beastly customes and inordinate desire ofluxury. For they compassed him round about, sitting at the table, andabused the young man, contrary to all nature and reason. When I beheldthis horrible fact, I could not but attempt to utter my mind and say, Omasters, but I could pronounce no more but the first letter O, which Iroared out so valiantly, that the young men of the towne seeking for astraie Asse, that they had lost the same night, and hearing my voice, whereby they judged that I had beene theirs, entred into the houseunwares, and found these persons committing their vile abhomination, which when they saw, they declared to all the inhabitants by, theirunnatural villany, mocking and laughing at this the pure and cleanechastity of their religion. In the meane season, Phelibus and hiscompany, (by reason of the bruit which was dispersed throughout all theregion there of their beastly wickednesse) put all their trumpery uponmy backe, and departed away about midnight. When we had passed a greatpart of our journey, before the rising of the Sun, we came into a wilddesart, where they conspired together to slay me. For after they hadtaken 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 hishatchet, because by my noyse I diffamed his chastity, but the otherregarding more their owne profit than my utility, thought best to sparemy life, because I might carry home the goddesse. So they laded meagaine, driving me before them with their naked swords, till they cameto a noble City: where the principall Patrone bearing high reverenceunto the goddesse, Came in great devotion before us with Tympany, Cymbals, and other instruments, and received her, and all our companywith much sacrifice and veneration. But there I remember, I thought myselfe in most danger, for there was one that brought to the Masterof the house, a side of a fat Bucke for a present, which being hangedbehind the kitchin doore, not far from the ground, was cleane eatenup by a gray hound, that came in. The Cooke when he saw the Venisondevoured, lamented and wept pitifully. And because supper timeapproached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too much negligence, he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife perceiving whereabouthe went, ran incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both herhands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O husband, are you out ofyour writs? pray husband follow my counsel, cary this strange Asse outinto some secret place and kill him, which done, cut off one of hissides, and sawce it well like the side of the Bucke, and set it beforeyour Master. Then the Cooke hearing the counsell of his wife, was wellpleased to slay me to save himselfe: and so he went to the whetstone, tosharpe his tooles accordingly. 

THE NINTH BOOKE

THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER

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

In this manner the traiterous Cooke prepared himselfe to slay me: andwhen he was ready with his knives to doe his feat, I devised with myselfe how I might escape the present perill, and I did not long delay:for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and flingingmy heeles hither and thither to save my selfe, at length I ran hastilyinto a Parlour, where the Master of the house was feasting with thePriests of the goddesse Syria, and disquieted all the company, throwingdowne their meats and drinks from the table. The Master of the housedismayed at my great disorder, commanded one of his servants to take meup, and locke me in some strong place, to the end I might disturb themno more. But I little regarded my imprisonment, considering that Iwas happily delivered from the hands of the traiterous Cooke. Howbeitfortune, or the fatall disposition of the divine providence, whichneither can be avoided by wise counsell, neither yet by any wholesomeremedie, invented a new torment, for by and by a young ladde camerunning into the Parlour all trembling, and declared to the Master ofthe 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 horsesin the Inne by: And he spared neither man nor beast. For there was oneMitilius a Mulettour, Epheseus, a Cooke, Hyppanius a chamberlaine, andAppolonius a Physition, who (thinking to chase away the madde Dogge)were cruelly wounded by him, insomuch that many Horses and other beastsinfected with the venyme of his poysonous teeth became madde likewise. Which thing caused them all at the table greatly to feare, and thinkingthat I had beene bitten in like sort, came out with speares, Clubs, andPitchforks purposing to slay me, and I had undoubtedly beene slaine, had I not by and by crept into the Chamber, where my Master intended tolodge all night. Then they closed and locked fast the doores about me, and kept the chamber round, till such time as they thought that thepestilent rage of madnesse had killed me. When I was thus shutte in thechamber alone, I laid me downe upon the bed to sleepe, considering itwas long time past, since I lay and tooke my rest as a man doth. Whenmorning was come, and that I was well reposed, I rose up lustily. In themeane season, they which were appointed to watch about the chamber allnight, reasoned with themselves in this sort, Verely (quoth one) Ithink that this rude Asse be dead. So think I (quoth another) for theoutragious poyson of madness hath killed him, but being thus in diversopinions of a poore Ass, they looked through a crevis, and espied mestanding still, sober and quiet in the middle of the chamber; then theyopened the doores, and came towards me, to prove whether I were gentleor no. Amongst whom there was one, which in my opinion, was sent fromHeaven to save my life, that willed the other to set a bason of fairewater 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 signethat I was whole, and in mine Assie wits, where contrary if I did flieand 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 beforeme: but I as soone as I perceived the wholesome water of my life, ranincontinently, thrusting my head into the bason, drank as though I hadbeene greatly athirst; then they stroked me with their hands, and bowedmine eares, and tooke me by the halter, to prove my patience, but Itaking each thing in good part, disproved their mad presumption, by mymeeke and gentle behaviour: when I was thus delivered from this doubledanger, the next day I was laded againe with the goddesse Siria, andother trumpery, and was brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbalsto beg in the villages which we passed by according to our custome. Andafter that we had gone through a few towns and Castles, we fortuned tocome to a certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitants thereaffirme) upon the foundation of a famous ancient Citie. And after thatwe had turned into the next Inne, we heard of a prettie jest committedin 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 butthat which he got by the labour and travell of his hands: his wife wasa faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given to the appetite anddesire of the flesh. It fortuned on a day, that while this poore man wasgone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse, accordingas he accustomed to doe, his wives lover secretly came into his house tohave his pleasure with her. And so it chanced that during the timethat shee and he were basking together, her husband suspecting no suchmatter, returned home praising the chast continency of his wife, inthat hee found his doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was, hewhistled 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 nothingto maintaine our house? thou hast no regard for our profit, neitherprovidest for any meate or drinke, whereas I poore wretch doe nothingday and night but occupie my selfe with spinning, and yet my travellwill scarce find the Candels which we spend. O how much more happy is myneighbour Daphne, that eateth and drinketh at her pleasure and passeththe time with her amorous lovers according to her desire. What is thematter (quoth her husband) though Our Master hath made holiday at thefields, yet thinke not but I have made provision for our supper; doestthou 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 ishere present) for five pence, wherefore I pray thee lend me thy hand, that I may deliver him the tub. His wife (having invented a presentshift) laughed on her husband, saying: What marchant I pray you have youbrought home hither, to fetch away my tub for five pence, for which Ipoore woman that sit all day alone in my house have beene proffered sooften seaven: her husband being well apayed of her words demanded whathe was that had bought the tub: Looke (quoth she) he is gone under, tosee 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 agreeto the words of the woman, he sayd: Dame will you have me tell thetruth, this tub is rotten and crackt as me seemeth on every side. Andthen 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 purposeor no, for I doe not mind to cast away my money wilfully: he by andby (being made a very Oxe) lighted a candle, saying, I pray you goodbrother put not your selfe to so much paine, let me make the tub cleaneand ready for you. Whereupon he put off his coate, and crept underthe tub to rub away the filth from the sides. In the meane seasonthis minion lover cast his wife on the bottome of the tub and had hispleasure with her over his head, and as he was in the middest of hispastime, hee turned his head on this side and that side, finding faultwith 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 manhimselfe 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, andhow Apuleius was sold to a Baker. 

After that we had tarried there a few dayes at the cost and chargesof the whole Village, and had gotten much mony by our divination andprognostication of things to come: The priests of the goddesse Siriainvented 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 tothe intent it may bring forth his increase: and by these kind of lottesthey deceive many of the simple sort, for if one had demanded whether heshould have a good wife or no, they would say that his lot did testifiethe same, that he should be tyed and yoked to a good woman and haveincrease of children. If one demanded whether he should buy lands andpossession, they said that he should have much ground that shouldyeeld his increase. If one demanded whether he should have a good andprosperous voyage, they said he should have good successe, and it shouldbe for the increase of his profit. If one demanded whether hee shouldvanquish his enemies, and prevaile in pursuite of theeves, they saidthat this enemy should be tyed and yoked to him: and his pursuits aftertheeves should be prosperous. Thus by the telling of fortunes, theygathered a great quantity of money, but when they were weary with givingof answers, they drave me away before them next night, through a lanewhich was more dangerous and stony then the way which we went the nightbefore, for on the one side were quagmires and foggy marshes, on theother side were falling trenches and ditches, whereby my legges failedme, 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 armedwith weapons and on horsebacke overtooke us, and incontinently arrestingPhilebus and his Priests, tied them by the necks and beate them cruelly, calling them theeves and robbers, and after they had manacled theirhands: Shew us (quoth they) the cup of gold, which (under the colour ofyour solemne religion) ye have taken away, and now ye thinke to escapein the night without punishment for your fact. By and by one cametowards me, and thrusting his hand into the bosome of the goddesseSiria, brought out the cup which they had stole. Howbeit for all theyappeared evident and plaine they would not be confounded nor abashed, but jesting and laughing out the matter, gan say: Is it reason mastersthat you should thus rigorously intreat us, and threaten for a smalltrifling cup, which the mother of the Goddesse determined to give to hersister for a present? Howbeit for all their lyes and cavellations, theywere 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 andconsecrate them amongst the treasure of the temple. The next day I wascarryed to the market to be sold, and my price was set at seaven pencemore then Philebus gave for me. There fortuned to passe by a Baker ofthe 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 metherewith, be drave me through a thorny and dangerous way to his bakehouse; there I saw a great company of horses that went in the mill dayand night grinding of corne, but lest I should be discouraged at thefirst, my master entertained me well, for the first day I did nothingbut fare daintily, howbeit such mine ease and felicity did not longendure, for the next day following I was tyed to the mill betimes inthe morning with my face covered, to the end in turning amid winding sooften 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 knewwell enough how they should be turned, yet feining my selfe ignorant ofsuch kind of toile, I stood still and would not goe, whereby I thoughtI should be taken from the mill as an Asse unapt, and put to some otherlight thing, or else to be driven into the fields to pasture, but mysubtility did me small good, for by and by when the mill stood still, the servants came about me, crying and beating me forward, in suchsort that I could not stay to advise my selfe, whereby all the companylaughed to see so suddaine a change. When a good part of the day waspast, that I was not able to endure any longer, they tooke off myharnesse, 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 wasso curious that I did greatly delight to behold the bakers art, insomuchthat I could not eate nor drinke while I looked on. 

O good Lord what a sort of poore slaves were there; some had theirskinne blacke and blew, some had their backes striped with lashes, somewere covered with rugged sackes, some had their members onely hidden:some wore such ragged clouts, that you might perceive all their nakedbodies, some were marked and burned in the heads with hot yrons, somehad their haire halfe clipped, some had lockes of their legges, somevery ugly and evill favoured, that they could scarce see, their eyes andface were so blacke and dimme with smoake, like those that fight in thesands, and know not where they strike by reason of dust: And somehad their faces all mealy. But how should I speake of the horses mycompanions, how they being old and weake, thrust their heads into themanger: they had their neckes all wounded and worne away: they ratedtheir nosethrilles with a continuall cough, their sides were bare withtheir harnesse and great travell, their ribs were broken with beating, their hooves were battered broad with incessant labour, and their skinnerugged by reason of their lancknesse. When I saw this dreadfull sight, I began to feare, least I should come to the like state: and consideringwith 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, butI saw no comfort or consolation of my evill fortune, saving that my mindwas somewhat recreated to heare and understand what every man said, forthey neither feared nor doubted my presence. At that time I remembredhow Homer the divine author of ancient Poetry, described him to be awise man, which had travelled divers countries and nations, wherefore Igave great thanks to my Asse for me, in that by this meanes I had seenethe experience of many things, and was become more wise (notwithstandingthe great misery and labour which I daily sustained): but I will tellyou a pretty jest, which commeth now to my remembrance, to the intentyour 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 wasthe most pestilent woman in all the world, insomuch that he endured manymiseries and afflictions with her, so that I my selfe did secretly pittyhis estate, and bewaile his evill fortune: for she had not one faultalone, but all the mischiefes that could be devised: shee was crabbed, cruell, lascivious, drunken, obstinate, niggish, covetous, riotous infilthy expenses, and an enemy to faith and chastity, a despise of allthe Gods, whom other did honour, one that affirmed that she had a Godby her selfe, wherby she deceived all men, but especially her poorehusband, one that abandoned her body with continuall whoredome. Thismischievous queane hated me in such sort, that shee commanded every daybefore she was up, that I should he put into the mill to grind: and thefirst thing which she would doe in the morning, was to see me cruellybeaten, and that I should grind when the other beasts did feed and takerest. When I saw that I was so cruelly handled, she gave me occasion tolearne her conversation and life, for I saw oftentimes a yong man whichwould privily goe into her chamber whose face I did greatly desire tosee, but I could not by reason mine eyes were covered every day. Andverily if I had beene free and at liberty, I would have discovered allher abhomination. She had an old woman, a bawd, a messenger of mischiefethat daily haunted to her house, and made good cheere with her to theutter undoing and impoverishment of her husband, but I that was greatlyoffended with the negligence of Fotis, who made me an Asse, in steadof a Bird, did yet comfort my selfe by this onely meane, in that to themiserable deformity of my shape, I had long eares, whereby I mightheare all things that was done: On a day I heard the old bawd say to theBakers wife:

Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to yourlover, who as me seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, anddastard-like coucheth at the frowning looke of your odious husband, whereby you have no delight nor pleasure with him: how farre better isthe young man Philesiterus who is comely, beautifull, in the flower ofhis youth, liberall, courteous, valiant and stout against the diligentpries and watches of your husband, whereby to embrace the worthiestdames of this country, and worthy to weare a crowne of gold, for onepart that he played to one that was jealous over his wife. Hearken howit was and then judge the diversity of these two Lovers: Know younot one Barbarus a Senator of our towne, whom the vulgar people calllikewise Scorpion for his severity of manners? This Barbarus had agentlewoman to his wife, whom he caused daily to be enclosed within hishouse, with diligent custody. Then the Bakers wife said, I know her verywell, for we two dwelleth together in one house: Then you know (quoththe old woman) the whole tale of Philesiterus? No verily (said she) butI greatly desire to know it: therefore I pray you mother tell me thewhole story. By and by the old woman which knew well to babble, began totell as followeth. 

THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER

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

You shall understand that on a day this Barbarus preparing himselfe toride abroad, and willing to keepe the chastity of his wife (whom he sowell loved) alone to himselfe, called his man Myrmex (whose faith hehad tryed and proved in many things) and secretly committed to him thecustody of his wife, willing him that he should threaten, that if anyman did but touch her with his finger as he passed by, he would notonely put him in prison, and bind him hand and foote, but also causehim 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 sodeparted away: When Barbarus was gone, Myrmex being greatly astonied ofhis 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 byher; when night came he went with her to the baines, holding her by thegarment, so faithfull he was to fulfill the commandement of his master:Howbeit the beauty of this matron could not be hidden from the burningeyes of Philesiterus, who considering her great chastity and how she wasdiligently kept by Myrmex, thought it impossible to have his purpose, yet (indeavouring by all kind of meanes to enterprise the matter, andremembring the fragility of man, that might be intised and corruptedwith 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 shewhis favour, (otherwise he should certainly dye) with assurance thathe need not to feare when as he might privily be let in and out in thenight, without knowledge of any person. When he thought, with these andother gentle words to allure and prick forward the obstinate mind ofMyrmex he shewed him glittering gold in his hand, saying that he wouldgive his mistresse twenty crowns and him ten, but Myrmex hearing thesewords, was greatly troubled, abhorring in his mind to commit such amischiefe: wherfore he stopped his eares, and turning his head departedaway: howbeit the glittering view of these crownes could never be out ofhis 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 diversopinions could not tell what to doe, for on the one side lie consideredthe promise which he made to his master, and the punishment that shouldensue if he did contrary. On the other side he thought of the gaine, andthe passing pleasure of the crownes of gold; in the end the desire ofthe money did more prevaile then the feare of death, for the beautyof the flowrishing crownes did so sticke in his mind, that where themenaces of his master compelled him to tarry at home, the pestilentavarice of gold egged him out a doores, wherefore putting all shameaside, without further delay, he declared all the whole matter to hisMistresse, who according to the nature of a woman, when she heard himspeake of so great a summe she bound chastity in a string, and gaveauthority to Myrmex to rule her in that case. Myrmex seeing the intentof his Mistresse, was very glad, and for great desire of the gold, heran hastily to Philesiterus, declaring that his Mistresse was consentedto his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold which he promised. Thenincontinently Philesiterus delivered him tenne Crownes, and when nightcame, Myrmex brought him disguised into his mistresses Chamber. AboutMidnight when he and she were naked together, making sacrifice unto theGoddesse Venus, behold her husband (contrary to their expectation)came and knocked at the doore, calling with a loud voice to his ServantMyrmex: whose long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master, in such sort that he threatned to beat Myrmex cruelly: but he beingtroubled with feare, and driven to his latter shifts, excused the mattersaying: that he could not find the key: by reason it was so darke. Inthe meane season Philesiterus hearing the noise at the doore, slipt onhis coat and privily ran out of the Chamber. When Myrmex had opened thedoore to his Master that threatned terribly, and had let him in, hewent into the Chamber to his wife: In the mean while Myrmex let outPhilesiterus, and barred the doores fast, and went againe to bed. Thenext morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two unknown slipperslying under his bed, which Philesiterus had forgotten when he went away. Then he conceived a great suspition and jealousie in mind, howbeit hewould not discover it to his wife, neither to any other person, butputting secretly the slippers into his bosome, commanded his otherServants to bind Myrmex incontinently, and to bring him bound to theJustice after him, thinking verily that by the meane of the slippers hemight boult out the matter. It fortuned that while Barbarus went towardsthe Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, followed himweeping, not because he was accused before his master, but by reason heknew his owne conscience guilty: behold by adventure Philesiterus (goingabout earnest businesse) fortuned to meet with them by the way, whofearing the matter which he committed the night before, and doubtinglest 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 gooddeed if the Goddesse and thy master here, would put thee to death, forthou art worthy to be imprisoned and to weare out these yrons, thatstalest my slippers away when thou werest at my baines yester night. Barbarus hearing this returned incontinently home, and called hisservant Myrmex, commanding him to deliver the slippers againe to theright 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 soworthy a lover, but as for me poore miser, I am fallen into the hands ofa coward, who is not onely afraid of my husband but also of every clapof the mill, and dares not doe nothing, before the blind face of yonderscabbed Asse. Then the old woman answered, I promise you certainlyif you will, you shall have this young man at your pleasure, andtherewithall when night came, she departed out of her chamber. In themeane season, the Bakers wife made ready a supper with abundance of wineand exquisite fare: so that there lacked nothing, but the comming of theyoung man, for her husband supped at one of her neighbours houses. Whentime came that my harnesse should be taken off and that I should rest myselfe, I was not so joyfull of my liberty, as when the vaile was takenfrom mine eyes, I should see all the abhomination of this mischievousqueane. When night was come and the Sunne gone downe, behold the oldbawd and the young man, who seemed to be but a child, by reason he hadno beard, came to the doore. Then the Bakers wife kissed him a thousandtimes and received him courteously, placed him downe at the table: buthe had scarce eaten the first morsell, when the good man (contrary tohis wives expectation) returned home, for she thought he would not havecome so soone: but Lord how she cursed him, praying God that he mightbreake his necke at the first entry in. In the meane season, she caughther lover and thrust him into the bin where she bolted her flower, anddissembling the matter, finely came to her husband demanding why he camehome so soone. I could not abide (quoth he) to see so great a mischiefeand wicked fact, which my neighbours wife committed, but I must runaway: O harlot as she is, how hath she dishonoured her husband, I sweareby the goddesse Ceres, that if I had [not] seene it with mine eyes, Iwould 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 requestof his wife, and ignorant of the estate of his own house, declared themischance of another. You shall understand (quoth he) that the wifeof 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 nightwith her knave. For while we went to wash our hands, hee and she weretogether: who being troubled with our presence ran into a corner, andshe thrust him into a mow made with twigs, appoynted to lay on clothesto make them white with the smoake of fume and brymstone. Then she satedown with us at the table to colour the matter: in the meant season theyoung man covered in the mow, could not forbeare sneesing, by reason ofthe smoake of the brymstone. The good man thinking it had beene hiswife that sneesed, cryed, Christ helpe. But when he sneesed more, hesuspected the matter, and willing to know who it was, rose from thetable, and went to the mow, where hee found a young man welnigh deadwith smoke. When hee understood the whole matter, he was so inflamedwith anger that he called for a sword to kill him, and undoubtedly hehad 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 notappease his fury, but as necessity required he tooke the young man wellnigh choked, and carried him out at the doores. In the meane season, I counsailed his wife to absent her selfe at some of her Neighbourshouses, till the choller of her husband was pacified, lest he should bemoved against her, as he was against the young man. And so being wearyof their supper, I forthwith returned home. When the Baker had toldhis tale, his impudent wife began to curse and abhorre the wife of theFuller, and generally all other wives, which abandon their bodies withany other then with their owne Husbands, breaking the faith and bondof marriage, whereby she said, they were worthy to be burned alive. Butknowing her owne guilty conscience and proper whoredome, lest her lovershould 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 torest: whereby shee was compelled to maugre her eies, to set such thingson the Table as she had prepared for her lover. 

But I, considering the great mischiefe of this wicked queane, devisedwith my selfe how I might reveale the matter to my Master, and bykicking away the cover of the binne (where like a Snaile the young-manwas couched) to make her whoredome apparent and knowne. At length I wasayded by the providence of God, for there was an old man to whom thecustody of us was committed, that drave me poore Asse, and the otherHorses the same time to the water to drinke; then had I good occasionministred, to revenge the injury of my master, for as I passed by, Iperceived 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 ofmy hoofes, whereby he was compelled to cry out, and to throw downe thebinne on the ground, and so the whoredome of the Bakers wife was knowneand revealed. The Baker seeing this was not a little moved at thedishonesty of his wife, but hee tooke the young-man trembling for feareby the hand, and with cold and courteous words spake in this sort: Fearenot 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 neighbouraccustometh, nor I will not punish thee according to the rigour of thelaw 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 youngman as you be, but we will devide our pleasure betweene us, by lyingall three in one bed, to the end there may be no debate nor dissentionbetweene us, but that either of us may be contented, for I have alwayeslived with my wife in such tranquillity, that according to the sayingof the wisemen, whatsoever I say, she holdeth for law, and indeed equitywill not suffer, but that the husband should beare more authority thenthe 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 calledtwo of the most sturdiest Servants of his house, who held up the youngman, while he scourged his buttockes welfavouredly with rods like achild. When he had well beaten him, he said: Art not thou ashamed, thouthat art so tender and delicate a child, to desire the violation ofhonest marriages, and to defame thy selfe with wicked living, wherebythou hast gotten the name of an Adulterer? After he had spoken these andlike words, he whipped him againe, and chased him out of his house. Theyoung-man who was the comeliest of all the adulterers, ran away, anddid nothing else that night save onely bewaile his striped and paintedbuttockes. Soone after the Baker sent one to his wife, who divorced heraway in his name, but she beside her owne naturall mischiefe, (offendedat this great contumely, though she had worthily deserved the same) hadrecourse to wicked arts and trumpery, never ceasing untill she had foundout an Enchantresse, who (as it was thought) could doe what she wouldwith her Sorcery and conjuration. The Bakers wife began to intreate her, promising that she would largely recompence her, if shee could bringone of these things to passe, eyther to make that her husband may bereconciled to her againe, or else if hee would not agree thereto, tosend an ill spirit into him, to dispossesse the spirit of her husband. Then the witch with her abhominable science, began to conjure and tomake her Ceremonies, to turne the heart of the Baker to his wife, butall was in vaine, wherefore considering on the one side that she couldnot bring her purpose to passe, and on the other side the losse of hergaine, she ran hastily to the Baker, threatning to send an evillspirit to kill him, by meane of her conjurations. But peradventure somescrupulous reader may demand me a question, how I, being an Asse, andtyed alwayes in the mill house, could know the secrets of these women:Verily I answer, notwithstanding my shape of an Asse, I had the senceand knowledge of a man, and curiously endeavoured to know out suchinjuries as were done to my master. About noone there came a womaninto the Milhouse, very sorrowfull, raggedly attired, with bare feete, meigre, ill-favoured, and her hayre scattering upon her face: This womantooke the Baker by the hand, and faining that she had some secret matterto tell him, went into a chamber, where they remained a good space, tillall the corne was ground, when as the servants were compelled to calltheir master to give them more corne, but when they had called veryoften, and no person gave answer, they began to mistrust, insomuch thatthey brake open the doore: when they were come in, they could not findthe woman, but onely their master hanging dead upon a rafter of thechamber, whereupon they cryed and lamented greatly, and according to thecustome, when they had washed themselves, they tooke the body and buriedit. The next day morrow, the daughter of the Baker, which was marriedbut a little before to one of the next Village, came crying and beatingher breast, not because she heard of the death of her father by anyman, but because his lamentable spirit, with a halter about his neckeappeared to her in the night, declaring the whole circumstance of hisdeath, and how by inchantment he was descended into hell, which causedher to thinke that her father was dead. After that she had lamented agood space, and was somewhat comforted by the servants of the house, andwhen nine dayes were expired, as inheretrix to her father, she sold awayall the substance of the house, whereby the goods chanced into diversmens hands. 

THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER

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

There was a poore Gardener amongst the rest, which bought me for thesumme of fifty pence, which seemed to him a great price, but he thoughtto gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my body. The matterrequireth to tell likewise, how I was handled in his service. ThisGardener accustomed to drive me, every morning laded with hearbes to thenext Village, and when he had sold his hearbes, hee would mount uponmy backe and returne to the Garden, and while he digged the ground andwatered the hearbes, and went about other businesse, I did nothing butrepose my selfe with great ease, but when Winter approached with sharpehaile, raine and frosts, and I standing under a hedge side, was welnighkilled up with cold, and my master was so poore that he had no lodgingfor 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 withcold, and unable to passe upon the sharpe ice, and frosty mire, neithercould I fill my belly with meate, as I accustomed to doe, for my masterand I supped together, and had both one fare: howbeit it was veryslender since as wee had nothing else saving old and unsavoury salletswhich were suffered to grow for seed, like long broomes, and that hadlost all their sweet sappe and juice. 

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

When we came to the honest mans house, he entertained and feasted mymaster exceedingly. And it fortuned while they eate and dranke togetheras signe of great amity there chanced a strange and dreadfull case: forthere was a Hen which ran kackling about the yard, as though she wouldhave layed an Egge. The good man of the house perceiving her, said: Ogood and profitable pullet that feedest us every day with thy fruit, thou seemest as though thou wouldest give us some pittance for ourdinner: Ho boy put the Pannier in the corner that the Hen may lay. Thenthe 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 everyman knoweth, but a Chickin with feathers, clawes, and eyes, whichincontinently ran peeping after his damme. By and by happened a morestrange thing, which would cause any man to abhorre: under the Tablewhere they sate, the ground opened, and there appeared a great well andfountain of bloud, insomuch that the drops thereof sparckled about theTable. At the same time while they wondred at this dreadfull sight oneof the Servants came running out of the Seller, and told that all thewine was boyled out of the vessels, as though there had beene some greatfire under. By and by a Weasel was scene that drew into the house a deadSerpent, 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 samedog at one bit. All these things that happened, astonied the good man ofthe house, and the residue that were present, insomuch that they couldnot tell what to doe, or with what sacrifice to appease the anger ofthe gods. While every man was thus stroken in feare, behold, one broughtword to the good man of the house, that his three sonnes who had beenbrought up in good literature, and endued with good manners were dead, for they three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore manwhich was their neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next unto himdwelled another young man very rich both in lands and goods, but bendingfrom the race of his progenies dissentions, and ruling himselfe in thetowne according to his owne will. This young royster did mortally hatethis poore man, insomuch that he would kill his sheepe, steale his oxen, and spoyle his corne and other fruits before the time of ripenesse, yetwas he not contented with this, but he would encroch upon the poore mansground, and clayme all the heritage as his owne. The poore man whichwas very simple and fearefull, seeing all his goods taken away by theavarice of the rich man, called together and assembled many of hisfriends to shew them all his land, to the end he might have but so muchground of his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, hefound these three brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in hisadversity and tribulation. 

Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wiseperswade him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause anytemperance of his tongue, but the more they went about with gentlewords to tell him his faults, the more would he fret and likewise fume, swearing all the oathes under God, that he little regarded the presenceof the whole City, whereupon incontinently he commanded his servants totake the poore man by the eares, and carry him out of his ground, whichgreatly offended all the standers by. Then one of the brethren spakeunto him somewhat boldly, saying: It is but a folly to have suchaffiance in your riches, whereby you should use your tyranny against thepoore, when as the law is common for all men, and a redresse may behad to suppresse your insolency. These words chafed him more then theburning oile, or flaming brimstone, or scourge of whipps, saying: thatthey should be hanged and their law too, before he would be subjectunto any person: and therewithall he called out his bandogges and greatmasties, which accustomed to eate the carrion and carkases of deadbeasts in the fields, and to set upon such as passed by the way: thenhe commanded they should be put upon all the assistance to teare themin peeces: who as soone as they heard the hisse of their master, ranfiercely upon them invading them on every side, insomuch that the morethey flied to escape away, the more cruell and terrible were the dogges. It fortuned amongst all this fearefull company, that in running, theyoungest of the three brethren stombled at a stone, and fell down to theground: Then the dogs came upon him and tare him in peeces with theirteeth, whereby he was compelled to cry for succour: His other twobrethren hearing his lamentable voice ran towards him to helpe him, casting their cloakes about their left armes, tooke up stones to chaseaway the dogs, but all was in vaine, for they might see their brotherdismembred in every part of his body: Who lying at the very point ofdeath, desired his brethren to revenge his death against that cruelltyrant: And therewithall lie gave up the ghost. The other two brethrenperceiving so great a murther, and neglecting their owne lives, likedesperate persons dressed themselves against the tyrant, and threw agreat number of stones at him, but the bloudy theefe exercised in suchand like mischiefes, tooke a speare and thrust it cleane through thebody: howbeit he fell not downe to the ground. For the speare that cameout at his backe ran into the earth, and sustained him up. By and bycame one of these tyrants servants the most sturdiest of the rest tohelpe his master, who at the first comming tooke up a stone and threw atthe third brother, but by reason the stone ran along his arme it did nothurt him, which chanced otherwise then all mens expectation was: by andby the young man feigning that his arme was greatly wounded, spake thesewords unto the cruell bloud sucker: Now maist thou, thou wretch, triumphupon the destruction of all our family, now hast thou fed thy insatiablecruelty with the bloud of three brethren, now maist thou rejoyce at thefall of us Citizens, yet thinke not but that how farre thou dost removeand extend the bounds of thy land, thou shalt have some neighbor, buthow greatly am I sorry in that I have lost mine arme wherewithall Iminded to cut off thy head. When he had spoken these words, the furioustheefe drew out his dagger, and running upon the young man thoughtverily to have slaine him, but it chanced otherwise: For the young manresisted him stoutly, and in buckling together by violence wrested thedagger out of his hand: which done, he killed the rich theefe with hisowne weapon, and to the intent the young man would escape the hands ofthe servants which came running to assist their master, with the samedagger he cut his owne throat. These things were signified by thestrange and dreadfull wondres which fortuned in the house of the goodman, who after he had heard these sorrowfull tydings could in no wiseweepe, so farre was he stroken with dolour, but presently taking hisknife wherewith he cut his cheese and other meate before, he cut hisowne throat likewise, in such sort that he fell upon the bord andimbraced the table with the streames of his blond, in most miserablemanner. Hereby was my master the Gardener deprived of his hope, andpaying for his dinner the watry teares of his eyes, mounted upon mybacke 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 habiteand countenance declared) who with proud and arrogant words spake to mymaster 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: Thesouldier unable to refraine his insolence, and offended at his silence, strake him on the shoulders as he sate on my backe; then my mastergently made answer that he understood not what he said, whereat thesouldier angerly demanded againe, whither he roade with his Asse? Marry(quoth he) to the next City: But I (quoth the souldier) have need ofhis helpe, to carry the trusses of our Captaine from yonder Castle, andtherewithall he tooke me by the halter and would violently have taken meaway: but my master wiping away the blood of the blow which he receivedof the souldier, desired him gently and civilly to take some pitty uponhim, and to let him depart with his owne, swearing and affirming thathis slow Asse, welnigh dead with sicknesse, could scarce carry a fewhandfuls of hearbs to the next towne, much lesse he was able to beareany greater trusses: but when he saw the souldier would in no wisebe intreated, but ready with his staffe to cleave my masters head, mymaster 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 himupon the ground: Then he buffetted him, thumped him, bit him, and tookea stone and beat his face and his sides, that he could not turne anddefend himselfe, but onely threaten that if ever he rose, he wouldchoppe him in pieces. The Gardener when he heard him say so, drew outhis 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 thatthe souldier could not tell by what meanes to save himselfe, but byfeining that he was dead, Then my master tooke the javelin and mountedupon my backe, riding in all hast to the next village, having no regardto goe to his Garden, and when he came thither, he turned into one ofhis friends house and declared all the whole matter, desiring him tosave his life and to hide himselfe and his Asse in some secretplace, untill such time as all danger were past. Then his friends notforgetting the ancient amity betweene them, entertained him willinglyand drew me up a paire of staires into a chamber, my master crept intoa chest, and lay there with the cover closed fast: The souldier (as Iafterwards learned) rose up as one awaked from a drunken sleepe, but hecould scarce goe by reason of his wounds: howbeit at length by littleand little through ayd of his staffe he came to the towne, but hee wouldnot declare the matter to any person nor complaine to any justice, lesthe should be accused of cowardise or dastardnesse, yet in the end hetold some of his companions of all the matter that happened: then theytooke him and caused him to be closed in some secret place, thinkingthat beside the injury which he had received, he should be accused ofthe breach of his faith, by reason of the losse of his speare, and whenthey 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 thatthey had lost by the way a silver goblet of their Captaines, and that aGardener had found it, who refusing to deliver the goblet, was hidden inone of his friends houses: by and by the Magistrates understanding thelosse of the Captaine, came to the doores where we were, commanded ourhost to deliver my master upon paine of death: howbeit these threatningscould not enforce him to confesse that he was within his doores, but byreason of his faithfull promise and for the safeguard of his friend, hesaid, that hee saw not the Gardener a great while, neither knew wherehe was: the souldiers said contrary, whereby to know the verity ofthe matter, the Magistrates commanded their Seargants and ministersto search every corner of the house, but when they could find neitherGardener nor Asse, there was a great contention betweene the souldiersand 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 greata noyse, put my head out of the window to learne what the stirre andtumult did signifie. It fortuned that one of the souldiers perceived myshadow, whereupon he began to cry, saying: that hee had certainly seeneme; then they were all glad and came up into the chamber, and pulled medowne like a prisoner. When they had found mee, they doubted nothing ofthe Gardener, but seeking about more narrowly, at length they found himcouched in a chest. And so they brought out the poore gardener to theJustices, who was committed immediately to prison, but they could neverforbeare laughing from the time they found me by my shadow, wherefore isrisen 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 Captaineshouse, and what happened there. 

The next day how my master the Gardener sped, I knew not, but the gentlesouldier, who was well beaten for his cowardise, lead me to his lodgingwithout the contradiction of any man: Where hee laded me well, andgarnished my body (as seemed to me) like an Asse of armes. For on theone side I bare an helmet that shined exceedingly: On the other sidea Target that glistered more a thousand folde. And on the top of myburthen he put a long speare, which things he placed thus gallantly, notbecause 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 sucha 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 souldiertooke me to one of the servants, while he himselfe went towards hiscaptaine; who had the charge of a thousand men. And when we had remainedthere a few dayes, I understood of a wicked and mischievous factcommitted there, which I have put in writing to the end you may know thesame. 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 havethe like. Long time before his mother dyed, and when his father marrieda new wife, and had another child of the age of xii. Yeares. Thestepdame was more excellent in beauty then honesty: for she loved thisyoung 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 amischiefe. Gentle reader, thou shalt not read of a fable, but rather atragedy: This woman when her love began first to kindle in her heart, could easily resist her desire and inordinate appetite by reasonof shame and feare, lest her intent should be knowne: But after itcompassed and burned every part of her brest, she was compelled to yeeldunto the raging flame of Cupid, and under colour of the disease andinfirmity of her body, to conceale the wound of her restlesse mind. Every man knoweth well the signes and tokens of love, and the maladyconvenient to the same: Her countenance was pale, her eyes sorrowfull, her knees weake, and there was no comfort in her, but continuall weepingand sobbing, insomuch that you would have thought that she had somespice of an ague, saving that she wept unmeasurably: the Phisitiansknew not her disease, when they felt the beating of her veines, theintemperance of her heart, the sobbing sighes, and her often tossing ofevery side: No, no, the cunning Phisitian knew it not, but a scholler ofVenus Court might easily conjecture the whole. After that she had beenelong time tormented in her affliction, and was no more able to concealeher ardent desire, shee caused her sonne to be called for, (which wordson she would faine put away if it were not for shame:) Then he nothingdisobedient to the commandement of his mother, with a sad and modestcountenance, came into the chamber of his stepdame, the mother of hisbrother, but she speaking never a word was in great doubt what she mightdoe, and could not tell what to say first, by reason of shame. The youngman suspecting no ill, with humble courtesie demanded the cause of herpresent disease. Then she having found an occasion to utter her intent, with weeping eyes and covered face, began boldly to speake unto him inthis manner: Thou, thou, art the originall cause of all my dolour:Thou art my comfort and onely health, for those thy comely eyes areso enfastned within my brest, that unlesse they succour me, I shallcertainly die: Have pitty therefore upon me, be not the occasion of mydestruction, neither let my conscience reclaime to offend thy father, when as thou shalt save the life of thy mother. Moreover since thou dostresemble thy fathers shape in every point, it giveth me cause the moreto fancy thee: Now is ministred unto thee time and place: Now hast thouoccasion to worke thy will, seeing that we are alone. And it is a commonsaying:

Never knowne, never done. 

This young man troubled in mind at so suddaine an ill, although heeabhorred to commit so beastly a crime, yet hee would not cast her offwith a present deniall, but warily pacified her mind with delay ofpromise. Wherefore he promised to doe all according to her desire:And in the meane season, he willed his mother to be of good cheere, andcomfort her selfe till as he might find some convenient time to comeunto her, when his father was ridden forth: Wherewithall hee got himaway from the pestilent sight of his stepdame. And knowing that thismatter touching the ruine of all the whole house needed the counsellof wise and grave persons, he went incontinently to a sage old man anddeclared the whole circumstance of the matter. The old man after longdeliberation, thought there was no better way to avoyd the storme ofcruell fortune to come, then to run away. In the meane season thiswicked woman impatient of her love, and the long delay of her sonne, egged her husband to ride abroad into farre countreyes. And then sheasked the young-man the accomplishment of his promise, but he to ridhimselfe entirely from her hands, would find alwayes excuses, till inthe end she understood by the messengers that came in and out, that henothing regarded her. Then she by how much she loved him before, by somuch and more she hated him now. And by and by she called one of herservants, ready to all mischiefes: To whom she declared all her secrets. And there it was concluded betweene them two, that the surest way wasto kill the young man: Whereupon this varlet went incontinently to buypoyson, which he mingled with wine, to the intent he would give it tothe young man to drinke, and thereby presently to kill him. But whilethey were in deliberation how they might offer it unto him, behold herehappened a strange adventure. For the young sonne of the woman that camefrom schoole at noone (being very thirsty) tooke the pot wherein thepoyson was mingled, and ignorant of the venim, dranke a good draughtthereof, which was prepared to kill his brother: whereby he presentlyfell downe to the ground dead. His schoolemaster seeing his suddainechange, called his mother, and all the servants of the house with a lowdvoyce. Incontinently every man declared his opinion, touching the deathof the child: but the cruell woman the onely example of stepmothersmalice, was nothing moved by the bitter death of her sonne, or by herowne conscience of paracide, or by the misfortune of her house, or bythe dolour of her husband, but rather devised the destruction of all herfamily. For by and by shee sent a messenger after her husband to tellhim the great misfortune which happened after his departure. And whenlie came home, the wicked woman declared that his sonne had empoysonedhis brother, because he would not consent to his will, and told himdivers other leasings, adding in the end that hee threatned to kill herlikewise, because she discovered the fact: Then the unhappy father wasstroken with double dolour of the death of his two children, for on theone side he saw his younger sonne slaine before his eyes, on the otherside, he seemed to see the elder condemned to dye for his offence:Againe, where he beheld his wife lament in such sort, it gave himfurther occasion to hate his sonne more deadly; but the funerals of hisyounger sonne were scarce finished, when the old man the father withweeping eyes even at the returne from the grave, went to the Justice andaccused his sonne of the slaughter of his brother, and how he threatnedto slay his wife, whereby the rather at his weeping and lamentation, hemoved all the Magistrates and people to pitty, insomuch that without anydelay, or further inquisition they cryed all that hee should be stonedto death, but the Justices fearing a farther inconvenience to arise bythe particular vengeance, and to the end there might fortune no seditionamongst the people, prayed the decurions and other Officers of the City, that they might proceed by examination of witnesses, and with order ofjustice according to the ancient custome before the judging of any hastysentence or judgment, without the hearing of the contrary part, like asthe barbarous and cruell tyrants accustome to use: otherwise they shouldgive an ill example to their successours. This opinion pleased everyman, wherefore the Senatours and counsellors were called, who beingplaced in order according to their dignity, caused the accuser anddefender to be brought forth, and by the example of the Athenian law, and judgement materiall, their Advocates were commanded to plead theircauses briefly without preambles or motions of the people to pitty, which were too long a processe. And if you demand how I understood allthis matter, you shall understand that I heard many declare the same, but to recite what words the accuser used in his invective, what answerthe defender made, the orations and pleadings of each party, verily Iam not able to doe: for I was fast bound at the manger. But as I learnedand knew by others, I will God willing declare unto you. So it wasordered, that after the pleadings of both sides was ended, they thoughtbest to try and boult out the verity by witnesses, all presumptions andlikelihood set apart, and to call in the servant, who onely was reportedto know all the matter: by and by the servant came in, who nothingabashed, at the feare of so great a judgment, or at the presence of theJudges, or at his owne guilty conscience, which hee so finely fained, but with a bold countenance presented himselfe before the justices andconfirmed the accusation against the young man, saying: O yee judges, ona day when this young man loathed and hated his stepmother, hee calledmee, desiring mee to poyson his brother, whereby hee might revengehimselfe, and if I would doe it and keepe the matter secret, heepromised to give me a good reward for my paines: but when the young manperceived that I would not accord to his will, he threatned to slay mee, whereupon hee went himselfe and bought poyson, and after tempered itwith wine, and then gave it me to give the child, which when I refusedhe offered it to his brother with his own hands. When the varlet with atrembling countenance had ended these words which seemed a likelihoodof truth, the judgement was ended: neither was there found any judge orcounsellor, so mercifull to the young man accused, as would not judgehim culpable, but that he should be put and sowne in a skin, witha dogge, a Cocke, a Snake, and an Ape, according to the law againstparricides: wherefore they wanted nothing but (as the ancient customewas) to put white stones and black into a pot, and to take them outagaine, to see whether the young-man accused should be acquitted byjudgment or condemned, which was a thing irrevocable. 

In the mean season he was delivered to the hands of the executioner. Butthere arose a sage and ancient Physitian, a man of a good conscienceand credit throughout all the City, that stopped the mouth of thepot wherein the stones were cast, saying: I am right glad ye reverendjudges, that I am a man of name and estimation amongst you, whereby I amaccompted such a one as will not suffer any person to be put to death byfalse and untrue accusations, considering there hath bin no homicideor murther committed by this yong man in this case, neither you (beingsworn to judge uprightly) to be misinformed and abused by invented lyesand tales. For I cannot but declare and open my conscience, least Ishould be found to beare small honour and faith to the Gods, whereforeI 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 ahundred crownes, if I would give him present poyson, which would causea man to dye suddenly, saying, that he would have it for one that wassicke of an incurable disease, to the end he might be delivered from alltorment, but I smelling his crafty and subtill fetch, and fearing leasthe would worke some mischiefe withall, gave him a drinke; but to theintent I might cleare my selfe from all danger that might happen, Iwould not presently take the money which he offered. But least any ofthe crownes should lacke weight or be found counterfeit, I willed him toscale the purse wherein they were put, with his manuell signe, wherebythe next day we might goe together to the Goldsmith to try them, whichhe did; wherefore understanding that he was brought present before youthis day, I hastily commanded one of my servants to fetch the pursewhich he had sealed, and here I bring it unto you to see whether he willdeny his owne signe or no: and you may easily conject that his words areuntrue, which he alleadged against the young man, touching the buyingof the poyson, considering hee bought the poyson himselfe. When thePhysitian had spoken these words you might perceive how the trayterousknave changed his colour, how hee sweat for feare, how he trembled inevery part of his body: and how he set one leg upon another, scratchingIbis head and grinding his teeth, whereby there was no person but wouldjudge him culpable. In the end, when he was somewhat returned to hisformer subtility, he began to deny all that was said, and stoutlyaffirmed, that the Physitian did lye. But the Physitian perceiving thathe was rayled at and his words denyed, did never cease to confirme hissayings, and to disprove the varlet, till such time as the Officersby the commandment of the Judges, bound his hands and brought out theseale, wherewith he had sealed the purse which augmented suspition whichwas conceived of him first. Howbeit, neither the feare of the wheele orany other torment according to the use of the Grecians, which were readyprepared, no, nor yet the fire could enforce him to confesse the matter, so obstinate and grounded was he in his mischievous mind. But thePhysitian perceiving that the menaces of these torments did nothingprevaile, gan say: I cannot suffer or abide that this young man whois innocent, should against all law and conscience, be punished andcondemned to die, and the other which is culpable, should escape soeasily, and after mocke and flowte at your judgement: for I will giveyou an evident proofe and argument of this present crime. You shallunderstand, that when this caytiffe demanded of me a present and strongpoyson, considering that it was not my part to give occasion of anyothers death, but rather to cure and save sicke persons by meane ofmedicines: and on the other side, fearing least if I should deny hisrequest, I might minister a further cause of his mischiefe, either thathe would buy poyson of some other, or else returne and worke his wickedintent, with a sword or some dangerous weapon, I gave him no poyson, but a doling drinke of Mandragora, which is of such force, that itwill cause any man to sleepe as though he were dead. Neither is it anymarvaile if this most desperate man, who is certainly assured to be putto death, ordained by an ancient custome, can suffer and abide thesefacill and easie torments, but if it be so that the child hath receivedthe drinke as I tempered it with mine owne hands, he is yet alive anddoth 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 causesof his death. The opinion of this ancient Physitian was found good, andevery 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, norany of the common people, but went to see this strange sight. Amongstthem all the father of the child remooved with his owne hands the stoneof the Sepulchre, and found his Sonne rising up after his dead andsoporiferous sleepe, whom when he beheld, he imbraced him in his armes, and presented him before the people, with great joy and consolation, andas he was wrapped and bound in his grave, so he brought him before theJudges, whereupon the wickednesse of the Servant, and, the treasonof the stepdame was plainely discovered, and the verity of the matterrevealed, whereby the woman was perpetually exiled, the Servant hangedon a Gallowes, and the Physitian had the Crownes, which was prepared tobuy the poyson. Behold how the fortune of the old man was changed, whothinking to be deprived of all his race and posterity, was in one momentmade the Father of two Children. But as for me, I was ruled and handledby fortune, according to her pleasure. 

THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER

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

THE Souldier that payed never a peny for me, by the commandement of hisCaptaine was sent unto Rome, to cary Letters to the great Prince, andGenerall of the Campe. Before he went, he sold me for eleven pence totwo of his Companions, being Servants to a man of worship, whereof onewas a Baker that baked sweet bread and delicates, the other a Cooke, which dressed fine and excellent meats for his Master. These two livedin common, and would drive me from place to place, to carry such thingsas was necessary, insomuch that I was received by these two, as a thirdBrother, and Companion, and I thought I was never better placed, thenwith them: for when night came that Supper was done, and their businesseended, they would bring many good morsels into their Chamber forthemselves. One would bring Pigs, Chickens, fish, and other good meates, the other fine bread, pasties, tarts, custards and other delicateJunkets dipped in hony. And when they had shut their chamber doore, andwent to the bains: (O Lord) how I would fill my guts with these goodlydishes: neither was I so much a foole, or so very an Asse, to leavethe dainty meats, and to grind my teeth upon hard hay. In this sortI continued a great space, for I played the honest Asse, taking but alittle of one dish, and a little of another, wherby no man distrustedme. In the end, I was more hardier and began to devoure the whole messesof the sweet delicates, which caused the Baker and the Cooke to suspect, howbeit they nothing mistrusted me, but searched about to apprehend thetheefe. At length they began to accuse one another of theft, and to setthe dishes and morsels of meat in order, one by another, because theywould learne what was taken away, whereby one of them was compelled tosay thus to his fellow: Is it reason to breake promise and faith inthis sort, by stealing away the best meat, and to sell it to augmentthy good, and yet neverthelesse to have thy part in the residue thatis left: if our partnership doe mislike thee, we will be partners andbrothers in other things, but in this we will breake of: for I perceivethat the great losse which I sustain, will at length be a cause of greatdiscord betweene us. Then answered the other, Verily I praise thy greatconstancy and subtilnesse, in that (when thou hast secretly taken awaythe meat) [thou] dost begin to complaine first, whereas I by long spaceof time have suffered thee, because I would not seeme to accuse mybrother of theft, but I am right glad in that wee are fallen intocommunication of the matter, least by our silence, like contention mightarise betweene us, as fortuned betweene Eteocles and his Brother. Whenthey had reasoned together in this sort, they swore both earnestly, thatneither of them stale or tooke away any jote of the meate, whereforethey concluded to search out the Theefe by all kind of meanes. For theycould not imagin or thinke, the Asse who stood alone there, would eateany such meates, neither could they thinke that Mice or Flyes, were soravenous, as to devouer whole dishes of meat, like the Birds Harpieswhich carried away the meates of Phineus the King of Archadia. In theMeane season while I was fed with dainty morsels, I gathered together myflesh, my skin waxed soft, my haire began to shine, and was gallant onevery part, but such faire and comely shape of my body, was cause ofmy dishonour, for the Baker and Cooke marvelled to see me so slick andfine, considering I did eate no hay at all. Wherefore on a time at theiraccustomed houre, they went to the baines, and locked their chamberdoore. It fortuned that ere they departed away, they espyed me througha 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 andappetite of the Asse. Their laughing was so immoderate that the masterof the house heard them, and demanded the cause of their laughter, and when hee understood all the matter, hee looked through the holelikewise, wherewith he took such a delectation that hee commanded thedoore to be opened, that hee might see mee at his pleasure. Then Iperceiving every man laugh, was nothing abashed, but rather more bold, whereby I never rested eating, till such time as the master of thehouse commanded me to be brought into his parler as a novelty, and therecaused all kinds of meates which were never touched to be set on thetable, which (although I had eaten sufficiently before, yet to win thefurther favour of the master of the house) I did greedily devoure andmade a cleane riddance of all the delicate meates. And to prove mynature wholly, they gave met such meates as every Asse doth abhorre:for they put before mee beefe and vinegar, birds and pepper, fish andverjuice: in the meane season they that beheld met at the table didnothing but laugh. Then one of the servants of the house sayd to hismaster, I pray you sir give him some drinke to his supper: Marry (quothhee) I thinke thou saist true, for it may be, that to his meate heewould drinke likewise a cup of wine. Hoe boy, wash yonder pot, and fillit with wine, which done, carry it to the Asse, and say that I havedrunke to him. Then all the standers by looked on, to see what wouldcome to passe: but I (as soone as I beheld the cup) staied not long, butgathering my lips together, supped up all the wine at one draught. Themaster being right joyfull hereat caused the Baker and Cooke which hadbought me, to come before him, to whom he delivered foure times as muchfor me, as they paid, which done he committed me to one of his richLibertines, and charged him to looke well to me, and that I should lackenothing, who obeied his masters commandement in every point: and to theend he would creepe further into his favour, he taught me a thousandqualities. First he instructed me to sit at the table upon my taile, andhow I should leape and dance, holding up my former feete: moreover heetaught me how I should answer when any body spake unto me, with noddingmy head, which was a strange and marvailous thing, and if I did lackedrinke, I should looke still upon the pot. All which things I didwillingly bring to passe, and obeyed his doctrine: howbeit, I could havedone all these things without his teaching, but I feared greatly lest inshewing my selfe cunning without a master, I should pretend some greatand strange wonder, and thereby be throwne out to wild beasts. But myfame was spred about in every place, and the qualities which I coulddoe, insomuch that my master was renowned throughout all the Country byreason of mee. For every man would say: Behold the Gentleman thathath an Asse, that will eate and drinke with him, that will dance, andunderstand what is said to him, will shew his fantasie by signes. Butfirst I will tell you (which I should have done before) who my masterwas, and of what country. His name was Thiasus, hee was borne atCorinth, which is a principall towne of Achaia, and he had passed manyoffices of honor, till hee had taken upon him the degree Quinquenuall, according as his birth and dignity required, who to shew hisworthinesse, and to purchase the benevolence of every person, appointedpublike joyes and triumphs, to endure the space of three dayes, and tobring his endeavour to passe, he came into Thessaly to buy excellentBeasts, and valiant fighters for the purpose. 

THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER

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

When he had bought such things as was necessary, he would not returnehome into his Countrey in Chariots, or waggon, neither would he rideupon Thessalian Horses, or Jenets of France, or Spanish Mules, whichbe most excellent as can be found, but caused me to be garnished andtrimmed with trappers and barbs of Gold, with brave harnesse, withpurple coverings, with a bridle of silver, with pictured cloths, andwith shrilling bells, and in this manner he rode upon me lovingly, speaking and intreating me with gentle words, but above all thingshe did greatly rejoyce in that I was his Servant to beare him upon mybacke, and his Companion to feed with him at the Table: After long timewhen we had travelled as well by Sea as Land, and fortuned to arriveat Corinth, the people of the Towne came about us on every side, not somuch to doe honour to Thiasus, as to see me: For my fame was so greatlyspread there, that I gained my master much money, and when the peoplewas 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 aprofitable companion to them every day: There fortuned to be amongst theAssembly a noble and rich Matron that conceived much delight to beholdme, and could find no remedy to her passions and disordinate appetite, but continually desired to have her pleasure with me, as Pasiphae hadwith a Bull. In the end she promised a great reward to my keeper for thecustody of me one night, who for gaine of a little money accorded to herdesire, and when I had supped in a Parler with my Master, we departedaway and went into our Chamber, where we found the faire Matron, who hadtarried a great space for our comming: I am not able to recite unto youhow all things were prepared: there were foure Eunuches that lay on abed 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 theEunuches not minding to delay any longer the pleasure of their Mistresseclosed the doores of the Chamber and departed away: within the Chamberwere Lamps that gave a cleare light all the place over: Then she put offall her Garments to her naked skinne, and taking the Lampe thatstood next to her, began to annoint all her body with balme, and minelikewise, but especially my nose, which done, she kissed me, not as theyaccustome to doe at the stews, or in brothel houses, or in the CurtainSchools for gaine of money, but purely, sincerely, and with greataffection, casting out these and like loving words: Thou art he whom Ilove, thou art he whom I onely desire, without thee I cannot live, andother like preamble of talke as women can use well enough, when as theymind to shew or declare their burning passions and great affection oflove: Then she tooke me by the halter and cast me downe upon thebed, which was nothing strange unto me, considering that she was sobeautifull a Matron and I so wel bolded out with wine, and perfumedwith balme, whereby I was readily prepared for the purpose: But nothinggrieved me so much as to think, how I should with my huge and great legsimbrace so faire a Matron, or how I should touch her fine, dainty, andsilken skinne, with my hard hoofes, or how it was possible to kisse hersoft, pretty and ruddy lips, with my monstrous mouth and stony teeth, orhow 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, Ishould be throwne to the wild Beasts: But in the meane season she kissedme, and looked in my mouth with burning eyes, saying: I hold thee mycanny, I hold thee my noose, my sparrow, and therewithall she eftsoonesimbraced my body round about, and had her pleasure with me, whereby Ithought the mother of Miniatures did not ceaseless quench her inordinatedesire with a Bull. When night was passed, with much joy and smallsleepe, the Matron went before day to my keeper to bargain with himanother night, which he willingly granted, partly for gaine of money, and partly to finde new pastime for my master. Who after he was informedof all the history of my luxury, was right glad, and rewarded my keeperwell 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 abidesuch shame, by reason of her dignity, and because they could finde noother that would endeavour so great a reproach, at length they obtainedfor money a poore woman, which was condemned to be eaten of wildebeasts, with whom I should openly have to doe: But first I will tell youwhat tale I heard concerning this woman. This woman had a husband, whosefather minding to ride forth, commanded his wife which he left at homegreat with child, that if she were delivered of a daughter, it shouldincontinently be killed. When the time of her delivery came, it fortunedthat she had a daughter, whom she would not suffer to be slaine, byreason of the naturall affection which she have unto her child, butsecretly committed her to one of her neighbours to nurse. And when herhusband returned home, shee declared unto him that shee was delivered ofa 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 motherknew not by what meanes shee should endow her daughter, but that herhusband should understand and perceive it. Wherefore shee discovered thematter to her sonne, who was the husband of this woman, condemned to beeaten of wild beasts: For shee greatly feared least hee should unawaresfancie or fall in love with his owne sister. The young man understandingthe whole matter (to please and gratify his mother) went immediately tothe young maiden, keeping the matter secret in his heart, for feare ofinconvenience, and (lamenting to see his sister forsaken both of motherand 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 inthe end cruell fortune sowed great sedition in his house. For his wifewho was now condemned to beasts, waxed jealous of her husband and beganto suspect the young woman as a harlot and common queane, insomuch thatshee invented all manner of meanes to dispatch her out of the way. Andin the end shee invented this kind of mischiefe: She privily stale awayher husbands ring, and went into the country, whereas she commanded oneof her trusty servants to take the ring and carry it to the mayden. Towhom he should declare that her brother did pray her to come into thecountry 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 shoulddeliver her the ring, which should be a sufficient testimony of themessage. This mayden as soone as she had received the ring of herbrother, being very willing and desirous to obey his commandement: (Forshe knew no otherwise but that he had sent for her) went in all hast asthe messenger willed her to doe. But when she was come to the snare andengine which was prepared for her, the mischievous woman, like one thatwere mad, and possessed with some ill spirit, when the poore maidencalled for helpe with a loud voyce to her brother, the wicked harlot(weening that she had invented and feined the matter) tooke a burningfirebrand and thrust it into her secret place, whereby she diedmiserably. The husband of this maiden but especially her brother, advertised of her death, came to the place where she was slain, andafter great lamentation and weeping, they caused her to be buriedhonourably. This yong man her brother taking in ill part the miserabledeath of his sister, as it was convenient he should, conceived so greatdolour within his mind and was strucken with so pestilent fury of bitteranguish, that he fell into the burning passions of a dangerous ague, whereby he seemed in such necessity, that he needed to have some speedyremedy to save his life. The woman that slew the Maiden having lost thename of wife together with her faith, went to a traiterous Physician, who had killed a great many persons in his dayes and promised himfifty peeces of Gold, if he would give her a present poyson to kill herhusband out of hand, but in presence of her Husband, she feined thatit was necessary for him to receive a certaine kind of drink, whichthe Maisters and Doctours of Physicke doe call a sacred Potion, to theintent he might purge Choller and scoure the interiour parts of hisbody. But the Physitian in stead of that drinke prepared a mortall anddeadly poyson, and when he had tempered it accordingly, he tooke the potin the presence of the family, and other neighbours and friends of thesick yong man, and offered it to his patient. But the bold and hardywoman, to the end she might accomplish her wicked intent, and also gainethe money which she had promised the Physitian, staid the pot with herhand, saying: I pray you master Physitian, minister not this drinke untomy deare Husband, untill such time as you have drunke some part thereofyour selfe: For what know I, whether you have mingled any poyson in thedrinke or no, wherein I would have you not to be offended: For I knowthat you are a man of wisedome and learning, but this I do to the intentthe conscience and love that I beare to the health and safeguard of myhusband, may be apparent. The Physitian being greatly troubled at thewickednesse of this mischievous woman, as voyd of all counsell andleysure to consider of the matter, and least he might give any causeof suspition to the standers by, or shew any scruple of his guiltyconscience, by reason of long delay, tooke the pot in his hand, andpresently drunke a good draught thereof, which done, the young manhaving no mistrust, drunke up the residue. The Physitian would have goneimmediately home to receive a counterpoyson, to expeth and drive out thefirst poyson: But the wicked woman persevering in her mischiefe, wouldnot suffer him to depart a foot, untill such time as the poyson began toworke in him, and then by much prayer and intercession she licensed himto goe home: By the way the poyson invaded the intrailes and bowels ofthe whole body of the Physitian, in such sort that with great paine hecame 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 twopersons, but he yeelded up the ghost: And the other young man lived notlong after, but likewise dyed, amongst the feined and deceitfull tearesof his cursed wife. A few dayes after, when the young man was buried andthe funerall ended, the Physitians wife demanded of her the fifty peecesof gold which she promised her husband for the drinke, whereat the illdisposed woman, with resemblance of honesty, answered her with gentlewords, and promised to give her the fifty peeces of gold, if she wouldfetch her a little of that same drinke, to proceed and make an end ofall her enterprise. The Physitians wife partly to winne the furtherfavour of this rich woman, and partly to gaine the money, ranneincontinently home, and brought her a whole roote of poyson, whichwhen she saw, having now occasion to execute her further malice, andto finish the damnable plot, began to stretch out her bloody handsto murther. She had a daughter by her husband (that was poysoned) whoaccording to order of law, was appointed heire of all the lands andgoods of her father: but this woman knowing that the mothers succouredtheir children, and received all their goods after their death, purposedto shew her selfe a like parent to her child, as she was a wife toher husband, whereupon she prepared a dinner with her owne hands, andempoysoned both the wife of the Physitian and her owne daughter: Thechild being young and tender dyed incontinently by force of the drinke, but the Physitians wife being stout and strong of complexion, feelingthe poison to trill down into her body, doubted the matter, andthereupon knowing of certainty that she had received her bane, ran forthwith to the judges house, that what with her cryes, andexclamations, she raised up the people of the towne, and promising themto shew divers wicked and mischievous acts, caused that the doores andgates were opened. When she came in she declared from the beginning tothe end the abhomination of this woman: but shee had scarce ended hertale, when opening her falling lips, and grinding her teeth together, she fell downe dead before the face of the Judge, who incontinently totry the truth of the matter, caused the cursed woman, and her servantsto be pulled out of the house, and enforced by paine of torment toconfesse the verity, which being knowne, this mischievous woman farrelesse then she deserved, but because there could be no more cruell adeath invented for the quality of her offence, was condemned to be eatenwith wild beasts. Behold with this woman was I appointed to have to doebefore the face of the people, but I being wrapped in great anguish, andenvying the day of the triumph, when we two should so abandon our selvestogether, devised rather to sley my selfe, then to pollute my body withthis mischievous harlot, and so for ever to remaine defamed: but it wasimpossible for me so to doe, considering that I lacked hands, and wasnot able to hold a knife in my hoofes: howbeit standing in a prettycabin, I rejoyced in my selfe to see that spring time was come, and thatall 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 ledwith great pompe and benevolence to the appointed place, where when Iwas brought, I first saw the preamble of that triumph, dedicated withdancers and merry taunting jests, and in the meane season was placedbefore the gate of the Theater, whereas on the one side I saw the greeneand fresh grasse growing before the entry thereof, whereon I greatlydesired to feed: on the other side I conceived a great delectationto see when the Theater gates were opened, how all things was finelyprepared and set forth: For there I might see young children andmaidens in the flowre of their youth of excellent beauty, and attiredgorgiously, dancing and mooved in comely order, according to the orderof Grecia, for sometime they would dance in length, sometime roundtogether, sometime divide themselves into foure parts, and sometimeloose hands on every side: but when the trumpet gave warning that everyman should retire to his place, then began the triumph to appeare. Firstthere was a hill of wood, not much unlike that which the Poet Homercalled Idea, for it was garnished about with all sort of greene verduresand lively trees, from the top whereof ran downe a cleare and freshfountaine, nourishing the waters below, about which wood were many youngand tender Goates, plucking and feeding daintily on the budding trees, then came a young man a shepheard representing Paris, richly arrayedwith vestments of Barbary, having a mitre of gold upon his head, andseeming as though he kept the goates. After him ensued another young manall naked, saving that his left shoulder was covered with a rich cloake, and his head shining with glistering haires, and hanging downe, throughwhich you might perceive two little wings, whereby you might conjecturethat he was Mercury, with his rod called Caduceus, he bare in his righthand an Apple of gold, and with a seemely gate went towards him thatrepresented Paris, and after hee had delivered him the Apple, he made asigne, signifying that Jupiter had commanded him so to doe: when he haddone his message he departed away. And by and by, there approached afaire and comely mayden, not much unlike to Juno, for she had a Diademeof gold upon her head, and in her hand she bare a regall scepter: thenfollowed another resembling Pallas, for she had on her head a shiningsallet, whereon was bound a garland of Olive branches, having in onehand a target or shield: and in the other a speare as though she wouldfight: then came another which passed the other in beauty, and presentedthe Goddesse Venus, with the color of Ambrosia, when she was a maiden, and to the end she would shew her perfect beauty, shee appeared allnaked, saving that her fine and dainty skin was covered with a thinsmocke, which the wind blew hither and thither to testifie the youth andflowre of the age of the dame. Her colour was of two sorts, for herbody was white as descended from heaven, and her smocke was blewish, as arrived from the sea: After every one of the Virgins which seemedgoddesses, followed certaine waiting servants, Castor and Pollus wentbehind Juno, having on their heads helmets covered with starres. ThisVirgin Juno sounded a Flute, which shee bare in her hand, and mooved herselfe towards the shepheard Paris, shewing by honest signes and tokens, and promising that hee should be Lord of all Asia, if hee would judgeher the fairest of the three, and to give her the apple of gold: theother maiden which seemed by her armour to be Pallas, was accompaniedwith two young men armed, and brandishing their naked swords in theirhands, whereof one named Terror, and the other Feare; behind themapproached one sounding his trumpet to provoke and stirre men tobattell; this maiden began to dance and shake her head, throwing herfierce and terrible eyes upon Paris and promising that if it pleased himto give her the victory of beauty, shee would make him the most strongand victorious man alive. Then came Venus and presented her selfe in themiddle of the Theater, with much favour of all the people, for shee wasaccompanied with a great many of youth, whereby you would have judgedthem all to be Cupidoes, either to have flowne from heaven or else fromthe river of the sea, for they had wings, arrowes, and the residueof their habit according in each point, and they bare in their handstorches lighted, as though it had beene a day of marriage. Then came ina great multitude of faire maidens: on the one side were the most comelyGraces: on the other side, the most beautifull Houres carrying garlandsand loose flowers, and making great honor to the goddesse of pleasure;the flutes and Pipes yeelded out the sweet sound of Lydians, wherebythey pleased the minds of the standers by exceedingly, but the morepleasing Venus mooved forward more and more, and shaking her headanswered by her motion and gesture, to the sound of the instruments. Forsometimes she would winke gently, sometimes threaten and looke aspishly, and sometimes dance onely with her eyes: As soone as she was come beforethe Judge, she made a signe and token to give him the most fairestspouse of all the world, if he would prefer her above the residue of thegoddesses. Then the young Phrygian shepheard Paris with a willing minddelivered the golden Apple to Venus, which was the victory of beauty. 

Why doe ye marvell, ye Orators, ye Lawyers, and Advocates, if many ofour judges now a daies sell their judgements for money, when as in thebeginning of the world one onely Grace corrupted the sentence betweeneGod and men, and that one rusticall Judge and shepheard appointed bythe counsell of great Jupiter, sold his judgement for a little pleasure, which was the cause afterward of the ruine of all his progeny? By likemanner of meane, was sentence given between the noble Greekes: For thenoble and valiant personage Palamedes was convicted and attainted oftreason, by false perswasion and accusation, and Ulisses being but ofbase condition, was preferred in Martiall prowesse above great Ajax. What judgement was there likewise amongst the Athenian lawyers, sage andexpert in all sciences? Was not Socrates who was preferred by Apollo, above all the wise men in the world, by envy and malice of wickedpersons impoysoned with the herbe Cicuta, as one that corrupted theyouth of the countrey, whom alwaies be kept under by correction? For wesee now a dayes many excellent Philosophers greatly desire to follow hissect, and by perpetual study to value and revolve his workes, but tothe 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 tomy further purpose. 

After the judgement of Paris was ended, Juno and Pallas departed awayangerly, shewing by their gesture, that they would revenge themselveson Paris, but Venus that was right pleased and glad in her heart, dancedabout the Theater with much joy. This done from the top of the hillthrough a privy spout, ran a floud of the colour of Saffron, which fellupon the Goates, and changed their white haire into yellow, with a sweetodour 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 beholdthere came a man of armes through the multitude, demanding by theconsent of the people, the woman who was condemned to the beasts, andappointed for me to have to doe withall: our bed was finely and bravelyprepared, and covered with silke and other things necessary. But I, beside the shame to commit this horrible fact, and to pollute my bodywith this wicked harlot did greatly feare the danger of death: for Ithought in my selfe, that when she and I were together, the savage beastappointed to devoure the woman, was not so instructed and taught, orwould so temper his greedinesse, as that hee would teare her inpeeces 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 theshame that I should abide, but in the meane season while my master madeready the bed, all the residue did greatly delight to see the huntingand pleasantnesse of the triumph, I began to thinke and devise for myselfe. When I perceived that no man had regard to mee, that was so tameand gentle an Asse, I stole out of the gate that was next me, and then Iran away with all force, and came to Cenchris, which is the most famoustowne of all the Carthaginians, bordering upon the Seas called Ageum, and Saronicum, where is a great and mighty Haven, frequented with many asundry 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 thesand, to ease and refresh my selfe, for the day was past and the Sunnegone downe, and lying in this sort on the ground, did fall in a soundsleepe. 

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 withsuddaine feare, and saw the Moone shining bright, as when shee is at thefull, and seeming as though she leaped out of the Sea. Then thought Iwith my selfe, that was the most secret time, when the goddesse Cereshad most puissance and force, considering that all humane things begoverned by her providence: and not onely all beasts private andtame, but also all wild and savage beasts be under her protection. Andconsidering that all bodies in the heavens, the earth and the seas, be by her increasing motions increased, and by her diminishing motionsdiminished: as weary of all my cruell fortune and calamity, I found goodhope and soveraigne remedy, though it were very late, to be deliveredfrom all my misery, by invocation and prayer, to the excellent beauty ofthe Goddesse, whom I saw shining before mine eyes, wherefore shaking offmine Assie and drowsie sleepe, I arose with a joyfull face, and moovedby a great affection to purifie my selfe, I plunged my selfe seven timesinto the water of the Sea, which number of seven is conveniable andagreeable to holy and divine things, as the worthy and sage PhilosopherPythagoras hath declared. Then with a weeping countenance, I made thisOrison to the puissant Goddesse, saying: O blessed Queene of heaven, whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the originall and motherlynource of all fruitfull things in earth, who after the finding of thydaughter Proserpina, through the great joy which thou diddest presentlyconceive, madest barraine and unfruitfull ground to be plowed and sowne, and now thou inhabitest in the land of Eleusie; or whether thou bethe celestiall Venus, who in the beginning of the world diddest coupletogether all kind of things with an ingendered love, by an eternallpropagation of humane kind, art now worshipped within the Temples of theIle Paphos, thou which art the sister of the God Phoebus, who nourishestso many people by the generation of beasts, and art now adored at thesacred places of Ephesus, thou which art horrible Proserpina, by reasonof the deadly howlings which thou yeeldest, that hast power to stoppeand put away the invasion of the hags and Ghoasts which appeare untomen, and to keepe them downe in the closures of the earth: thou whichart worshipped in divers manners, and doest illuminate all the bordersof the earth by thy feminine shape, thou which nourishest all the fruitsof the world by thy vigor and force; with whatsoever name or fashion itis lawfull to call upon thee, I pray thee, to end my great travaile andmisery, and deliver mee from the wretched fortune, which had solong time pursued me. Grant peace and rest if it please thee to myadversities, for I have endured too much labour and perill. Remoove fromme my shape of mine Asse, and render to me my pristine estate, and ifI have offended in any point of divine Majesty, let me rather dye thenlive, for I am full weary of my life. When I had ended this orison, anddiscovered my plaints to the Goddesse, I fortuned to fall asleepe, andby and by appeared unto me a divine and venerable face, worshipped evenof the Gods themselves. Then by little and little I seemed to see thewhole figure of her body, mounting out of the sea and standing beforemee, wherefore I purpose to describe her divine semblance, if thepoverty of my humane speech will suffer me, or her divine power give meeloquence thereto. First shee had a great abundance of haire, dispersedand scattered about her neck, on the crowne of her head she bare manygarlands enterlaced with floures, in the middle of her forehead was acompasse 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, sometimeyellow, sometime rosie, sometime flamy, and sometime (which troubled myspirit sore) darke and obscure, covered with a blacke robe in mannerof a shield, and pleated in most subtill fashion at the skirts of hergarments, the welts appeared comely, whereas here and there the starresglimpsed, and in the middle of them was placed the Moone, which shonelike a flame of fire, round about the robe was a coronet or garlandmade with flowers and fruits. In her right hand shee had a timbrell ofbrasse, which gave a pleasant sound, in her left hand shee bare a cupof gold, out of the mouth whereof the serpent Aspis lifted up his head, with a swelling throat, her odoriferous feete were covered with shoesinterlaced and wrought with victorious palme. Thus the divine shapebreathing out the pleasant spice of fertill Arabia, disdained not withher 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 thatis the naturall mother of all things, mistresse and governesse of allthe Elements, the initiall progeny of worlds, chiefe of powers divine, Queene of heaven! the principall of the Gods celestiall, the light ofthe goddesses: at my will the planets of the ayre, the wholesome windsof the Seas, and the silences of hell be diposed; my name, my divinityis adored throughout all the world in divers manners, in variablecustomes and in many names, for the Phrygians call me the mother of theGods: the Athenians, Minerva: the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians, Diana: the Sicilians Proserpina: the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, otherBellona, other Hecate: and principally the Aethiopians which dwellin the Orient, and the Aegyptians which are excellent in all kind ofancient doctrine, and by their proper ceremonies accustome to worshipmee, doe call mee Queene Isis. Behold I am come to take pitty of thyfortune and tribulation, behold I am present to favour and ayd thee, leave off thy weeping and lamentation, put away all thy sorrow, forbehold the healthfull day which is ordained by my providence, thereforebe ready to attend to my commandement. This day which shall come afterthis night, is dedicated to my service, by an eternall religion, myPriests 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 myNavigation. I command thee not to prophane or despise the sacrificein any wise, for the great Priest shall carry this day following inprocession by my exhortation, a Garland of Roses, next the timbrell ofhis right hand: follow thou my procession amongst the people, and whenthou 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 ofan Asse, which kind of beast I have long time abhorred and despised, butabove all things beware thou doubt not nor feare any of those things, ashard and difficill to bee brought to passe, for in the same houre thatI am come to thee, I have commanded the Priest by a vision what he shalldoe, and all the people by my commandement shall be compelled to givethee place and say nothing! Moreover, thinke not that amongst so faireand joyfull Ceremonies, and in so good a company that any person shallabhorre thy ill-favoured and deformed figure, or that any man shall beso hardy, as to blame and reprove thy suddaine restoration to humaneshape, wherby they should gather or conceive any sinister opinion: andknow thou this of certaine, that the residue of thy life untill thehoure of death shall be bound and subject to me! And think it not aninjury to be alwayes serviceable towards me, since as by my meane andbenefit thou shalt become a man: thou shalt live blessed in this world, thou shalt live glorious by my guide and protection, and when thoudescendest to Hell, where thou shalt see me shine in that subtereneplace, shining (as thou seest me now) in the darkness of Acheron, andraigning in the deepe profundity of Stix, thou shalt worship me, asone that hath bin favourable to thee, and if I perceive that thou artobedient to my commandement, addict to my religion, and merite my divinegrace, know thou, that I will prolong thy dales above the time that thefates have appointed, and the celestial Planets ordeined. 

When the divine Image had spoken these words, she vanished away! By andby when I awaked, I arose, haveing the members of my bodie mixed withfeare, joy and sweate, and marvailed at the cleare presence of thepuissant goddesse, and being sprinkled with the water of the sea, Irecounted orderly her admonitions and divine commandements. Soone after, the darknes chased away, and the cleare and golden sunne arose, when asbehold I saw the streets replenished with people going in a religioussort 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 selfeseemed to rejoyce. For after the hore-frost, ensued the hot and temperatsun, 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 treesrejoyced at their fertility: The barren and sterill were contented attheir shadow, rendering sweete and pleasant shrills! The seas were quietfrom winds and tempests: the heaven had chaced away the clouds, andappeared faire and cleare with his proper light. Behold then more andmore appeared the pomps and processions, attired in regall manner andsinging 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 hishaire laid out, and dressed in forme of a woman! There was another warelegge-harnesse, and bare a target, a sallet, and a speare like a martialsouldier: after him marched one attired in purple with vergers beforehim like a magistrate! after him followed one with a maurell, a staffe, a paire of pantofles, and with a gray beard, signifying a philosopher:after him went one with line, betokening a fowler, another with hookesdeclaring a fisher: I saw there a meeke and tame beare, which in matronhabite was carried on a stoole: An Ape with a bonet on his head, andcovered with lawne, resemling a shepheard, and bearing a cup of gold inhis hand: an Asse which had wings glewed to his backe, and went afteran old man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus, and theother Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures and popular delectations, whichwandered hither and thither, you might see the pompe of the goddessetriumphantly march forward: The woman attired in white vestiments, andrejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads, bedspread the waies with hearbes, which they bare in their aprons, wherethis regall and devout procession should passe: Other caried glasseson their backes, to testifie obeisance to the goddess which came after. Other bare combs of Ivory, and declared by their gesture and motions oftheir armes, that they were ordained and readie to dresse the goddesse:Others dropped in the wayes as they went Balme and other pretiousointments: Then came a great number, as well of men as women, withCandels, torches, and other lights, doing honour to the celestiallgoddesse: After that sounded the musical harmony of instruments: thencame a faire companie of youth, apparelled in white vestiments, singingboth meter and verse, with a comely grade which some studious Poet hadmade in honour of the Muses: In the meane season, arrived the blowersof trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapes, and to the temple beforethem were officers and beadles, preparing roome for the goddess topasse. Then came the great company of men and women, which had takendivine orders, whose garments glistered all the streets over. The womenhad their haire annointed and their heads covered with linnen: butthe men had their crownes shaven, which were the terrene stars of thegoddesse, holding in their hand instruments of brasse, silver and gold, which rendered a pleasant sound. 

The principall Priests which were apparelled with white surplesseshanging 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 inour houses, saving that in the middle thereof appeared a bole whichrendred a more bright flame. The second attired hike the other barein his hand an Altar, which the goddesse her selfe named the succor ofnations. The third held a tree of palme with leaves of gold, and theverge of Mercurie. The fourth shewed out a token of equitie by his lefthand, which was deformed in every place, signifiing thereby more equitiethen 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 goddessefollowed a foot as men do, and specially Mercurie, the messenger ofthe goddesse infernall and supernall, with his face sometime blacke, sometime faire, lifting up the head of the dogges Annubis, and bearingin his left hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of apalme tree, after whom followed a cow with an upright gate, representingthe figure of the great goddesse, and he that guided her, marched onwith much gravity. Another carried after the secrets of their religion, closed in a coffer. There was one that bare on his stomacke a figure ofhis god, not formed like any beast, bird, savage thing or humane shape, but made by a new invention, whereby was signified that such a religionshould not be discovered or revealed to any person. There was a vesselwrought with a round bottome, haveing on the one side, pictures figuredlike unto the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other side was aneare, whereupon stood the Serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly necke. Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortun according to thepromise of the goddesse. For the great Priest which bare the restorationof my human shape, by the commandement of the goddes, Approached moreand more, bearing in his left hand the timbrill, and in the other agarland of Roses to give me, to the end I might be delivered from cruelfortune, which was alwaies mine enemie, after the sufferance of so muchcalamitie and paine, and after the endurance of so manie perilles:Then I not returning hastilie, by reason of sodaine joye, lest I shoulddisturbe the quiet procession with mine importunitie, but going softlythrough the prease of the people, which gave me place on every side, went after the Priest. The priest being admonished the night before, asI might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand, thrust outthe garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a greataffection: And as soone as I had eaten them, I was not deceived of thepromise made unto me. For my deforme and Assie face abated, and firstthe rugged haire of my body fell off, my thick skin waxed soft andtender, the hooves of my feet changed into toes, my hands returnedagaine, my neck grew short, my head and mouth began round, my long eareswere made little, my great and stonie teeth waxed lesse like the teethof men, and my tayle which combred me most, appeared no where: then thepeople began to marvaile, and the religious honoured the goddesse, forso evident a miracle, they wondered at the visions which they saw inthe night, and the facilitie of my reformation, whereby they renderedtestimonie 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 saidnothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I shoulde firstspeake, nor what thanks I should render to the goddesse, but thegreat Priest understanding all my fortune and miserie, by divineadvertisement, 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 necessitycompelled mee. Then one of the company put off his upper robe and putit on my backe: which done, the Priest looked upon me, with a sweeteand benigne voice, gan say in this sort: O my friend Lucius, after theendurance of so many labours, and the escape of so many tempests offortune, thou art at length come to the port and haven of rest andmercy: neither did thy noble linage, thy dignity, thy doctrine, or anything prevaile, but that thou hast endured so many servil pleasures, by a little folly of thy youthfullnes, whereby thou hast had a sinisterreward for thy unprosperous curiositie, but howsoever the blindnes offortune tormented thee in divers dangers: so it is, that now unwares toher, thou art come to this present felicitie: let fortune go, and fumewith fury in another place, let her finde some other matter to executeher cruelty, for fortune hath no puissance against them which serve andhonour our goddesse. For what availed the theeves: the beasts savage:thy great servitude: the ill and dangerous waits: the long passages: thefeare of death every day? Know thou, that now thou art safe, and underthe protection of her, who by her cleare light doth lighten the othergods: wherefore rejoyce and take a convenable countenance to thy whitehabit, follow the pomp of this devout and honorable procession, to theend that such which be not devout to the Goddes, may see and acknowledgetheir errour. Behold Lucius, thou art delivered from so great miseries, by the providence of the goddesse Isis, rejoyce therefore and triumph ofthe 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 Obsequyof our Religion, and take upon thee a a voluntary yoake of ministrie:And when thou beginnest to serve and honour the goddes, then thoushalt feele the fruit of thy liberty: After that the great Priest hadprophesied in this manner, with often breathings, he made a conclusionof his words: Then I went amongst the company of die rest and followedthe procession: everie one of the people knew me, and pointing atme with their fingers, said in this sort: Behold him who is this daytransformed into a man by the puissance of the soveraigne goddesse, verily he is blessed and most blessed that hath merited so great gracefrom heaven, as by the innocencie of his former life, and as it were bya new regeneration is reserved to the obsequie of the goddesse. In themeane 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. Thereafter the images and reliques were orderly disposed, the great Priestcompassed about with divers pictures according to the fashion of theAegyptians, did dedicate and consecrate with certaine prayers a fairship made very cunningly, and purified the same with a torch, an egge, and sulphur; the saile was of white linnen cloath, whereon was writtencertaine letters, which testified the navigation to be prosperous, the mast was of a great length, made of a Pine tree, round and veryexcellent with a shining top, the cabin was covered over with coveringsof gold, and all the shippe was made of Citron tree very faire; then allthe people as well religious as prophane tooke a great number of Vannes, replenished with odours and pleasant smells and threw them into the seamingled with milke, untill the ship was filled up with large gifts andprosperous devotions, when as with a pleasant wind it launched out intothe deep. But when they had lost the sight of the ship, every man cariedagaine that he brought, and went toward the temple in like pompe andorder as they came to the sea side. When we were come to the temple, thegreat priest and those which were deputed to carrie the divine figures, but especially those which had long time bin worshippers of thereligion, went into the secret chamber of the goddesse, where they putand placed the images according to their ordor. This done, one of thecompany which was a scribe or interpreter of letters, who in forme of apreacher stood up in a chaire before the place of the holy college, andbegan to reade out of a booke, and to interpret to the great prince, thesenate, and to all the noble order of chivalry, and generally to allthe Romane people, and to all such as be under the jurisdiction of Rome, these words following (Laois Aphesus) which signified the end of theirdivin service and that it was lawfull for every man to depart, whereatall the people gave a great showt, and replenished with much joy, bareall kind of hearbs and garlands of flowers home to their houses, kissingand imbracing the steps where the goddesse passed: howbeit I could notdoe as the rest, for my mind would not suffer me to depart one footaway, so attentiv was I to behold the beauty of the goddesse, withremembrance of the great miserie I had endured. 

THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER

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

In the mean season newes was carried into my countrey (as swift as theflight of birds, or as the blast of windes) of the grace and benefitwhich I received of the goddesse, and of my fortune worthy to be had inmemory. Then my parents friends and servants of our house understandingthat I was not dead, as they were falsely informed, came towards me withgreat diligence to see me, as a man raised from death to life: andI which never thought to see them againe, was as joyfull as they, accepting and taking in good part their honest gifts and oblations thatthey gave, to the intent I might buy such things as was necessarie formy body: for after I had made relation unto them of all my pristinemiserie, and present joyes, I went before the face of the goddesse andhired me a house within the cloister of the temple to the end I mightcontinually be ready to the service of the goddesse, and ordinarilyfrequent the company of the priests, whereby I would wholy become devoutto the goddesse, and an inseparable worshipper of her divine name:It fortuned that the goddesse appeared to me oftetimes in the nightperswading 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 thesame withheld me considering her obeysance was hard and difficile, thechastitie of the Priests intolerable, and the life fraile and subject tomanie inconveniences. Being thus in doubt, I refrained my selfe from allthose things as seemed impossible. 

On a night the great priest appeared unto me, presenting his lap fullof treasure, and when I demanded what it signified, he answered, thatit was sent me from the countrey of Thessaly, and that a servant ofmine named Candidus was arived likewise: when I was awake, I mused inmy selfe what this vision should pretend, considering I had never anyservant called by that name: but what soever it did signifie, this Iverely thought, that it was a foreshew of gaine and prosperous chance:while I was thus astonied I went to the temple, and taried there tillthe opening of the gates, then I went in and began to pray before theface of the goddesse, the Priest prepared and set the divine things ofevery Altar, and pulled out the fountaine and holy vessell with solempnesupplication. Then they began to sing the mattens of the morning, testifying thereby the houre of the prime. By and by behold arived myservant which I had left in the country, when Fotis by errour made mean Asse, bringing with him my horse, recovered by her through certainesignes and tokens which I had upon my backe. Then I perceived theinterpretation of my dreame, by reason that beside the promise of gaine, my white horse was restored to me, which was signified by the argumentof my servant Candidus. 

This done I retired to the service of the goddesse in hope of greaterbenefits, considering I had received a signe and token, whereby mycourage increased every day more and more to take upon me the orders andsacraments of the temple: insomuch that I oftentimes communed with thePriest, 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 ofpriesthood, deferred my affection from day to day, with comfort andbetter hope, as parents commonly bridle the desires of their children, when they attempt or indeavour any unprofitable thing, saying, that theday when any one should be admitted into their order is appointed by thegoddesse, the Priest which should minister the sacrifice is chosen byher providence, and the necessary charges of the ceremonies is alottedby her commandement, all which things he willed me to attend withmarvailous patience, and that I should beware either of too muchhastinesse, or too great slacknesse, considering that there was likedanger, 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 sodesperate a mind, or so rash and hardy, as to enterprise any thingwithout the commandernent of the goddesse, whereby he should commit adeadly offence, considering that it was in her power to damne and saveall persons, and if any were at the point of death, and in the wayto damnation, so that he were capable to receive the secrets of thegoddesse, it was in her power by divine providence to reduce him to thepath of health, as by a certaine kind of regeneration: Finally he saidthat I must attend the celestiall precept, although it was evident andplaine, that the goddesse had already vouchsafed to call and appoint meto her ministery, and to will me refraine from prophane and unlawfullmeates, as those Priests which were already received, to the end I mightcome more apt and cleane to the knowledge of the secrets of religion. Then was I obedient unto these words, and attentive with meekquietnesse, and probable taciturnity, I daily served at the temple: inthe end the wholesome gentlenesse of the goddesse did nothing deceiveme, for in the night she appeared to me in a vision, shewing that theday was come which I had wished for so long, she told me what provisionand charges I should be at, and how that she had appointed herprincipallest Priest Mythra to be minister with me in my sacrifices. 

When I heard these divine commandements, I greatly rejoyced: and arosebefore day to speake with the great Priest, whom I fortuned to espiecomming out of his chamber: Then I saluted him, and thought with myselfe to aske and demand his counsell with a bold courage, but as sooneas he perceived me, he began first to say: O Lucius now know I wellthat thou art most happy and blessed, whom the divine goddesse doth sogreatly accept with mercy, why dost thou delay? Behold the day whichthou desiredst when as thou shalt receive at my hands the order ofreligion, and know the most pure secrets of the gods, whereupon the oldman 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 aftermorning sacrifice ended, brought out of the secret place of the templebooks, partly written with unknown characters, and partly paintedwith figures of beasts declaring briefly every sentence, with topsand tailes, turning in fashion of a wheele, which were strange andimpossible to be read of the prophane people: There he interpreted to mesuch 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 nextbains accompanied with all the religious sort, and demanding pardonof the goddesse, washed me and purified my body, according to custome. After this, when noone approached, he brought me backe againe to thetemple, presented me before the face of the goddesse, giving a charge ofcertaine secret things unlawfull to be uttered, and commanding me, andgenerally all the rest, to fast by the space of ten continuall daies, without eating of any beast, or drinking any wine, which thing Iobserved with a marvellous continencie. Then behold the day approached, when as the sacrifice should be done, and when night came there arrivedon every coast, a great multitude of Priests, who according to theirorder offered me many presents and gifts: then was all the Laity andprophane people commanded to depart, and when they had put on my back alinnen robe, they brought me to the most secret and sacred place of allthe temple. You would peradventure demand (you studious reader) what wassaid and done there, verely I would tell you if it were lawfull for meto 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 rashcuriositie: 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 thatI approached neere unto Hell, even to the gates of Proserpina, and afterthat, I was ravished throughout all the Element, I returned to my properplace: About midnight I saw the Sun shine, I saw likewise the godscelestiall and gods infernall, before whom I presented my selfe, andworshipped them: Behold now have I told thee, which although thou hastheard, yet it is necessarie thou conceale it; this have I declaredwithout offence, for the understanding of the prophane. 

When morning came, and that the solemnities were finished, I came forthsanctified with xii. Stoles and in a religious habit, whereof I am notforbidden 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 themiddle 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, andHiperborian Griphons, whom in forme of birds, the other world dothingender; the Priests commonly call such a habit, a celestiall Stole: inmy right hand I carried a light torch, and a garland of flowers upon myhead, with Palme leaves sprouting out on every side: I was adorned likeunto the Sun, and made in fashion of an Image, in such sort that all thepeople compassed about to behold me: then they began to solemnize thefeast of the nativitie, and the new procession with sumptuous banketsand delicate meates: the third day was likewise celebrated with likeceremonies with a religious dinner, and with all the consummation of theorder: when I had continued there a good space, I conceived a marvailousgreat pleasure and consolation in beholding ordinarily the Image of thegoddesse, who at length admonished me to depart homeward, not withoutrendring of thanks, which although it were not sufficient, yet they wereaccording to my power. Howbeit I could unneth be perswaded to depart, before I had fallen prostrate before the face of the goddesse, and wipedher steps with my face, whereby I began so greatly to weepe and sighthat my words were interrupted, and as devouring my prayer, I began tosay in this sort: O holy and blessed dame, the perpetuall comfort ofhumane kind, who by thy bounty and grace nourishest all the world, andhearest a great affection to the adversities of the miserable, as aloving mother thou takest no rest, neither art thou idle at any time ingiving thy benefits, and succoring all men, as well on land as sea; thouart she that puttest away all stormes and dangers from mans life by thyright hand, whereby likewise thou restrainest the fatall dispositions, appeasest the great tempests of fortune and keepest backe the course ofthe stars: the gods supernall doe honour thee: the gods infernall havethee in reverence: thou environest all the world, thou givest light tothe Sunne, thou governest the world, thou treadest downe the power ofhell: By thy meane the times returne, the Planets rejoyce, the Elementsserve: at thy commandment the winds do blow, the clouds increase, theseeds prosper, and the fruits prevaile, the birds of the aire, thebeasts of the hill, the serpents of the den, and the fishes of thesea, do tremble at thy majesty, but my spirit is not able to give theesufficient praise, my patrimonie is unable to satisfie thy sacrifice, myvoice hath no power to utter that which I thinke, no if I had a thousandmouths and so many tongues: Howbeit as a good religious person, andaccording to my estate, I will alwaies keepe thee in remembrance andclose thee within my breast. When I had ended mine orison, I went toembrace the great Priest Mythra my spirituall father, and to demand hispardon, considering I was unable to recompence the good which he haddone to me: after great greeting and thanks I departed from him to visitmy parents and friends; and within a while after by the exhortation ofthe goddesse. I made up my packet, and tooke shipping toward the Citieof Rome, where with a prosperous winde I arrived about the xii. Day ofDecember. And the greatest desire that I had there, was daily to makemy praiers to the soveraigne goddesse Isis, who by reason of the placewhere her temple was builded, was called Campensis, and continuallyadored of the people of Rome. Her minister and worshipper was I, howbeitI was a stranger to her Church, and unknowne to her religion there. 

When the yeare was ended, and the goddesse warned me againe to receivethis new order and consecration, I marvailed greatly what it shouldsignifie, and what should happen, considering that I was a sacred. Person already, but it fortuned that while I partly reasoned with myselfe, and partly examining the thing with the Priests and Bishops, there came a new and marvailous thought in my mind, that is to say, Iwas onely religious to the goddesse Isis, but not sacred to the religionof great Osiris the soveraigne father of all the goddesses, betweenwhom, although there was a religious unitie and concord, yet there wasa great difference of order and ceremony. And because it was necessarythat I should likewise be a minister unto Osiris, there was no longdelay: 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 mychamber, and sitting in my seate, recited to me such things as werenecessary for the sumptuous banket of mine entrie. And to the end Imight know him againe, he shewed me how the ankle of his left foote wassomewhat maimed, which caused him a little to halt. 

After that I manifestly knew the will of the God Osiris, when mattinswas ended, I went from one to another, to find him out which had thehalting marke on his foote, according as I learned by my vision; atlength I found it true: for I perceived one of the company of thePriests who had not onely the token of his foote, but the stature andhabite of his body, resembling in every point as he appeared in thenight: he was called Asinius Marcellus, a name not much disagreeing frommy transformation. By and by I went to him, which knew well enough allthe matter, as being monished by like precept in the night: for thenight before as he dressed the flowers and garlands about the head ofthe god Osiris, he understood by the mouth of the image which told thepredestinations of all men, how he had sent a poore man of Madura, towhom he should minister his sacraments, to the end hee should receivea reward by divine providence, and the other glory, for his vertuousstudies. When I saw my selfe this deputed unto religion, my desire wasstopped by reason of povertie, for I had spent a great part of my goodsin 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 troubleof mind, I was constrained to sell my robe for a little money: howbeitsufficient 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 thyvestiments, and entring into so great ceremonies, fearest to fall intopovertie? Prepare thy selfe, and abstaine from all animall meats, asbeasts and fish. In the meane season I frequented the sacrifices ofSerapis, which were done in the night, which thing gave me great comfortto my peregrination, and ministred unto me more plentifull living, considering I gained some money in haunting the court, by reason of myLatin tongue. 

Immediately after I was eftsoones called and admonished by the godOsiris, to receive a third order of religion. Then I was greatlyastonied, because I could not tell what this new vision signified, orwhat the intent of the celestiall god was, doubting least the formerPriests had given me ill counsell, and fearing that they had notfaithfully instructed me: being in this manner as it were incensed thegod Osiris appeared to me the night following, and giving me admonitionsaid, There is no occasion why thou shouldest be afraid with so oftenorder of religion, as though there were somewhat omitted, but that thoushouldest rather rejoyce, since as it hath pleased the gods to call theethree times, when as there was never yet any person that atchieved tothe order but once: wherefore thou maist thinke thy selfe happy forso great benefits. And know thou that the religion which thou mustnow receive, is right necessary, if thou meane to persever in theworshipping of the goddesse, and to make solempnity on the festivallday with the blessed habite, which thing shalt be a glory and renowne tothee. 

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