The Eleven Books of the Golden Ass

The .xi. Bookes of the Golden Aſſe, Conteininge the Metamorphoſie of Lucius Apuleius, enterlaced with ſondrie pleaſaunt and delectable Tales, with an excellent Narration of the Mariage of Cupide and Pſiches, ſet out in the .iiij. v. and vj. Bookes.

Tranſlated out of Latine into Engliſhe by VVilliam Adlington.

Imprinted at London in Fleetſtreate, at the ſigne of the Oliphante, by Henry VVykes. Anno. 1566.

To the right Honorable, and Mightie Lorde, Thomas, Earle of Suſſex, Viſcont Fitzwaltre, Lorde of Egremont and of Burnell, Knight of the moſt noble Order of the Garter, Iuſtice of the Foreſtes and Chaſes, from Trente sowthwarde, and Capitaine of the Gentlemen Pentioners, of the houſe of the Queene out Soueraigne Lady.

AFter that I had taken vpon me (right Honorable) in manner of that vnlearned and fooliſh poet Cherillus, (who raſhly, and vnaduiſedly, wrote a bigge volume in verſes of the geſtes and valiant proweſſe of Alexander the great) to tranſlate this preſent booke, conteyninge the Metamorphoſy of Lucius Apuleius: beynge moued therunto by the right pleaſant paſtime, and delectable matter therein: I eftſones conſulted with my ſelfe, to whome I might beſt offer ſo pleaſant and woorthy a woorke, deuiſed by the Author, it beyng now barbarouſly and ſimply framed in our Engliſhe tongue. And after longe deliberatiō had, your Honorable Lordſhippe came to my remembrance, a man muche more woorthy then to whome ſo homely and rude a tranſlation ſhould be preſented. But when I againe remembred the ieſtinge and ſportfull matter of the booke vnfitte to be offred to any man of grauitie and wiſedome, I was wholly determined to make no Epiſtle dedicatory at all: till as now of late, perſwaded thereunto by my fréendes, I haue boldly enterpriſed to offer the ſame to your Lordſhippe, who as I truſt will with no leſſe good will accept the ſame, then if it did entreate of ſome ſerious & loftie matter, conſideryng that although the matter therein ſéeme very light, and mery, yet the effect thereof tendeth to a good and vertuous morall, as in the followynge Epiſtle to the Reader may be cléerly perceaued. For ſo hath all wryters in times paſte employed their trauell and labours, that their poſteritie might receaue ſome fruictfull profite by the ſame. And therefore the Poetes feigned not their fables in vaine, conſideringe that children in time of their firſt ſtudies, are muche allured thereby to procéede to more graue and déepe diſciplines, whereas otherwiſe their mindes would quickly lothe the wiſe and prudent woorkes of learned men, wherein in ſuche vnripe yéeres they take no ſparke of delectation at all. And not onely that profite arriſeth to children by ſuche feigned fables, but alſo the vertues of men are couertly thereby commended, and their vices diſcommended and abhorred. For by the fable of Actaeon, where it is feigned, that when he ſawe Diana waſhinge her ſelfe in a well, he was immediatly turned into a Hart and ſo was ſlayne of his owne Dogges: may be ment that when a man caſteth his eies, on the vaine and ſoone vadynge beautie of the worlde, conſentinge thereto in his minde, he ſeemeth to be turned into a brute beaſt, and ſo to be ſlayne thorough the inordinate deſire of his owne affectes. By Tantalus that ſtandeth in the middeſt of the floode Eridan hauynge before him a tree laden with pleaſant apples, he beyng neuertheleſſe alwaies thurſty and hungry, betokeneth the inſatiable deſire of couetous perſons. The Fables of Atreus, Thieſtes, Tereus and Progne ſignifieth the wicked and abhominable factes wrought and attempted by mortall men. The fall of Icarus is an example to proude and arrogant perſons that weeneth to clymbe vp to the Heauens. By Mydas, who obteined of Bacchus that all thinges whiche he touched mought be Golde, is carped the foule ſinne of auarice. By Phaeton, that vnſkilfully toke in hande to rule the Charriot of the Sunne, are repreſented thoſe perſons whiche attempt thinges paſſinge their power and capacitie. By Caſtor and Pollux, turned into a ſigne in Heauen called Gemini, is ſignified, that vertuous and godly perſons ſhalbe rewarded after life with perpetuall bliſſe. And in this fable or feigned ieſte of Lucius Apuleius is comprehended a figure of mans life, miniſtringe moſte ſwéete and delectable matter, to ſuch as ſhalbe deſirous to Reade the ſame. The whiche if your Honorable Lordſhippe ſhal accept and take in good parte, I ſhall not onely thinke my ſmall trauell and labour well employed, but alſo receaue a farther comforte to attempt ſome more ſerious matter whiche may be more acceptable to your Lordſhippe: deſiring the ſame, to excuſe my raſhe and [•]olde enterpriſe, at this time, as I nothinge doubte in your Lordſhippes goodneſſe. To whome I beſéeche Almighty God to imparte longe lyfe with increaſe of much Honour.

From Vniuerſitie Colledge in Oxforde the .xviij. of September. 1566.

Your Honors moſt bounden William Adlington.

To the Reader.

WHen that I had (gentle Reader) ſlightly here & there runne ouer the pleaſaunt and delectable ieſtes of Lucius Apuleius (a man of auncient diſcent, & endewed with ſinguler learninge) written in ſuche a franke & flouriſhing ſtile, as he ſéemed to haue the Muſes alwaies at will, to féede and maineteine his penne: And when againe I perceiued the matter to miniſter ſuch excéedinge plentie of myrth, as neuer (in my iudgement) the like hath bene ſhowed by any other, I purpoſed accordinge to my ſclender knowledge (though it were rudely, and farre diſagréeyng from the fine and excellent dooinges now a dayes) to tranſlate the ſame into our vulgar tongue, to the ende, that amongeſt ſo many ſage and ſerious woorkes (as euery man welny, endeuor dayly to encreaſe) there might be ſome freſhe and pleaſante matter, to recreate the mindes of the Readers withal. Howbeit I was efteſoones driuen from my purpoſe by two cauſes: Firſt, perceiuinge that the Authour had written his woorke in ſo darke and highe a ſtile, in ſo ſtrange and abſurde woordes, and in ſuch newe inuented phraſes, as he ſéemed rather to ſet it foorth, to ſhow his magnifency of proſe, then to participate his dooinges to other: Secondly, fearinge leſt the tranſlation of this preſent booke (which ſéemeth a méere ieſt and fable, and a woorke woorthy to be laughed at, by reaſon of the vanitie of the Authour, mighte be contemned & deſpiſed of all men, and ſo conſequently, I to be had in deriſiō, to occupy my ſelfe in ſuch friuolous and trifling toyes: but on the other ſide, when I had throughly learned the intent of the Author, and the purpoſe why he inuented ſo ſportfull a ieſt: I was verely perſwaded, that my ſmall trauell, ſhould not onely be accepted of many, but the matter it ſelfe allowed, & praiſed of all. Wherfore I intend (God willinge) as nighe as I can, to vtter and open the meaning thereof to the ſimple and ignorant, whereby they may not take the ſame, as a thing onely to ieſt and laugh at (for the Fables of Eſope, & the feigninge of Poetes, weare neuer writen for that purpoſe) but by the pleaſauntnes therof, be rather induced to the knowledge of their preſent eſtate, and therby trāſforme them ſelues into the right and perfect ſhape of men. The argument of the booke is: How Lucius Apuleius the Author him ſelfe, traueled into Theſſaly (being a region in Grece, where all the women for the moſt parte, be ſuch wonderfull witches, that thei can tranſfourme men into the figure of beaſtes) wheare after he had cōtinued a fewe daies, by the mighty force of a violent confection, he was chaunged into a miſerable Aſſe, and nothinge might reduce him to his wonted ſhape, but the eatinge of a Roſe, whiche after endurāce of infinite ſorow, at lēgth he obteined by praier. Verely vnder the wrappe of this tranſformation, is taxed the life of mortall men, when as we ſuffer our mindes ſo to be drowned in the ſenſuall luſtes of the fleſhe, and the beaſtly pleaſure therof: (whiche aptly may be called, the violent confection of witches) that we léeſe wholy the vſe of reaſon and vertue (which proprely ſhould be in man) & play the partes of bruite and ſauage beaſtes. By like occaſion we reade how diuers of the compaignions of Vliſſes, weare turned by the meruelous power of Circe, into Swine. And finde we not in the Scripture, that Nabuchodonoſer the ninth King of Babylō, by reaſon of his great dominiōs and roialmes, fell into ſuch excéedyng pride, that he was ſodenly tranſformed of almighty God, into an horrible monſter, hauyng the head of an Oxe, the féete of a Beare, and the taile of a Lion, and did eate heye as a beaſt? But as Lucius Apuleius was chaunged into his humaine ſhape by a Roſe, the compaignions of Vliſſes by great interceſſion, and Nabuchodonoſer by the continuall prayers of Daniell, whereby they knewe them ſelues, and liued after a good & vertuous life: So can we neuer be reſtored to the right figure of our ſelues, except we taſte and eate the ſwéete Roſe of reaſon and vertue, which the rather by mediation of prayer, we may aſſuredly attaine. Againe, may not the meaning of this woorke, be altered & turned in this ſorte. A man deſirous to apply his minde to ſome excellent art, or giuen to the ſtudie of any of the ſciences, at the firſt appeareth to him ſelfe an Aſſe without witte, without knowledge, & not much vnlike a bruite beaſt, till ſuch time as by muche paine and trauell, he hath atchieued to the perfectnes of the ſame, & taſtinge the ſwéete floure and fruicte of his ſtudies, doth thinke him ſelfe well brought to the right and very ſhape of a man. Finally, the Metamorphoſie of L. Apuleius, may be reſembled to youth without diſcretion, and his reduction, to age poſſeſſed with wiſedome and vertue. Now ſince this booke of Lucius, is a figure of mās life, and toucheth the nature and manners of mortall men, egginge them forward from their Aſinall fourme, to their humaine and perfect ſhape, beſide the pleaſaunt & delectable ieſtes therein conteined, I truſt if my ſimple tranſlatiō be nothing accepted, yet the matter it ſelfe, ſhalbe eſtéemed by ſuch, as not onely delight to pleaſe their fancie in readinge the ſame, but alſo take a pattern thereby, to regenerate their mindes from brutiſh and beaſtly cuſtome. How be it, I haue not ſo exactly paſſed thorough the Author, as to pointe euery ſentēce accordinge as it is in Latine, or ſo abſolutely tranſlated euery woorde, as it lieth in the proſe, (for ſo the French and Spaniſh tranſlators haue not done) conſidering the ſame in our vulgar tongue would haue appeared very obſcure and darke, & thereby cōſequently, lothſome to the Reader, but nothing erringe as I truſt from the giuen and naturall meaninge of the author, haue vſed more commo[•] and familiar woordes (yet not ſo muche as I might doo) for the plainer ſettinge foorth of the ſame. But how ſo euer it be (gentle Reader) I pray thée take it in good part, conſidering that for thée I haue taken this paine, to the intent, that thou maiſt, Reade the ſame with pleaſure.

FINIS.

THE LIFE OF LVCIVS Apuleius, briefly expreſſed.

LVcius Apuleius African, an excellent folower of Plato his ſect, borne in Maudara, a countrey ſometime inhabited by the Romaines, and vnder the iuriſdiction of Syphar, ſituate, and liyng vpon the borders of Numidia & Getulia, whereby he calleth him ſelfe, halfe a Numidian, and halfe a Getulian: And Sidonius named him the Platonian Madaurēce: his father called Theſeus, had paſſed all offices of dignitie in his countrey, with much honour: his mother named Saluia, was of ſuch excellent vertue, that ſhe paſſed all the dames of her time, borne of an auncient houſe, & deſcended from the noble Philoſopher Plutarche, & Sextus his Nephew. His wife called Pudētila was endowed with as much vertue and richeſſe as any woman might be. He him ſelfe was of high & comely ſtature, gray eied, his heare yellow, & a beawtifull perſonage: he floriſhed in Carthage in the time of Iolianus Auitus, and Claudius Maximus procōſules, where he ſpent his youth in learning the liberall ſciences, and much profited vnder his maiſters there, whereby not without cauſe, he gloriouſly calleth him ſelfe, the nourice of Carthage, & the Cleſtial Muſe and venerable miſtres of Affrick, ſone after at Athenes (wheare in times paſt the well of all doctrine flouriſhed) he taſted many of the cuppes of the Muſes, he learned Poetry, Geometry, Muſike, Logicke, and the vniuerſall knowledge of Philoſophie, and ſtudied not in vaine the nine Muſes, that is to ſay, the nine noble & roiall diſciplines. Immediatly after he went to Rome, & ſtudied there the Latine tongue, with ſuch labour and continuall ſtudie, that he atchieued to great eloquēce, and was knowen and approued to be excellently learned, whereby he might woorthily be called Polyhiſtor, y• is to ſay, one that knoweth much or many thinges. And beinge thus no leſſe endewed with eloquēce, than with ſingular learning, he wrote many bookes for them that ſhould come after: Wherof parte by negligence of times be intercepted, and parte now extant, doo ſufficiently declare with how muche wiſedome and doctrine he floriſhed, & with how much vertue he excelled emongſt the rude and barbarous people. The like was Anacharſis emōgſt the moſt luſkiſhe Scythes: but emongſt the bookes of Lucius Apuleius which are periſhed & preuented, howbeit greatly deſired of vs now a daies, was one entituled Banketing queſtions, an other entreatinge of the nature of Fiſhe, an other of the generation Beaſtes, an other conteininge his Epigrāmes, and an other called Hermagoras: but ſuche as are now extant, are the fower bookes named Floridorum, wherein is conteined a floriſhinge ſtile, and a ſauery kinde of learninge, whiche delighteth, holdeth, and reioyſeth the Reader meruelouſly, wherein you ſhall finde a great varietie of thinges, as leapinge one from an other: One excellent and copious oration conteininge all the grace and vertue of the art Oratorie, whereby he cléereth him ſelfe of the crime of art Magicke, which was ſclaunderouſly obiected againſt him by his enuious aduerſaries, wherin is conteined ſuch force of eloquence and doctrine, as he ſéemeth to paſſe and excell him ſelfe. There is an other booke of the God or ſpirit of Socrates, whereof S. Auguſtine maketh often mētion in his booke of the definition of Spirites and deſcription of men, twoo other bookes of the opinion of Plato, wherein is briefly conteined that which before was largely expreſſed: one booke of Coſmographie, compriſinge many thinges of Ariſtoteles Meteors: the Dialogue of Triſmegiſtus, tranſlated by him out of Gréeke into Latine, ſo fine, that it rather ſéemeth with more eloquence turned into Latine, then it was before writen in Greke: but principaly, theſe eleuen bookes of the Golden Aſſe, are enriched with ſuch pleaſaunt matter, with ſuch excellencie and variety of floriſhinge Tales, that nothing may be more ſwéete and delectable, whereby woorthely they may be intituled: The bookes of the Golden Aſſe, for the paſſinge ſtile & matter therein. For what can be more acceptable than this Aſſe of Gold in déede: How be it there be many whiche would rather Intitle it Metamorphoſis, that is to ſay, a tranſfiguration or tranſformation, by reaſon of the Argument and matter therein.

FINIS.

THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOVR, to his ſonne Fauſtinus, and vnto the Readers of this booke.

WHat and who he was, attend a while and you ſhall vnderſtand, that it was euen I, the writer of mine owne Metamorphoſie, & ſtraunge alteration of figure. Hymettus, Athens, Iſthmia, Ephire, Tenaros, and Sparta, beinge fat & fertill ſoiles (as I pray you giue credit to the bookes of more euerlaſting fame) bée places where mine auncient progenie & lignage did ſometime flouriſhe: there I ſay, in Athens when I was yonge, I went firſt to ſchoole. Sone after (as a ſtranger) I arriued at Rome, wheras by great induſtrie & without inſtruction of any ſcholemaſter I atchieued to the full perfection of the Latine tongue: beholde, I firſt craue & begge your pardon, leaſt I ſhould happen to diſpleaſe or offend any of you by the rude & ruſtike vtterance of this ſtraunge & forrein language. And verely, this new alteration of ſpeach doth correſpond to the enterpriſed matter whereof I purpoſe to entreate, I wil ſet foorth vnto you a pleaſant Grecian leſt. Wherunto gentle Reader if thou wilt giue attendāt eare, it wil miniſter vnto thée ſuch delectable matter, as thou ſhalt be well contented withall.

FINIS.

The firſt booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How Apuleius ridinge into Theſſalie, fortuned to fall into companie with twoo ſtraungers, that reaſoned together of the mighty power of Witches.

cap. 1.

AS I fortuned to take my voiage into Theſſalie,^[1] about certaine affaires whiche I had to doo (for there mine aunceſtrie by my mothers ſide inhabiteth, deſcended of the ligne of that moſte excellent perſon Plutarche, & of Sextus the philoſopher his Nephew, whiche is to vs a great woorſhippe and honour:^[2] And after that by much trauell aud great paine, I had paſſed ouer the high mountaines and ſlipperie valleis, and had ridden thorough the cloggy fallowed fieldes, perceiuinge that my horſe did waxe ſomewhat ſlowe, & to the intent likewiſe, I might repoſe and ſtrengthen my ſelfe, (beinge wery with ridinge) I lighted of my horſe, and wipinge away the ſweate from euery parte of his bodie, I vnbridled him, and walked him ſoftly in my hande, to the ende he might piſſe, and eaſe him ſelfe of his werines, and trauell: And while he wente graſinge freſhly in the fielde (caſtinge his head ſometimes aſide as a token of reioyſing and gladnes) I perceiued a litle before me twoo compaignions ridinge, & ſo I ouertakinge them made the third: And while I liſtened to heare their communicatiō, the one of them laughed and mocked his fellow: ſaiyng, leaue of I pray thée and ſpeake no more, for I cannot abide to heare thee tell ſuch abſurde & incredible lies: Which when I heard, I deſired to heare ſome newes, and ſaid: I pray you Maiſters make me partaker of your talke, that am not ſo curious, as deſirous to know all your communication: So ſhall we ſhorten our iourney, and eaſely paſſe this high hill before vs, by merry and pleaſant talke: but he that laughed before at his felowe, ſaid againe: verely this tale is as true, as if a man would ſay, that by Sorcerie and inchauntment the floodes might be enforced to run againſt their courſe:^[3] the ſeas to be immoueable: the ayre to lacke the blowinge of windes: the Sunne to be reſtrained from his naturall race: the Moone to purge his ſkumme vpon hearbes and trées, to ſerue for ſorceries: the Starres to be pulled from heauen, the day to be darkened, and the darke night to continew ſtill. Then I, beinge more deſirouſe to heare his talke then his companions, ſaid: I pray you, that beganne to tell your tale euen now, leaue not of ſo, but tell the reſide we. And turning to the other, I ſaide: You perhaps that are of an obſtinate minde and groſſe eares, mocke and contemne thoſe thinges whiche are reported for truth, know you not, that it is accoūted vntrew by the praue opinion of men, which either is rarely ſéene, ſeldome heard, or that paſſeth the capacitie of mans reaſon, whiche if it be more narrowly ſkanned, you ſhalt not onely finde it euident & plaine, but alſo very eaſie to be brought to paſſe.

¶How Apuleius tolde to the twoo ſtraungers, what he ſawe a Iuglar doo in Athens.

Cap. 2.

THe other night, beinge at ſupper with a ſorte of hūgry fellowes, while I did gréedely put a great morſell of meate in my wouth, that was fried with the flower of chéeſe and barley, it cleaued ſo faſt in the paſſage of my throate, and ſtopped my winde, in ſuch ſort that I was welnie choked. And yet at Athens before the porche there, called Peale, I ſawe with theſe eies, a Iugler that ſwalowed vp a twoohand ſwoorde with a very keene edge, and by & by, for a litle money that we, that looked on, gaue him, he deuoured a chaſing ſpeare, with the pointe downward. And after that he had cōuaide the whole ſpeare within the cloſure of his bodie, and brought it out againe behinde, there appeared on the toppe thereof (whiche cauſed vs all to maruell) a fayre boye, pleaſaunt and nimble, windinge and turninge him ſelfe in ſuch ſorte, that you would ſuppoſe that he had neither bone nor griſtle, and verely thinke that he were the naturall Serpent, crepinge & ſlidinge on the knotted ſtaffe,^[4] whiche the God of Medicine is feigned to beare. But turninge me to him that began his Tale, I pray you (ꝙ I) follow your purpoſe, and I alone will giue credite vnto you, and for your paines will pay your charges at the next Inne we come vnto. To whome he aunſweared, Certes ſir, I thanke you for your gentle offer, and at your requeſt, I will proceade in my tale: but firſt I will ſweare vnto you by the light of this Sunne y• ſhineth here, y• thoſe thinges whiche I ſhall tell be trewe, leaſt when you come to the next Citie called Theſſalie, you ſhould doubte any thinge, of that whiche is rife in the mouthes of euery perſon, and done before the face of all men: And that I may firſt make relation vnto you, what, & who I am, and whither I goe, & for what purpoſe: know ye, that I am of Egin; trauelinge theſe countries about from Theſſaly to Etolia, and from Etolia to Beotia, to prouide for hony, chéeſe, and other victuales to ſell againe: And vnderſtāding, that at Hippata (which is the principall Citie of all Theſſalie) is accuſtomed to be ſolde newe chéeſes of excéedinge good taſte and reliſhe, I fortuned on a day to goe thither, to make my market there, but (as it often happeneth) I came in an euill houre, for one Lupus a purueiour had bought and engroſſed vp all the daie before, and ſo I was deceaued. Wherefore, towardes night (being very wery) I went to the baines to refreſhe my ſelfe, and beholde, I fortuned to eſpie, my compaignion Socrates ſittinge vpon the grounde, couered with a torne and courſe mantell, who who ſo meigre and of ſo ſallowe and miſerable a countenance, that I ſcantly knew him: for fortune had brought him into ſuch eſtate and calamitie, that he verely ſéemed as a common begger, that ſtandeth in the ſtréetes to craue the beneuolence of the paſſers by: Towardes whome (how be it he was my ſinguler friende & familiar acquaintance,^[5] yet halfe in deſpayre) I drewe me, and ſaid: Alas my Socrates, what meaneth this? how fareth it with thée? what crime haſt thou committed? verely there is great lamentation and wéepinge made for thée at home: Thy childrē are in warde by decrée of the prouinciall iudge: thy wife (hauinge ended her mourninge time in lamentable wiſe with face and viſage bloubered with teares, in ſuche ſorte that ſhe hath welny wept out both her eies) is cōſtrained by her parentes to put out of remembrance the vnfortunate loſſe and lacke of thée at home, and (againſt her will) to take a newe huſbande. And doeſt thou liue here as a ghoſt or hegge, to our great ſhame & ignomie? Then anſweared he to me, & ſaide: O my friende Ariſtomenus, now perceaue I well that you are ignorant of the whirlinge chaunges, the vnſtable forces, and ſlipperie inconſtance of fortune: and therewithall he couered his face (euen then bluſhing for very ſhame) with his rugged mātell, in ſo much that from his nauell downward he appeared al naked. But I (not willing to ſée him any lenger in ſuche great miſerie and calamitie) toke him by the hande and lifted him vp from the grounde: who (hauing his face couered in ſuch ſorte) let fortune (ꝙ he) triumphe yet more, let her haue her ſway, and finiſhe that whiche ſhe hath begunne. And therwithall I put of one of my garmentes and couered him, and immediatly I brought him to the baine, and cauſed him to be annointed, wiped, and the filthie ſkurfe of his body to be rubbed away, whiche done (although I weare very wery my ſelfe) yet I ledde the poore miſer to my Inne, where he repoſed his bodie vpon a bedde, and then I brought him meate and drinke, and ſo we talked together: for there we might be mery & laugh at our pleaſure, and ſo we weare, vntill ſuche time as he (fetching a pitifull ſighe from the bottom of his harte, and beatinge his face in miſerable ſorte) began to ſay.

¶How Socrates in his returne from Macedonie to Lariſſa, was ſpoiled and robbed, and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe, a Witche.

Cap. 3

ALas poore miſer that I am, that for the onely deſire to ſée a game of triall of weapons, am fallen into theſe miſeries and wretched ſnares of miſfortune. For in my retorne from Macedonie, whereas I ſolde all my wares, and plaied the marchant by the ſpace of tenne monethes, a litle before that I came to Lariſſa, I turned out of the way to v[•]ew the ſituation of the countrey there, and beholde in the bottom of a deepe valley, I was ſodenly enuironed with a company of théeues, who robbed & ſpoiled me, of ſuch thinges as I had, and yet woulde hardely ſuffer me to eſcape. But I (beinge in ſuch extremitie) in the ende, was happely deliuered from their cruell handes: and ſo I fortuned to come to the houſe of an old woman that ſolde wine, called Meroe: who had her tongue ſufficiētly inſtructed to flattery: vnto whome I opened the cauſes of my longe pexegrination and carefull trauell, and of nune vnlucky abuēture, and after that I had declared vnto her ſuch thinges as then preſently came to my remembraunce, ſhe gentely entertained me, and made me good chere, and by and by beinge pricked by carnall deſire, ſhe brought me to her owne bedde chamber, where as I (poore miſer) (the very firſt night of our liyng together) did purchaſe to my ſelfe this miſerable face,^[6] and for her lodging I gaue her ſuch apparell, as the théeues left to couer me withall.

Then I (vnderſtanding the cauſe of his miſerable eſtate) ſaid vnto him: In faith, thou art woorthy to ſuſtaine the moſt extreme miſerie and calamitie, whiche haſt defiled and maculate thine òwne bodie, forſaken thy wife traitorouſlie, and diſhonoured thy children, parentes, and friendes, for the loue of a vile harlot and olde ſtrumpet. When Socrates harde me raile againſt Meroe in ſuch ſorte, he helde vp his finger to me, and as halfe abaſhed, ſaid: peace, peace, I pray you, and (lokinge about leaſt any perſon ſhould here,) I pray you (ꝙ he) take héede what you ſay againſt ſo venerable a woman as ſhe is, leſt by your intemperate tongue you [•••]che ſome harme. Then (with reſemblance of admiration) what (ꝙ I) is ſhe ſo excellent a perſon as you name her to be? I pray you tell me. Then anſweared he, verely ſhe is a Magicien, whiche hath power to rule the Heauens, to bringe downe the ſkie, to beare vp the earth, to turne the waters into hilles, and the hilles into runninge waters, to lift vp the terreſtiall ſpirites into the ayre, & to pull the Goddes out of the heauens, to ertinguiſhe the Planetes, and to lighten the d[•]epe darkenes of hell. Then ſaid I vnto Socrates, I pray thée leaue of this high and myſticall kinde of talke, and tell the matter in a more plaine and ſimple faſhion. Then anſweared he, will you heare one or twoo, or mo of her factes, which ſhe hath done, for where as ſhe enforceth, not onely the inhabitantes of ye countrey here, but alſo the Indians and the Aethiopes the one and the other, and alſo the Antictons, to loue her in moſte raginge ſorte, ſuch are but trifles and chippes of her occupation, but I pray you giue eare, and I will declare of more greater matters whiche ſhe hath done openly and before the face of all men.

¶How Meroe the witche turned diuers perſons into miſerable Beaſtes.

Cap. 4.

IN faith Ariſtomenus, to tell you the truth, this woman had a certaine louer, whome by the vtterance of one onely woorde, ſhe turned him into a Beuer, becauſe he loued an other woman beſide her, and the reaſon why ſhe tranſformed him into ſuche a beaſt, is, for that it is his nature, when he perceiueth the hunters and houndes to drawe after him, to bite of his mēbers, and lay them in the way, that the houndes may be at a ſtoppe when they finde them, and to the intent it might ſo happen vnto him, (becauſe he fancied an other woman) ſhe turned him into that kinde of ſhape. Semblably ſhe chaunged one of her neighbours, being an olde man and one that ſolde wine, into a frogge, in that he was one of her occupation, and therefore ſhe bare him grudge, and now the poore miſer ſwimminge in one of his pipes of wine, and welny drowned in the dregges, doth crie and call with a hoarſe voice, for his olde geſtes and acquaintance that paſſe by. Likewiſe ſhe turned one of the Aduocates of the courte (becauſe he pleaded and ſpake againſt her in a rightfull cauſe) into a horned Ramme, and now the poore Rāme is become and Aduocate. Moreouer ſhe cauſed that the wife of a certaine louer that ſhe had, ſhould neuer be deliuered of her childe, but accordinge to the computation of all men, it is eight yéeres paſt ſince the poore woman began firſt to ſwell, and now ſhe is increaſed ſo bigge, that ſhe ſéemeth as though ſhe would bring foorth ſome great Oliphant, whiche when it was knowen abroade and publiſhed thorough out al the towne, they toke indignation againſt her, and ordeined that the next day ſhe ſhould moſt cruelly be ſtoned to death, whiche purpoſe of theirs ſhe preuented, by the vertue of her enchauntmentes, and as Medea (who obtained of kinge Creon but one daies reſpite before her departure) did burne all his houſe, him and his doughter, ſo ſhe (by her coniurations and inuocations of ſprites, whiche ſhe vſeth in a certaine hole in her houſe, as ſhe her ſelfe declared vnto me the next day followinge) cloſed all the perſons of the towne ſo ſure in their howſes, and with ſuch violence of power, that for the ſpace of twoo daies, they coulde not come foorth, nor open their gates nor doores, nor breake downe their walles, whereby they weare enforced by mutuall conſent, to crie vnto her, and to binde them ſelues (ſtreictly) by othes, that they would neuer afterwardes moleſt or hurt her, & moreouer if any did offer her any iniurie they would be ready to defende her, wherevpon ſhe (moued at their promiſes, and ſtirred by pitie) releaſed all the towne. But ſhe conueied the principall Authour of this ordinance, about midnight, with all his houſe, the walles, the grounde, and the foundation, into an other towne diſtant from thenſe a hundred miles, ſituate and beinge on the toppe of a high hill, and by reaſon thereof deſtitute of water, and becauſe the edifices & houſes, weare ſo nighe builded together, that it was not poſſible for the houſe to ſtande there, ſhe threwe downe the ſame before the gate of the towne. Then ſpake I and ſaid: O my friende Socrates, you haue declared vnto me many meruelous thinges and ſtraunge chaunces, and moreouer ſtroken me with no ſmall trouble of minde, yea rather with great feare, leaſt the ſame old woman vſinge the like practiſe, ſhould fortune to here all our^[7] communication: wherefore let vs now ſléepe, and after that we haue taken our reſt, let vs riſe betime in the morninge and ride away from hens before day, as far as we may poſſible.

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

Cap. 5.

IN ſpeakinge theſe woordes, and deuiſinge with my ſelfe of our departing the next morrow, leaſt Meroe the Witche ſhould play by vs, as ſhe had donē by diuers other perſons: It fortuned that Socrates did fall a ſleape, and ſlept very ſoundly, by reaſon of his trauell and plentie of meate and wine, wherewithall he had filled him ſelfe. Wherefore I cloſed and barred faſt the doores of the chamber, and put my bedde behinde the doore,^[8] and ſo laide me downe to reſt, but I could in no wiſe ſleape for the great feare which was in my harte, vntill it was about midnight, & then I began to ſlomber: but alas, beholde ſodenly the chamber doores brake open, the lockes, boltes and poſtes fell downe, that you would verely haue thought, that ſome théeues had ben preſently come to haue ſpoiled and robbed vs. And my bedde whereon I laye beinge a trockle bed, faſhioned in forme of a cradle, and one of the féete broken & rotten, by violence was turned vpſide downe, and I likewiſe was ouerwhelmed and couered liyng in the fame. Then perceaued I in my ſelfe, that certaine affectes of the minde by nature doth chaunce contrarie. For as teares oftentimes trickleth downe the chéekes of him that ſeeth or heareth ſome ioyfull newes, ſo I being in this fearfull perplexitie, could not forbeare laughinge, to ſée how of Ariſtomenus I was made like vnto a ſnayle in his ſhell. And while I lay on the grounde couered in this ſorte, I péeped vnder the bed to ſée what would happen. And behold there entered in twoo olde wemen, the one bearinge a burninge torche, and the other a ſponge and a naked ſwoorde: And ſo in this habite they ſtoode aboute Socrates beinge faſt a ſteape. Then ſhe (which bare the ſwoorde) ſaid vnto the other, behold ſiſter Panthia this is my déere and my ſwéete harte, whiche both daie and night hath abuſed my wāton youthfulnes. This is he (who litle regardinge my loue) dothe not onely diffame me with reprochfull woordes, but alſo intendeth to runne away: And I ſhal be forſaken by like craſ[•]e as Vliſſes did vſe, and ſhall continually bewaile my ſolitarines as Calipſo, (which ſaid) ſhe pointed to wardes me, that lay vnder the bed, and ſhowed me to Panthia. This is he (ꝙ ſhe) which is his counſeler, and perſwadeth him to forſake me, and now (being at the pointe of death) he lieth proſtrate on the grounde couered with his bedde, and hath ſéene all our dooinges, and hopeth to eſcape (ſkotfrée) from my handes, but I will cauſe that he ſhall repent him ſelfe too late, nay rather forthwith of his former vntēperate language, and his preſent curioſitie. Whiche woordes when I harde, I fell into a colde ſweate, and my harte trembled with feare, in ſo much that the bed ouer me did like wiſe rattle & ſhake. Then ſpake Panthia vnto Meroe, and ſaid: Siſter, let vs by and by teare him in péeces, or els tie him by the members and ſo cutte them of. Then Meroe (being ſo named becauſe ſhe was a tauerner^[9] and loued well good wines) anſweared: nay rather lette him liue, and burie the Corps of this poore wretche in ſome hole of the earth, and therewithall ſhe turned the head of Socrates on the other ſide, & thruſt her ſwoorde vp to the hiltes into the lefte parte of his necke, and receaued the bloud, that guſhed out, with a potte, that no droppe thereof fell beſide, which thinges I ſawe with mine owne eies, and (as I thinke) to the intent ſhe might alter nothinge that pertained to ſacrifice, whiche ſhe accuſtomed to make, ſhe thruſt her hande downe into the entrailles of his bodie, & (ſearchinge aboute) at length brought foorth the harte of my miſerable compaignion Socrates, who (hauinge his throte cut in ſuch ſorte) yéelded out a dolefull crie, and gaue vp the ghoſte. Then Panthia ſtopped the wide wounde of his throate with the ſponge, and ſaid: O Sponge ſpronge and made of the ſea, beware that thou^[10] paſſe not by the runninge riuer. This being ſaide, the one of them moued and turned vp my bedde, and their they ſtridde ouer me, and slapped their buttockes vpō my face, and all bepiſſed me, till I was wringing wet: when this was ended, they went their waies, and the doores cl[•]ſed faſt, the poſtes ſtoode in their olde places, and the lockes & boltes were ſhut againe. But I, that l[•]ye vpon the grounde, like one without ſoule, naked and colde, and wringinge wette with piſſe, like to one that weare more then halfe dead, yet reuiuinge my ſelfe, and apointed as I thinke for the gallowes, began to ſay: Alas what ſhall become of me to morrow, when my compaignion ſhalbe founde murdred here in the chamber?^[11] To whom ſhall I ſéeme to tell any ſimilitude of truth, when as I ſhall tell the truth in déede? They will ſay if thou weareſt vnable to reſiſt the violence of the wemē, yet ſhouldeſt thou haue cried for helpe, wile thou ſuffer the man to be ſlaine before thy face and ſay nothinge? Or why did not they ſlea thée like wiſe? why did they ſpare thée that ſtoode by and ſaw them cōmitte that horrible facte? Wherefore although thou haſt eſcaped their hādes, yet thou ſhalt not eſcape ours. While I pondred theſe thinges with my ſelfe, the night paſſed on: And ſo I thought beſt to take my horſe before day, and got forwarde in my iourney. How be it the waies were vnknowen vnto me, and thereupō I toke vp my pacquet, vnlocked and vnbarred the doores, but thoſe good and faithfull doores which in the night did open of their owne accorde, coulde then ſcantly be opened with their keies. And when I was out I cried hoſſra, Oſteler, where arte thou, open the ſtable doore, for I will ride away by and by.^[12] The Oſteler liyng behinde the ſtable doore vpon a pallet, and halfe a ſleape, what (ꝙ he) doo not you know that the waies he very dangerous? what meane you to riſe at this time of night? If you perhaps (giltie of ſome heynous crime) be werie of your life, yet thinke you not that we are ſuche ſottes that we will die for you. Then ſaid I, it is welny day, & moreouer what can théeues take from him that hath nothinge? doeſt not thou know (foole as thou arte) that^[13] if thou be naked, if tenne Giantes ſhould aſſaile thée, they coulde not ſpoile or robbe thée? Whereunto the drowſie Oſteler halfe a ſleape, & turninge on the other ſide, anſweared: what know I whether you haue murdred your compaignion whome you brought in yeſternight or no, and now ſeke the meanes to eſcape away. O Lord, at that time I remēber, that the earth ſéemed to open, and that I ſawe at hell gate the dogge Cerberus^[14] gaping to deuoure me, and then I verely belieued, that Meroe did not ſpare my throate, moued with pitie, but rather cruelly pardoned me to bringe me to the gallowes. Wherfore, I returned to my chamber, and there deuiſed with my ſelfe in what ſorte I ſhould finiſhe my life. But when I ſawe that fortune woulde miniſter vnto me no other inſtrumēt, then that whiche my bedde proffred me, I ſaid: O bedde, O bedde, moſte déere vnto me at this preſent, whiche haſt abode and ſuffred with me ſo many miſeries, iudge and arbiter of ſuch thinges as were done here this night, whome onely I may call to witneſſe for mine innocencie, render (I ſay) vnto me ſome holſome weapon to ende my life that am moſt willinge to die. And therewithall I pulled out a piece of the rope wherwith the bedde was corded, and tied one ende thereof about a rafter by the window, and with the other ende I made a ſlidinge knotte, and ſtoode vpon my bedde, and ſo put my necke into hit. A[•]d when I leped from the bedde, thinkinge verel[•] to ſtrangle my ſelfe and ſo die, beholde the rope beinge olde and rotten braſt in the middle, and I fell downe tomblinge vpon Socrates that lay vnder. And euē at that ſame very time, the Oſteler came in criyng with a lowde voice, and ſaid where are you that made ſuch haſt at midnight, & now lies wallowinge a bedde, whereupon (I know not whether it was by my fall or by the great crie of the Oſteler) Socrates (as waking out of a ſleape) did riſe vp firſt and ſaid: It is not without cauſe that ſtrangers doo ſpeake euill of all ſuche Oſtelers, for this captife in his comminge in, & with his criyng out, I thinke vnder a colour to ſteale away ſomething, hath waked me out of a ſound ſleape. Then I roſe vp ioyfull, with a mery countenaunce, ſa[•]ynge: Beholde good Oſteler, my friende, my compaignion & my brother whome thou diddeſt falſely affirme to be murdred by me this night. And therewithall I embraſed my friende Socrates and kiſſed him, but he ſmellyng the ſtinke of the piſſe wherwith thoſe hegges had embrued me, thruſt me away and ſaid clenſe thy ſelfe from that filthy odour, and then he began gentely to enquire how that noyſome ſente happened vnto me, but I (finely feigninge and couloringe the matter for the time) did breake of his talke, and toke him by the hande and ſaide, why tarrie we? why leeſe we the pleaſure of this faire morning? Let vs goe, and ſo I toke vp my pacquette, and paide the charges of the houſe and departed: and we had not gone a mile out of the towne but it was broade day, & then I diligently looked vpon Socrates throate to ſée if I could eſpie the place where Meroe thruſt in her ſwoorde, but when I could not perceaue any ſuch thinge, I thought with my ſelfe what a madde man am I, that (beinge ouercome with wine yeſternight) haue dreamed ſuch terrible thinges: Behold I ſee Socrates is ſound, ſalue & in health, where is his woūde? where is the ſponge? where is his great and newe cutte? and then I ſpake to him and ſaide: verely it is not without occaſion that Phiſitions of experience doth affirme, that ſuch as fill their gorges abundantly with meate and drinke ſhall dreame of dire and horrible ſightes, for I my ſelfe (not tempryng mine appetite yeſternight from the pottes of wine) did ſéeme to ſée this night ſtrange and cruell viſions, that euen yet I thinke my ſelfe ſprinkled & wette with humaine bloud: whereunto Socrates laughing, made anſweare and ſaide: Nay thou arte not wette with the bloud of men, but thou art embrued with ſtinkinge piſſe: and verely I my ſelfe dreamed this night, that my throate was cutte and that I felt the paine of the wounde, and that my harte was pulled out of my bellie, and the remembrance thereof makes me nowe to feare, for my knées doo tremble that I can vneth goe any further, & therefore I would faine eate ſomewhat to ſtrengthen and reuiue my ſpirites: then ſaid I, beholde here is thy breakefaſt, and therwithall I opened my ſkrippe, that hanged vpō my ſhoulder, and gaue him bread & chéeſe, and we ſatte downe vnder a great plane tróe and I eate parte with him: And while I behelde him eatinge gréedely, I perceaued that he waxed meigre and pale, & that his liuely colour vaded away, in ſo much that (beinge in great feare and remembringe thoſe terrible furies of whome I lately dreamed) the firſte morſell of bread that I put in my mouth (whiche was but very ſmall) did ſo ſticke in my iawes that I could nether ſwallowe it downe nor yet yelde it vp, and moreouer the ſmall time of our beinge together encreaſed my feare, and what is he, that ſeinge his compaignion die in the high waie before his face, will not greatly lamēt and be ſorie: but when that Socrates had eaten ſufficiently he wared very thirſtie, for in déede he had welnie deuoured all a whole chéeſe, and beholde euill fortune, there was behinde the plane trée a pleaſant runninge water as cleere as Cri[•]tall, and I ſaid vnto him: come hither Socrates to this water and drinke thy fil. And then he roſe and came to the riuer, and knéeled downe vpon the ſide of the banke to drinke, but he had ſkaſe touched y• water with his lippes, whē as behold, the woūde of his throate opened wide,^[15] and the ſponge ſodenly fell into the water and after iſſued out a litle remnant of bloud, and his bodie (beinge then without life) had fallen into the riuer, had not I caught him by the legge, and ſo pulled him vp. And after that I had lamented a good ſpace the death of my wretched compaigniō, I buried him in the ſandes there by the riuer. Which done, in great feare I rode through many outwaies and deſerte places, and as culpable of the death of Socrates, I forſoke my countrey, my wife, and my children, and came to Aetolia where I maried an other wife. This tale tolde Ariſtomenus, and his fellowe whiche before obſtinately would giue no credite vnto hi, begā to ſay: Verely there was neuer ſo fooliſh a tale, nor a more abſurde lie tolde then this: & then he ſpake vnto me, ſaiyng: Ho ſir, what you are I know not, but your habite and countenāce declareth,^[16] that you ſhould be ſome honeſt gentleman, doo you beléeue his tale? yea verely (ꝙ I) why not? for what ſo euer the fates hath apointed to men, that I beléeue ſhall happen. For many thingès chaunce vnto me, and vnto you, and to diuers others, which beinge declared vnto the ignorant be accompted as lies. But verely I giue credite vnto his tale, and render entier thankes vnto him in that (by the pleaſant relatiō thereof) we haue quickly paſſed and ſhortned our iourney, and I thinke that my horſe alſo was delighted with the ſame, and hath brought me to the gate of this Citie without any paine at all. Thus ended both our talke and iourney, for they twoo turned on the lefte hande to the next villages, and I rode into the Citie.

¶How Apuleius came to a Citie called Hipate, and was lodged in one Mil[•]s houſe, and brought him letters from Demea of Corinthe.

Cap. 6.

AFter that thoſe twoo compaigniōs were departed, I entred into the Citie, where I eſpied an old woman, of whome I enquired whether that Citie was called Hypata, or no, who anſweared yeas: Then I demaunded whether ſhe knewe one Milo an Alderman of the Citie, whereat ſhe laughed, and ſaid: verely it is not without cauſe that Milo is called an elder man, and accompted as chiefe of thoſe whiche dwel without the walles of the Citie: To whome I ſaide againe, I pray thée good mother doo not mocke, but tell me what manner of man he is, and where he dwelleth: Marry (ꝙ ſhe) doo not you ſée thoſe baye windowes whiche on the one ſide abutte to the gate of the Citie, and on the other ſide to the next lane, there Milo dwelleth, very riche both in money & ſubſtance,^[17] but by reaſon of his great Auarice and inſatiable couetouſnes, he is euill ſpoken of, & he is a man that liueth all by Vſurie, and lendinge his money vpon pledges. Moreouer he dwelleth in a ſmall houſe, and is euer countinge his money, and hath a wife that is a compaigniō of his extreme miſerie,^[18] neither kepeth he any more in his houſe then one onely maide who goeth appareled like vnto a begger: which when I heard, I laughed with my ſelf, & thought: in faith my fréende Demeas hath ſerued me well, which hath ſent me (being a ſtraunger) vnto ſuch a man, in whoſe houſe I ſhall not be afearde either of ſmooke or of the ſent of meate, & therewithall I rode to the doore whiche was faſt barred, and knocked aloude, thēn there came foorth a maide whiche ſaide, Ho Sira, that knockes ſo faſte, in what kinde of ſorte will you borrow money, know you not that we vſe to take no gage vnleſſe it be either plate or Iuelles? To whome I anſweared, I pray thée maide ſpeake more gētle & tel me whether thy maiſter be within or no. Yes (ꝙ ſhe) that he is, why doo you aſke? Marry ſaid I, I am come from Corinthe, and haue brought him letters frō Demeas his fréende. Then ſaide the maide, I pray you tarry here till I tell him ſo,^[19] and therewithall ſhe cloſed faſte the doores, and went in, and after a while ſhe returned againe, & ſaid, my maſter deſireth you to alight and come in: and ſo I did, whereas I found him ſitting vpon a litle bedde, goinge to ſupper, and his wife ſatte at his féete, but there was no meate vpon the table, & ſo (by apointment of the maide) I came to him, and ſaluted him, & deliuered the letters whiche I brought from Demeas: whiche when he had redde, he ſaid, verely I thanke my fréende Demeas much, in that he hath ſent vnto me ſo woorthie a ge[•]t as you are: And therewithal he commaunded his wife to ſitte away, and bidde me ſitte in her place, whiche when I refuſed, by reaſon of courteſie, he pulled me by the garment and willed me to ſitte downe, for we haue (ꝙ he) no other ſtoole here, nor no other great ſtore of houſehold ſtuffe for feare of robbinge. Then I (accordinge to his commaundement) ſat downe: and he fell in further communication with me, and ſaide: Verely I doo coniecte by the comely feature of your bodie, and by the maidenly ſhame faſtnes of your face, that you are a gentle man borne, as my fréende Demeas hath no leſſe declared the ſame in his letters: Wherefore I pray you take in good parte our poore lodginge, and behold, yonder chamber is at your cōmaundement, vſe it as your owne, and if you be contented therewithall, you ſhall reſemble and follow the vertuous qualities of your good father Theſeus, who diſdeigned not the ſlēder and poore cotage of Hecades. And then he called his maide, whiche was named Fotis, and ſaid: Tarry this gentlemans pacquette into the chamber, and lay it vp ſafelie, and bringe quickely water to waſhe him, and a towell to rubbe him, & other thinges neceſſarie: and then bringe him to the next baines, for I knowe that he is very werie of trauell. Theſe thinges when I harde, I partly perceaued the manners of Milo, and (endeuouring to bringe my ſelfe further in his fauour) I ſaide, Sir there is no néede of any of theſe things, for they haue ben euery where miniſtred vnto me by the way, how be it I will goe vnto the baines, but my chiefeſt care is that my horſe be wel loked too, for he brought me hither roundly, and therefore I pray thée Fotis take this money & by ſome heye and Dates for him.

¶How Apuleius goinge to bie fiſ[•]e mette with his compaignion Pithias.

Cap. 7.

WHen this was done, & all my thinges brought into the chamber, I walked towardes the vaines, but firſt I went to the market to bie ſome victualles for my ſupper, where as I ſaw great plentie of fiſh ſet out to be ſolde: and ſo I cheapened parte therof, and that whiche they firſt helde at a hundred pence, I bought at length for twenty: whiche when I had done and was departinge away, one of mine olde compaignions, and fellow at Athens, named Pithias, fortuned to paſſe by, and viewinge me a good ſpace, in the ende brought me to his remembraunce, and gentely came and kiſſed me, ſaiyng: O my déere fréende Lucius, it is a great while paſte ſithens we twoo ſawe eche other, and moreouer from the time that we departed frō our maiſter Veſtius, I neuer harde any newes of you, I pray you Lucius tell me the cauſe of your peregrinatiō hither: Then I anſweared and ſaid: I will make relation thereof vnto you to morrow: but I pray you tell me, what meaneth theſe ſeruitours that follow you, & theſe roddes or verges whiche they beare: and this habite whiche you weare,^[20] like vnto a Magiſtrate: verely I thinke that you haue obteined your owne deſire, wherof I am right gladde. Then anſweared Pithias, I beare the office and rule of the clarke of the market, & therefore if you will haue any pittance for your ſupper, ſpeake and I will puruey it for you: Then I thanked him hartely, and ſaid I had bought meate ſufficiēt already. But Pithias when he eſpied my baſket wherin my fiſhe was, toke it and ſhaked it, and demaunded of me what I payed for all my ſprottes: in faith (ꝙ I) I could ſkaſe enforſe the fiſhmonger to ſell them for twentie pence, whiche when he harde, he brought me backe againe into the market, and enquired of me of whome I bought them, I ſhowed him the olde man which ſatte in a corner, whome by and by (by reaſon of his office) he did greatly blame and ſaid. Is it thus that you ſerue and handle ſtraungers? and ſpecially our fréendes? wherefore ſell you this fiſhe ſo déere which is not woorth a halfpennie? Now perceaue I wel that you are an occaſion to make this place, which is the principall Citie of al Theſſalie to be forſaken of all men, & to reduce it into an inhabitable deſert, by reaſon of your exceſſiue prices of victuales, but aſſure your ſelfe that you ſhall not eſcape without puniſhment, and you ſhal know what mine office is, and how I ought to puniſh ſuch as doo offend. Then he toke my baſket and caſt the fiſhe on the grounde, and commaunded one of his ſergeantes to treade them vnder his féete: this done he perſwaded me to departe, & ſaid that that onely ſhame and reproche done vnto the olde caitife did ſuffiſe him, ſo I went away all amaſed and aſtonied, towardes the bames (conſidering with my ſelfe, and deuiſinge of the grace of my compaignion Pythias) where when I had waſhed and refreſhed my bodie, I returned againe to Milos houſe both without money and meate, and ſo gotte into my chamber, then came Fotis immediatly vnto me, and ſaid that her maiſter deſired me to come to ſupper, but I (not ignorant of Milos abſtinence) prayed that I might be perdoned, ſince as I thought beſt to eaſe my weary bones rather with ſleape & quietnes, than with meate: when Fotis had tolde this vnto Milo, he came him ſelfe, and toke me by the hande, and while I did modeſtly excuſe me, I wil not (ꝙ he) depart from this place, vntill ſuche time as you ſhall goo with me, and to confirme the ſame he bounde his woordes with an othe, whereby he enforced me to follow him and ſo he brought me into his chamber, where he ſatte him downe vpon the bedde, and demaūdes of me how his fréende Demeas did, his wife his children and all his familie: & I made him anſweare to euery queſtion, ſpecialy he enquired the cauſes of my peregrination & trauell, whiche when I had declared, he[•] yet buſilie demaunded of the ſtate of my countrie, and of the chiefe Magiſtrates there, and principaly of our Lieutenant and Viceroye, who when he perceaued that I was not onely weried by trauel, but alſo with talke, and that I fell a ſleape in the middeſt of my tale, and further that I ſpake nothinge directly or aduiſedly, he ſuffred me to departe to my chamber. So ſcaped I at length from the pratlinge and hungry ſupper of this ranke olde man,^[21] and beinge compelled by ſleape and not by meate (as hauinge ſupped onely with talke) I returned into my chamber and there be toke me to my quiet and longe deſired reſt.

¶Here endeth the firſte booke of Lucius Apuleius.

The ſeconde Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How Apuleius fortuned to meete with his coſin Byrrhena.

Cap. 8.

AS ſoone as night was paſſed, and the day began to ſpringe, I fortuned to awake and roſe out of my bedde as halfe amaſed, and (very deſirous to knowe and ſée ſome meruelous and ſtrange thinges, remembringe with my ſelfe that I was in the middeſt part of all Theſſalie, whereas, by the common reporte of all the world, the ſorceries and enchauntmentes are moſt vſed) I oftentimes repeted with my ſelfe the tale of my compaignion Ariſtomenus touchinge the manner of this Citie, and (beinge moued by great deſire) I viewed the whole ſituation thereof, neither was there any thinge which I ſawe there, that I did beléeue to be the ſame whiche it was in déede, but euery thinge ſéemed vnto me to be tranſformed and altered into other ſhapes by the wicked power of ſorcerie and inchauntment, in ſo much that I thought that the ſtones which I founde, were indurate & turned from men into that figure, and that the birdes whiche I harde chirpinge, and the trées without the walles of the Citie, and the runninge waters were chaunged from men into ſuche kinde of likeneſſes: And further I thought that the ſtatues, images, and walles could goe, and the oxen and other brute beaſtes could ſpeake & tel ſtraunge newes, and that immediatly I ſhould ſée and here ſome Oracle from the Heauen, and from the gléede of the Sunne. Thus beinge aſtonied or rather diſmaide & vexed with deſire, knowinge no certaine place whither I entended to goe, I wente from ſtreate to ſtreate, & at length (as I curiouſly gaſ[•]d on euery thinge) I fortuned vnwares to come into the market place, where as I eſpied a certaine woman accompaignted with a great many ſeruantes, towardes whome I drewe nie and vlewed her garmentes [•]eſette with golde and pretious ſtone, in ſuche ſorte that ſhe ſéemed to be ſome noble Matron: And there was an olde man whiche followed her: who (as ſone as he had eſpied me) ſaid to him ſelfe, verely this is Lucius, and then he came and embraſed me, and by and by he went vnto his miſtres, and whiſpered in her eare, & came to me againe, ſaiynge: How is it Lucius, that you will not ſalute your déere coſin and ſinguler fréende? To whome I anſwered: Sir I dare not be ſo bolde as to take acquaintance of an vnknowen woman: how be it as halfe aſhamed I drewe towardes her, and ſhe turned her ſelfe and ſaid: Beholde how he reſembleth the very ſame grace as his mother Saluia doth, beholde his countenaunce and ſtature agreyng thereto in eche point, beholde his comely ſtate, his fine ſelendernes, his vermilion colour, his heare yellow by nature, his graye and quicke eies like vnto the Egle, and his trimme and comely gate which doo ſufficiently proue him to be ye naturall childe of Saluia: And moreouer ſhe ſaide: O Lucius I haue nouriſhed thée with mine owne proper handes, and why not? For I am not onely of kinr[•]de vnto thy mother by bloude, but alſo by nourice, for we both deſcended of the ligne of Plutarche, lay in one belly, ſucked the ſame pappes, & brought vp together in one houſe: And further there is no other difference betwene vs twoo, but that ſhe is married more honorably then I: I am the ſame Byrrhena whome you haue often harde named, emongeſt your freendes at home. Wherefore I pray you to take the paines as to come with me to my houſe, and vſe it as your owne, at whoſe woordes I was partely abaſhed, and ſaid: God forbid coſin that I ſhoulde forſake mine hoeſt Mylo without any iuſte & reaſonable cauſe, but verely I will (as often as I haue occaſion to paſſe by your houſe) come and ſée how you doo: And while we went talkinge thus together, by litle & litle, we came to her houſe, and beholde the gate of the ſame very beautiful ſet with pillors quadrāglewiſe, on the toppe whereof weare placed carued ſtatues and images, but principallie the goddeſſe of Victorie was ſo liuely and with ſuch excellencie portraide and ſet foorth, that you would verely haue thought that ſhe had flied, and ho[•]ered with her winges hither and thither. On the contrary parte, y• image of y• goddeſſe Diana was wrought in white marble, whiche was a meruelous ſight to ſée, for ſhe ſéemed as though the winde did blowe vp her garmentes, and that ſhe did encounter with them that came into the houſe: on eche ſide of her, were Dogges made of ſtone, that ſéemed to menace with their firie eies, their pricked eares, their bended noſethrilles, and their grinning téeth, in ſuch ſorte that you would haue thought they had bayed and barked: And moreouer (which was a greater meruell to beholde) the excellent caruer & deuiſer of this worke had faſhioned y• dogges to ſtande vp fierſly with their former féete, and their hinder féete on the ground readie to fight. Behinde the backe of the Goddeſſe was carued a ſtone in manner of a cauerne, enuironed with moſſe, hearbes, leaues, Sprigges, gréene braunches, and bowes, growingi[•] and aboute the ſame, in ſo muche that within the ſtone it gliſtened and ſhone meruelouſly, vnder the brimme of the ſtone hanged appels and grapes carued finely, wherein arte (enulynge nature) ſhowed his great cunninge: For they were ſo liuelie ſet out, that you would haue thought (if Sommer had bene come) they might haue bene pulled and eaten, and while I behelde the runninge water, whiche ſéemed to ſpringe and leape vnder the féete of the Goddeſſe, I marked the grapes whiche hanged in the water, whiche were like in euerie point to the grapes of the vine, and ſéemed to moue and ſtirre by violéce of the ſtreame, moreouer emongſt the braunches of the ſtone appeared the image of Acteon, And how that Diana (whiche was carued within the ſame ſtone ſtandinge in the water becauſe he did ſée her naked) did tourne him into a harte, and ſo he was torne and ſlayne of his owne houndes. And while I was greatly delighted with the view of theſe thinges, Birrhena ſpake to me and ſaide: Coſin, all thinges here be at your commaundement. And there, withall ſhe willed ſecretely the reſidewe to departe, who being gone ſhe ſaid: My moſt déere coſin Lucius I ſweare by this goddeſse Diana that I doo greatly tender your ſafetie, and am as carefull for you, as if you were mine owne natural childe, beware I ſay, beware of the euill artes & wicked allurementes of that Pamphiles that is the wife of Milo, whome you call your hoſte, for ſhe is accompted the moſte chiefe and principall Magicien and enchantereſſe liuing, who by breathinge out certaine woordes and charmes ouer bowes, ſtones, and other friuolous things, can throwe down all the powers of the Heauens into the déepe bottome of Hell, and reduce all the whole worlde againe to the olde Chaos: For as ſoone as ſhe eſpieth any comely yonge man, ſhe is foorthwith ſtroken with his loue, and preſently ſetteth her whole minde and affection on him: She ſoweth her ſéede of flatterie,^[22] ſhe inuades his ſprite, and entangleth him with continuall ſnares of vnmeaſurable loue. And then, if any accorde not to her filthie deſire, or if they ſéeme lotheſome in her eye, by and by in the moment of an hower ſhe either turneth them into ſtones, ſhéepe, or ſome other beaſte as ſhe her ſelfe pleaſeth, and ſome ſhe preſentely ſ[•]eaeth and murdreth, of whome I woulde you ſhould earneſtly beware. For ſhe burneth continually, and you, by reaſon of your tender age and comely beawtie are capable of her fire and loue: This with great care Birrhena gaue me in charge, but I (that alwaies coueted and deſired, after that I harde talke of ſuche Sorcerye and Witchecrafte, to be experienced in the ſame) litle eſtéemed to beware of Pamphiles, but willingely determined to beſtowe my money in learninge of that arte, and nowe whollie to become a Witche: And ſo I wared ioyefull and wringinge my ſelfe out of her companie, as out of linkes or chaines, I badde her farewell, and departed towardes the houſe of mine hoſte Milo, by the waye I reaſoned thus with my ſelfe: O Lucius, nowe take héede, be vigilant, haue a good care, for nowe thou haſte time and place to ſatiffie thy deſire, nowe ſhake of thy shildiſhneſſe and ſhowe thy ſelfe a man, but ſpecially temper thy ſelfe from the loue of thine Oſteſſe, and abſtayne from violation of the bedde of Milo, but hardely attempte to winne the maiden Fotis for ſhe is beautifull, wanton, and pleaſant in talke. And ſon[•] when thou goeſt to ſleape,^[23] and when ſhe bringeth thée gently into thy chamber, & tenderly layeth the downe in thy bedde, and louingly couereth thée, and kiſſeth thée ſweetly, and departeth vnwillingly, and caſteth her eies oftentimes backe and ſtandes ſtill, then haſte thou a good occaſion miniſtred vnto thée, to proue and trie the minde of Fotis. Thus while I reaſoned with my ſelfe, I came to Milos doore perſeueringe ſtill in my purpoſe, but I founde nether Milo nor his wife at home.

¶How Apuleius fell in loue with Fotis.

Cap. 9.

WHen I was within the houſe I foūd my déere and ſwéete loue Fotis minſing of meate, and makinge potage for her Maſter and Miſtris, the cupborde was all ſet with wines, and I thought I ſmelled the ſauer of ſome deintie meates, ſhe had about her middle a white and cleane apron, and ſhe was girded about her bodie vnder her pappes with a ſwathell of redde ſilke, and ſhe ſtirred the potte and turned the meate with her fayre and white handes, in ſuch ſorte that with ſtirringe and turninge the ſame, her loines, and hippes did likewiſe moue and ſhake, whiche was in my minde a comely ſight to ſée. Theſe thinges when I ſawe, I was halfe amaſed, and ſtoode muſinge with my ſelfe, and my courage came then vpon me, whiche before was ſkant. And I ſpake vnto Fotis merely, and ſaid: O Futis, how trimly you can ſtirre the potte, and how finelie (with ſhakinge your buttockes) you can make potage. O happy and twiſe happy is he to whom you giue leaue & licence but to touche you there: Then ſhe being likewiſe merely diſpoſed gan anſweare: Depart I ſay miſer from me, departe from my fire,^[24] for if the [••]ame thereof doo neuer ſo litle blaſe foorth, it will burne thée e[•]tremely: and none can extinguiſhe the heate therof, but I alone who in ſtirring the potte, and makinge the bedde can ſo finely ſhake my ſelfe: when ſhe had ſaied theſe woordes, ſhe caſt her eies vpon me and laughed, but I did not departe from thence vntill ſuch time as I had viewed her in euery point: but what ſhould I ſpeake of others? when as I doo accuſtome abroade to marke and viewe the face and heare of euery dame, and afterwardes delight my ſelfe therwith priuately at home, and thereby iudge the reſidew of their ſhape, becauſe the face is the principall parte of all the bodie, and is firſte open to our eies: And whatſoeuer flouriſhyng and gorgeous apparell doth worke and ſet foorth in the corporal partes of a woman, the ſame doth the naturall and comely beautie ſet out in the face. Moreouer there be diuers, that (to the intent to ſhowe their grace and feature) will caſt of their partlettes, collars, habillimentes, frontes, cornettes & krippins, and doo more delight to ſhowe the fairenes of their ſkinne, then to decke them ſelues vp in golde and pretious ſtone. But becauſe it is a crime vnto me to ſay, ſo and to giue no example thereof, know ye: that if you ſpoile and cut of the heare of any womā or depriue her of the colour of her face, though ſhe weare neuer ſo excellent in beautie, though ſhe weare throwen downe from heauen, ſpronge of the ſeas, nouriſhed of the floudes, though ſhe weare Venus her ſelfe, though ſhe weare accōpanied with the Graces, though ſhe weare wayted vpon of all the courte of C[•]pide, though ſhe weare grided with her beautifull ſkarfe of loue, and though ſhe ſmelled of perfumes and muſkes, yet if ſhe appered balde: ſhe coulde in no wiſe pleaſe, [•]o, not her owne Vulcanus. O how well doth a fayre colour, and a ſhininge face agrée with glitteringe heare? Beholde it encoūtereth with the beames of the ſunne, and pleaſeth the eie meruelouſly. Sometimes the beautie of the heare reſembleth the colour of Golde and honie, ſometimes the blewe plume and aſured feathers about the neckes of dooues, eſpecially when it is either annoin[•]ted with the gumme of Arabia, or trimlie tufte out with the téeth of a fine combe, whiche if it be tied vp in the pole of the necke, it ſéemeth to the louer (that beholdeth the ſame) as a glaſſe that yeldeth foorth a more pleaſant and gratious comelines then if it ſhoulde be ſparſed abroade on the ſhoulders of the woman or hāge downe ſcatteringe behinde. Finally, there is ſuche a dignitie in the heare, that what ſo euer ſhe be, though ſhe neuer be ſo brauely attired with golde, ſilkes, pretious ſtones, and other riche & gorgeous ornamentes, yet if her heare be not curiouſly ſet foorth, ſhe cannot ſéeme faire. But in my Fotis, her garmentes vnbraſte and vnlaſte, did encreaſe her beautie, her heare hanged aboute her ſhoulders, and was diſparſed abroade vpon her partlette, and in euery parte of her necke, howbeit the greater parte was truſſed vp in her pole with a lace: Then I vnable to ſuſtaine the broylinge heate, whiche I was in, ranne vpon her and kiſſed the place, where ſhe had thus layd her heare, whereat ſhe turned her face, and caſt her rollinge eies vpon me, ſaying: O ſchollar thou haſt taſted now both hony and galle, take héede that thy pleaſure doo not turne into repentance: tuſhe (ꝙ I) my ſwéete harte, I am contented for ſuch an other kiſſe to be broyled here vpō this fier, wherwithal I embraſed & kiſſed her more often, and ſhe embraſed and kiſſed me likewiſe, and moreouer her breath ſmelled like ſinnamome, and the licour of her tongue was like vnto ſwéete Nectar, wherewith when my minde was greatly delighted, I ſaide: beholde Fotis I am yours, & ſhall preſently die, vnleſſe you take pitie vpon me, which when I had ſaid, ſhe eftſoones kiſſed me and bidde me be of good courage, and I will (ꝙ ſhe) ſatiſfie your whole deſire, and it ſhalbe no lenger delaied then vntill night, when as (aſſure your ſelfe) I will come and lie with you, wherefore goe your waies & prepare your ſelfe, for I entende valiantly, and couragiouſly to encounter with you this night: Thus when we had louingly talked and reaſoned together, we departed for that time.

¶How Birrhena ſente victuales vnto Apuleius, and how he talked with Milo, of Diophanes, and how be laye With Folis.

Cap. 10.

WHen noone was come Birrhena ſent vnto me a fatte pigge, fiue hennes, and a flagon of old wine. Then I called Fotis and ſaide,^[25] beholde how Bacchus the egger and ſtirrer of venerie doth of fer him ſelfe of his owne accorde, let vs therfore drinke vp this wine, that we may prepare our ſelues, and get vs courage againſt ſoone, for Uenus wanteth no other prouiſion then this, that the lampe may be al the night replemſhed with oyle, & the cuppes filled with wine: The reſidewe of the day I paſſed away at the baines, and in banquettinge, and towardes eueninge I went to ſupper, for I was bidde by Milo, and ſo I ſat downe at the table, out of Pāphiles ſight as much as I could, beinge mindefull of the commaundement of Birrhena and ſometimes I wonlde caſte mine eies vpon her, as if I ſhoulde loke vpon the furies of Hell, but I (eſ[•]ſones turninge my face behinde me, and beholding my Fotis miniſtringe at the table) was againe refreſhed and made merie. And beholde when Pamphiles did ſee the candell ſtandinge on the table, ſhe ſaide, verely we ſhall haue muche raine to morrow, whiche when her huſbande did here, he demaunded of her, by what reaſon ſhe knew it: Marry ([•] ſhe) the light on the table doth ſhowe the fame:then Milo laughed and ſaide, vsrely we neuriſhe and bringe vp a Sibelle prophecier, whiche by the viewe of a candell doth diuine of Celeſtiall thinges, and of the Sunne it ſelfe: Then I muſed in my minde and ſaide vnto Milo: Of truth it is a good experience and proufe of diuination, neither is it any maruell, for although this light is but a ſmall light and made by the handes of man, yet hath it a remembrance of that great and heauenly light, as of his parent, and dothe ſhowe vnto vs, what will happen in the ſkies aboue: For I knewe at Corinthe a certaine man of Aſſiria, who woulde giue anſweares in euery parte of the Citie, and for the gaine of money woulde tell euery man his fortune, to ſome he would tell the daies of their marriages, to other he woulde tell when they ſhould builde, that their edifices ſhould continue: to other, when they ſhould beſt goe about their aſſayres: to other when they ſhould trauell by lande: to other when they ſhould goe by ſeas: and to me (purpoſinge to take my iourney hither) he declared many thinges ſtraunge and variable. For ſometimes he ſaide that I ſhould winne glory [•]nough, ſomtimes he ſaide, I ſhoulde write a great Hiſtorie, ſometimes againe he ſaide, that I ſhould deuiſe an incredible tale, and ſometimes, that I ſhould make B[•]okes. Whereat Milo laughed againe, and enquired of me of what ſtature this man of Aſſiria was, and what he was named: In faith (ꝙ I) he is a talle man, and ſomewhat blacke and he is called Diophanes. Then ſayde Milo the ſame is he and no other, who ſemblablie hath declared many thinges here vnto vs, whereby he gotte and obtained great ſubſtance and treaſure. But the poore miſer fell at length into the handes of vnpitifull and cruell fortune. For beinge on a day emongſt a great aſſemblie of people, to tell the ſimple ſorte their fortune, a certayne Cobler came vnto him,^[26] and deſired him to tell when it ſhoulde be beſt for him to take his voiage, the which he promiſed to doo: the Cobler opened his purſe, and tolde a hundred pence to pay him for his paines, whereupon came a certaine yonge Gentleman, & toke Diophanes by the garment: Then he turninge him ſelfe embraſed and kiſſed him, and de[•]ired the Gentelman (who was one of his acquaintance) to ſitte downe by him. And Diophanes beinge aſtonied with this ſodaine chaunce forgatte what he was doyng, & ſaid: O déere fréend you are hartely welcome, I pray you when arriued you into theſe partes: then anſweared he I will tell you ſoone, but brother I pray you to tell me of your comminge from the Iſle of Euboea, and how you ſpedde by the way, whereunto Diophanes (this notable Aſſirian, not yet come vnto his minde but halfe amaſed) gaue anſweare and ſaide, I would to God that all our enemies and euill willers mighte fall into the like daungerous peregrination and trouble, for the ſhippe where we were in, (after that it was by the waues of the ſeas, and by the great tempeſtes t[•]ſſed hither and thither, in great perill, and after that the maſte and ſterne brake likewiſe in pieces) coulde in no wiſe be brought vnto the ſhore, but ſonke into the water, and ſo we did ſwimme and hardly eſcape to lande: and after that, what ſo euer was geuen vnto vs, in recompence of our loſſes, either by the pitie of ſtraungers or by the beneuolence of our fréendes, was taken away from vs by théeues,^[27] whoſe violence when my brother Ariſuatus did aſſay to reſiſte, he was cruelly murdered by them before my face. Theſe thinges when he had ſadly declared, the cobler toke vp his money againe, whiche he had tolde out to paye for the tellinge of his fortune and ranne away: Then Diophanes cōming to him ſelfe, perceaued what he had done, and we all that ſtoode by laughed greatly. But that, (ꝙ Milo) which Diophanes did tell vnto you Lucius, that you ſhould be happy, and haue a proſperous iourney, was onely true: Thus Milo reaſoned with me, but I was not a litle ſorie in that I had trained him in ſuch a vaine of talke, that I loſt a good parte of the night, and the ſweete pleaſure thereof, but at length I boldely ſaide vnto Milo. Let Diophanes farewell with his euill fortune, & gette againe that whiche he loſt by ſea and lande, for I verely doo yet féele the werines of my trauell, wherefore I pray you perdon me, and giue me licēce to departe to hedde, wherwithall I roſe vp & went vnto my chamber, where I found al thinges finely prepared, and the childrens bedde (becauſe they ſhould not here, what we did in the night) was remoued farre of without the chamber doore. The table was all couered with ſuche meates as was leſte at ſupper, the cuppes were filled halfe full with water to temper & delay the wines, the flaggon ſtoode readdy prepared, and there did nothinge lacke which was neceſſarie for the preparatiō of Venus: And when I was enteringe into the bedde, beholde my Fotis (who had brought her miſtris to ſléepe) came in & gaue me roſes and flowers, whiche ſhe had in her apron, and ſome ſhe threwe about the bedde, and ſhe kiſſed me ſwéetely, & tied a garlande aboute my head, and beſpred the chamber with the reſidewe. Whiche when ſhe had done, ſhe toke vp a cuppe of wine, and delaide it with whote water, and proffred it me to drinke, & before I had drunke vp all, ſhe pulled it from my mouth, and then gaue it me againe, and in this manner we emptied the potte twiſe or thriſe together. Thus when I had well repleniſhed my ſelfe with wine, and was now readie vnto Venerie not onely in minde but alſo in bodie, I remoued my clothes, and (ſhowinge to Fotis my great impaciencie) I ſaid, O my ſwéete harte take pitie vpon me and helpe me: for as you ſée, I am now prepared vnto the battaile whiche you your ſelfe did appointe, for after that I felte the firſt arrow of cruell Cupide within my breſt, I bent my howe very ſtronge, and now feare (becauſe it is bended ſo harde) leaſt the ſtringe ſhould breake, but that thou maiſt the better pleaſe me, vndreſſe thy heare and come and embraſe me louingly, wherewithall (ſhe made no longe delaye) but ſet aſide all the meate and wine, and then ſhe vnapparelled her ſelfe, and vnatired her heare, preſentinge her amiable bodie vnto me, in manner of fayre Venus, when ſhe goeth vnder the waues of the ſea. Now (ꝙ ſhe) is come the howre of iuſtinge, now is come the time of warre, wherefore ſhowe thy ſelfe like vnto a man, for I will not retire, I will not flie the fielde, ſée then thou be valiant, ſée thou be couragious ſince, there is no time appointed when our ſkirmiſhe ſhal ceaſe: In ſaying theſe woordes ſhe came to me to bedde, and embraſed me ſwéetely, and ſo we paſſed all the night in paſtime and pleaſure, and neuer ſlept till it was day: but we would eftſoones refreſhe our werines, and prouoke our pleaſure, and renewe our Venerie by drinkinge of wine. In whiche ſorte we pleaſauntly paſſed away many other nightes followinge.

¶How Apuleius ſupped with Birrhena, and what a ſtraunge tale Bellephoron tolde at the table.

Cap. 11.

IT fortuned on a daie that Birrhena deſired me earneſtly to ſuppe with her, and ſhe woulde in no wiſe take any excuſation. Whereupon I went vnto Fotis to aſke counſell of her as of ſome diuine, who (although ſhe was vnwilling y• I ſhould departe one foote from her companie) yet at length ſhe gaue me licence to be abſent for a while, ſaying: beware that you [•]acry not longe at ſupper there, for there is a rabblement of commō barrators and diſturbers of the publique peace that roueth about in the ſtreates, and murdreth al ſuch as they may take, neither can lawe nor iuſtice redreſſe them in any caſe. And they will the ſooner ſette vpon you, by reaſon of your comelines and audacitie, in that you are not affeard at any time to walke in ye ſtréetes. Then I anſweared and ſaide, haue no care of me Fotis, for I eſtéeme the pleaſure whiche I haue with thée, aboue the deintie meates that I eate abroade, & therefore I will returne againe quickely. Neuertheleſſe I minde not to come without companie, for I haue here my ſwoorde, whereby I hope to defende my ſelfe. And ſo in this ſorte I went to ſupper, and beholde I founde at Birrhenas houſe a great companie of ſtraungers, and of the chiefe and principall of the Citie, the beddes (made of Citorne and Yuorie) were richly adornde and ſpredde with clothe of Golde, the cuppes were garniſhed pretiouſly, and there was diuers other thinges of ſondrie faſhion, but of like eſtimation and price: here ſtoode a glaſſe gorgeouſly wrought, there ſtoode an other of Criſtall finely painted, there ſtoode a cuppe of glitteringe Siluer, and here ſtoode a nother of ſhinyng Golde, and here was an other of Ambre artificially carued, and made with pretious ſtones: Finally there was all thinges that might be deſired, the Seruiters waited orderly at the table in riche apparell, the pages arrayed in ſilke robes did fill great gemmes, & pearles made in forme of cuppes with excellent wine, then one brought in candelles and torches: and when we weare ſette downe and placed in order, we began to talke, to laugh and be merie. And Birrhena ſpake vnto me, and ſaide: I pray you Coſin how like you our countrey? Verely I thinke there is no other Citie which hath the like Temples, Baynes, and other commodities as we haue here: Further we haue aboundance of houſehold-ſtuffe, we haue pleaſure, we haue eaſe, and when the Romaine marchantes doo arriue in this Citie, they are gentely and quietly entertained, and all that dwell within this prouince (when they purpoſe to ſolace and repoſe them ſelues) doo come to this Citie. Whereunto I anſweared: Verely (ꝙ I) you tell truthe, for I can finde no place in all the worlde, whiche I like better then this, but I greatly feare, the blinde and incuitable trenches of Witchcrafte, for they ſay that the dead bodies ar digged out of their graues, & the bones of thē that are burned be ſtolen away, & the toes & fingers of ſuch as are ſlaine, be cut of to afflicte and torment ſuch as li[•]e: And the olde Witches aſſone as they heare of the death of any perſon, doo foorthwith goe & vncouer the hearſe, & ſpoile the corpſe, to worke their enchauntmentes: Then an other ſittinge at the table ſpake and ſaide, in faith you ſay true, neither yet doo they ſpare or fauour the liuinge. For I know one not farre henſe that was cruelly handled by them, who (being not contented with cuttinge of his noſe) did likewiſe cut of his eares, whereat all the companie laughed hartely, and looked vpon one that ſatte at ye boordes ende, who being amaſed at their ga[•]inge, and ſomewhat angry withal, would haue ryſen from the table, had not Birrhena ſpake vnto him & ſaide: I pray the fréende Telepheron ſitte ſtill, and accordinge to thy accuſtomed curteſie, declare vnto vs the loſſe of thy noſe and eares, to the ende that my coſin Lucius may be delighted with the pleaſauntnes of the tale: To whome he anſweared, a dame you in the office of your bountie ſhall preuaile herein, but the inſolencie of ſome is not to be ſupported. This he ſpake very angerly, but Birrhena was earneſt vpon him & aſſured him that he ſhould haue no wronge at no mans hande, whereby he was enforced to declare the ſame: And ſo (lappinge vp the ende of the table cloth and carpette together) he leaned with his elbow thereon, and helde out the thrée forefingers of his right hande in manner of an Oratour, and ſaide: When I was a yonge man I wente vnto a certayne Citie called Milet,^[28] to ſée the games and triūphes there called Olympia, and beinge deſirous to come into this famous prouince, after that I had traueled ouer all Theſſalie, I fortuned in an euell houre to come to the Citie Lariſſa, where (while I went vp and downe to [••]ewe the ſtréetes, to ſéeke ſome reliefe for my poore eſtate, (for I had ſpent al my money) I eſpied a talle old man ſtanding vpon a ſtone, in the middeſt of the markette place, cryinge with a loude voice, and ſayinge: that if any mā would watche a dead corpſe that night, he ſhould be reſonably rewarded for his paines: which when I harde, I ſaid to one that paſſed by: what is here to doo, doo dead men vſe to runne away in this countrie. Then anſweared he: holde your peace for you are but a babe and a ſtraunger here, and not without cauſe you are ignorant how you are in Theſſalie, where the women Witches doo bite of by morſelles the fl[•]ſhe of the faces of dead men, and thereby woorke their Sorceries and enchauntmentes. Then (ꝙ I) in good fellowſhippe tell me the order of this cuſtodie and how it is: Marry (ꝙ he) firſt you muſt watche all the night, with your eies bent continuallie vpon the corpſe, neuer lookinge of nor mouinge aſide: For theſe Witches doo turne them ſelues into ſundry kinde of beaſtes, wherby they deceaue the eies of all men, ſometimes they are tranſformed into birdes, ſometimes into dogges, and myce, & ſomtimes into flies, moreouer they wil charme the keapers of the corpſe a ſleape, neither cā it be declared what meanes and ſhiftes theſe wicked women doo vſe to bring their purpoſe to paſſe: and the rewarde for ſuch daungerous watchinge is no more then fower or fire ſhillinges: but herken further, which I had welny forgotten, if the keper of the dead bodie doo not render (on the morninge following) the corps whole & ſounde as he receaued y• ſame, he ſhalbe puniſhed in this ſorte. That is: if the corpſe be diminiſhed or ſpoyled in any parte of his face handes or toes, the ſame ſhalbe diminiſhed and ſpoyled in the keper. Whiche when I harde I toke a good harte and went vnto the crier, and bidde him ceaſſe, for I would take the matter in hande, and ſo I demaunded what I ſhould haue: Marry (ꝙ he) a thouſand pence, but beware I ſay yonge man that you doo well defende the dead corps from the wicked Witches, for he was the ſonne of one of the chiefeſt of the Citie: Tu[•]he (ſaid I) you ſpeake you can not tell what, beholde I am a man made all of yron, and haue neuer deſire to ſleape, and am more quicke of ſight then Lynx or Argus. I had ſkarſe ſpoken theſe woordes, when he toke me by the hande, and brought me to a certaine houſe, the gate whereof was cloſed faſte, ſo that I went thorough the wicket, then he brought me into a chamber ſomewhat darke, and ſhowed me a matron clothed in mourninge veſture and wepinge in lamentable wiſe: And he ſpake vnto her and ſaide: Beholde, here is one that will enterpriſe to watche the corpſe of your huſbande this night, whiche when ſhe harde, ſhe turned her bloubered face couered with her heare vnto me, ſaiyng: I pray you yonge mā take good héede, and ſée well to your office: haue no care (ꝙ I) ſo that you will giue me any thinge aboue that which is dewe to be giuen, wherewith ſhe was contented: And then ſhe roſe and brought me into a chamber whereas the corpſe lay couered with white ſhéetes, and ſhe called ſeuen witneſſes, before whome ſhe ſhowed the dead bodie, and euery parte and parcell thereof, and (with wéepinge eies) deſired them all to teſtifie the matter, whiche done ſhe ſaide theſe woordes of courſe as followe: Beholde his noſe is whole, his eies ſalue, his eares without ſcarre, his lippes vntoucht, & his chinne ſounde: All whiche was written and noted in tables, & ſubſcribed with the hādes of the witneſſes to confirme the ſame: which done, I ſaid vnto the matron: Madame I pray you that I may haue all thinges here neceſſarie: what is that? (ꝙ ſhe) marry ſaide I a great lampe repleniſhed with oyle, pottes of wine, and water to delaye the ſame, and ſome other drinke and deintie diſhe that was lefte at ſupper, then ſhe ſhaked her head, and ſaide: Away foole as thou arte, thinkeſt thou to playe the glutton here, and to looke for deintie meates, where ſo longe time hath not bene ſéene any ſmoke at all? comeſt thou hither to eate, where we ſhould wéepe and lament? and there withall ſhe turned backe and commaunded her mayden Mirrhena to deliuer me a lampe with oyle, which when ſhe had done, they cloſed the chamber doore and departed. Nowe when I was alone I rubbed mine eies, and armed my ſelfe to kéepe the corpſe, and to the intent I would not ſleape, I beganne to ſinge, and ſo I paſſed the time till it was midnight, when as beholde there crepte in a Weaſell into the chamber, and ſhe came againſt me & put me in very great feare, in ſo muche that I marueled greatly of the audacitie of ſo little a beaſte. To whome I ſaide, gette thée hence thou whore, and hie thée to thy fellowes, leaſt thou féele my fingers? why wilt not thou goe? Then incontinently ſhe ranne away, and when ſhe was gonne, I fell on the grounde ſo faſte a ſléepe, that Apollo him ſelfe could not diſcerne whether of vs twoo was the dead corpſe, for I lay proſtrate, as one without lyfe, and néeded a keper likewiſe. At length the cockes beganne to crowe declaring that it was daye, wherewithall I waked and (beynge greatly affeard) ran vnto the dead bodie with the lāpe in my hande, and I viewed him roūde about: And immediatly came in the Matron wéepinge with her witneſſes, & ranne vnto the corpſe & eftſones kiſſinge him, turned his body and found no parte diminiſhed: Then ſhe commaunded one Philodeſpotus her ſtewarde to pay me my wages foorthwith, which whē he had done, he ſaide: we thanke you gentle yonge man for your paines, and verely for your diligence herein, we will accompte you as one of the familie. Whereunto I (beinge ioyeous of my vnhoped gaine, and ratlinge my money in my hande) did anſweare: I pray you madame eſtéeme me as one of your ſeruitours, and if you néede my ſeruice at any time I am at your commaūdement. I had not fully declared theſe woordes, when as beholde all the ſeruauntes of the houſe were aſſembled with weapōs to driue me away, one buffeted me about the face, an other about the ſhoulders, ſome ſtroke me in the ſides, ſome kicked me, and ſome tare my garmentes, and ſo I was handled emongeſt them and driuen from the houſe (as the proude yonge man Adonis who was torne by a Bore). And when I was come into the next ſtreate, I muſed with my ſelfe and remembred mine vnwiſe and vnaduiſed woordes which I had ſpoken, whereby I cōſidered that I had deſerued much more puniſhmēt, and that I was woorthely beaten for my follie: And by and by the corpſe came foorth, whiche (becauſe it was the bodie of one of the chiefe of the Citie) was carried in funerall pompe rounde aboute the markette place, accordinge to the rite of the countrie there. And foorthwith ſtepped out an olde man weping and lamentinge and ranne vnto the biere and embraſed it, and with déepe ſighes & ſobbes cried out in this ſorte: O maiſters I pray you by the faith whiche you profeſſe, and by the dutie whiche you owe vnto the weale publique, take pitie and mercie vpon this dead corps, who is miſerablie murdred, and doo vengeaunce on this wicked and curſed woman his wife, whiche hath committed this facte. For it is ſhe and no other, that hath poyſoned her huſbande, my ſiſters ſonne, to the intent to maintaine her whoredome and to get his heritage. In this ſorte the olde man complained before the face of all the people. Then they (aſtonied at theſe ſayinges and becauſe the thing ſéemed to be true) cried out, burne her, burne her, and thei ſought for ſtones to throwe at her, and willed the boies in the ſtreate to doo the ſame: but ſhe (wepinge in lamentable wiſe) did ſweare by all the goddes that ſhe was not culpable of this crime. No (ꝙ the olde man)? Beholde here is one ſente by the prouidence of God to trie out the matter, euen Zachlas an Egiptian, who is the moſt principall Prophecier in all this countrie, and who was hired of me for money to reduce the ſoule of this mā from Hell, and to reuiue his bodie for the triall hereof. And therewithal he brought foorth a certaine yonge man clothed in linnen rayment, hauing on his féete a payre of pantoffles, and his crowne ſhauen, who kiſſed his handes and knées, ſaying: O Prieſt haue mercie, haue mercie, I pray thée by y• celeſtiall Planetes, by the powers infernall, by the vertue of the naturall Elementes, by the ſilences of the night, by the buildinges of ſwallowes nigh vnto the towne of Copton, by the increaſe of the floode Nilus, by the ſecreate miſteries of Memphis, and by the inſtrumentes and trumpettes of the Iſle Pharos, haue mercie I ſay, and call againe to life this dead bodie, and make that his eyes whiche be cloſed and ſhutte, may be opened & ſée, howbeit we meane not to ſtriue againſt the lawe of death, neither entend we to depriue the yearth of his right, but (to the ende this facte may he knowen) we craue but a ſmall time and ſpace of life, whereat this Prophete was moued, and toke a certaine hearbe, & laide it thrée times vpon the mouth of the dead, and he toke an other, and laide it vpon his breſt in like ſorte: Thus when he had done, he turned him ſelfe int[•] the Eaſt, and made certaine Oraiſons vnto the Sunne, which cauſed all the people to maruell greatly, & to loke for this ſtraunge miracle that ſhould happen: Then I preſſed in emongeſt them nigh vnto the biere, and gotte vpon a ſtone to ſée this miſterie, and beholde incontinently the dead bodie began to receaue ſpirite, his principall vaines did moue, his life came againe and he helde vp his head, & ſpake in this ſorte. Why doo you call me backe againe to this tranſitorie life, that haue already taſted of the water of Leche, and likewiſe bene in the deadlie denne of Stir? leaue of I pray, leaue of, and lette me lie in quiet teſte: when theſe woordes were vttered by the dead corpſe, the Prophete drewe nighe vnto the biere, and ſaide: I charge thée to tell (before the face of all the people here) y• occaſion of thy death, what doeſt thou thinke that I cannot by my comurations cal vp the dead? and by my puiſſance tormēt thy bodie? Then che corps moued vp his head againe, and made reuerence vnto the people, & ſaid: Verely I was poiſoned by the meanes of my wicked wife, & ſo thereby yelded my bedde vnto an adulterer. Whereat his wife taking preſent audacitie, & reprouing his ſayings with a curſed minde, did denie it: the people were bēt againſt her ſondry waies, ſome thought beſt y• ſhe ſhould be buried aliue wt her huſbād, but ſome ſaid y• there ought no credite to be giuen vnto the dead bodie, which opinion was cleane taken away by the woordes that the corpſe ſpake againe, & ſaid: Beholde I will giue you ſome euident token, which neuer yet any other man knew, wherby you ſhall perceaue y• I declare the truth, & by and by he pointed towardes me that ſtoode on the ſtone, & ſaide: when this, the good gardian of my bodie watched me diligently in ye night, & that the wicked Witches & enchantereſſes came into the chamber to ſpoile me of my limmes, & to bryng ſuch their purpoſe to paſſe, did trāſforme them ſelues into ye ſhape of beaſtes: And when as thei could in no wiſe deceaue or beguile his vigilant eies, they caſt him into ſo dead & ſounde a ſleape that by their Wicthcrafte he ſéemed without ſpirite or life. After this thei called me by my name, & did neuer ceaſe till as the colde members of my bodie began by litle & litle to reuiue: then he (being of more liuely ſoule, howbeit buried in ſleape, in y• he & I weare named by one name, and becauſe he knew not that they called me) roſe vp firſt, & as one without ſence or perſenerāce paſſed by the doore faſt cloſed vnto a certaine hole, whereas the Witches cut of firſt his noſe, & then his eares, & ſo that was done to him, whiche was appointed to be done to me. And that ſuch their ſubtiltie might not be perceaued, they made him a like payre of eares and noſe of waxe, wherefore you may ſée that the poore miſer for lucre of a litle money, ſuſtayned loſſe of his membres. Whiche when he had ſaide, I was greatly aſtonied, and (mindinge to proue whether his woordes were true or no) put my hande to my noſe, & my noſe fell of, and put my hande to mine eares, and mine eares fel of. Whereat al y• people wondred greatly, and laughed me to ſkorne? but I (beinge ſtroken in a colde ſweate) crept betwéene their legges for ſhame, & eſcaped away. So I diſfigured returned home again, & couered the loſſe of mine eares, with my longe heare, and glewed this cloute to my face to hide my ſhame. Aſſone as Telephoron had tolde his tale, they whiche ſatte at the table, (repleniſhed with wine) laughed hartelie. And while they drāke one to an other, Birrhena ſpake to me, and ſaide: From the firſt foūdation of this Citie, we haue had a cuſtome to celebrate the feſtiuall day of the God Kiſus, & to morrow is the feaſt, when as I pray you to be preſent to ſette out the ſame more honorably, and I would with all my harte that you could finde or deuiſe ſomwhat of your ſelfe, that might be in honor of ſo great a God: to whome I anſweared: Verely Coſin I will doo as you commaunde me, & right gladde would I be if I might inuent any laughinge or mery matter to pleaſe or ſatiſfie Kiſus withall:^[29] Then I roſe from the table, and toke leaue of Birchena and departed, and when I came into the firſte ſtreate my torche went out, that with great paine I coulde ſkarſe gette home, by reaſon it was ſo darke, and for feare of ſtomblinge. And when I was welny come vnto the doore, beholde I ſaw thrée men of great ſtature heuinge and liftinge at Milos gates to gette in. And when they ſawe me, they weare nothing affeard, but aſſaide with more force to breake downe the doores, whereby they gaue me occaſion and not without cauſe to thinke that thei weare ſtronge théeues. Wherupon I, by and by, drew out my ſwoorde which I carried for that purpoſe vnder my cloke, and ranne in emongſt them, and wounded them in ſuch ſorte that they fell downe dead before my face. Thus when I had ſlaine them all, I knocked, ſweating and breathyng at the doore, till Fotis lette me in. And then full weary with the ſlaughter of theſe théeues, like Hercules when he fought againſt the King Gerion, I wente to my chamber and laide me downe to [•]leape.

The thirde Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How Apuleius was taken and put in priſon for Murder.

Cap. 12.

WHen morninge was come, and that I was awaked from ſléepe, my harte burned ſore, with remembraunce of the murder which I had committed the night before: and I roſe and ſat downe on the ſide of the bedde, with my legges a croſſe, and wringinge my handes, wepinge in miſerable ſorte. For I imagined with my ſelf, that I was brought before the iudge in the iudgement place, and that he awarded ſentence againſt me, & that the hangeman was readdie to leade me to the gallowes. And further I imagined, and ſaid: Alas what iudge is he that is ſo gentle or benigne that will thinke that I am vugiltie of the ſlaughter & murder of theſe thrée men? How be it, the Aſſirian Diophanes did firmely aſſure vnto me, that my peregrination and voiage hither ſhould be proſperous. But while I did thus vnfolde my ſorrowes, and greatly bewayle my fortune, beholde, I harde a great noyes and crie at the doore, and in came the Magiſtrates and Officers, who cōmaunded twoo ſergeantes to binde me, & leade me to pryſon, whereunto I was willingly obedient, and as they ledde me thorough the ſtreate, all the Citie gathered together and followed me, and although I looked alwaies on the grounde for very ſhame, yet ſometimes I caſt my head aſide, and merueled greatly that amongſt ſo many thouſand people there was not one but laughed excéedingly. Finally, when they had brought me thorough all the ſtréetes of the citie, in māner of thoſe as goe in proceſſion, & doo ſacrafice to mitigate the Ire of the Gods, they placed me in the iudgemēt hall, before the ſeate of the iudges: & after that the crier cōmaunded all men to kéepe ſilence, the people deſired the iudges to giue ſentence in the great Theatre by reaſon of y• great multitude that was there, wherby thei weare in daunger of ſtifling. And beholde y• preaſe of people encreaſed ſtil, ſome climed to the toppe of the houſe, ſome gotte vpon the beames, ſome vpō the images, and ſome thruſt in their heades through the windowes, litle regardyng the daunger they were in, ſo they might ſee me. Then the officers brought me forth opēly into the midle of the hall y• euery man might beholde me. And after that the crier had made an oies & willed all ſuche as would bringe any euidence againſt me ſhoulde come forth, there ſtepped out an olde man, with a glaſſe of water in his hande, droppyng out ſoftly, who deſired that he might haue libertie to ſpeake duringe the time of the continuance of the water, which when it was graunted he beganne his Oration in this ſorte.

¶How Apuleius was accuſed by an olde man, and how he anſweared for him ſelfe.

Cap. 13.

O Moſt reuerēde and iuſt iudges, the thinge which I purpoſe to declare vnto you, is no ſmal matter but toucheth the eſtate and tranquillitie of this whole Citie, and the puniſhment therof may be a right good example to others. Wherefore I pray you moſte venerable fathers to whome, and to euery of whome it doth appertaine to prouide for the dignitie & ſafetie of the common weale, that you would in no wiſe ſuffer this wicked homicide, embrewed with the bloud of ſo many murdred Citizens to ſcape vnpuniſhed. And thinke you not y• I am moued hereunto by enuie or hatred, but by reaſon of mine office in y• I am capitaine of the night watche, and becauſe no man aliue ſhould accuſe me to be remiſſe in the ſame I will declare all the whole matter, orderly, as it was done this laſt night.

This night paſt when as at our accuſtomed howre I^[30] diligently ſearched euery parte of the Citie: Behold, I fortuned to eſpie this cruell yonge man, drawinge out his ſwoorde againſt thrée Citizens, & after a longe combate foughten betwene them, he murdred one after an other miſerably, which whē he had done (moued in his conſcience at ſo great a crime) he ranne away, & ayded by reaſon of darkenes, ſlipt into a houſe & there lay hidden all night, but by the prouidence of the Gods, which ſuffereth no heynous offences to remaine vnpuniſhed, he was takē by vs this morninge before he eſcaped any further, & ſo brought hither to your honorable preſence to receaue his deſert accordingly. So haue you here a giltie perſon, a culpable homicide, & an accuſed ſtraunger, wherefore pronounce ye iudgement againſt this man being an alien, when as you would moſt ſeuerely & ſharpely reuenge ſuch an offence found in a knowen Citizen. In this ſort y• cruel accuſer finiſhed & ended his terrible tale: then the crier commaunded me to ſpeake, if I had any thinge to ſay for my ſelfe, but I could in no wiſe vtter any woorde at all for wéepinge. And on the other ſide I eſtéemed not ſo much his rigorous accuſation, as I did conſider mine owne miſerable conſcience. Howbeit (beinge inſpired by diuine audacitie) at length I ganne ſay:^[31] Verely I know that it is a hard thinge for him, that is accuſed to haue ſlayne thrée perſons, to perſuade you that he is not innocent although he ſhould declare the whole truth, & confeſſe the matter how it was in déede, but if your Honours will vouchſalue to giue me audience, I will ſhow you that if I be cōdemned to die, I haue not deſerued it by mine owne deſerte, but that I was moued by fortune, and reaſonable cauſe to doo that facte. For returninge ſomewhat late from ſupper yeſternight (beinge well tippled with wine, whiche I will not denie) and approchinge nighe vnto my common lodginge, which was in the houſe of one Milo a Citizen of this Citie, I fortuned to eſpie thrée great Théeues attemptinge to breake downe his walles & gates, and to open the lockes to enter in. And whē they had remoued the doores out of the hookes, thei conſulted emongſt them ſelues, how they would hādle ſuch as they founde in the houſe: And one of them beyng of more courage, & of greater ſtature then the reſt, ſpake vnto his fellowes, and ſaide: Tuſhe you are but boyes, take mens hartes vnto you, and let vs enter into euery parte of the houſe, & ſuche as we finde a ſléepe let vs ſlea, and ſuch likewiſe as reſiſt let vs kill, and ſo by that meanes we ſhall eſcape without daunger. Verely, ye iudges, I confeſſe that I drew out my ſwoorde againſt thoſe thrée citizens, but I thought that it was the office & duetie of one that heareth good will to this weale publique ſo to doo, ſpecially ſince they put me in great feare, and aſſayed to robbe and ſpoile mine hoſte Milo. But when thoſe cruell and terrible men woulde in no caſe rūne away, nor feare my naked ſwoorde, but boldly reſiſt againſt me, I ranne vpō them and fought valiantly. One of them which was the Capitaine inuaded me ſtrongly, and drewe me by the heare, with both his handes, and beganne to beate me with a great ſtone, but in the ende I proued the hardier man, and threwe him downe at my féete and killed him. I toke likewiſe the ſeconde that claſped about my legges and bitte me, and ſlewe him alſo. And the thirde that came running violently againſt me, after that I had ſtrokē him vnder the ſtomake fell downe dead. Thus when I had deliuered my ſelfe, the houſe, mine hoſte, & all his familie from this preſent daunger, I thought that I ſhould not onely eſcape vnpuniſhed, but alſo haue ſome great rewarde of the Citie for my paines. Moreouer I, that haue alwaies béene cléere and vnſpotted of crime, and that haue eſtéemed mine innocencie aboue all the treaſure of the worlde, can finde no reaſonable cauſe why vpon mine accuſation I ſhould be condemned to die: ſince, Firſt I was moued to ſet vpō the théeues by iuſt occaſion: Secondly, becauſe there is none that can affirme, that there hath bene at any time either grudge or hatred betwene vs: Thirdly, we were men mere ſtraungers and of no acquaintance: Laſt of all, no man can proue that I committed that facte for any lucre or gaine. When I had ended my woordes in this ſort. Beholde, I wéeped againe pitiouſly, and holdinge vp my handes, I prayed all the people by the mercie of the cōmon weale, and for the loue of my poore infantes and children, to ſhowe me ſome pitie and fauour. And whē I ſawe their hartes ſomewhat relented and moued by my lamentable teares, I called all the Goddes to witneſſe that I was vngiltie of the crime, and ſo to their diuine prouidence I committed my preſent eſtate, but turninge my ſelfe againe, I perceaued that all the people laughed encéedingly, and eſpecially my good fréende and hoſte Milo. Then thought I with my ſelfe: Alas where is faith? where is remorſe of cōſcience? Beholde I am condemned to die as a murderer, for the ſaluegarde of mine hoſte Milo and his familie. Yet is he not contented with y•, but likewiſe laugheth me to ſkorne, where otherwiſe he ſhould comfort and helpe me.

¶How Apuleius was accuſed by twoo women, and how the ſlaine bodies were founde blowen bladders.

Cap. 14.

WHen this was done, out came a woman wepinge into the middle of the Theatre arrayed in mourninge veſture, and bearinge a childe in her armes. And after her came an olde woman in ragged robes cryinge and howlinge likewiſe: And thei brought with thē the Oliue bowes wherwith the thrée ſlaine bodies were couered on the biere, and cried out in this māner: O right Iudges we pray you by the iuſtice & humanitie whiche is in you, to haue mercie vpon theſe ſlaine perſons, and ſuccour our widowhed and loſſe of our déere huſbandes, and eſpecially this poore infant, who is now an orphan and depriued of all good fortune: And execute your iuſtice by order & lawe vpon the bloud of this théefe who is the occaſion of all our ſorowes. When they had ſpokē theſe woordes, one of the moſt auncient iudges did riſe, and ſay: Touchinge this murder which deſerueth great puniſhment, this malefactor him ſelfe cānot denie, but our dutie is to enquire & trie out, whether he had no coadiutors to helps him. For it is not likely, that one man alone could kill thrée ſuch great & valiant perſons, wherefore the truth muſt be tried out by y• racke, & ſo we ſhall learne, what other compaignions he hath, and coote out the neſt of theſe miſcheuous murderers. And there was no long delay, for accordinge vnto the cuſtome of Grecia, the fire, the whele, & many other tormentes were brought in: Thē my ſorow encreaſed or rather doubled, in y• I could not ende my life with whole & vnperiſhed mēbers. And by & by the olde woman, who troubled all the courte with her howling deſired the iudges that (before I ſhould be tormented on the racke) I might vncouer the bodies which I had ſlaine, y• euery man might ſée their comely ſhape & youthfull beautie, & that I might receaue condigne & woorthy puniſhment, according to y• qualitie of the offence, and therewithall ſhe made a ſigne of ioye. Then y• iudge cōmaūded me foorthwith to diſcouer the bodies of the ſlaine, liynge vpon the biere, with mine owne handes, but whē I refuſed a good ſpace, by reaſon I would not make my facte apparant to the eies of all men, the ſergeantes charged me by cōmaundement of the iudges, and thruſt me forwarde to doo the ſame: I then (beyng enforced by neceſſitie) though it weare againſt my will, vncouered their bodies: but O good Lord, what a ſtraunge ſight did I ſée? what a monſter? what ſodeine chaunge of all my ſorrowes? I ſéemed as though I weare one of the houſe of Proſerpina, & of the familie of death, in ſo much y• I could not ſufficiently expreſſe y• forme of this new ſight, ſo far was I amaſed & aſtonied thereat: For why, the bodies of y• thrée ſlaine men were no bodies, but thrée blowen bladders mangled in diuers places, and they ſéemed to be wounded in thoſe partes, where I remember I wounded the théeues the night before: Whereat the people laughed excéedingely. Some reioyſed meruelouſly with the remembraunce thereof, ſome helde their ſtomakes that aked with ioye, but euery mā delighted at this paſſyng ſporte, and ſo departed out of the Theatre. But I from the time that I vncouered the bodies ſtoode ſtill as cold as iſe, no otherwiſe then as the other ſtatues & images there, neither came I vnto my right ſenſes vntill ſuch time as Milo mine hoſte came and toke me by the [•]hād, and with ciuill violence ledde me away wepinge and ſobbinge where I would or no: & becauſe that I might not be ſéene, he brought me through many blind waies and lanes to his houſe, where he wente about to comfort me beinge ſadde and yet fearefull, with gentle entreatie of talke: but he coulde in no wiſe mitigate my impaciencie of the iniurie whiche I conceiued within my minde. And behold, by and by the Magiſtrates and Iudges with their enſignes entred into the houſe and endeuored to pacifie me in this ſorte, ſaying: O Lucius we are aduertiſed of your dignitie, and know the Genelogie of your auncient lignage, for the nobilitie of your kinne doo poſſeſſe the greateſt parte of al this province. And thinke not that you haue ſuffred the thinge wherefore you wéepe, to any your reproche or ignominie, but put away all care and ſorrowe out of your minde: For this day whiche we celebrate once a yéere in honour of the God Riſus, is alwaies renoumpned with ſome ſolempne Nouell, and the god doth cōtinually accōpanie with the inuentor thereof, and will not ſuffer that he ſhould be ſorowfull, but pleaſantly beare a ioyfull face. And verely al the Citie for the grace that is in you, entende to rewarde you with great honours & to make you a patron. And further that your ſtatue or image ſhalbe ſet vp for a perpetuall remembraunce. To whome I anſweared: As for ſuche benefites as I haue receaued alreadie of this famous Citie of Theſſalie, I yéelde and render moſte entier thankes, but as [•]ouchinge the ſettinge vp of any ſtatues or images, I would wiſhe that they ſhould be reſerued for mine aūcientes and ſuch as are more woorthy then I. When I had ſpoken theſe woordes ſomewhat grauely, & ſhowed my ſelf nore merry then I was before, the Iudges and Magiſtrates departed, and I reuerently toke my leaue of them and bidde them farewell. And beholde, by and by there came one runnyng to me in haſt, and ſaid: Sir, your coſin Birrhena deſireth you to take the paines, accordinge to your promiſe yeſternight, to come to ſupper, for it is ready. But I greatly fearing to goe any more to her houſe in the night, ſaid vnto y• meſſenger: My fréende I pray you to tell my coſin your Miſteris that I would willingly be at her commaūdement, but for breakinge my troth & credite. For mine hoſte Milo enforced me to aſſure him, and cōpelled me by the feaw of this preſent day, that I ſhould not departe from his companie, wherefore I pray you to excuſe me and to differ my promiſe to an other time. And while I was ſpeakinge theſe woordes, Milo toke me by the hande & ledde me towardes the next baine, but by the way, I went couchinge vnder him to hide my ſelfe from the ſight of men, becauſe I had miniſtred ſuch an occaſion of laughter: And when I had waſhed & wiped my ſelfe and returned home againe, I neuer remembred any ſuch thing, ſo greatly was I aſhamed at the noddinge and pointyng of euery perſon. Then I went to ſupper with Milo, where God wotte we fared but poorely. Wherefore (feigninge that my head did ake by reaſon of my ſobbinge & weping all the daie) I deſired licence to departe to my chamber and ſo I went to bedde.

¶How Fotis tolde to Apuleius, what Witchcratie her Miſtris did vſe:

Cap. 15.

WHen I was a bedde I beganne to cal to minde al the ſorrowes and griefes that I was in the day before vntill ſuch time as my loue Fotis (hauinge brought her Miſtris to ſléepe) came into the chamber not as ſhe was wonte doo, for ſhe ſéemed nothinge pleaſant neither in countenance nor talke, but with a ſower face & frowning looke, gan ſpeake in this ſorte. Verely, I confeſſe that I haue bene the occaſion of all thy trouble this day, and therewithall ſhe pulled out a whippe from vnder her apron, and deliuered it to me ſaying, reuenge thy ſelfe of me miſchieuous harlotte or rather ſlea me. And thinke you not that I did willingly procure this anguiſhe and ſorrow vnto you I call the Goddes to witneſſe. For I had rather ſuffer mine owne bodie to be puniſhed, then that you ſhould receaue or ſuſtaine any harme by my meanes, but that whiche I did was by the commaundement of an other, and wrought (as I thought) for ſome other, but beholde the vnlucky chaunce fortuned on you by mine euil occaſion. Then I very curious & deſirous to know the matter, anſweared: in faith (ꝙ I) this moſte peſtilent & euill fauoured whippe (whiche thou haſt brought to ſcourge thée withall) ſhall firſte be broken in a thouſande pieces, then that it ſhould touch or hurte thy delicate and deintie ſkinne, but I pray you tell me, how haue you bene the cauſe and meane of my trouble and ſorrowe. For I dare ſweare by the loue that I beare vnto you, & I will not be perſwaded (though you your ſelfe ſhoulde endeuour the ſame) that euer you wente about to trouble or harme me: Perhappes ſometimes you imagined an euill thought in your minde, whiche afterwardes you reuoked but that is not to be déemed as a crime. When I had ſpoken theſe woordes, I perceaued by Fotis eies beinge wette with teares, and welnie cloſed vp, that ſhe had a deſire vnto pleaſure, and ſpecially becauſe ſhe embraced & kiſſed me ſwéetely. And when ſhe was ſomwhat reſtored vnto ioye ſhe deſired me that ſhe might firſt ſhutte the chāber doore, leaſt by the vntemperance of her tongue in vtteringe any vnſittinge woordes there might growe further inconuenience. Wherewithall ſhe barred and propped the doore and came to me againe, and embraſing me louingly about the necke with both her armes, ſpake wt a ſofte voice and ſaide, I doo greatly feare to diſcouer the priuities of this houſe, and to vtter the ſecrete miſteries of my Dame: But I haue ſuche a confidence in you and in your wiſedome, by reaſon that you ar come of ſo noble a ligne and endewed with ſo profounde ſapience, and further enſtructed in ſo many holy & diuine thinges, that you will faithfully kéepe ſilence, and that what ſo euer I ſhall reueale or declare vnto you, you woulde cloſe them within the bottome of your hart, and neuer diſcouer the ſame: for I enſure you the loue that I beare vnto you enforceth me to vtter it. Now ſhall you knowe all the eſtate of our houſe, nowe ſhall you knowe the hidden ſecreates of my Miſtris, vnto whome the powers of Hell doo obaye, and by whome the celeſtiall Planettes are troubled, the Goddes made weake, and the Elements ſubdued, neither is the violence of her arte in more ſtrength and force, then when ſhe eſpieth ſome comely yonge man that pleaſeth her fancie as oftētimes it happeneth. For nowe ſhe loueth one Beotian a fayre and beautifull perſon, on whome ſhe employeth all her ſorcery & enchauntment, & I harde her ſay with mine owne eares yeſternight, that (if the Sunne had not then preſently gone downe, & the Hight come to miniſter conuenient time to woorke her Magicall enticementes) ſhe would haue brought perpetuall darknes ouer all the worlde her ſelf. And you ſhall know that when ſhe ſaw yeſternight this Beotian ſittinge at the barbours a polinge, when ſhe came from the baines, ſhe ſecretely cōmaunded me to gather ſome of the heare of his head, whiche lay diſperſed vpon the grounde, and to bringe it honie: whiche when I thought to haue done, the Barbour eſpied me, and by reaſon it was bruted thorough out all the Citie that we weare Witches and enchantreſſes, he cried out, and ſaid: Will you neuer leaue of ſtealinge of yonge mens heares? In faith I aſſure you vnleſſe you ceaſe your wicked ſorceries, I will complaine to y• Iuſtices: wherwithall he came angerly towardes me, & toke away the heare whiche I had gathered, out of mine apron, whiche grieued me very muche. For I knew my miſtris manners, that ſhe would not be contented, but beate me cruelly. Wherfore I entended to runne away, but the remembrance of you put alwaies that thought out of my minde, & ſo I came homewarde very ſorowfull, but becauſe I would not ſéeme to come in my miſtris ſight with emptie handes, I ſawe a man ſhearynge of blowen goate ſkinnes, and the heare that he had ſhorne of was yellow, and much reſembled the heare of Beotian: And I toke a good deale thereof, and colouringe the matter, brought it to my Miſtris. And ſo when night came, before your retorne frō ſupper, ſhe (to bringe her purpoſe to paſſe) wente vp to a high gallery of her houſe, openyng to the Eaſt parte of the worlde, and preparinge her ſelfe accordinge to her accuſtomed practiſe, ſhe gathered together all her ſubſtance for fumigatiōs, ſhe brought forth plates of mettall carued with ſtraunge charecters, ſhe prepared the bones of ſuch as were drowned by tempeſt in the ſeas, ſhe made reddy the mēbers of dead men, as their noſethrilles and fingers, She ſette out the lumpes of fleſh of ſuche as weare hanged, the bloudde whiche ſhe had reſerued of ſuch as weare ſlaine, and the iawe bones, & téeth of wilde beaſtes, then ſhe ſaid certaine charmes ouer the heare, and dipped it in diuers waters, as in well water, cowe milke, mountaine hony and other licour, whiche when ſhe had done ſhe tied and lapped it vp together, and with many perfumes and ſmelles threw it into a whote fire to burne. Then by the great force of this ſorcerie, and the violence of ſo many confections, thoſe bodies (whoſe heare was burnyng in the fire) receaued humaine ſhape, and felte, hard, and walked. And (ſmellinge the ſent of their owne heare) came and rappid at our doores in ſtéede of Boetius. Thē you beinge well tippled, & deceaued by the obſcuritie of the night, drewe out your ſwoorde couragiouſly, like furious Aiax, and killed, (not as he did the whole hearde of beaſtes) but thrée blowen ſkinnes, to the intent that I after the ſlaughter of ſo many enemies without effuſiō of bloud, might embrace and kiſſe not an homicide but an Vtricide: thus when I was pleaſantly mocked and taunted by Fotis, I ſaid vnto her: Verely, now may I for this atchieued enterpriſe be numbred, as Hercules who by his valiaunt proweſſe perfourmed the twelue notable labours, as Gerion with thrée bodies, and as Cerberus with thrée heades. For I haue ſ[•]aine thrée blowen geate ſkinnes, but to the ende that I may pardon thée of that whiche thou haſt committed, performe the thinge whiche I ſhall moſt earneſtly deſire of thée, that is, bringe me that I may ſée and beholde when thy Miſtris goeth about any Sorcerie or enchauntment, and when ſhe prayeth vnto the Goddes, for I am verie deſirous to learne that arte, and as it ſéemeth vnto me, thou thy ſelfe haſte ſome experience in the ſame. For this I knowe and plainely féele, that (whereas I haue alwaies yrked and lothed the embraſinges and loue of Matrones) I am ſo ſtryken and ſubdued, with thy ſhininge eyes, ruddy chéekes, glitteringe heare, ſwéete coſſes and lillie white pappes, that I neither haue minde to goe home, nor to departe henſe, but eſtéeme the pleaſure whiche I ſhall haue with thée this night, aboue all the ioyes of the worlde: Then (ꝙ ſhe) O my Lucius how willinge would I be to fulfill your deſire, but by reaſon ſhe is ſo hated, ſhe getteth her ſelfe into ſolitary places, and out of the preſence of euerie perſon when ſhe mindeth to woorke her enchantmentes, how be it I regarde more to gratifie your requeſt, then I doo eſtéeme the daunger of my life: and when I ſée oportunitie and time I wil aſſuredly bring you woorde, ſo that you ſhall ſée all her enchauntment, but alwaies vpon this condicion that ye ſecreately keepe cloſe ſuche thinges as are done: thus as we reaſoned together the courage of Venus aſſayled aſwell our deſires as our members: And ſo ſhe vnrayed her ſelfe and came to bedde, and we paſſed the nighte in paſtime and dalliance, till as by drowſie and vnluſtie ſléepe I was conſtrained to lie ſtill.

¶Howe Fotis brought Apuleius to ſee her Miſtris Enchaunt.

Cap. 16.

ON a day Fotis came runninge to me in great feare, and ſaide that her Miſtris (to worke her ſorceries on ſuch as ſhe loued) entēded, the night followinge, to tranſforme her ſelfe into a birde, and to flie whither ſhe pleaſed, wherefore ſhe willed me priuily to prepare my ſelfe to ſée the ſame. And whē midnight came ſhe ledde me ſoftly into a highe chamber, & bidde me looke thorough the chinke of a doore. Where firſte I ſaw how ſhe put of all her garmentes, and toke out of a certaine coffer ſondrie kinde of boxes, of the which ſhe opened one and tempred the ointment therin with her fingers, and then rubbed her bodie therewith frō the ſole of the foote to the crowne of the head: And when ſhe had ſpoken priuilie with her ſelfe, hauinge the candle in her hande ſhe ſhaked the partes of her bodie, and beholde I perceaued a plume feathers did burgen out, her noſe waxed croked and harde, her nailes turned into clawes, & ſo ſhe became an Owle: Then ſhe cried and ſkriched like a birde of that kinde, & willinge to proue her force, moued her ſelfe from the groūd by litle & litle, till at laſt ſhe flewe quight away: Thus by her Sorcery ſhe tranſformed her body into what ſhape ſhe wold. Which whē I ſaw I was greatly aſtonied & although I was enchaunted by no kinde of charme, yet I thought y• I ſéemed not to haue y• likenes of Luciꝰ, for ſo was I baniſhed frō my ſenſes amaſed in madnes, & ſo I dreamed wakinge, y• I felte mine eies to know whether I weare a ſléepe or no. But whē I was come againe to my ſelfe, I toke Fotis by y• hāde, & moued it to my face, & ſaid: I pray thée while occaſion doth ſerue that I may haue the fruition of the fruictes of my deſire, and graunt me ſome of this ointment. O Fotis I praye the by thy ſwéete pappes, to make that in the great flames of my loue I may be turned into a birde, ſo will I euer hereafter be boūde vnto you & obedient to your commaundement. Then ſaid Fotis will you goe about to deceaue me now? and enforce me to worke mine owne ſorrowe? Are you in that minde that you will not tarry in Theſſalie? if you be a birde where ſhal I ſeeke you? and when ſhal I ſee you? Then anſweared I: God forbidde that I ſhould commit ſuch a crime. For though I could flie into y• ayre as an Egle, or though I were the meſſenger of Iupiter, yet would I haue recourſe to neſt with thee. And I ſweare by the knotte of thy amiable heare, that ſince the time that I firſte loued thée, I neuer fancied any other perſon: moreouer this commeth to my minde, that if by vertue of the ointment I ſhall become an Owle, I will take héede that I come nigh no mans houſe. For I am not to learne how theſe matrones would handle their louers if they knewe that they were tranſformed into Owles: moreouer when they are taken in any place, they are nayled vpon poſtes, and ſo they are woorthely rewarded, becauſe it is thought that they bringe euill fortune to the houſe. But I pray you (whiche I had almoſt forgotten) tell me by what meanes, when I am an Owle, I ſhall returne to my priſtine ſhape and become Lucius againe? Feare not (ꝙ ſhe) for my Miſtris hath taught me the way to bringe that to paſſe, neither thinke [〈◊〉] that ſhe did it for any good will or fauour, but to the ende I might helpe her, & miniſter ſome remedie when ſhe re[•]urneth home. Conſider I pray you with your ſelfe, with what friu[•]lous trifles ſo meruelous a thinge is wrought, for by Hercules I ſweare, I giue her nothinge els, ſaue a little dill & lawrell leaues in well water, the whiche ſhe drinketh and waſheth her ſelfe withall: which when ſhe had ſpoken ſhe went into the chambre, & toke a boxe out of the coffer, whiche I firſt kiſſed and embraſed, and prayed that I might haue good ſucceſſe in my purpoſe. And then I put of all my garmentes and gréedely thruſt my hande into the boxe, and toke out a good deale of ointment and rubbed my ſelfe withall.

¶How Apuleius thinkinge to be turned into a Birde, was turned into an Aſſe, and howe he was ledde away by theeues.

Cap. 17.

AFter that I had wel rubbed euery parte & member of my bodie, I houered with mine armes, & moued my ſelfe, lokinge ſtill when I ſhould be chaunged into a birde as Pamphile was, and beholde neither feathers nor apparaūce of feathers did burgen out, but verely my heare did turne into ruggednes, & my tender ſkinne waxed tough and harde, my fingers and toes leſing the nūber of fiue chaunged into hoofes, and out of mine arſe grewe a great taile, now my face became monſtruous, my noſethrilles wide, my lippes hanginge downe, and mine eares rugged with heare: Neither could I ſée any comfort of my tranſformatiō, for my membres encreaſed likewiſe, and ſo without all helpe (viewyng euery parte of my poore bodie) I perceaued that I was no birde, but a plaine Aſſe. Then I thought to blame Fotis, but beinge depriued aſwell of language as humaine ſhape, I loked vpon her with my hanginge lippes and watrie eies, who (aſſone as ſhe eſpied me in ſuche ſorte) cried out alas poore wretche that I am, I am vtterly caſte away. The feare that I was in, & my haſt hath beguiled me, but eſpecially the miſtaking of the boxe hath deceaued me. But it forceth not much, ſince as a ſooner medicine may be gotten for this, then for any other thyng. For if thou couldeſt get a Roſe and eate it, thou ſhouldeſt be deliuered from the ſhape of an Aſſe, and become my Lucius againe. And would to God I had gathered ſome garlādes this euening paſt according to my cuſtome, then thou ſhouldeſt not continue an Aſſe one nightes ſpace, but in the morninge I will ſéeke ſome remedie. Thus Fotis lamented in pitifull ſorte, but I that was now a perfect Aſſe, and for Lucius a bruite beaſte, did yet retaine the ſenſe and vnderſtandinge of a man. And did deuiſe a good ſpace with my ſelfe, whether it were beſte for me to teare this miſchieuous and wicked harlotte with my mouth, or to kicke and kill her with my héeles. But a better thought reduced me from ſo raſhe a purpoſe, for I feared leaſt by the death of Fotis I ſhould be deprided of all remedie and helpe. Then ſhakinge my head and diſſimuling mine yre, and takinge mine aduerſitie in good parte, I went into y• ſtable to mine owne-horſe, where I found an other Aſſe of Miloes, ſomtime mine hoſte, and I did verely thinke that mine owne horſe (it there were any natural cōſciēce or knowledge in brute beaſtes) would take pitie vpō me, & proffer me lodging for that night, but it chaunced farre otherwiſe: For ſee my horſe & the Aſſe, as it weare, conſented together to worke my harme, & fearing leaſt I ſhould eate vp their prouender, would in no wiſe ſuffer me to come nighe the manger, but kicked me with their héeles from their meate, whiche I my ſelfe gaue them the night before: Then I, beinge thus handled by them & driuen away, gotte me into a corner of the ſtable, where (while I remembred their vncourteſie, and how on the morrow I ſhould returne to Lucius by the helpe of a Roſe, when as I thought to reuēge my ſelfe of mine owne horſe) I fortuned to eſpie in the middle of a pillor ſuſtainyng y• rafters of the ſtable, the Image of the Goddeſſe Hippone, whiche was garniſhed and decked rounde about with faire freſh Roſes: then in hope of preſent remedie I leaped vp with my fore féete as highe as I coulde, and ſtretchinge out my necke, and with my lippes coueted to ſnatche ſome Roſes. But in an euill howre did I goe aboute that enterpryſe, for beholde, the boye to whome I gaue charge of my horſe came preſently in, and findinge me climinge vpon the pillor, ranne freatinge towardes me, and ſaid: How longe ſhall we ſuffer this vile Aſſe, that dothe not onely eate vp his fellowes meate, but alſo would ſpoile the images of the Goddes? why doo I not kill this lame théefe, and weake wretche? & therewithall lokinge about for ſome kidgel, he eſpied where lay a faggot of woodde, & chooſinge out a crabbed trunchion of the biggeſt he could finde, did neuer ceaſe beating of me poore wretch, vntil ſuch time as by great noyes and rumbling, he harde the doores of the houſe burſt open, and the neighbours crying in lamentable ſorte, whiche enforced him (being ſtroken in feare) to flie his way. And by and by a troope of théeues entred in, and kepte euery parte & corner of the houſe with weapons. And as men reſorted to ayde and helpe thē which weare within the doores, the théeues reſiſted & kept them backe, for euery man was armed with his ſwoorde and Targette in his hande, the glympſes whereof did yelde out ſuch light as if it had bene daye. Then they brake opē a great cheſte with double lockes and boltes, wherein was laide all the treaſure of Milo, and ranſakt the ſame, which when they had done they packed it vp, and gaue euery one a porciō to carry, but when they had more then they could beare away, yet weare they lothe to leaue any behinde, they came into the ſtable, and toke vs twoo poore Aſſes, and my horſe, and laded vs with greater truſſes then we weare able to beare. And when we weare out of the houſe, they followed vs with great ſtaues, and willed one of their fellowes to tarry behinde, and bringe them tidinges what was done concerninge the robbery, and ſo they beate vs forwarde ouer great hilles out of y• high way. But I, what with my heauy burthen, and my longe iourney did nothinge differ from a dead Aſſe, wherfore I determined with my ſelfe to ſéeke ſome ciuill remedie, and by inuocation of the name of the Prince of the countrie, to be deliuered from ſo many miſeries. And on a time as I paſſed thorough a great faire, I came amongſt a multitude of Gréekes, and I thought to call vpon the renoumed name of the Emperour, & to ſay: O Ceſar, and I cried out aloude, O, but Ceſar I could in no wiſe pronounce: the théeues little regardinge my criynge did lay me on, and beate my wretched ſkinne in ſuch ſorte, that after it was neither apte nor méete to make ſiues or ſarces. How be it at laſte Iupiter miniſterd vnto me an vnhoped remedie. For when we had paſſed thorough many townes & villages, I fortuned to eſpie a pleaſaunt garden, wherein, beſides many other flowers of delectable hewe, weare newe and freſhe Roſes, and (beinge very ioyfull and deſirous to catche ſome as I paſſed by) I drewe nerer and nerer, and while my lippes watred vpō them, I thought of a better aduiſe more profitable for me: leaſt if from an Aſſe I ſhould become a man, I might fal into the hādes of the theeues, and either by ſuſpitiō that I weare ſome Witche, or for feare that I would vtter their thefte, I ſhould be ſlaine, wherfore I abſtained for that time frō eatinge of Roſes. And (enduringe my preſent aduerſitie) I eate hay as other Aſſes did.

The fourth Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How Apuleius thinkinge to goe to eate Roſes, was cruelly beaten by a Gardener and chaſed by Dogges.

Cap. 18.

WHen noone was come, that the broylinge heate of the Sunne had moſte power, we turned into a village to certaine of the théeues acquaintāce and fréendes, for verely their metinge and embraſinge together, did giue me (poore Aſſe) cauſe to déeme ye ſame: And thei toke the truſſe from my backe, and gaue them parte of the treaſure whiche was in it, and they séemed to whiſper & tel them that it was ſtolen goodes, and after that we weare vnladen of our burthens, thei lette vs loſe into a medow to paſture, but mine owne horſe, & Milos Aſſe, would not ſuffer me to féede there with them, but I muſte ſéeke my dinner in ſome other place. Wherefore I leaped into a gardein, whiche was behinde the ſtable, and beinge welnie periſhed with honger, although I could finde nothing there but raw & gréene ſallettes, yet I filled my hongry guttes therewithall abundantly, and praying vnto all the Goddes, I loked about in euery place if I could eſpie any redde Roſes in the gardens by, and my ſolitarie being alone did put me in good hope, y• if I could finde any remedie I ſhould preſently of an Aſſe be chaunged into Lucius out of euery mans ſight, and while I conſidered theſe thinges, I looked about, & behold I ſaw a farre of a ſhadowed valley adioyninge nigh vnto a woodde, where, emongſt diuers other hearbes & pleaſaunt verdures, I thought I ſawe many floriſhinge Roſes of bright Damaſke colour. And I ſaid within my beſtiall minde: verely y• place is the place of Venus & the Graces, where ſecretely glittereth the royall hewe, of so liuely & delectable a flower: Then I deſiring y• helpe of the guide of my good fortune, ranne luſtely towardes the woodde, in ſo much y• I felt my ſelf that I was no more an Aſſe, but a ſwifte courſinge horſe, but my agilitie and quicknes could not preuent the crueltie of my fortune: For when I came to the place, I perceaued that they were no Roſes, neither tēder, nor pleaſant, neither moiſted with the heauenly droppes of dew nor celeſtiall licour, whiche grewe out of the thicket and thornes there. Neither did I perceaue y• there was any valley at all, but onely the banke of the riuer enuironed with great thicke trées, which had lōg braūches like vnto Lawrel, & bearinge a flower without any manner of ſente, and the common people call them by the name of Lawrell roſes, whiche be very poyſon to all manner of beaſtes. Then was I ſo entangled with vnhappy fortune, that I litle eſtéemed mine owne daunger, & went willingly to eate of thoſe Roſes, though I knewe them to be preſent poyſon. And as I drewe nere, I ſawe a yong man that ſéemed to be the Gardener, come vpon me, & when he perceaued that I had deuoured vp all his hearbes in the gardein, he came ſwearinge with a great ſtaffe in his hande, and laide vpon me, in ſuch ſorte that I was welnie dead, but I ſpéedely deuiſed ſome remedy for my ſelfe, for I lifte vp my legges and kicked him with my hinder héeles, that I lefte him liynge at the hill foote welnie ſlaine, and ſo I ranne away: incontinently came out his wife, who ſeinge her huſbande halfe dead, cried and houled in pitifull ſorte, and wente towarde her huſbande to the intent that by her lowde cries ſhe might purchaſe to me preſent deſtruction: thē all the perſons of the towne, moued and rayſed by her noyes came foorth, and cried for dogges to teare me downe: Out came a great company of bandogges and maſties more fitte to pull downe Beares and Lions then me, whom when I behelde, I thought verely that I ſhould preſently die, but I turned my ſelfe aboute & ranne as faſte as euer I might to the ſtable frō whenſe I came. Then the men of the towne called in their dogges, and toke me, and bounde me to the ſtaple of a poſte, and ſcourged me with a great knotted whippe till I was welny dead, and they would vndoubtedly haue ſlaine me, had it not come to paſſe that what with the paine of their beatinge and the gréene hearbes that lay in my guttes, I caught ſuche a laſke that I all be ſprinkled their faces, with my liquide donge, and enforced them to leaue of.

¶How Apuleius was preuented of his purpoſe, and how the theeues came to their denne.

Cap 19.

NOt longe after, the théeues laded vs againe, and eſpecially me, and brought vs foorth out of the ſtable, and when we had gone a good parte of our iourney, what with the longe way, my great burthen, the beatinge of ſtaues, and my worne hoofes, I was ſo weary that I could ſcantly goe: then I ſawe a litle before me a riuer, runninge with faire water, & I ſaid to my ſelfe: behold now I haue founde a good occaſiō. For I will fall downe when I come yender, and ſurely I will not riſe againe, neither with ſcourginge nor beatinge, for I had rather be ſlaine there preſently, then goe any further. And the cauſe why I determined ſo to doo, was this, I thought that when the théeues did ſée me ſo féeble and weake that I could not trauell, to the intent they would not ſtay in their iourney, they would take of the burthen from my backe, and put it vpon my fellowes, and ſo for my further puniſhment to leaue me as a praye to the Wolues and rauenous beaſtes: but euill fortune preuented ſo good a conſideration: For the other Aſſe, beinge of the ſame purpoſe that I was of, by feigned and coloured werines, fell downe firſt with all his burthen vpon the grounde as though he weare dead, and he would not riſe neither with beatinge nor prickinge, nor ſtande vpon his féete though they pulled him vp by the taile, by his legges, and by his eares, whiche when the théeues behElde, as without al hope, they ſaid one to an other, what ſhould we ſtande here ſo longe, about a dead, or rather a ſtony Aſſe? let vs be gonne. And ſo thei toke his burthen, and deuided ſome to me, and ſome to my horſe. And then they drewe out their ſwoordes and cutte of his legges, and threwe his bodie from the pointe of a hill downe into a great valley: then I conſidering with my ſelfe of the euill fortune of my poore compaignion, and purpoſed now to forgette al ſubtiltie and deceite, and to play the good Aſſe to gette my Maiſters fauour, for I perceaued by their talke that we weare welny come home to our iourneis end. And after that we had paſſed ouer a litle hil, we came to our appointed place, where, whē we weare vnladen of our burthens, & all thinges carried in, I tumbled and wallowed in the duſt, to refreſh my ſelfe, in ſtéede of water. The thing and the time cōpelleth me to make deſcription of the places, and ſpecially of the denne where the théeues did inhabite, I wil proue my witte what I can doo, and then conſider you whether I was an Aſſe in iudgement and ſenſe, or no.

Firſt, there was an excéeding great hill compaſſed about with bigge trées, very high, with many turning bottomes, full of ſharpe ſtones whereby it was inacceſſible: there was many windinge and hollow valleis enuironed with thickettes and thornes, and naturally fortreſſed round about: Frō the toppe of the hill ranne a runninge riuer as cléere as ſiluer, and watred all the valeis below, that it ſéemed like vnto a ſea encloſed, or a ſtandinge floode: before the denne, where was no hill, ſtoode a highe towre, & at the foote thereof weare ſhepecotes fenced and watled with clay: Before the gate of the houſe were pathes made in ſtéede of walles, in ſuch ſorte that you would eaſely iudge it to be a very denne for théeues, & there was nothinge elſe ſaue a litle coate couered with thatche, wherein the théeues did nightly accuſtome to watch by order, as after I perceaued. And when they were all crepte into the houſe, and we faſte tied with halters at the doore, they began to chide with an olde woman there, crooked with age, who had the gouernment and rule of al the houſe, and ſaid: How is it olde Witche, olde trotte and ſtrumpet, that thou ſitteſt idely all day at home, and (hauinge no regarde to our perillous labors) haſte prouided nothinge for our ſuppers? but ſitteſt eating and ſwillinge thy ſelfe from morning til night: Then the old woman trembled and ſcantly able to ſpeake, gan ſay: Beholde my puiſant & faithful maiſters you ſhal haue meate & potage inough by and by. Here is firſt ſtore of bread, wine plentie, filled in cleane rinſed pottes, likewiſe here is whote water prepared to bathe you. Whiche when ſhe had ſaid, they put of all their garmentes & refreſhed them ſelues by the fire. And after thei were waſhed & nointed with oyle, they ſatte downe at the table garniſhed with all kinde of deinty meates: thei were no ſooner ſet downe, but in came an other company of yonge men, more in number then was before, who ſéemed likewiſe to be théeues: For thei brought in their praies of Golde, and Siluer, Plate, Iuelles, & riche robes, & when they had likewiſe waſhed, they ſatte emōgſt the reſt and ſerued one an other by ordre. Thē thei dranke & eate excedingly, criyng, laughing, & making ſuch noyes, y• I thought I was emongſt the tirannous & wilde Lapithes, Thebanes, & Centaures. At length one of thē more valiant then the reſt ſpake in this ſorte, we verely haue manfully cōquered the houſe of Milo of Hypata, & beſide all the richeſſe, & treaſure which by force we haue brought away, we are all come home ſalue, and are encreaſed the more by this horſe & this Aſſe. But you that haue roued about in the countrey of Beotia haue loſte your valiant Capitaine Lamathus. Whoſe life I more regarded then all this treaſure which you haue brought. And therefore the memorie of him ſhalbe renoumed for euer emongſt the moſte noble Kinges, and valiant Capitaines, but you accuſtome when you goe abroade like men with ganders hartes to créepe through euery corner and hole for euery trifle. Then one of them that came laſte anſweared: Why are you onely ignorant, that the greater the number is, the ſooner they may robbe and ſpoyle the houſe? and although the familie be diſperſed in diuers lodginges, yet euery man had rather to defende his owne life then to ſaue the richeſſe of his maiſter, but when there be but a fewe théeues, then will they rather not onely regarde them ſelues, but alſo their ſubſtāce, how litle or great ſo euer it be. And to the intent you may beléeue me I wil ſhow you an example: we weare come nothinge nighe vnto Thebes, where is the fountaine of our arte and ſciēce, but we learned where a riche chuffe called Chryſeros did dwell, who for feare of offices in y• publique weale, diſſimuled his eſtate, and liued ſole and ſolitary in a ſmall cote, how be it repleniſhed with aboundaunce of treaſure, and wente dayly in ragged & torne apparell. Wherefore we deuiſed with our ſelues to goe to his houſe and ſpoyle him of all his richeſſe. And whē night came, we drew towardes his doore which was ſo ſtrōgly cloſed y• we could neither moue it. nor lifte it out of y• hookes, & we thought it not beſt to breake it open, leaſt by y• noyes we ſhould raiſe vp (to our harme) the neighbors bie. Then our ſtronge & valiant Capitaine Lamathus truſtinge his owne ſtrength & force, thruſt in his hāde through a hole of the doore, & thought to pull backe the bolte, but the couetous caytife Chryſeros beinge awake & making no noyes, came ſoftely to the doore and caught his hande, & with a great naile nailed it faſt to a poſte, which when he had donne, he ranne vp to a high chāber, & called euery one of his neighbours by name, deſiringe them to ſuccour him with all poſſible ſpéede, for his houſe was a fire: Then euery one for feare of their owne daunger came runninge out to ayde him, wherewith we (fearinge our preſent perill) knewe not what was beſt to be done, whether we ſhould leaue our compaignion there, or yelde our ſelues to die with him, but we by his conſent deuiſed a better way: For we cut of his arme by the elbow, & ſo let it hange there▪ then we boūd his wound with cloutes, leaſt we ſhould be traced by the droppes of bloud, which done we tooke Lamathus and ledde him away for feare we ſhould be taken, but when we weare ſo nighe purſued that we weare in preſent daunger: And that Lamathus coulde not kéepe our companie by reaſon of faintnes: and on y• other ſide perceauinge that it was not for his profite to linger behinde, he ſpake vnto vs as a man of ſinguler courage & vertue, deſiringe vs by much entreatie and prayer, and by the puiſance of the God Mars, and the faith of our confederacie to deliuer his bodie from torment & miſerable captiuitie: And further he ſaid, how is it poſſible that ſo couragious a Capitaine can liue without his hand? wherwith he could ſomtimes robbe and ſlea ſo many people, I would thinke my ſelfe ſufficient happy if I might be ſlaine by one of you: but whē he ſaw that we all refuſed to cōmitte any ſuch facte, he drewe out his ſwoorde with his other hande, and after that he had often kiſſed it, he thruſt it cleane thorough his bodie: Then we honored the corps of ſo puiſant a man, and wrapped it in linnen clothes and threw him into the ſea: ſo lieth our maſter Lamathus buried and hidde in the graue of water, & ended his life as I haue declared: but Alcinus though he weare a man of great enterpriſe, yet could he not beware by Lamathus, nor volde him ſelfe from euil fortune: for on a day when he had entred into an olde womans houſe to robbe her, he went vp into a high chāber, where he ſhould firſt haue ſtrāgled her, but he had more regarde to throw downe the bagges of money and Golde out at the window to vs that ſtoode vnder: And when he was ſo gréedie that he would leaue nothinge behinde, he went to the olde womans bedde where ſhe lay a ſléepe, and would haue taken of the couerlet to haue throwē downe likewiſe, but ſhe awaked & (knelyng vpon her knées) deſired him in this manner: O ſir I pray you caſte not away ſuche torne and ragged clouſes into my neighbours houſes, for they are riche inough & néede no ſuch thinges: then Alcinus (thinking her woordes to be true) was brought in beliefe that ſuch thinges as he had throwen out already, and ſuch thinges as he ſhould throwe out after, was not fallen downe to his fellowes, but into other mens houſes, wherfore he went to the window to ſée, and as he thought to beholde the places rounde about, thruſtinge his bodie out of the window, the old womā marked him well, & came behinde him ſoftlie, and although ſhe had but ſmall ſtrength, yet with a ſodaine force ſhe tooke him by the héeles & thruſt him out headlonge, and ſo he fell vpon a meruelous great ſtone, and burſt his ribbes, whereby he vomited and ſpued flakes of bloud, and preſently died: Then we threw him into the riuer likewiſe, as we had done Lamathus before: When we had thus loſt twoo of our compaignions, we liked not Thebes, but marched towardes the next Citie called Platea, where we founde a mā of great fame named Demochares, that purpoſed to ſet foorth a great game, where ſhould be a triall of al kinde of weapons: he was come of a good houſe, meruelous riche, liberall, and well deſerued that which he had, and had prepared many ſhowes and pleaſures for the common people: in ſo much that there is no mā can either by witte or eloquence ſhowe in woordes his woorthy preparatiōs. For firſt he had prouided all ſortes of armes, he greatly delighted in huntinge and chaſinge, he ordeyned great towres and tables to moue hither and thither: he made many places to chaſe and encounter in: he had ready a great number of men and wilde beaſtes, and many cōdemned perſons were brought from the iudgement place to trie and fight with thoſe beaſtes, but emongſt ſo great preparations of noble pryce, he beſtowed the moſte parte of his patrimonie in biynge of Beares, whiche he nouriſhed to his great coſte, and eſtéemed more then all the other beaſtes, which eitheir by chaſinge he caught him ſelfe, or whiche he déerely bought, or which were giuen him from diuers of his fréendes, howbeit for al his ſumptuous coſte, he could not be frée frō the malitious eies of enuie: for ſome of them were welnie dead, with too longe tiynge vp: ſome meigre with the broyling heate of the Sunne: ſome lāguiſhed with liynge, but all (hauinge ſundry diſeaſes) weare ſo afflicted taht they died one after an other, and there was welnie none lefte, in ſuch ſorte that you might ſée them liyng in the ſtréetes piteouſly dead: And the common people hauing no other meate to féede on, litle regardinge any curioſitie, would come foorth & fill their bellies with the fleaſh of the Beares. Then by and by Babulus and I deuiſed a pretie ſporte, we drewe one of the greateſt of the Beares to our lodging, as though we would prepare to eate thereof, where we fleade of his ſkinne, and kepte his vngles whole, but we medled not with the head but cutte it of by the necke, and ſo let it hange to the ſkinne: Then we raſed of the fleaſh from the backe, and caſt duſt thereon, and ſet it in the Sunne to drie.

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

Cap. 20.

WHile the ſkinne was a driynge, we made mery with the fleaſhe, and then we deuiſed with our ſelues that one of vs, being more valiant then the reſt bothe in bodie and courage, (ſo that he would conſent thereto) ſhoulde put on the ſkinne, and (feminge that he weare a Beare) ſhould be ledde to Demochares houſe in the night, by whiche meanes we thought to be receaued and lette in. Many were deſirous to play the Beare, but eſpecially one Thraſileon of a couragious minde would take this enterpriſe in hande. Then we put him into the Beares ſkinne, whiche fitted him finely in euery pointe, we buckled it faſt vnder his belly, & couered the ſeame with the heare y• it might not be ſéene. After this, we made litle holes thorough the Beares head, & thorough his noſethrilles and cies for Thraſileon to ſée out and take winde at, in ſuch ſorte that he ſéemed a very liuely & naturall beaſt: when this was done, we went into a caue whiche we hired for y• purpoſe, and he crepte in after like a Beare with a good courage. Thus we began our ſubtiltie, and then we imagined thus, we feigned letters as though they come frō on Nicanor whiche dwelled in the countrey of Thracia, which was of great acquaintāce with this Demochares, wherein we wrote that he had ſent him, being his fréende, the firſt fruictes of his courſing and huntinge, when night was come (whiche was a méete time for our purpoſe) we brought Thraſileon, & our forged letters and preſented thē to Demochares. When Demochares behelde this mightie Beare, and ſaw the liberalitie of Nicanor his fréende, he cōmaunded his ſeruaunt to deliuer vnto vs tenne crownes, as he had great ſtore in his coffers: Then (as the noueltie of a thing doth accuſtome to ſtirre mens mindes to beholde the ſame) many perſons came on euery ſide to ſée this Beare, but Thraſileō, (leſt they ſhould by curious viewyng and priyng perceaue the truthe) ranne vpon them to put them in feare, that thei durſt not come nie. The people ſaid: verely Demochares is right happy, in that, after the death of ſo many beaſtes, he hath gotten (maugre fortunes head) ſo goodly a Beare, then Demochares commaunded that with great care he ſhould be put into the parke by, emongſt the other beaſtes, but I immediatly ſpake vnto him, and ſaid: Sir I pray you take héede how you put a beaſte tyred with the heate of the Sunne, and with longe trauell emongſt others, whiche (as I here ſay) haue diuers maladies & diſeaſes: let him rather lie in ſome opē place of your houſe nighe to ſome water, where he may take ayre and eaſe him ſelfe, for doo not you know that ſuche kinde of beaſtes doo greatly delight ot couche vnder ſhadow of trées, & hillockes, nigh vnto pleaſant welles & waters. Hereby Demochares admoniſhed, and remembringe how many he had before that periſhed, was contented that we ſhould put the Beare where we would: Moreouer we ſaide vnto him, that we our ſelues wre determined to lie all night nigh vnto the Beare, to looke vnto him, & to giue him meate and drinke at his due hower. Then he anſweared: Verely maiſters you néede not to put your ſelues to ſuch paines: for I haue men taht ſerueth for nothinge but for that purpoſe: ſo we toke leaue of him and departed, and when we weare come without the gates of the towne, we perceaued before vs a great Sepulchre ſtandinge out of the highe way, in a priuie and ſecreate place. And thither we wente and opened the mouth thereof, whereas we founde the ſides couered with the corruption of man, and the aſhes and duſt of his longe buried bodie, wherein we gotte our ſelues to bringe our purpoſe to paſſe, and (hauinge a reſpect to the darke time of the night accordinge to our cuſtome) when we thought that euery man was a ſléepe, we went with our weapōs and beſieged the houſe of Demochares round about: Then Thraſileon was reddy at hande, and leaped out of the cauerne, and wente to kill all ſuch as he founde a ſléepe, but when he came to the porter he opened the gates and let vs all in: and thē he ſhowed vs a large counter, wherin he ſawe put (the night before) a great aboundaunce of treaſure, whiche when by violence we had broken open, I bidde euery one of my fellowes take as much Golde and Siluer as they could beare away, and carry it to the Sepulchre, and ſtill as they caried, I ſtoode at the gate, watchinge diligently when they would retorne. The Beare runned about the houſe to make ſuch of the familie affeard as fortuned to wake and come out: For who is he that is ſo puiſant and courageous, that at the vgly ſight of ſo great a Monſter will not quaile and kéepe his chamber eſpecially in the night, but when we had brought this matter to ſo good a pointe, there chaunced a pitiful caſe: For as I looked for my compaignions that ſhould come from the Sepulchre, beholde there was a boye of the houſe, that fortuned to looke out at a windowe and eſpied the Beare rūning about, and he went and tolde al the ſeruaūtes of the houſe, whereupon incontinently they came foorth with torches, lanthornes, and other lightes that they might ſée all the yarde ouer, thei came with clubbes, ſpeares, naked ſwoordes, greyhoundes & maſties to ſlea the poore beaſt: Then I (duringe this broile) thought to runne away, but becauſe I would ſée Thraſileon fightinge with the dogges, I lay behinde y• gate to beholde him. And although I might perceaue that he was welnie dead, yet remembred he his owne faithfulnes and ours, and valiātly reſiſted the gaping and rauenous mouthes of the helhoūdes, ſo toke he in grée the pageant which willingly he toke in hande him ſelfe, and with much a doo tumbled at length out of the houſe, but when he was at libertie abroade, yet coulde he not ſaue him ſelfe, for all the dogges of the ſtreate ioyned them ſelues to the greyhoūdes & maſties of the houſe, and came vpon him: Alas what a pitifull ſight it was, when our poor Thraſileon was thus enuironed & compassed with ſo many dogges, that tare & rente him miſerably, then I (impatient of ſo great his miſerie) rāne in emongſt the preaſe of the people, & (ayding him with my woordes as much as I might) exhorted them al in this manner. O great & extreame miſchaunce, what a pretious and excellent beaſt haue we loſte: but my woordes did nothinge preuaile. For there came out a tale man with a ſpeare in his hande yt truſt him cleane thorough, and afterwardes many that ſtoode by, drewe out their ſwoordes & so they killed him. But verely our good Capitaine Thraſileon, the honour of our cōforte receaued his death ſo patiently, that he would not bewray the league betwene vs, either by criynge, howlinge or any other meanes, but (being torne with dogges, & wounded with weapons) did yelde foorth a dolefull crie, more like vnto a beaſt then a mā. And takinge his preſent fortune in good parte, with courage & glory inough did finiſh his life, with ſuch a terrour vnto the aſſembly, that no perſon was ſo hardy (vntill it was day) as to touch him, though he weare ſtarke dead but at laſt there came a Butcher more valiant then the reſt, who (openinge the panche of the beaſt) ſlitte out a hardy and venturous théefe. In this manner we loſte our Capitaine Thraſileon▪ but he loſt not his fame and honour: when this was done we packed vp our treaſure, which we cōmitted to the Sepulchre to kéepe, and gotte vs out of the boundes of Platea, thinkinge with our ſelues that there was more fidelitie emongeſt the dead, then emōgſt the liuing, by reaſon that our praies was ſo ſurely kept in the Sepulchre: So (being weried with the weight of our burthens, & welnie tired with long trauel, hauing loſt thrée of our ſouldiours) we are come home with theſe preſent cheates: Thus whē they had ſpoken (in memory of their ſlaine cōpaignions) thei tooke cuppes of Golde & ſonge Hympnes vnto the God Mars, & layde them downe to ſléepe. Then the old woman gaue vs freſh barley without meaſure, in ſo much that my Horſe ſedde ſo abundantly that he might well thinke he was at ſome bankette that day. But I (that was accuſtomed to eate branne & flowre) thought that but a ſower kinde of meate, wherfore eſpiyng a corner where lay loues of bread for all the houſe, I gotte me thither, and filled my hungry guttes withall.

¶How the theeues ſtole away a Gentel woman, and brought her to their denne.

Cap. 21.

WHen night was come, the Théeues awaked & roſe vp: and when thei had buckled on their weapōs, & diſguiſed their faces with viſardes, they departed, & yet for al the great ſléepe y• came vpon me, I could in no wiſe leaue eatinge, and wheras, when I was a man, I could be cōtented wt one or twoo loues at the moſt, now my guttes weare ſo gréedy that thrée pann[•]ers full would ſcantly ſerue me, and while I cōſidered all theſe thinges the morning came, and being ledde to a riuer, (notwithſtanding mine Aſſy ſhamefaſtnes) I quēched my thirſt. And ſodēly after the théeues returned home carefull and heauy, bringinge no burthens with them, no not ſo muche as traffe or baggage, ſaue onely a maiden that ſéemed by her habite to be ſome gētle woman borne, and the daughter of ſome woorthy Matron of that countrey, who was ſo faire and beautifull, that though I weare an Aſſe, yet had I a great affection to her: The virgin lamented and tare her heare, & ſpoyled her garmentes for the great ſorrow ſhe was in, but the théeues brought her within the caue, and aſſaied to cōſorte her in this ſorte: Wéepe not fayre Gentle woman we pray you, for be you aſſured that we wil doo no outrage nor violence to your perſon, but take pacience a while for our profit: For neceſſitie & poore eſtate hath cōpelled vs to doo this enterpriſe, we warrant you that your parentes (although they be couetous) wil be contented to giue vs a great quātitie of money to redéeme and ranſom you from our handes. With ſuch and like flattering woordes they endeuored to appeaſe the gentle woman, how be it ſhe would in no caſe be comforted but put her head betwene her knées & cried piteouſly. Then thei called the old woman and commaunded her to sitte by the maiden, and pacifie her dolor as much as ſhe might. And they departed away to robbe, as they accuſtomed to doo, but the virgin would not aſſwage her griefes nor mitigate her ſorrow by any entreatie of the olde woman, but houled and ſobbed in ſuch ſorte that ſhe made me (poore Aſſe) likewiſe to wéepe, & thus ſhe ſaid: Alas can I poore wretche liue any longer, that am come of ſo good a houſe, forſaken of al my parentes, fréendes, and familie, made a rapine and pray, cloſed ſeruily in this ſtony priſon, depriued of all pleaſure wherein I haue bene brought vp, throwen in daūger, ready to be rente in péeces emongeſt ſo many ſturdy théeues, and dreadfull robbers, can I (I ſay) ceaſe from wepinge or liue any lenger? Thus ſhe cried and lamēted, and after ſhe had weried her ſelfe with ſorrow, & bloubered her face with teares, ſhe cloſed y• windowes of her hollow eies and laide her downe to ſléepe: And after taht ſhe had ſlept, ſhe roſe againe, like a furious & madde woman, and beate her breaſt and comely face more than ſhe did before: Then the old woman enquired the cauſes of her newe and ſodaine lamentation, to whom (ſighing in pitifull ſorte) ſhe anſweared: Alas now I am vtterly vndone, now I am out of all hope, O giue me a knife to kill me, or a halter to hange me, whereat the olde woman was more angry, & ſeuerely commaunded her to tel her the cauſe of her ſorrow, and why after her ſléepe ſhe ſhould renew her dolor & miſerable wepinge, what thinke you (ꝙ ſhe) to deceaue our yonge men of the price of your ranſom? no, no, therfore ceaſe your criyng, for the théeues doo litle eſtéeme your houlinge, and if you will not, I will ſurely burne you aliue: Hereat the mayden was greatly a[•]card and kiſſed her hande, and ſaide: O mother take pitie vpon me and my wretched fortune, and giue me licence a while to ſpeake, for I thinke I ſhall not longe liue, let there mercy be ripe and frāke in your venerable hoare head, and here the ſome of my calamitie: There was a comely yonge man, who for his bountie and grace was beloued entierly of all the towne, my cooſin Germaine, & but thrée yeres elder then I, we twoo were nouriſhed and brought vp in one houſe, and lay vnder one roofe and in one chamber, and at lengthe by promiſe of Mariage, and by conſent of our parentes we weare contracted together: the Mariage day was come, the houſe was garniſhed with Lawrell, and torches were ſet in euery place in the honour of Hymeneus, my eſpouſe was accompaigned with his parentes, kinſefolke and fréendes, & made Sacrafice in the Temples & publique places: And when my vnhappy mother pampred me in her lappe, & decked me like a bryde kiſſing me ſwéetely, & making me a parent for childrē, behold there came in a great multitude of théeues, armed like men of warre, with naked ſwoordes in their handes, who wente not about to doo any harme, neither to take any thinge away, but brake into the chāber where I was, & violētly toke me out of my mothers armes, when none of the familie would reſiſte for feare. In this ſorte was our Marriage diſtourbed, like the Mariage of Hyppodame & Perithous: but behold good Mother nowe my vnhappy fortune is renewed & encreaſed: For I dreamed in my ſléepe that I was pulled out of our houſe, out of our chambre, and out of my bedde, and that I romed about in ſolitary and vnknowen places, callinge vpon the name of my vnfortunate huſbande, and how that he (aſſone as he perceaued that I was taken away, euen ſmelling with perfumes & crowned with garlādes) did trace me by my ſteppes, deſiringe the aide of the people to aſſiſt him, in y• his wife was violently ſtolen away: And as he wente criynge vp and downe, one of the théeues moued by indignation by reaſon of his purſuite, toke vp a ſtone that lay at his feete and threwe it at my huſband and killed him. By the terrour of which ſight, and the feare of so dreadfull a dreame I awaked. Then the old woman rendringe out like ſighes, began to ſpeake in this ſorte, my daughter take a good harte vnto you, and be not afearde at feigned and ſtraunge viſions or dreames, for as the viſions of the day are accompted falſe and vntrewe, ſo the viſions of the night doo often chaunce contrary. And to dreame of wéeping, beatinge and killing, is a token of good lucke and proſperous chaunge, whereas contrary, to dreame of laughinge, carnall dalliance and good chéere, is ſigne of ſadnes, ſicknes, loſſe of ſubſtaunce and diſpleaſure. But I will tell thée a pleaſaunt tale to put away all thy ſorowe and to reuiue thy Spirites: And ſo ſhe beganne in this manner.

¶ The moſt pleaſaunt and delectable tale of the Marriage of Cupide and Pſyches.

Cap. 22.

THere was ſometimes, a certaine Kinge, inhabityng in the Weaſt partes, who had to wife a noble Dame, by whome he had thrée daughters excéedinge fayre: Of whome the twoo elder weare of ſuch comely ſhape & beautie, as they did excell and paſſe all other womē liuing, wherby they weare thought, woorthely, ſo deſerue the praiſe and commendation of euery perſon, and deſeruedly to be preferred aboue the reſidew of the common ſorte: Yet the ſinguler paſſinge beautie and maidenly Maieſtie of the yongeſt daughter, did ſo farre ſurmounte and excell them twoo, as no earthly creature coulde by any meanes ſufficiently expreſſe or ſet out the ſame, by reaſon whereof (after the fame of this excellēt maiden was ſpred abrode in euery part of y• Citie,) the Citizens & ſtraūgers there, beinge inwardly pricked by zelous affection to beholde her famous perſon, came daily by thouſandes, hundreds and ſcores to her fathers Pallaice, who as aſtonied with admiration of her incomperable beautie did no leſſe woorſhippe and reuerence her, with croſſes, ſignes and tokens, and other diuine adorations, accordinge to the cuſtome of the olde vſed rites and ceremonies, then if ſhe weare Ladie Venus in déede: And ſhortly after the fame was ſpredde into the next Cities and borderinge Regions, that the Goddeſſe whome the déepe ſeas had borne and brought foorth, & the frothe of the ſpurginge waues had nouriſhed, to the intent to ſhowe her highe magnificencie and diuine power in earth,^[32] to ſuche as earſt did honour and woorſhippe her: was now conuerſant emongſt mortall men, or els that the earth & not the ſeas, by a newe concurſe and influence of the celeſtiall Planetes, had budded and yelded foorth a newe Venus, endewed with y• flower of virginitie: So dayly more and more encreaſed this opinion, and now is her fliyng fame diſperſed into the next Yſlelonde, and welnie into euery parte and prouince of the whole worlde. Whereupon innumerable ſtraūgers, reſorted from farre countreis, aduenturinge them ſelues by longe iourneis on lande, and by great perilles on water to beholde this glorious Virgin. By occaſion wherof ſuche a contempt grewe towardes the Goddeſſe Venus, that no perſon trauelled vnto the towne Paphos, nor to the yſle Gindos, no nor to Cithera to woorſhippe her. Her ornamentes weare throwen out, her Tēples defaced, her pillowes and quiſhions torne, her ceremonies neglected, her Images and ſtatues vncrowned, & her bare aulters vnſwept, and foule with the aſhes of old burned ſacrafice. For why euery perſon honored & worſhipped this maiden in ſtéede of Venus. And in the morninge at her firſt comminge abroade, offered vnto her oblations, prouided banquettes, called her by the name of Venus whiche was not Venus in déede, and in her honour preſented flowers and garlādes in moſt reuerent faſhion.

This ſodeine chaunge and alteration of celeſtiall honour did greatly inflame & kindle the minde of very Venus, who (vnable to temper her ſelfe from indignation, ſhakinge her head in raginge ſorte) reaſoned with her ſelfe in this manner: Beholde the originall parent of all theſe elementes, beholde the lady Venus renoumed thoroughout all the worlde, with whome a mortall mayden is ioyned now partaker of honour, my name regiſtred in the Citie of heauen, is prophaned and made vile by terrene abſurdities, if I ſhal ſuffer any mortall creature to preſent my Maieſtie in earth, or that any ſhall beare about a falſe ſurmiſed ſhape of my perſon: then in vaine did Paris that ſheaparde (in whoſe iuſt iudgement and cōfidence the great Iupiter had affiance) preferre me aboue the reſidew of the Goddeſſes for the excellencie of my beautie: but ſhe what ſo euer ſhe be that hath vſurped mine honour, ſhall ſhortly repent her of her vnlawfull eſtate: And by and by ſhe called her winged ſonne Cupide, raſhe inough, and hardie, who by his euil manners, contemninge all publique iuſtice and lawe, armed with fire & arrowes, runninge vp and downe in the nightes from houſe to houſe, and corruptinge the lawfull marriages of euery perſon, doth nothinge but that whiche is euill, who although that he weare of his owne proper nature ſufficient prone to woorke miſchiefe, yet ſhe egged him forwarde with woordes and brought him to the Citie, and ſhewed him Pſyches (for ſo the mayden was called) and hauyng tolde the cauſe of her anger, not without great rage) I pray thée (ꝙ ſhe) my déere childe by motherly bonde of loue, by the ſwéete woundes of thy percinge dartes, by the pleaſaunt heate of thy fire, reuenge the iniurie which is done to thy mother, by the falſe and diſobedient beautie of a mortall mayden, and I pray thée without delay, y• ſhe may fall in loue with the moſte miſerableſt creature liuinge, the moſt poore, the moſt crooked, and the moſt vile, that there may be none founde in all the worlde of like wretchednes. When ſhe had ſpoken theſe woordes, ſhe embraſed and kiſſed her ſonne, & toke her voiage towardes the ſea.

When ſhe was come to the ſea, ſhe began to call the Goddes & Goddeſſes, who were obedient at her voyce. For incontinent came y• daughters of Nereus ſinging with tunes melodiouſly: Portunus with his briſtled & rough bearde: Salatia, with her boſome ful of fiſh: Palemon, the driuer of the Dolphin, the trumpetters of Triton leapinge hither and thither, & blowinge with heauenly noies: Such was the cōpany which followed Venus marchinge towardes the Occean ſea.

In the meane ſeaſon Pſyches with al her beautie receaued no fruicte of her honour: She was wondred at of al▪ ſhe was praiſed of al, but ſhe perceaued y• no King nor Prince, nor any of the inferiour ſorte did repayre to woo her. Euery one merueled at her diuine beautie, as it were at ſome Image well painted & ſette out. Her other twoo ſiſters, which were nothinge ſo greatly exalted by the people, were royally married to twoo Kinges, but the virgin Pſyches ſittinge at home alone lamented her ſolitary life, & beinge diſquieted both in minde and bodie (although ſhe pleaſed al the world) yet hated ſhe in her ſelfe her owne beautie.

Wherupon the miſerable father of this vnfortunate daughter ſuſpectyng that the Goddes & powers of heauen did enuie her eſtate, wente vnto the towne called Milet to receaue the oracle of Apollo, where he made his prayers and offered ſacrifice: and deſired a huſband for his daughter, but Apollo though he were a Grecian and of the countrie of Ionia, becauſe of the foundation of Milet yet he gaue anſweare in Latine verſe, the ſenſe whereof was this.

The Kyng ſomtimes happy, when he harde the Prophecie of Apollo returned home ſadde & ſorowfull, and declared to his wife the miſerable and vnhappy fate of his daughter, then they began to lament, and wéepe, and paſſed ouer many daies in great ſorrow, but now the time approched of Pſyches marriage, preparation was made, blacke torches were lighted, the pleaſaunt ſonges were turned into pitifull cries, the melody of Hymeneus was ended with deadly howlinge,^[33] the maiden that ſhould be married did wipe her eies with her veile: all the family, and people of the Citie, wéeped likewiſe, and with great lamentation was ordained a remiſſe time for that day, but neceſſitie compelled that Pſyches ſhould be brought to her appointed place, accordinge to the diuine commaundement. And when the ſolemnitie was ended, they went to bringe this ſorowfull ſpouſe, not to her marriage, but to her finall ende and buriall. And while the father and mother of Pſyches did goe forwarde, wepinge and criynge to doo this enterpriſe, Pſyches ſpake vnto them in this ſorte: why torment you your vnhappy age with continuall dolor? why trouble you your ſpirites, which are more rather mine then yours? why ſoyle ye your faces with teares, whiche I ought to adoure and woorſhippe? why teare you my eies in yours? why pull you your hoare heares? why knocke you your breaſtes for me? now you ſée the rewarde of my excellent beautie: now, now, you perceaue (but too late) the plague of enuie. When the people did honour me and call me new Venus, thē you ſhould haue wept, then you ſhould haue ſorrowed, as though I had béene then dead: For nowe I ſée, and perceaue that I am come to this miſery by the onely name of Venus, bring me, and (as fortune hath apointed) place me on the toppe of the rocke, I greatly deſire to ende my marriage, I greatly couette to ſée my huſbande, why doo I delay? why ſhoulde I refuſe him that is appointed to deſtroy all the worlde? Thus ended ſhe her woordes, & thruſt her ſelfe emongſt the people that followed: Then thei brought her to the apointed rocke of the highe hill, and ſet her thereon and ſo departed. The torches and lightes were put out with the teares of the people, and euery man gonne home: the miſerable parentes welny conſumed with ſorrow, gaue them ſelues to euerlaſtinge darkenes.

Thus poore Pſyches being left alone wepyng and tremblinge on the toppe of the rocke, was blowen by the gentle ayre and of ſhrillinge Zephyrus and carried from the hill, with a meke winde, whiche retained her garmentes vp, and by little & litle brought her downe into a déepe valley, where ſhe was laide in a bedde of moſt ſweete and fragrant flowres.

The fifth Booke of Lucius Apuleius

Thus fayre Pſyches beinge ſwéetely couched emongſt the ſofte and tender hearbes, as in a bedde of ſoote and fragrant flowres, and hauinge quallified the troubles and thoughtes of her reſtles minde, was now well repoſed: And when ſhe had refreſhed her ſelfe ſufficiently with ſléepe, ſhe roſe with a more quiet and pacified minde, and fortuned to eſpie a pleaſaunt woodde enuironned with great and mighty trées: ſhe eſpied likewiſe a runninge riuer as cléere as Criſtall: In the middeſt of the woodde, welnie at the fall of the riuer was a Princely edifice, wrought & builded, not by the arte or hande of mā, but by the mighty power of God: and you would iudge at the firſt entrie therein, that it weare ſome pleaſaunt and woorthy manſion for the powers of heauen. For the embowinges aboue weare of Cytern, and Yuery, propped and vndermined with pillors of Golde, the walles couered and ſéeled with Siluer, diuers ſortes of beaſtes weare grauē and carued, that ſéemed to encounter with ſuch as entred in: al thinges weare ſo curiouſly and finely wrought, that it ſéemed either to be the worke of ſome demigod, or God him ſelfe, the pauement was al of pretious ſtone, deuided and cut one from an other, whereon was carued diuers kindes of pictures, in ſuch ſorte that bleſſed and thriſe bleſſed weare they whiche might goe vpon ſuch a pauement: Euery parte and angle of the houſe was ſo well adorned, that by reaſon of the pretious ſtones and ineſtimable treaſure there, it glittered and ſhone in ſuch ſorte that the chambers, porches, & dores gaue light as it had bene the Sunne. Neyther otherwiſe did the other treaſure of y• houſe diſagrée vnto ſo great a maieſtie, that verely it ſéemed in euery point a heauēly palaice fabricate & builded for Iupiter him ſelf.

Then Pſyches moued with delectation, approched nighe, & takinge a bolde harte entred into the houſe, & behelde euery thing there, with great affectiō, ſhe ſawe ſtorehouſes wrought excéeding fine, & repleniſhed with abondance of richeſſe. Finally there could nothinge be deuiſed which lacked there, but emōgſt ſuch great ſtore of treaſure, this was more meruelous, y• there was no cloſure, bolte, or locke to kéepe y• ſame. And when with great pleaſure ſhe viewed al theſe thinges, ſhe harde a voice without any body, y• ſaide: Why doo you maruell madame at ſo great richeſſe? behold al that you ſée is at your cōmandement: wherfore, goe you into the chāber & repoſe your ſelfe vpon the bedde, & deſire what bathe you will haue, and we whoſe voices you here be your ſeruauntes, and ready to miniſter vnto you accordinge to your deſire: in the meane ſeaſon, royall meates and deintie diſhes ſhalbe prepared for you.

Then Pſyches perceaued the felicitie of diuine prouidence, & according to the aduertiſement of the incorporall voices, ſhe firſt repoſed her ſelfe vpō the bedde, & thē refreſhed her bodie in ye baines. This done ſhe ſaw y• table garniſhed with meates, & a chaire to ſit downe.

When Pſyches was ſet downe, al ſortes of diuine meates and wines weare brought in, not by any body but as it weare with a winde, for ſhe coulde ſée no perſon before her, but onely here voices on euery ſide. After that al the ſeruices weare brought to the table, one came in and ſange inuiſibly, an other plaide on the harpe, but ſhe ſawe no man: The harmony of the inſtrumentes did ſo greatly ſhrill in her eares, y• (though there weare no manner of perſon) yet ſéemed ſhe in the middeſt of a multitude of people.

All theſe pleaſures finiſhed: when night approched Pſyches went to bedde: & when ſhe was laide, that the ſwéete ſléepe came vpon her, ſhe greatly feared her virginitie becauſe ſhe was alone: Thē came her vnknowē huſbande and lay with her: and after y• he had made a perfect conſummation of the Mariage, he roſe in the morninge before day & departed. Sone after came her inuiſible ſeruantes, preſenting to her ſuch thinges as were neceſſary for her defloration, and thus ſhe paſſed foorth a great while: and (as it happeneth) y• noueltie of the thinges by continuall cuſtome did encreaſe her pleaſure, but ſpecially the ſounde of the inſtrumentes was a comfort vnto her being alone.

Duringe this time that Pſyches was in this place of pleaſures, her father & mother did nothinge but wéepe and lament, and her twoo ſiſters hearinge of her moſte miſerable fortune came with great dolor and ſorrowe to comforte and ſpeake with their parentes.

The night followinge Pſyches huſbande ſpake vnto her (for ſhe might féele his eies, his handes & his eares) and ſaide, O my ſwéete ſpouſe and dere wife, fortune doth menace vnto thée imminent perill and daunger, whereof I wiſhe thée greatly to beware: For knowe thou that thy ſiſters, thinkinge that thou arte dead, be greatly troubled, and are come to the mountaine by thy ſteppes, whoſe lamentations if thou fortune to heare, beware that thou doo in no wiſe either make anſweare or looke vp towardes them. For if thou doo thou ſhalt purchaſe to me great ſorrow, & to thy ſelfe vtter deſtruction. Pſyches (hearinge her huſbande) was contented to doo all thinges as he commaunded.

After that he was departed, & the night paſſed away, Pſyches lamented & cried al ye day folowyng, thinkyng that now ſhe was paſt all hope of comfort in that ſhe was cloſed within the walles of a priſon, depriued of humaine conuerſation, and commaunded not to ayde or aſſiſt her ſorowfull ſiſters, no nor once to ſée them: Thus ſhe paſſed all the day in wepinge, and wente to bedde at night without any refectiō of meate or baine.

Incontinently after, came her huſbande, who (when he had embraſed her ſwéetely) gan ſay: Is it thus that you performe your promiſe my ſwéete wife? what doo I finde here? paſſe you all the day and the night in wepinge? & will you not ceaſe in your huſbandes armes? Goe too, doo what you wil, purchaſe your owne deſtruction, & when you finde it ſo, then remēber my woordes, and repent, but too late: Then ſhe deſired her huſbande more and more, aſſuringe him that ſhe ſhould die, vnleſſe he woulde graunt that ſhe might ſée her ſiſters, whereby ſhe might ſpeake with them & comfort them, whereat at length he was contented, and moreouer he willed that ſhe ſhould giue them as much Golde and Iuelles as ſhe would, but he gaue her a further charge, ſaying: beware that ye couet not (beinge moued by the pernicious counſel of your ſiſters) to ſée the ſhape of my perſon, leaſt by your curioſitie you be depriued of ſo great and woorthy eſtate. Pſyches beinge gladde herewith rendred vnto him moſt entier thankes, and ſaid: Swéete huſbande I had rather die then to be ſeperate from you: for whoſoeuer you be, I loue and retaine you within my harte, as if you weare mine owne ſpirite or Cupide him ſelfe: but I pray you graunt this likewiſe, that you would commaunde your ſeruaunt Zephyrus to bringe my ſiſters downe into the valley, as he brought me,^[34] wherwithal ſhe kiſſed him ſwéetely, and deſired him gently to graunt her requeſt, callinge him her ſpouſe, her ſwéete harte, her ioye, & her ſolace, whereby ſhe enforced him to agrée to her minde, and when morninge came he departed away.

After longe ſearch made, the ſiſters of Pſyches came vnto the hill where ſhe was ſet on the rocke, and cried with a lowde voice, in ſuche ſorte that the ſtones anſweared againe: And when they called their ſiſter by her name, that their lamentable cries came vnto her eares, ſhe came foorth, and ſaid: beholde, here is ſhe for whome you wéepe, I pray you torment your ſelues no more, ceaſe your wéeping: And by & by, ſhe cōmaunded Zephyrus by the appointment of her huſband to bring them downe: Neither did he delay, for with gentle blaſtes he retained them vp, and laide them ſoftely in the valey: I am not able to expreſſe the often embraſinge, kiſſing, and gretyng, which was betwéene them thrée, all ſorowes and teares were then laide aparte: Come in (ꝙ Pſyches) into our houſe & refreſh your afflicted mindes with your ſiſter. After this, ſhe ſhowed them the ſtorehouſes of treaſure, ſhe cauſed them to heare the voices whiche ſerued her, the bayne was ready, the meates were brought in, & when they had eaten and filled them ſelues with diuine delicates, they conceaued great enuie within their hartes, and one of thē beinge very curious, did demaunde what her huſbande was, of what ſtate, & who was the Lorde of ſo pretious a houſe, but Pſyches, remembringe the promiſe which ſhe made to her huſbande, feigned that he was a yonge man, of comely ſtature, with a flexen bearde, and had great delight in huntinge in the hilles and dales by: And leaſt by her longe talke ſhe ſhould be founde to trippe or faile in her woordes, ſhe filled their lappes with Golde, Siluer and Iewels, and commaūded Z[•]phirus to carry them away.

When they were brought vp to the mountaine, they toke their waies: [•]omewarde to their owne houſes, and murmured with enuy that they bare againſt Pſyches, ſayinge: beholde cruell & contrary fortune, behold how we (borne all of one parent) haue diuers deſtinies, but eſpecially we, y• are ye elder twoo, be married to ſtraūge huſbandes, made as handemaidons, and as it were baniſhed from our countrie & fréendes, wheras our yōger ſiſter hath ſo great abondaunce of treaſure and gotten a God to her huſbande, who hath no ſkill how to vſe ſo great plenty of richeſſe: ſawe you not ſiſter what was in the houſe? what great ſtore of Iewelles, what glitteringe robes, what gemmes, what golde we trode on? That if ſhe haue a huſbande accordinge, as ſhe affirmeth, there is none that liueth this daye more happie in all the worlde then ſhe. And ſo it may come to paſſe that at length for the great affection and loue whiche he may beare vnto her, he may make her a Goddeſſe, for (by Hercules) ſuche was her countenaunce, ſo ſhe behaued her ſelfe, that (as a Goddeſſe) ſhe had voyces to ſerue her, and the windes did obay her.^[35] But I poore wretche haue firſte married a huſbande elder then my Father, more balde then a coote, more weake then a childe, and that locketh me vp all day in the houſe. Then ſayde the other ſiſter, and in faith I am married to a huſbande that hath the gowte, twyfolde, crooked, not couragious in payinge my debt, I am ſayne to rubbe, and mollifie his ſtonie fingers with diuers ſortes of oyles, & to wrappe them in playſters and ſalues, ſo that I ſoyle my white and deintie handes, with the corruption of filthy cloutes, not vſing my ſelfe like a wife, but more like a ſeruaunt: and you my ſiſter ſéeme likewiſe to be in bondage, and ſeruitude, wherefore I cannot abide to ſée our yonger ſiſter in ſuche great felicitie, ſawe you not I pray, howe proudely and arrogantly ſhe handled vs euen now? and how in vauntinge her ſelfe ſhe vttered her preſumptuous minde, how ſhe caſte a litle Golde into our lappes, and (beyng werie of our company) commaunded that we ſhould be borne and blowen away? verely I liue not nor am a woman, but I will depriue her of all her bliſſe: And if you my ſiſter be ſo farre bente as I, lette vs conſulte together, and not vtter our minde to any perſon, no nor yet to our parentes, nor tell that euer we ſawe her. For it ſuffiſeth that we haue ſéene her, whome it repenteth to haue ſéene: neither lette vs declare her good fortune to our Father, nor to any other, ſince as they ſéeme not happy whoſe richeſſe are vnknowen: So ſhall ſhe knowe, that ſhe hath ſiſters (no abiectes) but more woorthier then ſhe. But now lette vs goe home to our huſbandes and poore houſes, and when we are better inſtructed lette vs returne to ſuppreſſe her pryde: ſo this euill counſell pleaſed theſe twoo euill women, and they hidde the treaſure whiche Pſyches gaue them, and fare their heare, renewynge their falſe and forged teares. When their father and mother behelde them wéepe and lament ſtill, they doubled their ſorrowes, and griefes, but full of yre and farced with enuie they toke their voyage homewarde, deuiſinge the ſlaughter and deſtruction of their ſiſter.

In the meane ſeaſon y• huſband of Pſiches did warne her againe in the night with theſe woordes: Séeſt thou not (ꝙ he) what perill and daunger euill fortune doth threaten vnto thée, whereof if thou take not good héede, it will ſhortly come vpon thée: for the vnfaithfull harlottes doo greatly endeuour to ſet their ſnares to catch thée, and their purpoſe is to make and perſwade thée to beholde my face, which if thou once fortune to ſée (as I haue often tolde) thou ſhalt ſée no more: wherefore if theſe naughty hegges, armed with wicked mindes, doo chaunce to come againe (as I thinke no otherwiſe but that they will) take héede that thou talke not with them, but ſimply ſuffer them to ſpeake what they will, howbeit if thou canſt not reſtraine thy ſelfe, beware that thou haue no communication of thy huſbande, nor anſweare a woorde if they fortune to queſtion of me, ſo will we encreaſe our ſtocke, and this yonge and tender childe, couched in this yonge and tender belly of thine, (if thou conceale my ſecreates) ſhal be made an immortall God, otherwiſe a mortall creature. Then Pſyches was very gladde that ſhe ſhould bringe foorth a diuine babe, and very ioyfull in that ſhe ſhould be honored as a mother:^[36] She reckened & nombred carefully the daies and monethes that paſſed, and being neuer with childe before, did maruell greatly that in ſo ſmall a time her belly ſhould ſwell ſo bigge.

But thoſe peſtilent & wicked furies, breathinge out their ſerpentine poyſon, toke ſhippinge to bringe their enterpriſe to paſſe. Then Pſyches was warned againe by her huſbande in this ſorte: beholde the laſt day, the extreme caſe, and the enemies of thy bloud, hath armed them ſelues againſt vs, pitched their campes, ſet their hoſte in a ray, & are marchinge towardes vs, for now thy twoo ſiſters haue drawen their ſwoordes, and are ready to flea thée: O with what force are we aſſayled this day, O ſwéete Pſyches I pray thée to take pitie on thy ſelfe, of me, and deliuer thy huſbande, and this inſant within thy belly from ſo great daunger: And ſée not, neither heare theſe curſed women, whiche are not woorthy to be called thy ſiſters, for their great hatred, and breache of ſiſterly amitie, for they will come (like Sirens) to the mountaine, and yelde out their piteous and lamentable cries: When Pſyches had harde theſe woordes, ſhe ſighed ſorowfully, and ſaide: O déere huſbande, this longe time you haue had experience & triall of my faith, and boubt you not but that I will perſeuer in the ſame, wherfore commaunde your winde Zephirus that he may doo, as he hath donne before, to the intent that where you haue charged me, not to beholde your venerable face, yet that I may comfort my ſelfe with the ſight of my ſiſters. I pray you by theſe beautifull heares, by theſe rounde chéekes, delicate & tender, by your pleaſaunt whote breſt,^[37] whoſe ſhape and face I ſhall learne at length by the childe in my belly, graunt the fruicte of my deſire, refreſhe your déere ſpouſe Pſyches with ioye, who is bounde and linked vnto you for euer, I litle eſtéeme to ſée your viſage and figure, litle doo I regarde the night & darknes thereof, for you are my onely light. Her huſbande (beinge as it were enchaunted with theſe woordes, and compelled by violēce of her often embraſinge, wiping away her teares with his heare) did yelde vnto his wife. And when morning came departed as he accuſtomed to doo.

Now her ſiſters arriued on lande, and neuer reſted till they came to the rocke, without viſitinge of their Father and mother, and leaped downe raſhly from the hill them ſelues: Then Zephyrus accordinge to the diuine commaundement brought them downe (though it were againſt his will) & laide them in the valley without any harme. By and by they went into the pallaice to their ſiſter without leaue, & when they had eftſones embraſed their pray, and thanked her (with flatteringe woordes) for the treaſure whiche ſhe gaue thē, thei ſaid: O déere ſiſter Pſyches, know you that you are now no more a childe but a mother: O what great ioye beare you vnto vs in your belly? what a cōfort wil it be vnto all the houſe? how happy ſhall we be that ſhall ſée this infant nouriſhed emongſt ſo great plentie of treaſure? that if he be like his parentes, as it is neceſſarie he ſhoulde, there is no doubte but a newe Cupide ſhalbe borne: by this kinde of meanes they wente aboute to winne Pſyches by litle and litle, but becauſe they were weary with trauell, they ſatte them downe in chayres, and after that they had waſhed their bodies in baynes, they wente into a parler, where all kinde of meates were ready prepared, Pſyches commaunded one to play with his Harpe, it was donne: Then, immediatly other ſange, other tuned their inſtrumentes, but no perſon was ſéene, by whoſe ſwéete harmonie and modulation, the ſiſters of Pſyches were greatly delighted.

Howbeit the wickednes of theſe curſed wemen was nothing ſuppreſſed by the ſwéete noyes of theſe inſtrumentes, but they ſetled thē ſelues to woorke their treaſon againſt Pſyches demaūding who was her huſbād, and of what parentage: Then ſhe (hauinge forgotten, by too much ſimplicitie, that, whiche ſhe had ſpoken before of her huſband) inuented a new anſweare, & ſaide that her huſband was of a great prouince, a marchant, and a man of a midle age, hauing his bearde enterſparſed with gray heares, which when ſhe had ſaid (becauſe ſhe would haue no further talke) ſhe filled their lappes full of Golde and Siluer, and bid Zephyrus to beare them away.

In their retorne homeward thei murmured with thē ſelues ſayinge, how ſay you ſiſter to ſo apparaunt a lie of Pſyches? For firſt ſhe ſaid that her huſbande was a yonge man of floriſhinge yeares & had a flexen beard, and now ſhe ſaith that it is halfe graye with age, what is he that in ſo ſhorte ſpace can become ſo olde? you ſhall finde it no otherwiſe my ſiſter, but that eyther this curſed queane hath inuented a great lie▪ or els that ſhe neuer ſawe the ſhape of her huſbande: And if it be ſo that ſhe neuer ſawe him, then verely ſhe is married to ſome God,^[38] and hath a yonge god in her belly, but if it be a deuine babe and fortune to come to the eares of my mother (as God forbidde it ſhould) then may I goe & hange my ſelfe, wherefore let vs goe to our parents, and with forged lies let vs colour the matter.

After they were thus inflamed and had viſited their parentes, they returned againe to the mountayne, and by the ayde of the winde Zephirus were carried downe into the valey, and after thei had ſtrained their eye liddes to enforce them ſelues to wéepe, they called vnto Pſyches in this ſorte: Thou (ignorant of ſo great euill) thinkeſt thy ſelfe ſure and happy, and ſitteſt at home nothinge regardinge thy perill, where as we goe aboute thy affayres, and are carefull leaſt any harme ſhould happen vnto thée, for we are credibly informed, neither can we but vtter it vnto thée, that there is a great Serpent full of deadly poyſon, with a rauenous and gapinge threate, that lieth with thée euery night, remember the oracle of Apollo, who pronounced that thou ſhouldeſt be married to a dyre and [•]erte Serpent, and many of the inhabitantes here by, and ſuch as hunte about in the countrey, affirme that they ſawe him yeſternight returnynge from paſture and ſwimminge ouer the riuer, whereby they doo vndoubtedly ſay that he will not pamper thée longe with delicate meates, but when the time of deliuerie ſhall approche, he will deuoure both thée & thy childe, wherfore aduiſe thy ſelfe, whether thou wilt agrée vnto vs that are carefull for thy ſafetie, and ſo auoide the perill of death, and be contented to liue with thy ſiſters, or whether thou wilt remaine with the ſerpent, & in the ende to be ſwallowed into the gowlfe of his bodie. And if it be ſo, that thy ſolitary life, thy conuerſation with voyces, this ſeruile and daungerous pleaſure, and the loue of the Serpent doo more delight thée: ſay not but that we haue playde the partes of naturall ſiſters in warninge thée. Then the poore & ſimple miſer Pſyches was moued with the feare of ſo dreadfull woordes, and (being amaſed in her minde) did cleane forgette the admonitions of her huſbande, & her owne promiſes made vnto him. And (throwyng her ſelfe headlonge into extreame miſery) with a wane and ſallow countenance, ſcantly vtteringe a thirde woorde, at length gan ſay in this ſorte: O my moſt déere ſiſters I hartely thāke you for your great kindenes towardes me, and I am now verely perſwaded that they whiche haue enformed you hereof, haue enformed you of nothinge but truth, for I neuer ſawe the ſhape of my huſbande, neither know I frō whence he came, onely I here his voyce in ye night, in ſo much that I haue an vncertaine huſbande, & one that loueth not the light of the day, whiche cauſeth me to ſuſpect that he is a beaſt as you affirme, moreouer I doo greatly feare to ſée him, for he doth menace and threaten great euill vnto me, if I ſhould goe about to ſpie, and beholde his ſhape, wherfore my louing ſiſters if you haue any holeſome remedy for your ſiſter in daunger, giue it now preſently: Then they openinge the gates of their ſubtill mindes, did put away all priuie gile, & egged her forward in her feareful thoughts, perſwadinge her to doo as they would haue her, wherupon one of them began and ſaid, becauſe that we litle eſtéeme any perill or daunger to ſaue your life, we entende to ſhow you the beſt way and meane as we may poſſibly doo: Take a ſharpe raſer and put it vnder the pillow of your bedde, and ſée that you haue ready a priuie burninge lampe with oyle, hidde vnder ſome parte of the hanginge of the chamber, and (finely diſſimuling the matter) when (accordinge to his cuſtome) he cometh to bedde and ſléepeth ſoundly, ariſe you ſecreatly, and with your bare féete goe and take your lampe, with the raſer in your right hande, and with valiant force cutte of the head of the poyſonous Serpent, wherin we will ayde and aſſiſt you: and when by the death of him, you ſhalbe made ſalue, we will marry you to ſome comely man. After they had thus inflamed the harte of their ſiſter, (fearing leaſt ſome daunger might happen vnto them by reaſon of their euill counſell,) they were carried by the winde Zephyrus to the toppe of the mountaine, and ſo they ranne away, and toke ſhippinge.

When Pſyches was lefte alone (ſauing that ſhe ſéemed not to be alone, beinge ſtirred by ſo many furies) ſhe was in a toſſinge minde, like the waues of the ſea, and although her wil was obſtinate and reſiſted to put in execution the counſell of her ſiſters, yet ſhe was in doubtfull and diuers opinions touching her calamitie, Sometime ſhe would, ſometime ſhe would not, ſometime ſhe is bolde, ſometime ſhe feareth, ſometime ſhe miſtruſteth, ſometime ſhe is moued, ſometime ſhe hateth the beaſt, ſometime ſhe loueth her huſbande, but at length the night came, when as ſhe made preparatiō for her wicked intent.

Sone after, her huſbande came, & when he had kiſſed and embraſed her, he fell a ſléepe: Then Pſyches (ſomewhat féeble in body and minde, yet moued by crueltie of fate) receaued boldenes & brought forth the lampe, and toke the raſer, ſo by her audacitie ſhe chaunged her kinde, but when ſhe toke the lampe and came to the bedde ſide, ſhe ſawe the moſt méeke, and ſwéeteſt beaſt of all beaſtes, euen fayre Cupide couched fayrely, at whoſe ſighte the very lampe encreaſed his lighte for ioye, and the raſer turned his edge. But when Pſyches ſawe ſo glorious a bodie, ſhe greatly feared, and (amaſed in minde, with a pale countenaunce, all tremblinge) fell on her knées, and thought to hide the raſer, yea verely in her owne harte, whiche ſhe had vndoubtedly donne, had it not (through feare of ſo great an enterpriſe) fallen out of her hande. And when ſhe ſawe and behelde the beautie of his deuine visage, ſhe was well recreated in her minde, ſhe ſawe his heares of Golde, that yéelded out a ſwéete ſauour: his necke more white then milke, his purple chéekes, his heare hangynge comely behinde and before, the brightnes whereof did darken the light of the lampe, his tender plume feathers diſperſed vpon his ſhoulders like ſhininge flowers, and tremblinge hither and thither, and his other partes of his bodie ſo ſmothe and ſofte that it did not repent Venus to beare ſuche a childe: at the beddes féete lay his bowe, quiuer, and arrowes, that [•]e the weapōs of ſo great a God, which, when Pſyches did curiouſly behold, and merueling at the weapons of her huſband toke one of the arrowes out of the quiuer, and pricked her ſelfe withall, wherewith ſhe was ſo grieuouſly wounded that the bloudde followed, and thereby of her owne accorde ſhe added loue vpon loue, then more and more broylinge in the loue of Cupide, ſhe embraſed him and kiſſed him a thouſand times fearinge the meaſure of his ſléepe: but alas, while ſhe was in this great ioye, whether it were for enuie, or for deſire to touche this amiable bodie likewiſe, there fell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe vpō the right ſhoulder of the God. O raſhe & bolde lampe the vile miniſtery of loue, how dareſt thou be ſo bolde as to burne the God of al fire? when as he inuēted thée, to the intēt that al louers might with more ioye paſſe the nightes in pleaſure. The God being burned in this ſorte, & perceauinge that promiſe and faith was broken he flied away without vtteraunce of any woorde from the eies & hādes of his moſt vnhappy wife. But Pſiches fortuned to catch him (as he was riſing) by the right thighe, and helde him faſt as he flewe aboue in the ayre, vntill ſuch time, that (conſtrayned by werines) ſhe lette goe and fell downe vpon the grounde: but Cupide followed her downe, and lighted vpon the toppe of a Cypreſſe trée, and angerly ſpake vnto her in this manner: O ſimple Pſiches conſider with thy ſelfe, how I (little regarding the cōmaundement of my mother, who willed me that thou ſhouldeſt be married to a man of baſe & miſerable condition) did come my ſelfe from heauen to loue thée, & wounded mine owne bodie with my proper weapōs to haue thée to my ſpouſe, and did I ſéeme a beaſt vnto thée, y• thou ſhouldeſt goe about to cutte of my head wt a raſer, who loued thée ſo wel? did not I alwaies giue thée in charge? did not I gentely will thée to beware? but thoſe curſed ayders and counſelours of thine, ſhalbe woorthely rewarded for their paines.^[39] As for thée, thou ſhalt be ſufficiently puniſhed by my abſence: When he had ſpoken theſe woordes, he toke his dight into y• ayre.

Then Pſyches fell [•]atte on the grounde, & as longe as ſhe might ſee her huſband, ſhe caſt her eies after him into the ayre wepinge and lamentinge piteouſly, but when he was gonne out of her ſight, ſhe threw her ſelf into the nerte running riuer, for the great anguiſh and dolor that ſhe was in, for the lacke of her huſband, how be it the water would not ſuffer her to be drowned, but toke pitie vpon her, in the honour of Cupide which accuſtomed to broyle and burne the riuer, and ſo threwe her vpon the banke emongſt the hearbes.

Then Pan the ruſtical God ſitting on the riuer ſide, embraſinge and teachyng the Goddeſſe Canna to tune her ſonges and pipes, by whome were féedinge the yonge and tender goates, after that he perceaued Pſyches in ſo ſorowfull caſe, not ignorant (I know not by what meanes) of her miſerable eſtate, endeuored to pacifie her in this ſorte: Oh fayre mayde, I am a ruſtike & rude herdeſman, howbeit (by reaſon of my olde age) experte in many thinges, for as farre as I can learne by coniecture, whiche (according as wiſe men doo terme) is called diuination, I perceaue by your vncertaine gate, your pale hewe, your ſobbinge ſighes, and your watrie eies, that you are greatly in loue. Wherfore harken to me, and goe not about to ſlea your ſelfe, nor wéepe not at all, but rather addore and woorſhippe the great God Cupide, and winne him vnto you by your gentle promiſe of ſeruice. When the God of ſhepeherdes had ſpoken theſe woordes, ſhe gaue no anſweare but made reuerence vnto him as to a God, and ſo departed.

After that Pſyches had gonne a litle way, ſhe fortuned (vnwares) to come to a Citie where the huſbande of one of her ſiſters did dwel, which when Pſyches did vnderſtande, ſhe cauſed that her ſiſter had knowledge of her comming. And ſo they mette together, and after great embraſinge and ſalutation, the ſiſter of Pſyches demaunded the cauſe of her trauell thither: Marry (ꝙ ſhe) doo not you remember the counſell that you gaue me, whereby you would, that I ſhould kill the beaſt, who vnder colour of my huſbande did lie with me euery night? you ſhall vnderſtande, y• aſſone as I brought foorth the lampe to ſée & beholde his ſhape, I perceaued that he was the ſonne of Venus, euen Cupide him ſelfe that lay with me. Then I (beynge ſtrōken with great pleaſure, and deſirous to embraſe him) coulde not thoroughly aſſwage my delight, but alas (by euil channce) the boylinge oyle of the lampe fortuned to fall on his ſhoulder, whiche cauſed him to awake, who (ſeinge me armed with fire and weapon) gan ſay. How dareſt thou be ſo bolde to doo ſo great a miſchiefe? departe frō me, and take ſuch thinges as thou diddeſt bringe: for I will haue thy ſiſter (and named you) to my wife, & ſhe ſhalbe placed in thy felicitie, and by and by he cōmaunded Zephyrus to carry me away frō the boundes of his houſe.

Pſyches had ſcantly finiſhed her tale, but her ſiſter (perced with y• pricke of carnall deſire & wicked enuie) ranne home, & (feigninge to her huſbande that ſhe had harde woorde of the death of her parētes) toke ſhipping and came to the mountaine. And although there blewe a contrary winde, yet beinge brought in a vaine hope ſhe cried, O Cupide take me a more woorthy wife, and thou Zephyrus beare downe thy miſtris, & ſo ſhe caſte her ſelfe downe hedlonge from the mountaine, but ſhe fell not into the valley neither aliue nor dead, for al the members & partes of her bodie were torne emongſt the rockes, whereby ſhe was made a pray vnto the birdes and wilde beaſtes, as ſhe woorthely deſerued.

Neither was the vengeaunce of the other delaide, for Pſiches traueling in that coūtrey fortuned to come to an other Citie, where her other ſiſter did dwell, to whome when ſhe had declared all ſuch thinges as ſhe tolde to her firſte ſiſter,^[40] ſhe ranne likewiſe vnto the rocke and was ſlaine in like ſorte. Then Pſiches traueled about in the countrey to ſéeke her huſband Cupide, but he was gotten into his mothers chāber, and there bewayled the ſorowfull wounde, whiche he caught by the oyle of the burninge lampe.

Then the white birde the Gull whiche ſwimmeth on the waues of the water, flewe towardes the Occean ſea, where ſhe founde Venus waſhinge and bathinge her ſelfe: to whome ſhe declared that her ſonne was burned and in daunger of death, and moreouer that it was a cōmon bruite in y• mouth of euery perſon (who ſpake euill of all the family of Venus) that her ſonne doth nothing but haunt harlots in y• mountaine, and ſhe her ſelfe, laſciuiouſly, vſe to riotte on the ſea, whereby they ſay yt they are now become no more gratious, no more pleaſaunt, no more gentle, but inciuill, mōſtruous & horrible: moreouer the marriages are not for any amitie, or for loue of procreatiō, but ful of enuy, diſcorde, & debate. This the curious Gull did clatter in the eares of Venus reprehēding her ſonne. But Venus began to crie, and ſaid: what hath my ſonne gotten any loue? I pray thée (gentle birde y• doeſt ſerue me ſo faithfully) tel me what ſhe is, & what is her name, that hath troubled my ſonne in ſuch ſorte, whether ſhe be any of the Nymphes, of the nomber of the Goddeſſes, of the cōpany of the Muſes, or of the miſtery of my Graces? To whome the birde anſweared. Madame I know not what ſhe is, but this I know, that ſhe is called Pſiches. Then Venus with indignatiō cried out: what is it ſhe? the vſurper of my beautie, the viccar of my name? what did he thinke that I was a baude, by whoſe ſhowe he fell acquainted with the mayde? And immediatly ſhe departed, and went to her chamber, where ſhe founde her ſonne wounded as it was tolde vnto her, whome when ſhe behelde ſhe cried out in this ſorte.

Is this an honeſt thinge? is this honorable to thy parentes? is this reaſon that thou haſt violate and broken the cōmaundement of thy mother and ſoueraigne miſtris? And whereas thou ſhouldeſt haue vexed my enemie with lothſome loue, thou haſte done contrary: For (beinge but of tender and vnripe yéeres) thou haſt with too licentious appetite embraſed my moſte mortall foe, to whome I ſhalbe made a mother, and ſhe a daughter: Thou preſumeſt and thinkeſt (thou triflinge boye, thou verlette, and without all reuerence) that thou arte moſte woorthy and excellent, and that I am not able by reaſon of mine age to haue an other ſonne, which if I might haue, thou ſhouldeſt well vnderſtand that I would beare a more woorthier then thou, but to woorke thée a greater deſpite, I doo determine to adopte one of my ſeruantes, & to giue him theſe winges, this fire, this bowe, and theſe arrowes, and all other furniture whiche I gaue to thée, not for this purpoſe, neyther is any thinge giuen thée of thy father for this intent: but firſte thou haſt béene euill brought vp, and inſtructed in thy youth: thou haſte thy handes ready and ſharpe: Thou haſt often offended thy auncientes and eſpecially me that am thy mother, thou haſt perced me with thy dartes, thou contemneſt me as a widow, neither doeſt thou regarde thy valiant and inuincible Father, and to anger me more thou arte amorous of wenches and harlottes, but I wil cauſe that thou ſhalt ſhortly repent thée, & that this marriage ſhalbe déerely bought. To what a pointe am I now driuē? what ſhall I doo? whither ſhall I goe? howe ſhall I repreſſe this [•]eaſre? Shall I aſke ayde of mine enemie Sobrietie, whome I haue often offended to engender thée? or ſhall I ſéeke for counſell of euery poore and ruſticall womā? No, no, yet had I rather die, howbeit I will not ceaſe my vengeance, to her muſt I haue recourſe for helpe, & to none other, (I meane to Sobrietie) who may correct thée ſharpely, take away thy quiuer, depriue thée of thy arrowes, vnbende thy bowe, quenche thy fire, & (which is more) ſubdew thy body with puniſhment, and when that I haue raſed & cut of this thy heare, whiche I haue dreſſed with mine owne handes, and made to glitter like golde, and when I haue clipped thy winges which I my ſelfe haue cauſed to burgen, then ſhal I thinke to haue ſufficiently reuenged my ſelfe vpon thée, for the iniurie which thou haſt done: when ſhe had ſpokē theſe woordes ſhe departed in a great rage out of her chāber.

^[41] Immediatly, as ſhe was goinge away, came Iuno & Ceres demaūdinge the cauſe of her anger: then Venus made anſweare, verely you are come to comfort my ſorow, but I pray you with all diligence to ſéeke out one whoſe name is Pſyches, who is a vagabonde, and runneth aboute the countries, and as I thinke you are not ignoraunt of the bruite of my ſonne Cupide, and of his demeanure, which I am aſhamed to declare: Then thei ſtanding and knowing the whole matter, endeuoured to mitigate the ire of Venus in this ſorte.

What is the cauſe madame, or how hath your ſonne ſo offended that you ſhould ſo greatly accuſe his loue, & blame him by reaſon that he is amorous? And why ſhould you ſéeke the death of hir, whom he doth fancy? We moſt humbly entreate you to pardon his faulte, if he haue accorded to the mynde of any maiden, what doo not you knowe that he is a yonge man? or haue you forgotten of what yéeres he is? doth he ſéeme alwayes vnto you to be a childe? you are his mother, and a kynd woman, will you continually ſearche out his daliance? will you blame his luxurie? will you bridle his loue? And will you reprehende your own arte and delightes in him? what God or man is he, that can endure that you ſhould ſowe or diſperſe your ſéede of loue in euery place, and to make a reſtraint therof within your own doores, certes you wil be the cauſe of the ſuppreſſion of the publique places of yonge dames. In this ſorte theſe Goddeſſes endeuoured to pacifie hir minde, and tercuſe Cupide with all their power (although he weare abſent) for feare of his dartes and ſhaftes of loue. But Venus would in no wyſe aſſwage hir heate, but (thinking that they did rather trifle and taunte at her iniuries) ſhe departed from them, and tooke her viage towardes the ſea in all haſt.

The ſixth Booke of Lucius Apuleius

In the meane ſeaſon Pſyches hurled hir ſelf hither and thither, to ſéeke for her huſband, the rather becauſe ſhe thought, that if he would not be appeaſed with the ſwéete flatterie of his wyfe, yet he would take mercy vpon her at her ſeruile and continuall praiers. And (eſpiyng a Churche on the toppe of a high hill) ſhe ſayd, what can I tell whether my huſbande and maiſter bée there or no? wherefore ſhe went thither warde, & with great paine & trauell, moued by hope, after y• ſhe climed to the toppe of the mountaine, ſhe came to the Tēple & went in, whereas, behold ſhe eſpied ſhéefes of corne liyng on a heape, blades writhed like garlādes, & réedes of barley, moreouer ſhe ſawe hookes, ſithes, ſickels and other inſtruments to reape, but euery thing lay out of order, & as it were caſte in by the handes of labourers, which when Pſiches ſawe, ſhe gathered vp & put euery thing dewly in order, thinking that ſhe would not deſpiſe or contemne the Temples of any of the Gods, but rather get the fauour & beneuolence of them all, by & by Ceres came in, & beholding her buſie and curious in her chappel, cried out a farre of, and ſaid: O Pſiches néedeful of mercy, Venus ſearcheth for thée in euery place to reuenge her ſelfe & to puniſh thée greuouſly, but y• haſte more minde to be here, and careſt for nothyng leſſe, thē for thy ſafetie. Then Pſiches fell on her knées before her, wateringe her féete with her teares, wipinge the ground with her heare, & with great wéeping & lamentation deſired pardon, ſaiyng: O great & holy Goddeſſe I pray thée by thy plentuous & liberal right hād, by thy ioyfull ceremonies of harueſt, by the ſecretes of thy ſacrafice, by the fliyng chariottes of thy Dragons, by the tillage of the groūd of Sicile, which thou haſt inuēted, by the marriage of Proſerpina, by y• diligent inquiſitiō of thy daughter, & by the other ſecretes which are within the tēple of Eleuſis in the lande of Athēs, take pitie on me thy ſeruaunt Pſiches, and let me hide my ſelfe a few dales emōgſt theſe ſhéefes of corne vntill the yre of ſo great a Goddeſſe be paſt, or vntill that I be refreſhed of my great labour & trauell. Then anſweared Ceres: Verely, Pſiches I am greatly moued by thy prayers & teares, & deſire with all my harte to ayde thée, but if I ſhould ſuffer thée to be hidden here, I ſhould incurre the diſpleaſure of my Coſin, with whome I haue made a treaty of peace, and an auncient promeſſe of amitie: wherefore I aduiſe thée to departe henſe, and take it not in euell parte in that I will not ſuffer thée to abide and remaine within my Temple.

Then Pſiches driuen away cōtrary to her hope, was double afflicted with ſorrow, and ſo ſhe returned backe againe: and behold, ſhe perceaued a farre of in a valley a Temple ſtanding within a foreſt, fayre and curiouſly wrought, and mindinge to ouerpaſſe no place, whither better hope did direct her, and to the intent ſhe would deſire the pardon of euery God, ſhe approched nighe to the ſacred doores, whereas ſhe ſawe pretious richeſſe & veſtmentes igrauen with letters of gold, hanging vpō braunches of trées, and the poſtes of the Temple, teſtifiynge the name of the Goddeſſe Iuno, to whome they were dedicate, then ſhe knéeled downe vpon her knées, and embraſinge the Aulter with her handes, and wipinge her teares gan pray in this ſorte. O déere ſpouſe and ſiſter of the great God Iupiter, which arte adored among the great tēples of Samos, called vpō by wemē with childe, worſhipped at high Carthage, becauſe thou wereſt brought from heauen by the Lion, the riuers of the floud Inachus doo celebrate thée, & know yt thou arte the wife of the great God & the Goddeſſe of Goddeſſes: All the Eaſt part of the world hath thée in veneration, all the world calleth thée Lucina, I pray thée to be mine aduocate in my tribulatiōs, deliuer me from the great daunger which purſueth me, and ſaue me that am we[•] ried with ſo longe labours and ſorrowe, for I knowe that it is thou that ſuccoureſt and helpeſt ſuche w[•]men as are with childe and in daūger. Then Iuno hearinge the praiers of Pſiches, appeared vnto her in al her royaltie: ſaying: Certes Pſiches I would gladly help thée, but I am aſhamed to doo any thing contrary to the wil of my daughter in lawe Venus, whom alwaies I haue loued as mine owne childe, moreouer I ſhall incurre the daunger of the lawe intituled, De ſeruo corrupto, Whereby I am forbidden to retaine any ſeruaunt fugitiue againſt the will of his maiſter.

Then Pſiches caſt of likewiſe by Iuno, as without all hope of the recouery of her huſbande, reaſoned with her ſelfe in this ſorte, now what comfort or remedie is lefte to my afflictions, when as my prayers will nothinge auayle with the Goddeſſes? what ſhall I doo? whither ſhall I goe? In what caue or darkenes ſhall I hide my ſelfe to auoide the furor of Venus? why doo I not take a good harte, and offer my ſelfe with humilitie vnto her whoſe anger I haue wrought, what doo I know whether he (whome I ſéeke for) be in the houſe of his mother or no? Thus beyng in doubte, poore Pſiches prepared her ſelfe to her owne daunger, & deuiſed how ſhe might make her Orayſon and prayer vnto Venus.

After that Venus was wery with ſearchinge by ſea and lande for Pſiches, ſhe returned towarde heauen, & cōmaunded that one ſhould prepare her chariot, which her huſbād Vulcanus gaue vnto her by reaſon of marriage, ſo finely wrought that neither Golde nor filuer coulde be cōpared to the brightnes therof, fowre white pidgeons guided the chariot with great dilig[•]nce, and when Vlenus was entred in, a nomber of ſparrowes flewe chirpinge about, makinge ſigne of ioye, and all other kinde of birdes ſange ſwéetely foreſhowynge the cōminge of the great Goddeſſe: the cloudes gaue place, the heauens opened, & receaued her ioyfully, the birdes that followed nothinge feared the Egles, Haukes, and other rauenous fowle in the ayre. Incontinently ſhe went vnto the ryall Pallaice of the God Iupiter, and with a proude & bolde petition demaūded the ſeruice of Mercury in certaine of her affaires, wherunto Iupiter conſented, then with much ioy ſhe deſcended frō heauē with Mercurie, & gaue him an earneſt charge to put in execution hir woordes, ſaying: O my brother, borne in Arcadia, thou knoweſt well that I (who am thy ſiſter) did neuer enterpriſe to doo any thinge without thy preſence, thou knoweſt alſo how longe I haue ſought for a girle and cannot finde her, wherefore there reſteth nothinge els ſaue that thou with thy trumpette doo pronoūce the rewarde to ſuche as take hir, ſée thou put in execution my commanndement, and declare that what ſo euer he be that retaineth her, wittingly, againſt my will ſhall not defend him ſelfe by any meane or excuſation: whiche when ſhe had ſpoken, ſhe deliuered vnto him a libell wherin was cōteined the name of Pſiches and the reſide we of his publication, which done ſhe departed away to hir lodginge. By and by, Mercurius (not delaying y• matter) proclaimed through out all the worlde, that what ſo euer he were that coulde tell any tidinges of a Kinges fugitiue daughter, the ſeruaunt of Venus, named Pſiches, ſhould bring woorde to Mercurie, and for rewarde of his paynes he ſhould receaue ſeuen ſwéete coſſes of Venus. After that Mercury had pronounced theſe thinges, euery man was inflamed with deſire to ſearche out Pſiches.

This proclamation was the cauſe that put away all doubte from Pſiches, who was ſcantly come in ſight of the houſe of Venus, but one of her ſeruauntes called Cuſtome came out, who eſpiyng Pſiches, cried with a loude voice, ſayinge: O wicked harlotte as thou arte, now at length thou ſhalt know that thou haſte a miſtris aboue thée, what doeſt thou make thy ſelfe ignorant as though thou diddeſt not vnderſtand what trauell we haue taken in ſearchinge for thée, I am gladde that thou arte come into my handes, thou arte now in the goulfe of Hell, & ſhalt abide the paine and puniſhment of thy great contumacie, and there withall ſhe toke her by the heare, & brought her in before the preſence of Venus.

When Venus eſpied her, ſhe began to laugh, & as angry perſons accuſtome to doo, ſhe ſhaked her head and ſcratched her right eare, ſaiyng: O goddeſſe, Goddeſſe, you are now come at lēgth to viſit your mother, or els to ſée your huſband, that is in daunger of death by your meanes, be you aſſured I will handle you like a daughter, where be my maydens Sorrow, and Sadnes? To whome (when they came) ſhe deliuered Pſiches to be cruelly tormented, then they fulfilled the cōmandemēt of their Miſteris, and after they had piteoufly ſcourged her with whippes & roddes, they preſented her againe before Venus. Thē ſhe began to laugh againe, ſaiyng: Behold ſhe thinketh (that by reaſon of her great belly which ſhe hath gotten by playing the hoore) to moue me to pitie, and to make me a grandmother to her childe: Am not I happy, that in the flouriſhinge time of all mine age ſhalbe called a grādmother, and the ſonne of a vile harlotte ſhalbe accōpted the Nephew of Venus? How be it I am a foole to terme him by the name of a ſonne, ſince as the marriage was made betwéene vnequall perſons, in the fieldes, without witneſſes, & not by the cōſent of their parentes, wherfore the marriage is illegitimate, and the childe (that ſhalbe borne) a baſtarde, if we fortune to ſuffer thée to liue ſo longe till thou be deliuered.

When Venus had ſpoken theſe woordes ſhe leaped vpō the face of poore Pſiches, and (tearing her apparell) toke her violently by the heare, & daſhed her head vpon the ground. Then ſhe tooke a great quātitie of wheate, barley, will, popy ſéede, peaſon, lintels, and beanes, and mingled them al together on a heape, ſaying: thou euill fauored girle, thou ſéemeſt vnable to gette the grace of thy louer, by no other meanes, but only by diligent & painefull ſeruice, wherfore I will proue what thou cauſt doo, ſée that thou ſeperate all theſe graynes one from an other, diſpoſinge thē orderly in their qualitie, and lette it be done before night. When ſhe had appointed this taſke vnto Pſiches, ſhe departed to a great banquette that was prepared that day.

But Pſiches went not about to diſſeuer the graine (as beinge a thinge impoſſible to be brought to paſſe by reaſon it lay ſo confuſely ſcattered) but beinge aſtonied at the cruel cōmaundement of Venus, ſatte ſtill & ſaide nothing: Then the litle Piſmere the Emote, takings pitie of her great difficultie & labour, curſing the cruelnes of the wyfe of Iupiter and of ſo euill a mother, ranne aboute hither and thither, and called to her all the Antes of the countrie, ſayinge: I pray you my fréendes, ye quicke ſonnes of the grounde the mother of al thinges, take mercie on this poore mayde eſpouſed to Cupide, who is in great daunger of her perſon, I pray you helpe her withall diligence. Incōtinently one came after an other diſſeueryng & deuiding the graine, & after that they had put eche kinde of corne in order, they ranne away againe in all haſte.

When night came, Venus retourned home from the banquet well tipled wt wyne, ſmelling of balme, & crowned with garlādes of Roſes, who when ſhe eſpied what Pſyches had done, gan ſay, this is not the labour of thy hādes, but rather of his that is amorous of thée, then ſhe gaue her a morſell of browne bread, and went to ſleape.

In the meane ſeaſon Cupide was cloſed faſt in the moſte ſureſt chamber of the houſe, partly becauſe he ſhould not hurte him ſelfe with wanton dalliance, and partly becauſe he ſhould not ſpeake with his loue, ſo theſe twoo louers weare deuided one from an other.

When night was paſſed, Venus called Pſyches & ſayde: ſéeſt thou yonder foreſt that extendeth out in lengthe with the ryuer, there be great ſhéepe ſhininge like golde, and kepte by no maner of perſone, I commaunde thée that thou go thither and bringe me home ſome of the wool of their fléeces. Pſyches aroſe willingly, not to doo her commaundement, but to throwe her ſelfe hedlong into the water to ende her ſorowe. Then a gréene réede inſpired by deuine inſpiration with a gracious tune and melodie gan ſay. O Pſyches, I pray thée not to trouble or pollute my water by the death of thée, and yet beware that thou goe not towardes the terrible ſhéepe of this coaſt, vntill ſuche tyme as the heate of the Sunne be paſt, for when the Sunne is in his force, then ſéeme they moſt dreadfull, and furious, with their ſharpe hornes, their ſtony forheads, & their gaping throtes wherwith thei arme them ſelues to the deſtruction of mankinde: but vntill the midday is paſt and the heate aſſwaged, and vntill they haue refreſhed them ſelues in the ryuer, thou maiſt hyde thy ſelfe here by me vnder this great plane trée: and as ſone as their great fury is paſt, thou maiſt go among the thickettes and buſhes vnder the wood ſyde and gather the lockes of their golden fléeces, which thou ſhalt finde hāginge vpon the briers. Thus ſpake the gentle and beninge Réede, ſhowinge a meane to Pſyches to ſaue her life, whiche ſhe bare well in memory, and with all diligēce went and gathered vp ſuche lockes as ſhe founde & put them in her apron, and carried them home to Venus: how be it the daunger of this ſeconde labour did not pleaſe her, nor giue her ſufficient witneſſe of the good ſeruice of Pſyches, but with a ſower reſemblaunce of laughter, ſhe ſaid: Of certaintie I knowe y• this is not thy facte, but I will proue if thou be of ſo ſtoute a courage, and ſinguler prudencie as thou ſéemeſt.

Then Venus ſpake vnto Pſyches againe: ſaying, Séeſt thou the toppe of yonder great hill, from whenſe there ronneth downe water of blacke & deadly colour, whiche nouriſheth the floodes of Stix and Cocitus, I charge thée to goe thither and bring me a veſſell of that water: wherewithall ſhe gaue her a bottell of Criſtall, menacinge and threatening her rigorouſly.

Then poore Pſyches went in all haſt to the toppe of the mountaine, rather to ende hir life then to fetche any water, and whē ſhe was come vp to the ridge of the hill, ſhe perceaued that it was impoſſible to bringe it to paſſe: For ſhe ſawe a great rocke guſſhinge out moſte horrible fountaines of waters, whiche ranne downe & fell by many ſtoppes and paſſages into the valley beneath, on eche ſide ſhe ſawe great Dragons, ſtretching out their longe and blouddy neckes, that neuer ſlept, but apointed to kéepe the riuer there: the waters ſéemed to thē ſelues likewiſe: ſaying, Away, away, what wilt thou doo? Fly, fly, or els thou wilt be ſlaine: then Pſiches (ſéeing y• impoſſibilitie of this affaire) ſtoode ſtill as though ſhe were trāſformed into a ſtone, & although ſhe was preſent in body, yet was ſhe abſent in ſpirite and ſenſe, by reaſon of the great perill which ſhe ſawe, in ſo much that ſhe could not cōfort her ſelfe with weping, ſuch was the preſent daunger that ſhe was in.

But the royall bird of great Iupiter, the Egle, remēbring his old ſeruice, which he had done, whē as by the pricke of Cupide he brought vp the boy Ganimides to ye heauens, to be made the buttler of Iupiter, & mindinge to ſhow the like ſeruice in the perſon of the wife of Cupide, came from the high houſe of the ſkies, & ſaid vnto Pſiches: O ſimple woman, without all experiēce, doeſt thou thinke to get or dippe vp any droppe of this dredful water? No, no, aſſure thy ſelfe thou arte neuer able to come nigh it, for the Goddes them ſelues doo greatly feare at the ſight therof: what haue you not harde that it is a cuſtome emonge men to ſweare by the puiſſance of the Goddes: And the Goddes doo ſweare by the Maieſtie of the riuer Stix? but giue me thy bottle, and ſodenly he toke it, and filled it with the water of the riuer, and takinge his flight thorough thoſe cruell and horrible Dragons brought it vnto Pſyches: who being very ioyfull thereof preſented it to Venus, who would not yet be appeaſed, but menacinge more & more, ſaid: what thou ſéemeſt vnto me a very Witche & Enchauntereſſe, that bringeſt theſe thinges to paſſe, how be it thou ſhalt doo one thinge more.

Take this bore & goe to hell to Proſerpina, and deſire her to ſende me a litle of her beautie, as muche as will ſerue me the ſpace of one day, and ſay that ſuche as I had is conſumed away ſince my ſonne fell ſicke, but returne againe quickely, for I muſt dreſſe my ſelf therewithal, withal, & goe to the threatre of the Gods, thē poore Pſiches perceaued the ende of al her fortune, thinking verely y• ſhe ſhoulde neuer returne, & not without cauſe, when as ſhe was cōpelled to goe to the goulfe & furies of Hell. Wherfore without any further delay, ſhe wēt vp to a high tower to throwe her ſelfe downe headlong (thinkinge that it was the nexte and redieſt waye to Hell) but the towre (as inſpired) ſpake vnto her, ſaiynge: O poore miſer why goeſt thou about to ſlea thy ſelfe? why doeſt thou raſhly yéelde vnto thy laſte perill and daunger? know thou that if thy ſpirite be once ſeperate from thy bodie, thou ſhalt ſurely goe to Hell, but neuer to returne againe, wherefore herken to me: Lacedemon a Citie of Grece is not farre henſe: Goe thou thither and enquire for the hill Tenarus, whereas thou ſhalte finde a hole leadinge to Hell, euen to the pallaice of Pluto, but take héede that thou goe not with emptie handes to that place of darkeneſſe: but carry twoo ſoppes ſodden in the flower of barley and hony in thy handes, & twoo halfpens in thy mouth, and when thou haſte paſſed a good parte of that way, thou ſhalt ſée a lame Aſſe carriyng of woodde, & a lame fellowe driuinge him, who will deſire thée to giue him vp the ſtickes that fall downe, but paſſe thou on and doo nothinge, by and by thou ſhalt come vnto the riuer of Hell, whereas Charon is Ferriman, who will firſt haue his fare paide him, before he will carry the ſoules ouer the riuer in his boate, whereby you may ſée that auarice raigneth emongſt the dead, neyther Charon nor Pluto will doo any thinge for nought: For if it be a poore man that woulde paſſe ouer, and lacketh money he ſhalbe compelled to die in his iourney before they will ſhowe him any reliefe, wherefore deliuer to carraine Charon one of the halfepens (whiche thou beareſt) for thy paſſage, & lette him receaue it out of thy mouth. And it ſhall come to paſſe as thou ſitteſt in the boate, thou ſhalte ſée an olde man ſwimminge on the toppe of the riuer holdinge vp his deadly handes, and deſiringe thée to receaue him into the barke, but haue no regarde to his piteous crie: when thou arte paſſed ouer the floudde thou ſhalt eſpie old women ſpinninge who will deſire thée to helpe them, but beware thou doo not conſent vnto them in any caſe, for theſe and like baites and trappes wil Venus ſette, to make thée lette fall one of thy ſoppes: and thinke not that the kéepinge of thy ſoppes is a light matter, for if thou leſe one of them thou ſhalt be aſſured neuer to retorne againe to this world. Then thou ſhalt ſée a great and meruelous dogge with thrée heades barkinge continually at the ſoules of ſuch as enter in, by reaſon he can doo them no other harme, he lieth day and night before the gate of Proſerpina, and kéepeth the houſe of Pluto with great diligence, to whome if thou caſt one of thy ſoppes, thou maiſt haue acceſſe to Proſerpina without all daunger: ſhe will make thée good chéere, and entertaine thée with delicate meate & drinke, but ſitte thou vpon the ground and deſire browne bread, and then declare thy meſſage vnto her, and when thou haſt receaued ſuch beautie as ſhe giueth, in thy retorne appeaſe the rage of the dogge with thy other ſoppe, & giue thy other halfepeny to couetous Charon, and come the ſame way againe into the world as thou wenteſt: but aboue all thinges haue a regarde that thou looke not in the boxe, neither be not to curious about the treaſure of the diuine beautie.

In this manner the towre ſpake vnto Pſyches, and aduertiſed her what ſhe ſhould doo: and immediatly ſhe tooke twoo halfpence, twoo ſoppes, and all thinges neceſſary and went to the moūtaine Tenarus to goe towardes Hell.

After that Pſiches had paſſed by the lam[•] Aſſe, paide her halfpenny for paſſage, neglected the old man in the riuer, denied to helpe the wemen ſpinninge, and filled the rauenous mouth of y• dogge with a ſoppe, ſhe came to the chamber of Proſerpina. There Pſyches would not ſitte in any royall ſeate, nor eate any delicate meates, but kneelinge at the féete of Proſerpina, onely contented with courſe bread, declared her meſſage, and after ſhe had receaued a miſticall ſecrete in the boxe ſhe departed, and ſtopped the mouth of the dogge with the other ſoppe, and paied the boteman the other halfpēny.

When Pſyches was returned from hell, to the light of y• worlde ſhe was rauiſhed with great deſire, ſaying: Am not I a foole that knowinge that I carry here the diuine beautie, will not take a little thereof to garniſh my face, to pleaſe my louer withall? and by and by ſhe opened the boxe, where ſhe coulde perceaue no beautie nor any thinge els, ſaue onely an infernall and deadly ſléepe, whiche immediatly inuaded all her members aſſone as the boxe was vncouered, in ſuch ſort that ſhe fel downe on the gronnde, & lay there as a ſléepinge corps.

But Cupide beinge now healed of his wounde and maladie, not able to endure the abſence of Pſyches, gotte him ſecretely out at a windowe of the chamber where he was encloſed, and (receauinge his winges) toke his flight towardes his louinge wife, whome whē he had founde he wiped away the ſléepe from her face, and put it againe into the boxe, and awaked her with the tippe of one of his arrowes, ſayinge: O wretched [•]aytife, beholde thou weareſt welny periſhed againe, with thy ouermuch curioſitie, well, goe thou, & doo thy meſſage to my mother, and in the meane ſeaſon I will prouide for all thinges accordingly: wherewithall he toke his flight into the ayre, and Pſiches brought her preſent to Venus.

Cupide being more and more in loue with Pſiches, & fearing the diſpleaſure of his mother, did perce into the heauens, & arriued before Iupiter to declare his cauſe: then Iupiter after that he had eftſones embraſed him, gan ſay in this manner: O my welbeloued ſonne, although thou haſt not giuen due reuerēce & honour vnto me as thou oughteſt to doo, but haſt rather ſoyled, & wounded this my breſt (wherby the lawes and order of the elementes & planetes be diſpoſed) with continuall aſſaultes of terren luxury & againſt al lawes, & the diſcipline Iulia, & the vtilitie of y• publique weale in trāſforming my diuine beautie into ſerpentes, fire, ſauage beaſtes, birdes▪ & into bulles. Howbeit remēbringe my modeſtie, & that I haue nouriſhed thee with mine owne proper handes. I wil doo & accōpliſh al thy deſire, ſo that thou canſt beware of ſpiteful & enuious perſons. And if there be any excellent mayden of comely beautie in the world, remēber yet y• benefite which I ſhall ſhow vnto thée, by recompence of her loue towardes me againe. When he had ſpokē theſe woordes, he cōmaunded Mercurie to call al the Goddes to counſell, and if any of the celeſtiall powers did fayle of appearance, he ſhould be condemned in ten thouſande poundes: which ſentence was ſuch a terrour vnto all the Goddes, that the high Theatre was repleniſhed, & Iupiter began to ſpeake in this ſorte. O ye Goddes, regiſtred in the bookes of the Muſes, you all know this yonge man Cupide, whome I haue nouriſhed with mine owne handes, whoſe raginge flames of his firſt youth I thought beſt to bridle and reſtraine. It ſuffiſeth in that he is diffamed in euery place for his adulterous liuinge, wherefore all occaſion ought to be taken away by meane of marriage: he hath choſen a mayden that fancieth him well, and hath beriued her of her virginitie, lette him haue her ſtill and poſſeſſe her according to his owne pleaſure: then he returned to Venus, and ſaid: And you my daughter, take you no care, neither feare the diſhonour of your progenie and eſtate, neither haue regarde in that it is a mortall marriage, for it ſéemeth vnto me, iuſte, lawfull and legitimate by the lawe Ciuill.

Incontinently after, Iupiter commaūded Mercurie to bring up Pſiches the ſpouſe of Cupide, into the pallayce of heauen. And then he toke a potte of immortalitie, and ſaid: Holde Pſyches and drinke to the ende thou maiſt be immortall, and that Cupide may be thine euerlaſtinge huſbande.

By and by the great bankette and marriage feaſt was ſumptuouſly prepared, Cupide ſatte downe with his déere ſpouſe betwéene his armes: Iuno likewiſe wt Iupiter, and all the other Goddes in order, Ganimides filled the potte of Iupiter, and Bacchus ſerued the reſt. Their drinke was Nectar the wine of the goddes, Vulcanus prepared ſupper, the howers decked vp the houſe with Roſes & other ſwéete ſmelles, the Graces threwe about baulme, the Muſes ſange with ſwéete harmony, Apollo tuned pleaſauntly to the Harpe, Venus daunſed finely: Satirus and Paniſcus plaide on their pipes: and thus Pſiches was married to Cupide, and after ſhe was deliuered of a childe, whom we call Pleaſure.

This the trifling old woman declared vnto y• captiue mayden, but I poore Aſſe, not ſtāding farre of was not a litle ſory in that I lacked penne and Inke to write ſo woorthy a tale.

¶How Apuleius carried away the Gentlewoman, and how they were taken againe by the theeues, and what a kinde of death was inuented for them.

Cap. 23.

BY & by the Théeues came home laden with treaſure, and many of them whiche were of ſtrongeſt courage (leauinge behinde ſuch as were lame and wounded, to heale & ayre them ſelues) ſaide they would returne backe againe to fetche the reſt of their pillage, whiche they had hidden in a certaine caue, and ſo they ſnatched vp their dinner gréedely, & brought vs foorth into the way and beate vs before them with ſtaues, about night (after that we had paſſed ouer many hilles and dales) we came to a great caue, where they laded vs with mighty burthens, and would not ſuffer vs to refreſhe our ſelues any ſeaſon, but brought vs againe in our way, and hied ſo faſt homeward, that what with their haſte and their cruel ſtripes, I fell downe vpon a ſtone by the high way ſide, then they beate me pitifully in lifting me vp, and hurt my right thighe and my left hoofe, and one of them ſaid, what ſhall we doo with this lame euill fauoured Aſſe that is not woorth the meate y• he eates? An other ſaid: ſince the time that we had him firſt, he neuer did any good, & I thinke he came vnto our houſe with euill lucke, for we haue had great woundes ſince, & loſſe of our valiaunt Capitaines, an other ſaide aſſone as he hath brought home his burthē, I will ſurely throwe him out vpon the mountaine to be a pray for wilde beaſtes: While theſe gentlemen reaſoned together of my death, we fortuned to come home, for y• feare that I was in, cauſed my féete to turne into winges: after that we weare diſcharged of our burthens, they went to their fellowes that lay wounded, & tolde them our great tarditie & ſlownes by the way, neither was I brought into ſmall anguiſhe when as I perceaued my death prepared before my face, ſayinge: Why ſtandeſt thou ſtill Lucius? why doeſt thou looke for thy death? knowſt thou not that the théeues haue ordeined to ſlea thée? Séeſt thou not theſe ſharpe and pointed flintes which ſhal bruiſe and teare thée in péeces if by aduēture thou happen vpon them, thy gentle Magicien hath not onely giuen thée the ſhape and trauell of an Aſſe, but alſo a ſkinne ſo ſofte and tender as it were a ſwallow, why doeſt thou not take courage & runne away to ſaue thy life? Arte thou affeard of the old woman, whiche is more then halfe dead, whome with a ſtripe of thy héele thou mayſt eaſely diſpatche? but whither ſhall I flie? what lodging ſhal I ſéeke? beholde my aſſy cogitation? who is he that paſſeth by the way and will not take me vp: while I deuiſed theſe thinges I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and ranne away with all my force, he [••]beit I could not eſcape the kitiſhe eyes of the old woman, for ſhe ranne after me, and with more audacitie then becometh her kinde and age, caught me by the halter and thought to pull me home: but I not forgettinge the cruell purpoſe of the théeues, was moued with ſmal pitie, for I kicked her with my hinder héeles to the groūde and had welnie ſlaine her, who (although ſhe was throwen & hurled downe) yet ſhe helde ſtill the halter and would not lette me goe, then ſhe cried with a loude voice & called for ſuccour, but ſhe litle preuailed becauſe there was no perſon that harde her, ſaue onely the captiue gentlewoman, who hearinge the voice of the old woman, came out to ſée what the matter was, & (perceiuing hir hanging at the halter) tooke a good courage and wreſted it out of hir handes, and (entreatinge me with gentle woordes) gotte vpon my backe. Then I began to ronne, and ſhe gently kicked me forwarde, whereof I was nothinge diſpleaſed, for I had as great a deſier to eſcape as ſhée: In ſo muche that I ſéemed to ſcowre away like a horſe. And when the gentlewoman did ſpeake, I would anſwere hir with my neyinge, and oftentimes (vnder colour to rubbe my backe) I woulde ſwéetely kiſſe her tender féete. Then ſhe, f[•]tchinge a ſighe from the bottom of hir harte, lifted vp hir eies into the heauens, ſaiyng: O ſoueraigne Goddes deliuer me if it be your pleaſure, from theſe preſent daungers: And thou cruell fortune ceaſe thy wrath, let the ſorow ſuffiſe thée whiche I haue already ſuſteined. And thou litle Aſſe that art the occaſion of my ſauetie and libertée, if thou canſt once rendre me ſalue and ſounde to my parentes, and to him that ſo greatly deſireth to haue me to his wyfe, thou ſhalt ſée what thankes I wil geue thée, with what honour I will rewarde thée, and how I wil vſe thée. Firſt, I will brauely dreſſe the heares of thy ſorehead, and then I wil finely kembe thy mane, I wyll tie vp thy rugged tayle trymly, I will decke thée rounde about with golden trappes, in ſuche ſorte, that thou ſhalt glitter like the Starres of the ſkie, I will bringe thée dayly in my apron the kyrnelles of nuttes, and will pamper the vp with deintie delicates, I will ſette ſtoore by thée, as by one that is the preſeruer of my lyfe: Finaly, thou ſhalt lacke no maner of thinge. Moreouer, amongeſt thy glorious fare, thy great eaſe, and the bliſſe of thy life thou ſhalt not bée deſtitute of dignitée, for thou ſhalt be Chronicled perpetually in memorie of my preſent fortune, and the prouidence diuine. All the whole hiſtorie ſhall be painted vpon the wall of our houſe: Thou ſhalt be renow[••]ed throughout all the worlde: And it ſhalbe regiſtred in the bookes of Doctours, that an Aſſe ſaued the life of a yonge mayden that was captiue amongeſt Théeues: Thou ſhalt be nōbred amongeſt the auncient myracles: we beleue that by like example of truthe, Phryxus ſaued him ſelfe from drowning vpon a Ram, Arion eſcaped vpon a Dolphin: And that Europa was deliuered by a Bull. If Iupiter tranſformed him ſelfe into a Bull, why may it not be that vnder ſhape of this Aſſe, is hiddē y• figure of a mā, or ſome power Deuine? Whyle that the Virgin did thus ſorowfully vnfold hir deſires, we fortuned to come to a place wheare thrée wayes did méete, and ſhe tooke me by the halter and would haue me turne on the right hand to her fathers houſe, but I (knowing that the theues weare gone that waye to fetche the reſidue of their pillage) reſiſted with my head as much as I might, ſaiynge within my ſelfe, what wilt thou doo vnhappy maidē? why woldeſt thou go ſo willingly to hel? why wilt yu rūne into deſtructiō by meane of my féete? why doeſt thou ſéeke thine owne harme & mind likewiſe? And whyle we twoo ſtriued together whether way we might take, y• theues returned loden with their praie, & perceiued vs a farre of by the light of y• Moone: And after they had knowē vs, one of them gan ſay, whither go you ſo haſtely? be you not aferde of ſpirites? And you (you harlot) doo you goe to ſée your parentes? Come on, we will beare you company? And therwithall they tooke me by the halter and draue me back againe, beating me cruelly with a great ſtaffe (that they had) full of knobbes: thē I (returning againe [〈1 page duplicate〉] [〈1 page duplicate〉] to my ready deſtruction, and remembring the griefe of my h[••]fe) be ganne to ſhake my head and to waxe lame, but he that ledde me by the halter ſaid: what doeſt thou ſtomble? canſt thou not goe? theſe rotten féete of thine can runne well mough, but they cannot walke, thou couldeſt minſe it finely euen now with the gentlewoman, that thou diddeſt ſéeme to paſſe the horſe Pegaſus in ſwiftnes. In ſayinge theſe woordes, they beate me againe that they brake a great ſtaffe vpon me, and when we were come almoſt home, we ſaw the old woman hanginge vpon a bow of a Cypreſſe trée: then one of them cutte downe the bowe whereon ſhe hanged, & caſt her into the bottome of a great ditche: after this they boūd the maiden & fell greedely to their victuales, which the miſerable old womā had prouided for them. At whiche time thei began to deuiſe with thē ſelues of our death, & how they might be reuenged, diuers was the opinions of this diuers nomber: the firſt ſaide that he thought beſt the mayde ſhould be burned aliue: the ſecōde ſaide ſhe ſhould be throwen out to wilde beaſts: the thirde ſaid ſhe ſhould be hanged vpon a gibbot: the fourth ſaide ſhe ſhould be flead aliue: thus was y• death of the poore mayden ſcāned betwéene them fower. But one of the Théeues after euery man had declared his iudgement did ſpeake in this manner. It is not conueniēt vnto the othe of our cōpany, to ſuffer you to waxe more cruell, thē the qualitie of the offence doth merite, for I would that ſhe ſhould not be hanged, nor burned, nor throwen to beaſtes, nor die any ſodaine death, but by my counſell I would haue her puniſhed accordinge to her deſerte. You know wel what you haue determined already of this dull Aſſe, that eateth more then he is woorth, that feigneth lameneſſe, & that was the cauſe of the fliynge away of the mayde, my minde is that he ſhalbe ſlaine to morrow, and when all the guttes and entrailes of his body is takē out, let the maide be ſowē into his belly, then let vs lay them vpon a great ſtone againſte the broylinge heate of the ſonne, ſo they ſhall both ſuſtaine all the puniſhmentes which you haue ordeined: for firſt the Aſſe ſhalbe ſlaine as you haue determined, and ſhe, ſhall haue her membres torne & gnawē with wilde beaſtes, when as ſhe is bitten & rente with wormes, ſhe ſhal endure the paine of the fire, when as the broilyng heate of the ſonne ſhall ſkorche and parche the belly of the Aſſe, ſhe ſhall abide the gallowes when the Dogges and vultures ſhall haue the guttes of her body hanginge in their rauenous mouthes. I pray you nomber all the tormentes whiche ſhe ſhall ſuffer: Firſt ſhe ſhall dwell within the paunch of the Aſſe: ſecondly her noſethrilles ſhall receaue the carraine ſtinke of the beaſte: thirdly ſhe ſhall die for hunger, laſte of all ſhe ſhall [••]nde no meane to ridde her ſelfe from her paines for her handes ſhalbe ſowed vp within the ſkinne of the Aſſe: This beyng ſaide all the Théeues conſented to the ſentence, and when I (poore Aſſe) harde, & vnderſtoode all their deuiſe, I did nothinge els ſaue bewayle and lament my dead carkas, whiche ſhould be handled in ſuch ſorte on the nexte morrow.

The ſeuenth Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How he that was left behinde at Hippata to bring newes concerninge the robbery of Milos houſe, came home and declared to his compaignions that all the faulte was layde to one Apuleius charge.

Cap. 24.

ASſone as night was paſte, and the cléere charriot of the ſunne had ſpred his bright beames on euery coaſte, came one of the companie of the Théeues (for ſo his & their greatinge together did declare) who at his firſt entrie into the caue (after he had breathed him ſelfe, & was able to ſpeake) tolde theſe tidinges vnto his compaignions in this ſorte. Sirs, as touching the houſe of Milo of Hippata, which we forcibly entred & ranſakt the laſt day, we may put away all feare, & doubte nothinge at all, for after y• ye by force & armes had ſpoiled & taken away al things in the houſe, and ſo returned hither vnto our caue,^[42] I (thruſtinge in emongſt the preaſe of the people & ſhowing my ſelfe as though I were ſadde & forowful for the miſchaunce) cōſulted with them for the boultinge out of the matter, & deuiſed what meanes might be wrought for the apprehenſiō of the théeues, to the intent I might learne & ſée all that was done to make relation therof vnto you as you willed me, in ſo much that the whole fact at length by manifeſt & euident proofes as alſo by the cōmon opinion & iudgemēt of al the people, was layde to one Lucius Apuleius charge,^[43] as manifeſt author of this cōmitted robbery, who a few daies before by falſe and forged letters & coloured honeſtie,^[44] fell ſo farre in fauour with this Milo that he entertained him into his houſe, & receyued him as chiefe of his familiar friēdes, which Lucius, after that he had ſoiourned there a good ſpace, and wonne the hart of Miloes maide by feigned loue, did thoroughly learne y• waies and doores of all the houſe, & curiouſly viewed the cofers & cheſtes▪ wherin was laide the whole ſubſtance of Milo, neither was there ſmall cauſe giuē to iudge him culpable, ſince as the very ſame night that this robbery was done he fledde away, and could be found in no place, & to thintēt he might cleane eſcape, and better preuent ſuch as made hewe and crie after him,^[45] he toke his white horſe & gallopped away, & after this his ſeruaūt was found in the houſe, who (accuſed as acceſſary to the felony & eſcape of his maiſter) was cōmitted to the cōmon gaole, & the next day folowyng was cruelly ſcourged & tormented til he was welnie dead to the intent he ſhould cōfeſſe the matter, but when they could wreſt or learne no ſuch thinge of him, yet ſente they many perſons after towardes Lucius countrey to enquire him out, & ſo to take him priſoner.

As he declared theſe thinges,^[46] I did greatly lament with my ſelfe to thinke of mine old and priſtine eſtate, and what felicitie I was ſometimes in, in cōpariſon to the miſery that I preſently ſuſtained, beyng chaunged into a miſerable Aſſe, then had I no ſmall occaſiō to remember, how the olde & auncient writers did ſeigne & affirme, that fortune was ſtarke blinde & without eies, becauſe ſhe alwaies beſtoweth her richeſſe vpon ruſ[••] perſons and fooles,^[47] and chooſeth or fauoreth no mortall perſon by iudgement but is alwaies conuerſant eſpecially with ſuche as if ſhe coulde ſée, ſhe ſhoulde moſte ſhunne & forſake, yea and that which is more worſe ſhe ſoweth ſuche euill or rather contrary opinions in men, that the wicked doo glory with the name of good, and contrary the good and innocent be detracted and ſclaūdered as euill. Furthermore I, who by hir great crueltie was turned into a fower footed Aſſe, is moſt vile and abiect manner, yea and whoſe eſtate ſéemed woorthely to be lamented and pitied of the moſt harde & ſtonie hartes, was accuſed of theft & robbinge of my déere Oſte Milo, which villanie might rather be called paricide then thefte, yet might not I defende mine owne cauſe, or denie the facte any waie, by reaſon I coulde not ſpeake howbeit leaſt my conſcience ſhould ſéeme to accuſe me by reaſon of ſilence, and againe being enforced by impacience I endeuered to ſpeake, & faine would haue ſaid: Neuer did I that facte. And verely the firſte woorde, Neuer▪ I cried out once or twiſe ſomwhat hādſomely, but the reſidew I could in no wiſe pronounce, but ſtill remayning in one voice cried Neuer, Neuer, Neuer: Howbeit I ſetled my hangyng lippes as roūde as I could to ſpeake the reſidew: but why ſhould I further complaine of the crueltie of my fortune, ſince as I was not muche aſhamed, by reaſon that my ſeruaunt & my horſe was likewiſe accuſed with me of the robbery. While I pondred with my ſelfe all theſe thinges, a greater care came to my remembraunce, touchinge the death which the Théeues deuiſed for me & the mayden, and ſtil as I looked downe to my belly, I thought of the poore Gentlewoman that ſhoulde be cloſed within me: and the théefe which a litle before had brought the falſe newes againſt me, drewe out of the ſkirte of his coate a thouſande crownes, whiche he had rifled away from ſuch as he mette, and caſt it into the common treaſory. Then he carefully enquired how the reſidew of his cōpaignions did.^[48] To whom it was declared that the moſt valiant was murdred and ſlaine in diuers manners, whereupon he perſwaded them to remitte all their affayres a certaine ſeaſon, and to ſeke for other fellowes to bée in their places, that by the exerciſe of newe laddes the terror of their martiall bande might be reduced to the olde number, aſſuringe them that ſuche as were vnwillinge might be compelled by menaces and threatninges, and ſuch as weare willing might be encouraged forward with rewarde, further he ſaide, that there were ſome, whiche (ſeinge the profite which they had) would forſake their baſe and ſeruill eſtate, and rather be contented to liue like tirantes emongſt them: moreouer he declared, that for his parte he had ſpoken with a certaine tale man, a valiant cōpaignion, but of yōge age, ſtoute in bodie, & couragious in fight, whom he had fully perſwaded to exerciſe his idle handes, dull with ſlouthfulnes, to his greater profite, and (while he might) to receaue the bliſſe of better fortune, and not to holde out his ſturdy arme to begge for a penny, but rather to take as muche golde & ſiluer as he would. Then euery one conſented, that he that ſéemed ſo woorthy to be their compaigniō, ſhould be one of their cōpany and that they would ſearch for others to make vp the reſidew of the nomber, wherupon he went out, and by and by (returninge againe) brought in a tale yonge man (as^[49] he promiſed) to whom none of the reſidew might be cōpared, for he was higher then they by the head, and of more bignes in bodie, his bearde began to burgen, but he was poorely appareled, in ſo much that you might ſée all his belly naked: As ſone as he was entred in, he ſayd, God ſpéede ye ſouldiars of Mars, and my faithfull compaignions, I pray you make me one of your bande,^[50] and I will enſure you that you ſhall haue a man of ſingular courage and liuely audacitie, for I had rather receaue ſtrypes vppon my backe, then money or golde in my handes: and as for death (whiche euery man doo feare) I paſſe nothyng at all, yet thinke you not that I am an abiect or a begger, neyther iudge you my vertue and proweſſe by my ragged clothes, for I haue béene a Capitaine of a great company, and ſubdued all the countrey of Macedonie: I am the renoumed théefe Hemus the Thracien, whoſe name all countries and nations doo ſo greatly feare: I am the ſoone of Theron the notable théefe, nouriſhed with humaine bloudde, entertained emongſt the ſtouteſt: finally I am inheritour and follower of my Fathers, vertues, yet I loſt in a ſhorte time all my company, and all my richeſſe by one aſſault, whiche I made vpon a factor of the Prince, whiche ſometime had bene Capitayne of twoo hundred men, for fortune was cleane againſt me: herken and I will tell you the whole matter.^[51] There was a certayne manne in the courte of the Emperour whiche had many offices, and in great fauour, who at laſt by the enuie of diuers perſons was baniſhed away and compelled to forſake the courte: his wife Platina, a woman of rare faithe and ſinguler ſhamefaſtnes, hauinge borne tenne children to her huſbande, deſpiſed al worldly pompe and delicacie, & determined to follow her huſbande, and to be a partaker of all his perils and daunger, wherefore the cut of her heare, diſguiſed her ſelfe like a man, & toke with her al her treaſure, paſſing thorough the handes of the ſouldiours and the naked ſwordes without any feare, wherby ſhe endured many miſeries, and was partaker of muche affliction to ſaue the life of her huſbande, ſuch was her loue whiche ſhe bare vnto him. And when they had eſcaped many perilous daungers aſwell by lande as by ſea they went to wardes Zacynthe to continue there accordinge as fortune had appointed: But when they arriued on the ſea coſte of Actiū (where we in our returne frō Macedonie were rouinge about) when night came they turned into a houſe, not farre diſtant from their ſhippe where they lay all night. Then we entred in & toke away all their ſubſtance, but verely we were in great daunger, for the good Matron perceyuinge vs incontinently by the notes of the gate, went into the chamber, and called vp euery man by his name, and likewiſe the neighbours that dwelled rounde about, in ſo much y• by reaſon of the feare thar euery one was in, we hardly eſcaped away, but this moſt holy womā, faithfull and true to her huſband (as the truth muſt be declared) returned to Caeſar deſiringe his ayde and puiſance, and demaundinge vengeaunce of the iniurie done to her huſbande, who graunted all her deſire: then wente my company to wracke in ſo muche that euery man was ſlayne, ſo great was the authoritie and woorde of the Prince. How be it when all my bande was loſte and taken by ſearche of the Emperours armie, I onely ſtole away and deliuered my ſelfe from the violence of the ſouldiars, for I clothed my ſelfe in a womans attyre, and mounted vpon an Aſſe that carried barley ſhéefes, and (paſſinge thorough the middle of them all) I eſcaped away, becauſe euery one déemed that I was a woman, by reaſon I lacked a bearde. How be it I lefte not of for all this, nor did degenerate from the glory of my father, or mine owne vertue, but freſhly cōming from the blouddy ſkirmiſh, and diſguiſed like a woman I inuaded Townes and Caſtels alone to gette ſome pray. And therwithall he pulled out twoo thouſand crownes whiche he had vnder his coate, ſayinge: Holde here the dowrie whiche I preſent vnto you, holde eke my perſon whiche you ſhall alwaies finde truſty and faithfull if you will willingly receaue me: And I will enſure you that in ſo doinge, within ſhorte ſpace I will make and turne this ſtony houſe of yours into Golde: then by and by euery one conſented to make him their Capitaine, and ſo they gaue him better garmentes and threwe away his olde. When he had chaunged his attyre he embraced them one after an other, then placed they him in the higheſt rome of the table, and dranke vnto him in token of good lucke.

¶How the death of the Aſſe, and the Gentel woman was ſtaide,

Cap. 25.

AFter ſupper they beganne to talke,^[52] and declared vnto him the goinge away of the gentlewoman, and how I bare her vpō my backe, & what death was ordeyned for vs twoo. Then he deſired to ſée her▪ whereupon the Gentlewoman was brought foorth faſt bounde, whom aſſone as he beheld, he turned him ſelfe wringinge his noſe & blamed them, ſaying: I am not ſo much a beaſt or ſo raſhe a fellow,^[53] y• I would driue you quight from your purpoſe, but my conſcience will not ſuffer me to conceale any thinge that toucheth your profite, ſince as I am carefull for you, how be it if my counſell doo diſpleaſe you, you may at your owne libertie procéede in your enterpriſe. I doubte not but all Théeues, and ſuche as haue a good iudgement, will preferre their owne lucre & gaine aboue all thinges in the worlde, & aboue their vengeance, which purchaſeth damage to diuers perſons. Therefore if you put this Virgin in the Aſſes belly, you ſhal but execute your indignation againſt hir without all maner of profite: but I woulde aduiſe you to carie the Virgin to ſome towne & to ſel her. And ſuch a braue girle as ſhe is, may be ſolde for a great quantitie of money: And I my ſelfe know certaine bawde Marchaūtes, amongeſt whome, peraduenture ſome one will giue-vs great ſummes of golde for her. This is my opinion touchinge this affaire: But aduiſe you what you intende to doo, for you may rule me in this caſe. In this maner the good thefe pleaded and defended our cauſe, being a good patron to the ſéely Virgin, and to me poore Aſſe. But they ſtaide hereupon a good ſpace with longe deliberation, whiche made my harte (God wote) and ſpirit greatly to quale. Howebeit, in the ende they conſented to his opinion, and by and by, the mayden was vnloſed of hir bondes, who ſeinge the yonge man, and hearinge the name of brothels and bawde Marchauntes, began to waxe ioyfull, and ſmiled with her ſelfe. Then began I to déeme euill of the generation of women, when as I ſawe the maiden (who was appointed to be maried to a yonge gentleman, and who ſo greatly deſired the ſame) was nowe delighted with the talke of a wicked and filthy brothel houſe, and other thinges diſhoneſt. In this ſort the conſent and maners of wemen depēded in the iudgement of an Aſſe.

¶Howe all the Theues weare brought in a ſleape by their newe companion.

Cap. 26.

THen the yonge man ſpake againe, ſaiynge: Maiſters, why go we not about to make our praiers to Mars touching this ſellinge of the maiden,^[54] and to ſake for other compaigniōs. But as farre as I ſée here is no maner of beaſte to make ſacrifice withall, nor wyne ſufficient for vs to drinke. Let me haue (ꝙ he) tenne more with me, and we wil goe to the next caſtel, to prouide for meate and other thinges neceſſarie. So he and tenne more with him, went their waie: In the meane ſeaſon the reſidue made a great fire, and an altar with grene tirfes, in the honour of Mars. By and by after they came againe, bringing with them bottels of wyne, and a great nomber of beaſtes, amongeſt whiche there was a bigge Ram goate, fatte, olde, and hearie, whiche they killed and offered vnto Mars. Thē ſupper was prepared ſumptuouſlie: And the new compaignion ſaide vnto the other. You ought to accompte me not onelie your Captaine in robberie and fight, but alſo in your pleaſures and iolitie, wherupon by and by with pleaſaūt there he prepared meate, & trimming vp the houſe, he ſet all thinges in order, & brought the potage & dentie diſhes to the table: But aboue all he plied them well with great pottes, & iugges of wine. Sometimes (ſéeming to fetche ſomwhat) he would goe to the maiden and giue her pieces of meate, whiche he priuely tooke awaie, and would drinke vnto hir, whiche ſhe willingly tooke in good parte. Moreouer he kiſſed her twiſe or thriſe, wherof ſhe was well pleaſed, but I (not well contented thereat) thought in my ſelfe: O wretched maide,^[55] thou haſt forgotten thy mariage, & doeſt eſteme this ſtraunger and bloudy théefe aboue thy huſbande, which thy parentes ordeined for thée, nowe perceiue I wel thou haſt no remorſe of cōſcience, but more delight to tarie & plaie the harlot here amongſt ſo manie weapons and ſwoordes, what knoweſt thou not howe the other Theeues if they knew thy demeanure would put thée to death as they had once apointed, & ſo worke my deſtruction likewiſe? well now I perceaue thou haſte a pleaſure in the damage and hurt of other. While I did angerly deuiſe with my ſelfe all theſe thinges, I perceaued by certaine ſignes and tokens (not ignorant to ſo wiſe an Aſſe) that he was not the notable théefe Hemus, but rather Lepolemus her huſbād,^[56] for after much communication he began to ſpeake more frankely, not fearinge at all my preſence, and ſaide: be of good chéere my ſwéete fréende Charites, for thou ſhalt haue by and by all theſe thy enemies captiue vnto thée. Then he filled wine to the théeues more, and more, and neuer ceaſed till as they weare all ouercome with aboundance of meate and drinke, when as he him ſelfe abſteyned and bridled his owne appetite: and truely, I did greatly ſuſpect, leaſt he had mingled in their cuppes ſome deadly poyſon, for incontinently they all fell downe a ſléepe on the grounde one after an other, and laye as though they had bene dead.

¶How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her huſband while the Theeues were aſleepe, and howe muche Apuleius was made of.

Cap. 27.

WHen the Théeues were all a ſléepe by their great and immoderate drinkynge, the yonge man Lepolemus toke the maiden & ſet hir vpō my backe and wente homeward, when we were come home, all the people of the Citie (eſpecially her parētes, fréendes & familie) came rūning foorth ioyfully, & al the children & maidens of y• towne, gathered together to ſée this virgin in great triūph ſittyng vpō an Aſſe. Thē I (willinge to ſhow as much ioye as I might as preſent^[57] occaſion ſerued) I ſet and pricked vp my longe eares, I ratled my noſethrilles, and cried ſtoutly, nay rather I made the towne to ringe againe wt my ſhrilling sound▪ when we were come to her fathers houſe, ſhe was receaued into a chamber honorably: as for me, Lepolemus (accompaigned with a great nomber of Citizins) did driue me backe againe with other horſes to y• caue of the Théeues, where we found them all a ſléepe liyng on the ground as we left them, then they firſt brought out al the golde, ſiluer, and other treaſure of the houſe, and laded vs withall, whiche when they had done, they threwe many of the théeues downe into the bottome of déepe ditches, and the reſidew they ſlewe with their ſwoordes: after this we returned home gladde & merry of ſo great vengeance vpō them, and the richeſſe which we carried was committed to the publique Treaſory: This done, the maide was married to Lepolemus, accordyng to the lawe, whome by ſo much trauell he had valiātly recouered: Then my good miſtris looked about for me, & aſkinge for me cōmaunded the very ſame day of her marriage, that my maūger ſhould be filled with barley, and that I ſhould haue hay & Otes abundantly, & ſhe would call me her litle Camell. But how greatly did I curſe Fotis in that ſhe tranſformed me into an Aſſe, and not into a Dogge, becauſe I ſawe the dogges had filled their paunches with the relickes and bones of ſo woorthy a ſupper, the nexte day this newe wedded woman (my miſtris) did greatly commende me before her parentes and huſbande, for the kindenes whiche I had ſhowed vnto her, and neuer leued of vntill ſuche time as they promiſed to rewarde me with great honors, then they called together al their fréendes, & thus it was ſo concluded, one ſaid that I ſhould be cloſed in a ſtable and neuer woorke but continually to be fedde and fatted with fine and choſen barley and beanes, & good littor, how be it an other preuayled, who wiſhing my libertie perſwaded them that it was better for me to runne in the fieldes emongſt the laſciuious horſes and mares, whereby I might engender ſome mules for my miſtris,^[58] then he that kept the horſe was called for, and I was deliuered vnto him with great care, in ſo muche that I was right pleaſaunt and ioyous, becauſe I hoped that I ſhoulde carry no more fardels or burthens, moreouer I thought that when I ſhould thus be at libertie, in the ſpringe time of the yeare when the medowes and fieldes were gréene, I ſhould finde ſome Roſes in ſome place, whereby I was fully perſwaded that if my maiſter and miſtris did render to me ſo many thankes and honours beynge an Aſſe, they would much more rewarde me beynge turned into a man: but when he (to whome the charge of me was ſo ſtraightly cōmitted) had brought me a good way diſtant from the Citie, I perceaued no delicate meates nor no libertie which I ſhould haue,^[59] but by and by his couetous wife and moſt curſed queane made me a mill Aſſe, and (beatinge me with a kidgell full of knottes) would wringe bredde for her ſelf and her houſehold out of my ſkinne, yet was ſhe not contented to wery me and make me a drudge with carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired of her neyghbours to beare their ſackes likewiſe, how be if ſhe would not giue me ſuche meate as I ſhoulde haue, nor ſufficient to ſuſtaine my life withall, for the barley whiche I grounde for mine owne dinner ſhe would fell to the inhabitātes by. And after that I had laboured all day, ſhe would ſet before me at night a litle filthy branne,^[60] nothinge cleane but full of ſtones. Beynge in this calamitie yet fortune worked me other tormentes, for on a day I was lette looſe into the f[••]ldes to paſture by the commaūdement of my maiſter, O how I leaped for ioye, how I neyed to ſee my ſelfe in ſuch libertie, b[•]t eſpecially ſince I behelde ſo many mares, whiche I thought ſhould be my wiues and concubines, and I eſpied out and chooſe the fayreſt before I came nighe them, but this my ioyfull hope turned into vtter deſtruction,^[61] for incontinently all the ſtone Horſes whiche were well fedde and made ſtronge by eaſe of paſture, and thereby muche more puiſſant then a poore Aſſe, were Ielous ouer me, and (hauinge no regarde to the lawe and order of the God Iupiter) ranne fierſely and terribly againſte me, one lifted vp his fore féete and kicked me ſpitefully, an other turned him ſelfe and with his hinder héeles ſpurned me cruelly, the thirde threatninge with a malitious neyinge dreſſed his eares and ſhewyng his ſharpe and white téeth bitte me on euery ſide. In like ſorte haue I redde in Hiſtories howe the Kinge of Thrace,^[62] would throwe his miſerable geſte to be torne in péeces and deuoured of his wilde horſes, ſo niggiſhe was that Tyraūt of his prouender that he nouriſhed them with the bodies of men.

¶How Apuleius was made a common Aſſe to fetche home woodde, and how he was handled by a boye.

Cap. 28.

AFter that I was thus handled by the Horſes, I was brought home againe to the mille, but beholde, fortune (inſatiable of my tormentes) had deuiſed a new paine for me, I was appointed to bringe home woodde euery day frō a high hill, and who ſhould driue me thither and home againe, but a boy that was the verieſt hangeman in all the worlde, who was not contēted with the great trauell that I toke in climinge vp the hill, neither pleaſed when he ſawe my hoofes torne and worne away by ſharpe flintes, but he beate me cruelly with a great ſtaffe,^[63] in ſo much that the mary of my boanes did ake for woo, for he woulde ſtrike me continually on my right hippe and ſtill in one place, whereby he tare my ſkinne and made of my wide ſore a great hole or trench, or rather a windowe to looke out at, and although it ranne downe of bloud, yet would he not ceaſe beatinge me in that place, moreouer he laded me with ſuch great truſſes and burthens of woodde that you would thinke they had bene rather prepared for Olyphantes then for me, and when he perceaued that my woodde hanged more of one ſide then an other (when he ſhoulde rather take away the heauy ſhides, and ſo eaſe me or els lifte them vp to make them equall with the other) he layde great ſtones vpon the weaker ſide to remedie the matter, yet coulde he not be contented with this my greate miſerie and immoderate burthens of woodde, but when we came to any riuer (as their weare many by the way) he to ſaue his féete from water woulde leape vpon my loynes likewiſe, whiche was no ſmall lode vpon lode. And if by aduenture I had fell downe in any dirtie or myry place, when he ſhould haue pulled me out, either with ropes, or lifted me vp by the tayle, he woulde neuer healpe me, but layde me on from toppe to toe with a mighty ſtaffe, till he had lefte no heare on all my bodie, no not ſo muche as on mine eares, whereby I was compelled by force of the blowes to ſtande vp.

The ſame hangeman boye did inuent an other torment for me, he gathered a great many ſharpe thornes as ſharpe as néedels, and bounde them together like a faggot and tied them at my taile to pricke me, then was I afflicted on euery ſide, for if I had endeuored to runne away the thornes would haue pricked me, if I had ſtoode ſtill the boye would haue beaten me, and yet the boye beate me to make me runne, whereby I perceaued that the hangeman did deuiſe nothinge els ſaue to kill me by ſome manner of meanes, and he woulde ſweare and threaten to doo me worſe harme, and becauſe he might haue ſome occaſion to execute his malicious minde, vpon a day (after that I had endeuored to much by my pacience) I lifte vp my héeles and ſpurned him welfauoredly. Then he inuented this vengeance againſt me, after that he had well laded me with ſhrubbes and rubbell and truſſed it rounde vpon my backe, he brought me out into the way: then he ſtale a burninge coale out of a mans houſe of the nexte village and put it into the middle of the rubbell, the rubbell and ſhrubbes beinge very drie, did fall on a light fire and burned me on euery ſide. I coulde ſée no remedie how I might ſaue my ſelfe, and in ſuche a caſe it was not beſte for me to ſtande ſtill: but fortune was fauorable towardes me, perhaps to reſerue me for more daungers, for I eſpied a great hole full of rayne water that fell the day before, thither I ranne haſtely and plunged my ſelfe therein, in ſuche ſorte that I quenched the fire and was deliuered from that preſent perill, but the vile boye to excuſe him ſelfe declared to all the neyghbours and ſheapeherdes aboute that I willingly tombled in the flere as I paſſed through the villages. Then he laughed vpon me ſaiynge: Howe longe ſhall we nouriſhe and keepe this fyry Aſſe in vaine.

¶Howe Apuleius was accuſed of lecherie by the Boie.

Cap. 29.

A Fewe daies after, this Boie inuented an other miſchiefe: For whē he had ſolde al y• wood, which I bare, to certain men dwelling in a village by, he led me homeward vnladen: And then he cried that he was not able to rule me, & that he woulde not driue me any lenger to the hill for woodde, ſaiyng: doo you ſée this ſlowe and dull Aſſe, who beſides all the miſchiefes that he hath wrought alreadie, inuenteth dailie more & more. For when he eſpieth any woman paſſing by the waie, whether ſhe be olde or maried, or if it be a yonge childe, he will throwe his burthen from his backe and ronneth fierſly vpon thē. And after yt he hath throwen them downe, he will ſtride ouer them to committe his buggery and beaſtlie pleaſure, moreouer he will faine as though he would kiſſe them, but he will byte their faces cruellie, whiche thinge may woorke vs great diſpleaſure, or rather be imputed vnto vs as a crime: and euen now when he eſpied an honeſt maiden paſſing by the highe waie, he by and by threwe downe his woodde & ranne after her: And when he had throwen her vpon the ground, he would haue rauiſhed her before the face of all the worlde, had it not bene that by reaſon of her criyng out, ſhe was ſuccoured and pulled frō his héeles and ſo deliuered. And if it had ſo come to paſſe that this fearfull maiden had bene ſlaine by him, what daunger had we bene in? By theſe and like lies, he prouoked the ſhéepeherdes earneſtlie againſt me, whiche greued me (God wote) full ſore that ſaide nothing. Then one of the ſhepeherdes ſaid: Why doo we not make ſacrifice of this common adulterouſe Aſſe. My ſonne (ꝙ he) let vs kill him and throwe his guttes to the dogges,^[64] & reſerue his fleſhe for the labourers ſupper. Then let vs caſt duſt vpō his ſkinne, & carie it home to our maiſter, and ſay that the Wolues hath deuoured him. The boie that was my euill accuſer, made no delaie but prepared him ſelfe to execute the ſentence of the ſhepeherde, reioyſing at my preſent daūger, but O how greatly did I then repent that the ſtripe which I gaue him with my héele had not killed him. Then he drewe out his ſwoord and made it ſharpe vpon a whetſtone to ſlea me, but an other of the ſhepeherdes gan ſaie, verely it is a great offence to kill ſo faire an Aſſe.^[65] And ſo (by accuſation of luxurie and laſciuious wantonnes) to lacke ſo neceſſary his labour and ſeruice, where otherwyſe if you would cut of his ſtones, he might not onely be depriued of his courage, but alſo become gentle, that we ſhould be deliuered from all feare of daunger. Moreouer, he would be thereby more fat and better in fleſhe. For I knowe my ſelfe as well many Aſſes, as alſo moſte fierce horſes, that by reaſon of their wantonnes, haue bene moſt madde and terrible, but (when they weare gelded and cut) they haue become very gentle and tame, and tractable to all vſe. Wherfore I would counſell you to geld him. And if you conſent therto, I will by and by, when I goe to the next market fetche mine yrons and tooles for the purpoſe: And I enſure you after y• I haue gelded and cut of his ſtones, I will deliuer him vnto you as tame as a lambe. When I did perceiue that I was deliuered from death,^[66] and reſerued to be gelded, I was greatly ſorie, in ſo muche that I thought all the hinder part of my bodie and my ſtones did ake for woo, but I ſought about to kil my ſelfe by ſome maner of meanes, to thende if I ſhould die, I would die with vnperiſhed members.

¶Howe the boye that ledde Apuleius to the fieldes, was ſlaine in the woodde.

Cap. 30.

WHile I deuiſed with my ſelfe in what maner I might ende my life, the roperipe boie on the next morrow led me to the hill againe, & tied me to a boowe of a great Oke, and in the meane ſeaſon he tooke his hatchet and cut woodde to lode me withall, but beholde there crept out of a caue by, a meruailous great Beare, holdinge out his mighty head, whome when I ſawe, I was ſodēly ſtrokē in feare & (throwing all the ſtrēgth of my bodie into my hinder héeles) lifted vp my ſtreined head and brake the halter, wherwith I was tied. Then there was no néede to bidde me runne awaie, for I ſcoured not onely on foote, but tumbled ouer the ſtones and rockes with my bodie, til I came into the open fieldes, to the intent I would eſcape away from the terrible Beare, but eſpecially from the boie y• was worſe then the Beare. Then a certaine ſtraunger that paſſed by y• waie (eſpiyng me alone as a ſtraie Aſſe) tooke me vp & rode vpon my back, beating me wt a ſtaffe (which he bare in h[•] hād) through a blind & an vnknowē lane, wherat I was nothing diſpleaſed, but willingly wēt forward to auoide y• cruel paine of gelding, which y• ſhepardes had ordeined for me, but as for y• ſtripes I was nothing moued, ſince I was acuſtomed to be beatē ſo euery day: But euell fortune would not ſuffer me to continue in ſuche eſtate longe: For the Shepeherdes (looking about for a cowe that they had loſt,^[67] after they had ſought in diuers places) fortuned to come vpon vs vnwares, who when they eſpied and knewe me, they woulde haue taken me by the halter, but he that rode vpon my backe reſiſted thē ſaiyng. Good lord maiſters, what intende you to doo? will you robbe me? Then ſaid the ſhéepeherdes, what thinkeſt thou that we handle thée otherwiſe then thou deſerueſt, which haſt ſtolen awaie our Aſſe, why doeſt thou not rather tel vs where thou haſt hidden the boie whom thou haſt ſlaine? And therewithall they pulled him downe to the grounde, beatinge him with their fiſtes, and ſpurning him with their féere. Then he ſware vnto thē ſaiyng: that he ſaw no maner of boie, but onely founde the Aſſe looſe and ſtraiynge abroade, whiche he tooke vp to thintent he might haue ſome rewarde for the finding of him, and to reſtore him againe to his maiſter. And I would to god (ꝙ he) y• this Aſſe (which verely was neuer ſéene) could ſpeake as a man, to geue witneſſe of mine innocencie: Then would you be aſhamed of the iniurie whiche you haue done to me. Thus (reaſoning for him ſelfe) he nothing preuailed, for thei tied the halter about my neck, and (maugre his face) pulled me quite awaie, & led me backe againe through the wooddes of the hill to y• place where the boie accuſtomed to reſorte. And after that they could finde him in no place, at length they founde his bodie rent and torne in pieces, and his members diſperſed in ſondrie places, which I well knewe was done by the cruel Beare, and verely I would haue told it if I might haue ſpoken, but (whiche I could onely do) I greatly reioyſed at his death, although it came to late. Then they gathered together the pieces of his bodie and buried them. By and by they laide all the fault to him that was my newe maiſter, that tooke me vp by the way, and (bringing him home faſte bounde to their houſes) purpoſed on the nexte morrow to accuſe him of murder, and to lead him before the Iuſtices to haue iudgement of death.

¶How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the mother of the boye that was ſlaine.

Cap 31.

IN the meane ſeaſon while the parentes of the boye did lament and wéepe, for the death of their ſonne. The ſhéepeherd (according to his promiſe) came with his inſtrumentes and tooles to gelde me, then one of them ſaid: Tuſhe we litle eſtéeme the miſchief which he did yeſterday, but now we are contēted that to morow his ſtones ſhal not onely be cut of,^[68] but alſo his head. So was it brought to paſſe that my death was delaide till the next morowe: but what thankes did I giue to that good boie, who (being ſo ſlaine) was the cauſe of my pardon for one ſhorte day: Howbeit I had no time then to reſt my ſelf, for the mother of the boye wéeping and lamenting for his death, attyred in mourninge veſture, tare her heare, and beate her breſt, and came preſently into the ſtable, ſayinge: Is it reaſon that this careleſſe beaſt ſhould doo nothinge all day but holde his head in the manger, filling and bolling his guttes with meate without cōpaſſion of my great miſerie, or remēbraunce of the pitifull death of his ſlayne maiſter: and contemninge my age and infirmitie, thinketh that I am vnable to reuenge his miſchiefes: moreouer he would perſwade me that he were not culpable, in déede it is a cōuenient thinge to looke and pleade for ſafetie, when as the conſcience doth confeſſe the offence, as théeues and malefactors accuſtome to doo: but O good Lord y• curſed beaſt if thou couldeſt vtter the cōtentes of thine owne minde whome^[69] (though he were the verieſt foole in all the worlde) mighteſt thou perſwade that this murder was voide or without thy faulte, when as it lay in thy power either to kéepe of the théeues with thy héeles or elſe to bite and teare them with thy téeth. Couldeſt not thou (that ſo oftē in his life time diddeſt ſpurne & kicke him) defende him nowe at the pointe of death by like meane? yet at leaſt thou ſhouldeſt haue taken him vpō thy backe, and ſo brought him from the cruel handes of théeues, where contrary thou ranneſt away alone forſakinge thy good maiſter, thy paſtor, and conductor. Knoweſt y• not that ſuch as denie their holeſome helpe and ayde to them which lie in daunger of death, ought to be puniſhed becauſe they haue offended againſt good manners and the law naturall, but I promiſe thée thou ſhalt not longe reioyſe at my harmes: thou ſhalt féele y• ſmart of thy homicide and offence, I wil ſée what I can doo, and there withall ſhe vnloſed her apron, and boūde all my féete together, to the ende I might not helpe my ſelfe, then ſhe toke a great barre whiche accuſtomed to barre the ſtable doore, and neuer ceaſed beatinge of me till ſhe was ſo weary y• the barre fell out of her hādes, whereupon ſhe (complayninge of the ſoone faintnes of her armes) ranne to her fire and brought a fier brande and thruſt it vnder my taile, burninge me continually till ſuch time as (hauing but one remedie) I all arrayed her face and eies with my dirtie donge, whereby (what with the ſtinke therof, and what with the filthines that fell in her eyes) ſhe was welnie blinde, ſo I enforced the queane to leaue of, otherwiſe I had died as Meleager did by the ſticke, whiche his madde mother Althea caſt into the fire.

The eight Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶Howe a yonge man came and declared the miſerable death of Lepolemus, and his wife Charites.

Cap. 32.

ABoute midnight came a yonge man whiche ſéemed to be one of the family^[70] of the good woman Charites, who ſometimes endured ſo muche miſery and calamitie with me emongſt the théeues, who after that he had taken a ſtoole and ſatte downe by the fire ſide in the company of the ſeruauntes, beganne to declare many terrible thinges that had happened vnto the houſe of Charites, ſaying: O ye horſekepers, ſhepeherdes, and cowheardes, you ſhall vnderſtand that we haue loſte our good miſtris Charites, miſerably and by euill aduenture, and to the ende you may learne and know all the whole matter, I purpoſe to tell you the circumſtance of euery pointe, wherby ſuch as are more learned then I (to whome fortune hath miniſtred more copious ſtile) may painte it out in paper in forme of an Hiſtorie: there was a yonge gentleman dwellinge in the nexte Citie, borne of good parentage, valiant in proweſſe, and riche in ſubſtance, but very much geuen and addict to whore huntyng and continuall reueling. Whereby he fell in company with théeues,^[71] and had his hande ready to the effuſion of humaine bloudde, his name was Thraſillus.

The matter was this according to the report of euery man: He demaunded Charites in marriage, who although he were a man more comely then the reſidue that wooed her,^[72] and alſo had richeſſe abundantly, yet becauſe he was of euill fame, and a man of wicked maners and conuerſation, he had the repulſe and was put of by Charites, and ſo ſhe married with Lepolemus: howbeit this yonge man ſecretly loued her, yet moued ſomwhat at her refuſal, he buſily ſerched ſome meanes to woorke his damnable intent: And (hauinge found occaſion and opportunitie to accōpliſh his purpoſe, which he had longe time concealed) brought to paſſe, that the ſame daye that Charites was deliuered by the ſubtile meane and valiant audacitie of her huſbande, from the puiſſance of the Théeues, he mingled him ſelf emongſt the aſſembly, feigninge that he was gladde of the new marriage and comminge home againe of the mayden, whereby (by reaſon that he came of ſo noble parentes) he was receaued & entertained into the houſe, as one of their chiefe and principall fréendes:^[73] Howbeit vnder cloke of a faithful welwiller, he diſſimuled his miſchieuous minde and intent, in continuāce of time, by much familiaritie, and often conuerſation and banketinge together, he fell more and more in fauour, like as we ſée it fortuneth to louers, who firſt doo litle delight thē ſelues in loue, till as by continuall acquaintaunce they kiſſe and embraſe eche other. Thraſillus perceauinge that it was a harde matter to breake his minde ſecretly to Charites, whereby he was wholy barred from the accompliſhmēt of his luxurious appetite, & on the other ſide perceauinge that the loue of her and her huſbande was ſo ſtrongly linked together, ye the bonde betwéene them might in no wiſe be diſſeuered, moreouer it was a thinge impoſſible to rauiſhe her, although he had conſented therto, yet was he ſtill prouoked forward by vehement luſt when as he ſawe him ſelfe vnable to bring his purpoſe to paſſe. Howbeit at lēgth the thinge which ſéemed ſo hard and difficil, through hope of his fortified loue, did now appeare eaſie & facill: but marke I pray you diligently to what ende the furious force of his inordinate deſire came. On a day Lepolemus went to the chaſe with Thraſillus to hunte for Goates, for his wife Charites deſired him earneſtly to medle with no other beaſtes, which were of more fierce and wilde nature, when they were come within the chaſe to a great thicket fortreſſed about with bryers and thornes, they compaſſed rounde with their dogges, and beſette euery place with nettes, by and by warninge was giuen to lette looſe: The dogges ruſhed in with ſuche a crie that all the foreſt range againe with the noyes, but beholde there leaped out no Goate, nor déere, nor gentle Hinde, but an horrible and daungerous wilde Boare, harde & thicke ſkinned, briſteled terribly like thornes, fominge at the mouth, grindinge his téeth and lokinge dyrefully with fitie eyes. The dogges that firſt ſet vpō him he tare and rent with his tuſkes, and thē he ranne quight thorough the nettes and eſcaped away: when we ſawe the furie of this beaſt, we were greatly ſtrikē with feare, and becauſe we neuer accuſtomed to chaſe ſuche dreadfull Boares, and further becauſe we were vnarmed and without weapons, we gotte and hidde our ſelues vnder buſhes and trées: then Thraſillus hauinge founde oportunitie to woorke his treaſon, ſaide to Lepolemus, what ſtande we here amaſed? why ſhow we our ſelues like daſtardes? why léeſe we ſo woorthy a pray with our feminiue hartes? let vs mounte vpon our horſes and purſue him incontinentlie: Take you a hunting ſtaffe, & I will take a chaſing ſpeare, by and by they leaped vpon their horſes and folowed the beaſte. But he returning againſt thē with furious force, pried with his eies, on whome he might firſt aſſaile with his tuſkes: Lepolemus ſtroke the beaſt firſt on the back wt his hunting ſtaffe.^[74] Thraſillus faininge to aide and aſſiſte him, came behind, and cut of the hinder legges of Lepulemus horſe, in ſuch ſorte that he fel downe to the ground with his maiſter: And ſodenly the Boare came vpon Lepolemus, and furiouſly tare and rēt him with his téeth. Howbeit, Thraſillus was not ſuffiſed to ſée him thus wounded,^[75] but when he deſired his friendlie helpe, he thruſt Lepolemus through the right thighe with his ſpeare, the more becauſe he thought the woūd of the ſpeare would be takē for a wound of the Boares téeth: Then he killed the beaſt likewiſe. And when he was thus miſerably ſlaine, euery one of vs came out of our holes, and went towardes our ſlaine maſter. But although that Thraſillus was ioyfull of the death of Lepolemus,^[76] whome he did greatly hate, yet he cloked the matter with a ſorowfull countenaunce, he feigned a dolorous face, he often embraſed the body whiche he him ſelfe ſlewe, he plaied all the partes of a mourninge perſon, ſauing there fell no teares from his eies. Thus he reſembled vs in eche point, who verely, and not without occaſion, had cauſe to lament for our maiſter, laiyng all the blame of this homicide vnto the Boare. Incontinently after, the ſoroweful newes of the death of Lepolemus, came to the eares of all the family, but eſpecially to Charites, who after ſhe had hard ſuche pitifull tidinges, as a madde and raginge woman, ranne vp and downe the ſtreates, criyng and howling lamētably. All the citezins gathered together, and ſuche as they met, bare them companie runninge towardes the chaſe. When they came to the ſlaine bodie of Lepolemus, Charites threwe her ſelfe vpon him, weping and lamenting greuouſlie for his death, in ſuche ſorte, that ſhe would haue preſentlie ended her life, vpon y• corpſe of her ſlaine huſbande, whome ſhe ſo entierly loued, had it not bene that her parentes and friendes did comfort her, and pulled her away. The body was takē vp, and in funerall pompe brought to the citie, and buried. In the meane ſeaſon, Thraſillus feigned much ſorowe for the death of Lepolemus, but in his hart he was well pleaſed & ioyful. And to coūterfect the matter, he would come to Charites & ſaie: O what a loſſe haue I had by y• death of my friende, my fellowe, my compaignion Lepolemus: O Charites, cōfort your ſelfe, pacifie your dolor, refraine your wéeping, beat not your breſtes: And with ſuch other & like woordes, & diuers exāples he endeuored to ſuppreſſe her great ſorowe, but he ſpake not this for any other intēt but to win the hart of y• womā, and to noriſh his odious loue with filthy delight.^[77] Howbeit, Charites after the buriall of her huſbāde, ſought y• meanes to folowe him, and (not ſuſteining the ſorowes wherin ſhe was wrapped) gotte her ſecretly into a chāber & purpoſed to finiſh her life there with dolour & tribulation: But Thraſillus was very importunate, & at lēgth brought to paſſe that at the interceſſiō of the parentes & friendes of Charites, ſhe ſomewhat refreſhed her fallen membres with refectiō of meate and bayne. Howbeit, ſhe did it more at y• cōmaundement of her parents, then for any thing els: For ſhe could in no wiſe be mery, nor receiue any comforte, but tormented her ſelfe daye and night before the image of her huſbande, which ſhe had made like vnto Bacchus, & rendred vnto him diuine honours and ſeruices. In the meane ſeaſon Thraſillus not able to refraine any lēger, before Charites had aſſwaged her dolours, before her troubled minde had pacified her fury, euē in the middle of all her griefes, while ſhe wéeped for her huſbande, while ſhe tare her garments and rent her heare, demaunded her in marriage, and ſo without ſhame he detected the ſecretes & vnſpeakeable deceites of his harte. But Charites deteſted and abhorred his demaunde & as ſhe had bene ſtroken with ſome clappe of thunder, with ſome ſtorme, or with the lightning of Iupiter, ſhe preſently fell downe to the grounde all amaſed. Howbeit in the ende when her ſpirites were reuiued & that ſhe returned to her ſelfe, perceauing that Thraſillus was ſo importunate, ſhe demaunded reſpite to deliberate and to take aduiſe on the matter, in the meane ſeaſon y• ſhape of Lepolemus that was ſlaine ſo miſerably appeared to Charites with a pale and blouddy face, ſayinge: O my ſwéete wife (which no other perſon cā ſay but I) I pray thée for the loue which is betwéene vs twoo,^[78] if there be any memory of me in thy hart, or remembraunce of my pitifull death, marry with any other perſon, ſo that y• marry not with the traytour Thraſillus, haue no conference with him, eate not with him, lie not with him, auoide the blouddy hande of mine enemie, couple not thy ſelfe with a parricide, for thoſe woundes (the bloud wherof thy teares did waſh away) were not y• woūdes of the téeth of the Boare, but the ſpeare of Thraſillus depriued me from thée. Thus ſpake Lepolemus vnto his louinge wife, and declared the reſidew of the damnable fact: then Charites awaking from ſléepe beganne to renew her dolor, to teare her garments, and to beate her armes with her comely hādes, howbeit ſhe reueled the viſion whiche ſhe ſawe to no manner of perſon, but diſſimulinge that ſhe knew no parte of the miſchiefe, deuiſed with her ſelfe howe ſhe might be reuenged on the traytor, and finiſh her owne life to ende and knitte vp all ſorrow: Incontinently came Thraſillus the deteſtable demaunder of ſodein pleaſure, and weried the cloſed eares of Charites with talke of mariage, but ſhe gentely refuſinge his cōmunication, and colouring the matter, with a paſſing crafte in the middeſt of his earneſt deſiers, gan ſay: Thraſillus, you ſhall vnderſtand that yet the face of your brother and my huſband, is alwaies before mine eies, I ſmel yet the Cinamome ſent of his pretious body, I yet feele Lepolemus aliue in my hart, wherfore you ſhall doo wel if you graūt to me, miſerable woman, neceſſarie time to bewayle his death, that after the reſidue of a few moneths, the whole yere may be expired, which thing toucheth aſwell my ſhame as your holſome profite, leaſt peraduēture by our ſpéedie and quicke marriage we ſhould iuſtely raiſe & prouoke the ſpirit of my huſband to woorke our deſtructiō. Howbeit Thraſillus was not contented with this promiſe,^[79] but more and more was earneſt vpon her: In ſo much y• ſhe was enforced to ſpeake to him in this manner: My fréende Thraſillus, if thou be ſo contented vntill the whole yéere be complete and finiſhed, beholde here is my body, take thy pleaſure, but in ſuch ſort and ſo ſecrete, that no ſeruaūt of the houſe may perceaue it. Then Thraſillus truſtinge the falſe promiſſes of the woman, & preferring his inordinate pleaſure aboue all thinges in the worlde, was ioyfull in his harte & looked for night, when as he might haue his purpoſe. But come y• about midnight (ꝙ Charites) deſguiſed without company. And doo but hiſſe at my chamber doore, & my noucce ſhall attende and let thée in: this counſell pleaſed Thraſillus meruelouſly, who (ſuſpecting no harme) did alwaies looke for night, and the houre aſſigned by Charites: the time was ſkarſe come, whē as (according to her commaundement) he deſguiſed him ſelfe, & went ſtreight to the chamber, where he foūde the nource attendinge for him, who (by the apointment of her miſtris) fedde him with ſlatteringe talke, and gaue him mingled & doled drinke in a cuppe, excuſing the abſence of her miſtris Charites by reaſon that ſhe attended on her father being ſicke, vntil ſuch time, that with ſwéete talke and operation of the wine, he fell in a ſounde ſléepe: now when he lay proſtrate on the grounde readie to all aduenture, Charites (beinge called for) came in, and with manly courage and bolde force, ſtoode ouer this ſleepinge murderer, ſaying: Beholde the faithfull compaignion of my huſbande, beholde this valiaunt hunter:^[80] behold my déere ſpouſe, this is the hande which ſhedde my bloudde, this is the harte whiche hath deuiſed ſo many ſubtill meanes to worke my deſtruction, theſe be the eyes whome I haue ill pleaſed, behold now they forſhowe their owne deſtinie, ſléepe careleſſe, dreame that thou arte in the handes of the mercifull, for I will not hurte thée with thy ſwoorde or with any other weapon, God forbidde that I ſhoulde ſlea thée as thou ſleweſt my huſband, but thy eies ſhall fayle thée, and thou ſhalte ſée no more, then that whereof thou dreameſt: thou ſhalte thinke the death of thine enemie more ſwéete then thy life: thou ſhalte ſée no light, thou ſhalte lacke the ayde of a leader, thou ſhalte not haue me as thou hopeſt, thou ſhalte haue no delight of my marriage, thou ſhalte not die, and yet liuinge thou ſhalte haue no ioye, but wander betwéene light and darkeneſſe as an vnſure image: thou ſhalte ſéeke for the hande that pricked out thy eies, yet ſhalte thou not knowe of whome thou ſhouldeſt complaine: I will make ſacrafice with the bloudde of thine eyes vpon the graue of my huſband, but what gaineſt thou thorough my delay? Perhaps thou dreameſt that thou embraceſt me in thine armes, leaue of the darkenes of ſléepe, and awake thou to receaue a penall depriuation of thy ſight, lifte vp thy face, regarde thy vengeance and euill fortune, recken thy miſerie ſo pleaſeth thine eies to a chaſte woman, that thou ſhalte haue blindneſſe to thy compaignion, and an euerlaſtinge remorſe of thy miſerable conſcience. When ſhe had ſpoken theſe woordes, ſhe toke a great nedle from her head and pricked out both his eies: which done, ſhe by and by caught the naked ſwoorde whiche her huſbande Lepolemus accuſtomed to were, and ranne thorough out all the Citie like a madde woman, towarde the Sepulchre of her huſbande: Then all we of the houſe withall the Citizins, rāne incontinently after her, to take the ſwoord out of her handes, but ſhe claſpinge aboute the tombe of Lepolemus, kept vs of with her naked weapon, and when ſhe perceaued that euery one of vs wepte and lamented, ſhe ſpake in this ſorte: I pray you my fréendes wéepe not, nor lament for me, for I haue reuenged the death of my huſbande, I haue puniſhed deſeruedly the wicked breaker of our marriage, nowe is it time to ſéeke out my ſwéete Lepolemus, and preſently with this ſwoorde to finiſhe my lyfe. And therewithall after ſhe had made relation of the whole matter, declared the viſion which ſhe ſawe, and tolde by what meane ſhe deceaued Thraſillus, thruſtinge the ſwoorde vnder her right breſt & wallowinge in her owne bloudde, at lēgth with manly courage yéelded vp the ghoſt.^[81] Then immediatly the fréendes of miſerable Charites, did burie her body within the ſame ſepulchre. Thraſillus hearyng al the matter, & knowinge not by what meanes he might ende his life, for he thought his ſwoorde was not ſufficient to reuēge ſo great a crime, at length went to the ſame ſepulchre and cried with a loude voice, ſayinge: O ye dead ſpirites whom I haue ſo highly offended receaue me, beholde I make ſacrifice vnto you with my bodie: whiche ſaide, he cloſed y• ſepulchre, purpoſing to famiſh him ſelfe, and to finiſhe his life there in ſorrow. Theſe thinges the yonge man with pitifull ſighes and teares declared vnto the cowheardes & ſhéepeherdes, whiche cauſed them all to wéepe: but they fearinge to become ſubiect vnto new maiſters, prepared thē ſelues to departe away.

¶How Apuleius was ledde away by the horſekeper, and what daungers he was in.

Cap. 33.

BY and by the Horſekeper,^[82] to whome the charge of me was cōmitted, brought foorth all his ſubſtance and laded me and other horſes withal, & ſo departed thenſe: we bare wemen, children, pullettes, ſparrowes, kiddes, whelpes, & other thinges whiche were not able to kéepe pace with vs, and that whiche I bare vpon my backe, although it was a mighty burthen, yet ſéemed it very light, becauſe I was driuen away from him that moſt terribly had appointed to kill me, when we hed paſſed ouer a great mountayne full of trées, and were come againe into the open fieldes, beholde we approched nighe to a fayre and riche Caſtell, where it was tolde vnto vs that we weare not able to paſſe in our iourney that night, by reaſon of the great number of terrible Woolues, whiche weare in the countrey about, ſo fierce and cruell, that they put euerie man in feare, in ſuch ſort that they would inuade and ſet vpon ſuch which paſſed by like theues, and deuoure bothe thē and their beaſtes.

Moreouer, we weare aduertiſed that there laie in the waie wheare we ſhould paſſe, manie dead bodies, eaten and torne with Wolues. Wherefore we weare willed to ſtate theare all night, & on the next morning, to goe cloſe and rounde together, whereby we might paſſe and eſcape all perilles and daungers. But (notwithſtandinge this good counſell) our cait[••]e driuers weare ſo couetous to goe forwarde, and ſo fearfull of purſuit, that they neuer ſtaied till the morninge: But being well nie midnight, they made vs trudge in our waie a pace: Then I fearing the great daunger whiche might happen, ranne amongeſt the middle of the other horſes, to thend I might defend and ſaue my poore buttockes from the Wolues, whereat euery man muche meruailed to ſée, that I ſcoured away ſwifter then the other horſes: But ſuche was my agilitée not to get me any praiſe, but rather for feare. At that time I remembred with my ſelfe, that the valiant horſe Pegaſus, did [•]ie in the aire more to auoide the daunder of dreadfull Chimera, then for any thing els. The ſhepardes which draue vs before thē, weare well armed like warriours: One had a ſpeare, an other had a ſhepehooke, ſome had dartes, ſome clubbes, ſome gathered vp great ſtones, ſome helde vp their ſharpe iauelins, and ſome feared awaie the Wolues with light firebrandes. Finally we lacked nothing to make vp an armie, but onely drums and trumpettes, but when we had paſſed theſe dau[••]gers not without ſmall feare, we fortuned to fall into worſe, for the Wolues came not vpon vs, eyther becauſe of the greate multitude of our company, or els becauſe of our firebrandes, or peraduenture they were gone to ſome other place, for we could ſée none, but the inhabitantes of the nexte villages (ſuppoſinge that we were Théeues by reaſon of our great multitude,) for the defence of their owne ſubſtance, and for the feare they were in, ſette great and mighty maſties vpon vs, which they had kept & nouriſhed for the ſafetie of their houſes, who compaſſing vs rounde about, leaped on euery ſide, tearing vs with their téeth, in ſuch ſorte that they pulled many of vs to the grounde, verely it was a pitifull ſight to ſée ſo many dogges, ſome followinge ſuche as flied, ſome inuadinge ſuch as ſtoode ſtill, ſome tearinge thoſe which lay proſtrate, but generally there were none which eſcaped cléere: Behol[•]e vpon this an other daunger enſewed, the inhabitantes of the towne ſtoode in their garrettes & windowes, throwinge great ſtones vpon our heades, that we coulde not tell whether it were beſt for vs to auoide the gapinge mouthes of the dogges at hād, or the perill of the ſtones a farre, emongſt whome there was one that hurled a greate [•]inte vpon a woman, which ſatte vpon my backe, who cried out piteouſly, deſiringe her huſband to helpe her. Then he (cominge to ſuccour and ayde his wife) began to ſpeake in this ſorte: Alas maiſters what meane you to trouble vs poore laboring mē ſo cruelly? what meane you to reuenge your ſelues vppon vs, that doo you no harme? what thinke you to gaine by vs? you dwell not in caues or dennes: you are no people barborous that you ſhould delight in effuſion of humaine bloudde. At theſe woordes the tempeſt of ſtones did ceaſe, & the ſtorme of the dogges vaniſhed away. Then one (ſtandinge on the toppe of a great Cipreſſe trée) ſpake vnto vs, ſaying: Thinke you not maiſters that we doo this, to the intent to rifle or take away any of your goodes, but for the ſaluegarde of our ſelues and family, now a Goddes name you may departe away. So we wēt forwarde ſome wounded with ſtones, ſome bitten with dogges, but generally there was none whiche eſcaped frée.

¶How the Shepeherdes determined to abide in a certaine woodde to cure their woundes.

Cap. 34.

WHen we had gonne a good part of our way we came to a certayne woodde enuironed with great trées, & compaſſed about with pleaſaunt medowes, wheras the ſhéepeherdes apointed to continew a certaine ſpace to cure their woundes, and ſores, then they ſatte downe on the grounde to refreſh their werie mindes, and afterwardes they ſought for medicines to heale their bodies, ſome waſhed away their bloud with the water of the runninge riuer: ſome ſtopped their woundes with ſponges and cloutes, in this māner euery one prouided for his owne ſafety. In the meane ſeaſon we perceaued an old man, who ſéemed to be a ſhéepeherde by reaſon of the goates and ſhéepe that fedde roūd about him:^[83] Then one of our cōpany demaūded whether he had any milke, butter, or chéeſe to ſell. To whom he made anſweare ſhaking his head, ſaying: Doo you looke for any meat or drinke, or any other refection here? know you not in what place you be? & therwithal he toke his ſhéepe & draue thē away as faſt as he might poſſible. This anſwere made our ſhéepeherdes greatly to feare that they thought of nothinge els butto enquire what countrey they weare in: Howbeit, they ſawe no maner of perſone of whome they might demaunde. At length as they weare thus in doubte, they [•]erceiued an other olde man with a ſtaffe in his hand, very werie with trauell, who approching nighe to our companie, began to wéepe and complaine, ſaiyng: Alas maiſters, I praie you ſuccour me miſerable caitife, and reſtore my neiphewe to me againe, that by following a ſparrowe that flewe before him, is fallen into a ditche hereby, and verely I thinke he is in daunger of death. As for me, I am not able to helpe him out by reaſon of my olde age, but you that are ſo valiāt and luſtie, may eaſelie helpe me herein, and deliuer me my boye, my heire and guide of my life. Theſe woordes made vs all to pitie him: And then the yongeſt and ſtouteſt of our companie, who alone eſcaped beſt the late ſkyrmiſhe of dogges and ſtones, roſe vp, demaūding in what ditche the boie was fallen: Mary (ꝙ he) yonder, and pointinge with his finger, brought him to a great thicket of buſſhes and thorne, where they both entred in. In the meane ſeaſon, after y• we had well refreſhed our ſelues and cured our woundes, we tooke vp our packes, purpoſing to depart awaie. And becauſe we would not goe awaie without the yonge man our felowe: The ſhepehardes whiſtled and called for him, but whē he gaue no anſwere, they ſent one of their companie to ſéeke him out, who after a while returned againe with a pale face and ſorowfull newes, ſaiyng: that he ſawe a terrible Draggon eating and deuouring their compaigniō: and as for the olde man, he coulde ſée him in no place. When they hard this (remēbring likewiſe the woordes of the firſt olde man that ſhaketh his head and draue away his ſheepe) they ranne away beatinge vs before them, to flie from this deſert and peſtilent countrie.

¶How a woman killed her ſelfe, and her childe, becauſe her huſbande haunted harlottes.

Cap. 35.

AFter that we had paſſed a great part of our iourney we came to a certaine village, where we lay all night, but herken and I will tell you a great miſchiefe that happened there. You ſhal vnderſtande y• there was a ſeruaunt to whome his maiſter had committed the whole gouermēt of his houſe, and was maiſter of the lodginge where we lay: this ſeruaunt had married a mayden of the ſame houſe, how be it he was greatly in loue with a harlotte of the towne, and accuſtomed to reſorte vnto her, wherewith his wife was ſo highly diſpleaſed and became ſo ielous, that ſhe gathered together all her huſbandes ſubſtāce, with his tailes and bookes of accompte, & threwe them into a light fire, ſhe was not contented with this, but ſhe toke a corde & bounde her childe which ſhe had by her huſband about her middle, & caſte her ſelfe hedlonge into a déepe pitte: The maiſter takinge in euill parte the death of theſe twaine, toke his ſeruaunt whiche was the cauſe of this murder by his luxury, and firſt after that he had put of all his apparell, he annointed his body with hony, and then bounde him ſure to a figge trée, where, in a rotten ſtocke a great number of Piſmares had builded their neſtes, the Piſmares after they had felte the ſwéetnes of the hony came vpon his bodie, and by litle and litle (in continuance of time) deuoured all his fleſhe, in ſuch ſorte that there remained on the trée nothinge els ſaue his bace bones: this was declared vnto vs by the inhabitantes of the village there who greatly ſorrowed for the death of this ſeruant: then we auoidinge likewiſe from this dreadfull lodginge, incontinently departed away.

¶Howe Apuleius was cheapened by diuers perſons, and how they loked in his mouth to know his age.

Cap. 36.

AFter this we came to a fayre Citie very populous, where our ſhéepeherdes determined to cōtinew, by reaſon y• it ſéemed a place where they might liue vnknowē, farre from ſuch as ſhould purſue them, and becauſe it was a countrie very plentifull of corne and other victualles, where when we had remained the ſpace of thrée daies, & that I poore Aſſe, and the other horſes were fedde & kept in the Stable to the intent we might ſéeme more ſaleable, we were brought out at length to the market, and by & by a crier ſounded with his horne to notifie y• we were to be ſolde, all my compaigniō horſes were bought vp by gentlemen, butas for me I ſtoode ſtill forſaken of all men. And when many biers came by and looked in my mouth to knowe mine age, I was ſo werie with opening my iawes that at length (vnable to endure any lenger) whē one came with a ſtinking payre of handes, & grated my gommes with his filthy fingers I bitte them cleane of, whiche thing cauſed the ſtanders by to forſake me, as beinge a fierce and cruell beaſt: the crier when he had gotten a hoarſe voice with crying, and ſawe that no man would bie me, began to mocke me, ſaiyng: To what end ſtāde we here with this vile Aſſe, this feble beaſt, this ſlowe iade with woorne hoofes, good for nothinge, but to make ſlues of his ſkinne, why doo we not giue him to ſome body, for he earneth not his hey, in this manner he made all the ſtanders by to laugh excéedingly, but my euill fortune whiche was euer ſo cruell againſte me, whome I by trauell of ſo many countreis coulde in no wiſe eſcape, did more and more enuie me, with inuention of new meanes to afflict my poore bodie, in geuing me an other maiſter as ſpitefull as the reſt. There was an olde man, ſomewhat balde, with longe and grey heare, one of the nomber of thoſe which goe from doore to doore through out al the villages, bearing the image of the Goddeſſe Siria, and plaiyng with cymballes to gette the almes of good and charitable folkes, this olde man came haſtely towardes the crier, and demaunded where I was bredde, marry (ꝙ he) in Cappadocia: then he enquired what age I was of, the crier aunſweared as a mathematricien, whiche deſpoſed to me my planetes, that I was fiue yeeres olde, and willed the olde man to looke in my mouth, for I would not willingly (ꝙ he) incurre the penaltie of the lawe Cornelia in ſelling a frée Citizin for a ſeruill ſlaue, by a Goddes name this faire beaſt to ride home on, and about in the countrie: but this curious bier did neuer ſtinte to queſtion of my qualities, and at length he demaunded whether I were gentle or no: gentle (ꝙ the crier) as gentle as a Lambe, tractable to al vſe, he wil neuer bite, he wil neuer kicke, but you would rather thinke y• vnder y• ſhape of the Aſſe, there were ſome well aduiſed man, whiche verely you may eaſely coniect, for if you would thruſt your noſe in his tayle you ſhall perceaue how pacient he is: Thus the crier mocked the olde man, but he perceauing his tauntes and ieſtes, wared very angry, ſaiyng: Away dotinge crier, I pray the omnipotent and omniparent goddeſſe Siria, ſainct Sabod, Bellona with her mother Idea, & Venus with Adonis to ſtrike out both thine eies that with tauntinge mockes haſte ſcoffed me in this ſorte, doeſt thou thinke that I will put a Goddeſſe vppon the backe of any fierce beaſte, whereby her diuine image ſhould be throwen downe on the grounde, and ſo I poore miſer ſhould be compelled (tearinge my heare) to looke for ſome Phiſicien to helpe her? when I harde him ſpeake this, I thought wt my ſelfe ſodeinly to leape vpon him like a madde Aſſe, to the intent he ſhoulde not bie me, but incontinently there came an other Marchaunt that preuented my thought, and offered ſeuentene pence for me: then my mayſter was gladde and receauing the money, deliuered me to my newe maiſter, who was called Philebus: and he carried his newe ſeruaunt home, and before he came to his houſe, he called out his daughters, ſayinge: beholde my daughters what a gentle ſeruant I haue bought for you, then they weare meruelous glad, and comminge out pratlinge and ſhoutinge for ioye, thought verely that he had brought home a fitte & conuenable ſeruant for their purpoſe, but when they perceaued that it was an Aſſe, they began to reproue him, ſayinge: that he had not bought a ſeruant for his maydēs, but rather an Aſſe for him ſelfe. Howbeit (ꝙ they) kéepe him not wholy for your owne ridinge, but let vs likewiſe haue him at commaundement, therewithall they ledde me into the ſtable, & tied me to the maūger, there was a certaine yonge man with a mighty bodie well ſkilled in playing on inſtrumētes before the Goddeſſe to get money, who (aſſone as he eſpied me) entertained me very well, for he filled my racke & maunger with meat, & ſpake merely, ſaying: O maiſter Aſſe you are welcome, now you ſhall take my office in hande, you are come to ſupplie my rowme, and to eaſe me of my miſerable laboure: But I praie God thou maiſt lōg liue and pleaſe my maiſter well, to thende thou maieſt continually deliuer me from ſo great paine. When I harde his woordes, I did prognoſticate my miſerie to come. The daie following, I ſawe there a great nomber of perſons apparelled in diuers colours, hauinge painted faces, mytres on their heades, veſtimentes coloured like ſaffron, ſurpleſſes of ſilke, and on their féete yellowe ſhoes, who attired the Goddeſſe in a roabe of purple, and put her vpon my backe. Then they went foorth with their armes naked to their ſhoulders, bearing with them great ſwoordes and mightie axes, and daunſing like madde perſons. After that we had paſſed many ſmall villages, we fortuned to come to one Britunis houſe, where at our firſt entrie, they began to hurle them ſelues hither and thither, as though they weare madde. They made a thouſand ieſtes with their féete and their heades: They would bite them ſelues: Finally, euery one tooke his weapon and wounded his armes in diuers places. Emongeſt whome there was one more madde then the reſte, that fette many déepe ſighes from the bottome of his harte, as though he had bene rauiſhed in ſpirit, or repleniſhed with deuine power. And after that, he ſomwhat returning to him ſelf inuented and forged a great lie, ſaiyng: that he had diſpleaſed the deuine maieſtie of the Goddeſſe, by doinge of ſomething whiche was not conuenable to the order of their holie Religion, wherefore he would doo vengeance of him ſelfe: And therewithall he tooke a whippe and ſcourged his owne body, that the bloud iſſued out abundantly, which thinge cauſed me greatly to feare to ſée ſuch woūdes and effuſion of bloud, leaſt the ſame Goddeſſe deſiring ſo much the bloud of mē ſhould likewiſe delire y• bloud of an Aſſe.^[84] After they were wery wt hurling and beating them ſelues, they ſat downe. And beholde, the inhabitantes came in & offred gold, ſiluer, veſſels of wyne, milke, chéeſe, flower, wheat, and other thinges: Amongſt whome there was one that brought barley to the Aſſe that caried the Goddeſſe, but the gredy horſons thruſt al into their ſacke which thei brought for the purpoſe, and put it vpon my back, to thende I might ſerue for twoo purpoſes, y• is to ſay: for the barne by reaſon of my corne, and for the temple, by reaſon of the goddeſſe. In this ſorte they wet from place to place robbing all the countrey ouer: At length they came to a certaine caſtell, purpoſing to make good chere there, where vnder coloure of diuinatiō, thei brought to paſſe that they obteined a fatte ſhéepe of a poore huſbandman for the Goddeſſe ſupper, & to make ſacrifice withal. After that y• banket was prepared, they waſhed their bodies & brought in a tale yong mā of the village to ſuppe with them, who ſkaree taſted a fewe potage when they began to diſcouer their beaſtly cuſtomes & inordinate deſier of vnnaturall luxurie. For they compaſſed him round about ſitting at the table, & abuſed the yong man contrarie to all nature & reaſon: When I behelde this horrible fact, I could not but attempte to vtter my minde and ſaie, O maiſters, but I could pronounce no more but the firſt letter O, which I roared out ſo valiantly, that the yong mē of the town, ſéeking for a ſtray Aſſe that they had loſt the ſame night, and hearing my voice, wherby they iudged y• I had bene theirs, entred into the houſe vnwares, and founde theſe perſons cōmitting their vile abhomination, which whē they ſaw, they declared to all the inhabitātes by their vnnatural vilanie mocking and laughing at this the pure & cleane chaſtitie of their Religion. In the meane ſeaſon, Phebus & his companie, (by reaſon of the bruite which was diſperſed throughout all ye Region there of their beaſtly wickednes) put all their tromperie vpon my backe & departed away about midnight. When we had paſſed a good part of our iourney before the riſing of the Sun, we came into a wide deſert, where they cōſpired together to ſlea me. For after they had taken the Goddeſſe from my back and ſet her gingerly vpon the grounde, they likewiſe tooke of my harneſſe, and boūd me ſurely to an oke, beating me with their whippe, in ſuche ſorte that all my bodie was mortified. Amōgſt whome there was one that threatned to cut of my legges with his hatchet, becauſe by my noyſe I diffamed his chaſtitée, but the other regarding more their own profit then my vtilitie, thought beſt to ſpare my life, becauſe I might carie home the Goddeſſe: So they laded me againe, driuing me before them with their naked ſwoordes til thei came to a noble citie: where the principal patrō bearing high reuerence vnto the Goddeſſe, came in great deuotion before vs wt Tympanie, cimballes, & other inſtrumentes, & receiued her & al our companie with much ſacrifice & veneration: But there I remember, I thought my ſelfe in moſte daūger, for there was one yt brought to the maiſter of the houſe, a fide of a fat buck for a preſent, whiche being hanged behinde the kytchin doore, not farre from the grounde, was cleane eaten vp by a greyhounde that came in: The Cooke when he ſawe ye veniſon denoured, lamēted & wept pitifully. And becauſe ſupper time approched nigh, whē as he ſhould be reproued of to much negligēce, he tooke a halter to hāge him ſelf, but his wife perceiuing wherabout he went, canne incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both her handes ſtopped him of his purpoſe, ſaiynge: O huſband, are you out of your wittes? what intende you to doo? Sée you not a preſent remedy before your eyes miniſtred vnto you by deuine prouidence? I pray you huſband follow my coūſell, carrie this ſtraūge Aſſe out into ſome ſecret place and kill him, whiche done cut of one of his ſides, and ſauce it well like the ſide of the buck, and ſette it before your maiſter. Then the Cooke hearing the counſell of his wife, was well pleaſed to ſlea me, to ſaue him ſelfe: And to bringe his purpoſe to paſſe, he went to the whetſtone to ſharpe his tooles accordingly.

The ninth Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶Howe Apuleius ſaued him ſelfe from the Cooke by breaking his halter and of other thinges that happened.

Cap. 37.

IN this maner the traiterous Cooke, prepared him ſelfe to ſlea me: And when he was ready with his kniues to doo his feate, I deuiſed with my ſelfe how I might eſcape the preſent perill, and I did not long delaie: for incontinentlye I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and flinging my héeles hither & thither to ſaue my ſelfe, at length I ran haſtely into a parlour wheare the maiſter of the houſe was feaſtinge with the prieſtes of the Goddeſſe Siria, and diſquieted all the companie, throwinge downe their meates and drinkes from the table. The maiſter of the houſe diſmaide at my great diſorder, cōmaunded one of his ſeruauntes to take me vp, and locke me in ſome ſtronge place to the ende I might diſturbe them no more. But I litle regarded my impriſonment, conſideringe that I was happely deliuered frō the handes of the traiterous Cooke: Howbeit fortune, or the fatall diſpoſition of the diuine prouidence, whiche neither can be auoyded by wiſe counſell, neither yet by any holeſome remedy inuented a new torment, for by & by a yonge ladde came running into the parlor, all trembling and declared to the maiſter of the houſe, that there was a madde dogge running about in the ſtréetes, whiche had done muche harme, for he had bitten many greyhoūdes and horſes in the Inne by: and he ſpared neither man nor beaſt, for there was one Mytilius a mulettour, Epheſtio a cooke, Hyppatauius a chamberlaine, and Appolonius a Phiſicien, who (thinking to chaſe away yc madde dogge) were cruelly wounded by him, in ſo muche that many horſes and other beaſtes infected with the venim of his poiſonous téeth became madde likewiſe, whiche thinge cauſed them all at the table greatly to feare, and thinking that I had bene bitten in like ſorte, came out with ſpeares, clubbes, and pitchforkes purpoſing to ſlea me, and I had vndoubtedly bene ſlaine had I not by and by crepte into a chamber, where my maiſter intended to lodge that night. Then they cloſed and locked faſt the doores about me, and kept the chamber rounde, til ſuch time as they thought that the peſtilent rage of madnes had killed me, when I was thus ſhutte in the chamber alone, I laide me downe vpon the bedde to ſléepe, conſidering it was long time paſt, ſince I lay and toke my reſte as a man doth, when morninge was come, & that I was well repoſed, I roſe vp luſtely. In y• meane ſeaſon they which watched about the chāber all night reaſoned with them ſelues in this ſorte, verely (ꝙ one) I thinke the Aſſe be dead, ſo thinke I (ꝙ an other) for the outragious poiſō of madnes hath killed him, but being thus in diuers opinions of a poore Aſſe, they looked thorough a creuis, & eſpied me ſtandinge ſtill, ſober & quiet in the middle of the chāber, then thei opened the dores, and came towardes me to proue whether I were gētle or no. Emongſt whome there was one, which in my opinion was ſent from heauen to ſaue my life, that willed the other to ſet a baſen of fayre water before me, & therby thei ſhould know whether I were madde or no, for if I did drinke without feare as I accuſtomed to doo it was a ſigne that I was whole & in mine Aſſy wittes, where contrary if I did fly & abhorre the taſt of the water, it was an euident proufe of my madnes, whiche thing he ſaid y• he had red in auncient & credible bookes, wherupon they toke a baſin of cléere water & preſented it before me, but I, as ſone as I perceaued the holſome water of my life, ranne incontinently & thruſtinge my head into the baſin, drāke as though I had bene greatly a thirſt, then they ſtroked me with their handes, and bowed mine eares, & toke me by the halter to proue my paciēce, but I taking eche thing in good part, diſproued their madde preſumption by my méekenes & gentle behauiour: when I was thus deliuered from this double daūger, the next day I was laded againe with the goddeſſe Siria, & other trumpery, and was brought out into the way with trumpets & cymballes, to begge in the villages, which we paſſed by according to our cuſtome. And after that we had gonne thorough a fewe townes and caſtels, we fortuned to come to a certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitātes there affirmed) vpon the foundation of a famous & auncient Citie. And after that we had turned into the next Inne, we harde of a pretie ieſt committed in the towne there, whiche I would that you ſhould know likewiſe.

¶Of the deceipte of a woman, which made her huſband Coocko[•]le.

Cap. 38.

THere was a man dwelling in y• towne very poore that had nought but that whiche he gotte by the labor & trauell of his handes: his wife was a faire yonge woman, but very laſciuious & giuen to the appetite & deſire of the fleſh: it fortuned on a day that while this poore man was gonne betimes in the morninge to the fielde about his buſines, according as he accuſtomed to doo, his wiues louer ſecretely came into his houſe to haue his pleaſure with her. And ſo it chaunced that during the time that he & ſhe were buſking together, her huſbande ſuſpectinge no ſuche matter, returned home praiſing the chaſt continencie of his wife, in y• he found his doores faſte cloſed, wherfore as his cuſtome was, he wiſtled to declare his cōming home: thē his crafty wife reddy wt preſent ſhiftes caught her louer & couered him vnder a great tubbe ſtāding in a corner: and therwithal ſhe opened the doore, blaming her huſbād in this ſort. Cōmeſt y• home ſo euery day with empty handes? and bringeſt nothing to maintaine our houſe? thou haſt no regard for our profite, neither prouideſt for any meate or drinke, where as I poore wretch doo nothing day and night but occupie my ſelfe with ſpinning, & yet my trauell will ſkarſe finde the candels whiche we ſpende. O how much more happy is my neighbour Daphue, y• eateth and drinketh at her pleaſure, and paſſeth the time with her amorous louers accordinge to her deſire.

What is the matter (ꝙ her huſbād) though our maiſter hath made holyday at the fieldes, yet thinke not but y• I haue made prouiſion for our ſupper, doeſt thou not ſée this tubbe that kéepeth a place here in our houſe in vaine, and doth vs no ſeruice? beholde I haue ſolde it to a good fellow (that is here preſent) for fiue pence, wherfore I pray thée lende me thy hande that I may deliuer him y• tubbe: His wife (hauing inuented a preſent ſhift) laughed on her huſband, ſaying: what marchāt I pray you haue you brought home hither, to fetch away my tubbe for fiue pence, for which I poore woman y• ſitte al day alone in my houſe haue bene proffred ſo often ſeuē: Her huſband being well apaide at her woordes, demaūded what he was that had bought the tubbe: looke (ꝙ ſhe) he is gone vnder to ſée where it be ſound or no, thē her louer which was vnder the tubbe, began to ſtirre & ruſtle him ſelfe, and becauſe his woordes might agrée to the woordes of the woman, he ſaide: Dame will you haue me tell the truth: this tubbe is rottē and krakt as me ſéemeth on euery ſide. And then he turned him ſelfe to her huſband, ſaying: I pray you honeſt man light a candell, y• I may make the tubbe cleane within, to ſée if it be for my purpoſe or no, for I doo not minde to caſte away my money wilfully: He, by & by (being made a very Oxe) lighted a cādle, ſaying: I pray you good brother put not your ſelfe to ſo much paine, lette me make the tubbe cleane and ready for you, wherupon he put of his coate and crept vnder the tubbe to rubbe away the filth from the ſides. In the meane ſeaſon this minion louer caſt his wife on the bottome of the tubbe, and had his pleaſure with her ouer his head, and as he was in the middeſt of his paſtime, he turned his head on this ſide, and that ſide, finding fault with this and with that, til as they had both ended their buſines, when as he deliuered ſeuen pence for the tubbe: and cauſed the good mā him ſelfe to carry it on his backe to his Inne.

¶Howe the Preeſtes of the goddeſſe Syria, were taken and putte in pryſon, and howe Apuleius was ſolde to a Baker.

Cap. 39.

AFter that we had tarried there a fewe daies at the coſte and charges of the whole village, and had gotten muche money by our diuination, and pronoſtication of thinges to come: The Préeſtes of the Goddeſſe Siria inuented a newe meane to picke mens purſes, for they had certayne lottes, whereon writen:^[85] Coniuncti terram proſcindunt boues vt in futurum laeta germinent ſara: that is to ſay: The oxen tied and yoked together: doo plowe the grounde to the intent it may bringe foorth his encreaſe: And by theſe kinde of lottes thei deceaued many of the ſimple ſorte: for if one had demaūded whether he ſhoulde haue a good wife or no, they woulde ſay that his lotte did teſtifie the ſame, that he ſhould be tied and yoked to a good womā, and haue increaſe of children: If one demaūded whether he ſhould by landes and poſſeſſion, they ſaid that he ſhoulde haue much ground that ſhould yéelde his increaſe: If one demaunded whether he ſhoulde haue a good & proſperous voyage, thei ſaid he ſhould haue good ſucceſſe, & it ſhould be for the encreaſe of his profite: If one demaūded whether he ſhould vanquiſh his enemies, & preuaile in purſuite of théeues, they ſaide that his enemies ſhould be tied and yoked to him: and his purſuite after théeues ſhould be proſperous. Thus by the tellinge of fortunes they gathered a great quantitie of money, but when thei were weary with geuing of anſweares, thei draue me away before them the nexte night, thorough a lane whiche was more daungerous and ſtony then the way which we went the night before: for on ye one ſide were Quagmyres & foggy marſhes, on the other ſide were falling trenches and ditches, wherby my legges failed me, in ſuch ſorte that I coulde ſcarſe come to the plaine fielde pathes. And behold by and by a great company of the inhabitantes of the towne, armed with weapons, and on horſebacke ouertoke vs, and incontinently arreſtinge Philebus and his Préeſtes, tied them by the neckes and beate them cruelly, callinge them Théeues and robbers, and after that they had manakled their handes: Showe vs (ꝙ they) the cuppe of Golde, which (vnder the colour of your ſolempne Religion) ye haue taken away, and nowe ye thinke to eſcape in the night without puniſhment for your fact, by and by one came towardes me, and thruſting his hande into the boſome of the Goddeſſe Siria, brought out the cuppe whiche they had ſtole: How be it for all their robbery whiche appeared euident and plaine, they woulde not be confounded nor abaſhed, but ieſtyng & laughinge out the matter, gan ſay: Is it reaſon maiſters that you ſhould thus rigorouſly intreate vs, and threaten for a ſmall trifling cuppe, which the mother of the Goddeſſe determined to giue to her ſiſter for a preſent, howbeit for all their lies and cauillations, they were carried backe to the towne and put in priſon by the inhabitantes, who takinge the cuppe of golde, and the Goddeſſe whiche I bare, did put and conſecrate them emongſt the treaſure of the Temple: the next day I was carried to the markette to be ſolde, and my price was ſet at ſeuen pence, more then Philebus gaue for me. There fortuned to paſſe by a Baker of the next village, who after that he had bought a great deale of corne, bought me likewiſe to carry it home, and when he had well laded me therwith, he draue me thorough a thorny and daungerous way to his bakehouſe, there I ſawe a great companie of horſes that went in the mill day and night grinding of corne, but leaſt I ſhoulde be diſcouraged at the firſt, my mayſter entertayned me well, for the firſte day I did nothinge but fare deintely, how be it ſuche mine eaſe and felicitie did not longe endure: for the next day followynge I was tied to the mill betimes in the morninge with my face couered, to the ende in turninge and windinge ſo often one waie, I ſhoulde not become giddy but kéepe a certayne courſe, but although when I was a man I had ſéene many ſuche horſemilles, and knewe well inough how they ſhoulde be turned, yet feigninge my ſelfe ignorant of ſuche kinde of toyle, I ſtoode ſtill and would not goe, whereby I thought I ſhoulde be taken from the mill as an Aſſe vnapt, and put to ſome other light labour, or elſe to be dryuen into the fieldes to paſture: but my ſubtiltie did me ſmall good, for by and by when the mill ſtoode ſtill, the ſeruauntes came about me, cryinge and beatinge me forwarde, in ſuch ſorte that I could not ſtaye to aduiſe my ſelfe, wherby all the cōpany laughed to ſée ſo ſodaine a chaunge, when a good parte of the day was paſt, that I was not able to endure any lenger, they tooke of my harneſſe, and tied me to the maunger, but although my bones were wery, and that I néeded to refreſh my ſelfe with reſte and prouender, yet I was ſo curious that I did greatly delight to behold the bakers art, in ſo much that I coulde not eate nor drinke while I looked on. O good Lorde what a ſorte of poore ſlaues were there, ſome had their ſkinne blacke and blew: ſome had their backes ſtriped with laſhes, ſome were couered with rugged ſackes, ſome had their members onely hidden: ſome ware ſuche ragged cloutes y• you might perceaue all their naked bodies, ſome were marked and burned in the forehedes with hote yrons, ſome had their heare halfe clipped, ſome had lockes on their legges, ſome were vgly and euill fauored, that thei coulde ſkarſe ſée, their eies & faces were ſo blacke & dimme with ſmoke, like thoſe which fight together in the ſandes, & knowe not where they ſtrike by reaſon of duſte: And ſome had their faces all mealy, but howe ſhoulde I ſpeake of the horſes my compaignions, how they being old & weake, thruſt their heades into the maunger: they had their neckes all wounded and worne away: thei ratled their noſethrilles with a continuall cough, their ſides were bare with their harneſſe and great trauell, their ribbes were broken with beatinge, their hoofes were battred broade with inceſſant labour, and their ſkinne rugged by reaſon of their lanknes: When I ſaw this dreadfull ſight, I greatly begāne to feare, leaſt I ſhould come to the like ſtate: And conſideringe with my ſelfe the good fortune which I was ſometime in when I was a man, I greatly lamēted holding downe my head, and would eate no meate, but I ſawe no comfort or conſolation of my euill fortune, ſauinge that my minde was ſomewhat recreated to heare and vnderſtande what euery man ſaid, for they neyther feared nor doubted my preſence: At that time I remēbred how Homer the diuine authour of auncient Poetry, deſcribed him to be a wiſe man, which had traueled diuers countreis and na[•]iōs, wherfore I gaue great thakes to my Aſſy fourme, in y• by y• meane I had ſéene the experiēce of many thinges, and was become more wiſe (not withſtāding the great miſery and labour which I dayly ſuſteined) but I will tell you a pretie ieſt, which cometh now to my remembraunce, to the intent your eares may be delighted in bearinge the ſame.

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

Cap. 40.

THe Baker whiche bought me was an honeſt and ſober man, but his wife was the moſte peſtilent woman in all the worlde, in ſo much that he endured many miſeries and afflictions with her, ſo that [•] my ſelfe did ſecretely pitie his eſtate, and bewaile his euill fortune: for ſhe had not one faulte alone, but all the miſchiefes that could be deuiſed, ſhe was crabbed, cruell, laſciuious, dronken, obſtinate, niggiſhe, couetous, riotous in filthy expenſes, an ennemie to faithe and chaſtitie, a deſpiſer of all the Goddes whome other did honour, one that affirmed that ſhe had a God by her ſelfe, whereby ſhe deceaued all men, but eſpecially her poore huſbande, one that abandoned her body with continuall whoredome: This miſcheuous queane hated me in ſuche ſorte,^[86] that ſhe commaunded euery day before ſhe was vp, that I ſhould be put in the mill to grinde: and the firſte thinge whiche ſhe woulde doo in the morninge was to ſée me cruelly beaten, and that I ſhoulde grinde when the other beaſtes did féede and take reſte: when I ſawe that I was ſo cruelly handled, ſhe gaue me occaſion to learne her conuerſation and life, for I ſawe oftentime a yonge man, whiche would priuilyg[•]e into her chamber, whoſe face I did greatly deſire to ſée, but I coulde not by reaſon mine eies were couered euery day. And verely if I had bene frée and at libertie I woulde haue diſcouered all her abhomination: ſhe had an olde woman, a bawde, a meſſenger of miſchiefe that dayly haunted to her houſe, and made good chéere with her, to the vtter vndoinge and impoueriſhment of her huſband, but I that was greatly offended with the negligence of Fotis, who made me an Aſſe, in ſtéede of a birde, did yet comfort my ſelf by this onely meane, in that to the miſerable deformitie of my ſhape, I had longe eares, whereby I mighte here all things that was done: On a day I harde the old baude ſay to the Bakers wife: Dame you haue choſen (without my counſell) a yonge man to your louer, who as me ſéemeth is dull, fearfull, without any grace, & daſterdly coucheth at the frowning lookes of your odious huſbande, whereby you haue no delight nor pleaſure with him:^[87] how farre better is the yonge man Phileſiterus, who is comely, beautiful, in the flowre of his youth, liberall, courteous, valiant, and ſtoute againſt the diligent pries and watches of your huſbande, woorthy to embraſe the woorthieſt dames of this countrie, and woorthy to were a crowne of golde, for one parte that he plaide to one that was ielous ouer his wife: Herken how it was, and then iudge the diuerſitie of theſe twoo louers, knowe you one Barbarus a Senator of our towne, whome the vulgar people call likewiſe Scorpion for his ſeueritie of manners. This Barbarus had a gentle woman to his wife, whome he cauſed dayly to be encloſed within his houſe with diligent cuſtody, thē the Bakers wife ſaid I know her very wel, for we two dwelled together in one houſe: Then you know (ꝙ the old woman) the whole tale of Phileſiterus. No verely (ſaide ſhe) but I greatly deſire to know it: therefore I pray you mother tell me the whole ſtory. By and by the olde woman whiche knew well to babble, beganne to tell as followeth.

¶How Barbarus beyng ielous ouer his wife, commaunded that ſhe ſhoulde be kepte cloſe in his howſe, and what happened.

Cap. 41.

YOu ſhall vnderſtād that on a day this Barbarus preparing him ſelfe to ride abroade, and willing to kéepe the chaſtitie of his wife (whom he ſo wel loued) alone to him ſelfe called his man Myrmex (whoſe faith he had tried and proued in many thinges) and ſecretely committed to him the cuſtody of his wife, willinge him that he ſhould threaten, that if any man did but touch her with his finger as he paſſed by, he would not onely put him in pryſon,^[88] and binde him hande and foote, but alſo cauſe him to be put to death, or els to be famiſhed for lacke of ſuſtenaunce, whiche woordes he confirmed by Othe of all the Goddes in heauen, and ſo he departed away: When Barbarus was gone, Myrmex beinge greatly aſtonied at his maiſters threatninges, woulde not ſuffer his miſtris to goe abroade, but as ſhe ſatte all day a ſpinninge, he was ſo carefull that he ſatte by her, when nighte came he wente with her to the baynes, holdinge her by the garment, ſo faithfull he was to fulfill the commaundement of his maiſter: How be it the beautie of this noble Matron coulde not be hidden from the burninge eyes of Phileſiterus, who conſidering her great chaſtitie, and howe ſhe was diligently kepte by Myrmex, thought it impoſſible to haue his purpoſe, yet (endeuoringe by all kinde of meanes to enterpriſe the matter, and remembringe the fragilitie of man,^[89] that might be entiſed and corrupted with money, ſince as by Golde the adamant gates may be opened) on a day when he founde Myrmex alone he diſcouered his loue, deſiring him to ſhow his fauour (otherwiſe he ſhould certainly die) with aſſurance that he néede not to feare when as he might priuily be lette in and out in the night, without knowledge of any perſon. When he thought, with theſe, and other gentle woordes, to allure and pricke forward the obſtinate minde of Myrmex, he ſhowed him glittering golde in his hande, ſaying: that he would giue his miſtris twēty crounes, and him tenne, but Myrmex hearinge theſe woordes was greatly troubled, abhorringe in his minde to cōmitte ſo wicked a miſchiefe: wherfore he ſtopped his eares, & turning his head departed away: howbeit the gliſtering h[•]w of theſe crownes could neuer out of his minde, but being at home he ſéemed to ſée the money before his eies, which was ſo woorthy a pray wherfore poore Myrmex being in diuers opinions could not tell what to doo, for on the one ſide he cōſidered the promiſſe which he made to his maiſter, and the puniſhment whiche ſhould enſue if he did contrary. On the other ſide he thought of the gayne, & the paſſinge pleaſure of the crownes of Golde, in the ende the deſire of the money did more preuaile then the feare of death, for the beautie of the ſlouriſhinge crownes did ſo ſticke in his minde, that where the menaces of his maiſter compelled him to tarry at home, the peſtilent auarice of the Golde egged him out a doores, wherfore putting all ſhame aſide without further delay, he declared the whole matter to his miſtris,^[90] who according to the nature of women, when ſhe harde him ſpeake of ſo great a ſumme, ſhe bounde Chaſtitie in a ſtringe, and gauè authorite to Myrmex to rule her in that caſe. Myrmex ſeing the intent of his miſtreſſe, was very glad, and for great deſier of the golde,^[91] he ran haſtely to Phileſiterus declaring that his miſtreſſe was cōſented to his mind, wherefore he demaunded the gold which he promiſed: Then incōtinentlie Phileſiterus deliuered him tenne crownes: and when night came, Myrmex brought him diſguiſed into his miſtris chamber. About midnight when he and ſhe weare naked together, making ſacrifice vnto the Goddeſſe Venus, beholde, her huſbande (contrary to their expectation) came and knocked at the doore, callinge with a loude voice his ſeruaunt Myrmex: Whoſe longe tariyng, encreaſed the ſuſpitiō of his maiſter, in ſuch ſorte, that he threatned to beate Myrmex cruelly: but he being troubled with feare, and driuen to his latter ſhiftes, excuſed the matter, ſaiynge that he could not finde y• kaie: by reaſon it was ſo dark. In the meane ſeaſon Phileſiterus heatinge the noyſe at the doore, ſlipt on his coate, and priuily ranne out of the chamber. When Myrmex had opened the doore to his maiſter that threatned terribly, and had let him in, he went into the chamber to his wife: In the meane while Myrmex let out Phileſiterus, & barred the doores faſt, and went again to bedde. The next morning,^[92] whē Barbarus awaked, he perceiued twoo vnknowen ſlippers liynge vnder his bedde, whiche Phileſiterus had forgotten when he went away. Then he conceaued a great ſuſpition and ielouſie in his minde, howbeit, he would not diſcouer it to his wife neither to any other perſone, but putting ſecretly the ſlippers in his boſom, commaunded his other ſeruauntes to binde Myrmex incontinently, and to bring him bounde to the Iuſtice after him, thinking verely that by y• meane of the ſlippers he might boult out the matter. It fortuned that while Barbarus went toward the Iuſtice in a furie & rage, and Myrmex faſt bounde, followed him wéeping, not becauſe he was accuſed before his maiſter, but by reaſon he knewe his owne conſcience gilty. Behold, by aduenture Phileſiterus (goinge about earneſt buſines) fortuned to méete with them by the waie, who fearing the matter which he cōmitted the night before, & doubting leaſt it ſhould be knowen, did ſodenly inuente a meane texcuſe Myrmex, for he ran vpō him & beate him about the head with his fiſtes cruelly, ſaiynge: Ah miſchieuous verlet that thou art, and periured knaue. It were a good déede if the Goddeſſe and thy maiſter here, would put the to death, for thou art woorthie to be impriſoned, and to weare out theſe irons, that ſtaleſt my ſlippers awaie when thou wareſt at the baynes yeſter night. Barbarus hearing theſe woordes, returned incōtinently home, & called his ſeruaunt Myrmex, cōmaūding him to deliuer y• ſlippers againe to y• right owner.

The old woman had ſcars finiſhed her tale, whē the Bakers wife gan ſaie: Verely ſhe is bleſſed & moſt bleſſed, that hath the fruition of ſo worthie a louer, but as for me poore miſer, I am fallen into y• handes of a coward, who is not onlie aferde of my huſbande, but alſo of euery clap of the mill, and dares doo nothing before the blinde face of yonder ſcabbed Aſſe. Then the old womā anſwered, I promiſe you certeinly, if you will, you ſhal haue this yong man at your pleaſure, and therewithall when night came,^[93] ſhe departed out of her chamber. In the meane ſeaſon, the Bakers wife made ready a ſupper with abundance of wyne, & exquiſite fare: So that there lacked nothing but the cōming of the yong man: For her huſbād ſupped at one of her neighbours houſe. When time came that my harneſſe ſhould be taken of & that I ſhould reſt my ſelf, I was not ſo ioyful of my libertie, as whē y• vaile was takē frō mine eies, I ſhould ſée all y• abhominatiō of this miſchieuous queane. Whē night was come & the Sunne gone downe, behold y• old Baude & the yong mā, who ſéemed to me but a child, by reaſon he had no bearde, came to y• doore: Thē y• Bakers wife kiſſed him a thouſand times, & receiuing him curteouſly, placed him down at the table: but he had ſcarce eaten the firſt morſell, when y• good man (cōtrary to his wifes expectation) returned home, for ſhe thought he would not haue come ſo ſone: But lorde how ſhe curſed him, praiyng God y• he might breake his neck at y• firſt entry in. In the meane ſeaſon, ſhe caught her louer and thruſt him into y• bynne where ſhe boulted her flowre, and diſſimuling the matter, finely came to her huſbād, demaunding why he came home ſo ſoone. I could not abide (ꝙ he) to ſée ſo great a miſchiefe & wicked fact which my neighbours wife committed, but I muſt runne away: Oh harlot as ſhe is, how ſhe hath diſhonoured her huſbande. I ſweare by this Goddeſſe Ceres, that if I had not ſéene it with mine eies, I woulde neuer haue beleued it. His wife deſirous to knowe the matter, deſired him to tell what ſhe had doone: Then he accorded to the requeſt of his wife,^[94] and ignoraunt of the ſtate of his owne houſe, declared the miſchaunce of an other. You ſhall vnderſtande (ꝙ he) that the wyfe of the Fuller my compaignion, who ſéemed to be a wyſe and chaſt woman, regardinge her owne honeſtie, and the profite of her houſe, was ſound this night with her knaue. For whyle we wente to waſhe our handes, he and ſhee weare togeather: Who beynge troubled by our preſence ranne into a corner, where ſhe thruſt him into a mew made with twigges, apointed to laie on clothes to make them white with the ſmooke and fume of brimſtone. Then ſhe ſat downe with vs at the table to colour the matter: In the meane ſeaſon the yong man couered in the mewe, could not forbeare ſnyſing, by reaſon of the ſmooke of the brymſtone. The good man thinking it had bene his wife that ſnyſed, cried Chriſt help: But when he ſnyſed more and more, he ſuſpected the matter, and willinge to knowe who it was, roſe from the table, and went to the mewe where he founde the yong man well nte dead with ſmooke. When he vnderſtoode the whole matter, he was ſo inflamed with anger, that he called for a ſwoorde to kil him: and vndoubtedly he had killed him, had not I reſtrained his violēt handes from his purpoſe, aſſuring him that his enemy would die with the force of the brymſtone without the harme which he ſhould doo: Howbeit, my woords would not appeaſe his furie, but as neceſſitée required, we tooke the yonge man well nie chooked, & carried him out at the doores. In the meane ſeaſon, I coūſeled his wife to abſent her ſelfe at her neighbours houſes, til the coler of her huſbande was pacified, leaſt he ſhould be moued againſt her, as he was againſt the yong man. And ſo being wery of their ſupper, I foorthwith returned home.^[95] When the Baker had tolde this tale, his impudent wyfe began to curſe and abhorre the wife of the Fuller, and generally all other wiues which habandō their bodies with any other then with their owne huſbandes, breaking the faith & bonde of mariage, wherby ſhe ſaide they were woorthy to be burned aliue: But knowing her owne gilty conſcience and proper whordom, leaſt her louer ſhould be hurt, liyng in the bynne, ſhe willed her huſbande to goe to bedde, but he hauing eatē nothing, ſaid that he would ſuppe before he went to reſt: wherfore ſhe was compelled maugre her eyen, to ſette ſuche thinges on the table as ſhe had prepared for her louer. But I, conſidering the great miſchiefe of this wicked queane, deuiſed with my ſelf how I might reueale the matter to my maiſter, and by kicking away the couer of the binne (where like a ſnaile the yonge mā was couched) to make her whoredome apparant and knowē, at length I was aided by y• prouidence of God, for there was an olde man to whome the cuſtodie of vs was committed, that draue me poore Aſſe, and the other horſes the ſame time to the water to drinke, then had I good occaſion miniſtred to reuenge the iniurie of my maſter, for as I paſſed by I perceaued the fingers of the yonge man vpon the ſide of the binne, and liftinge vp my héeles I ſpurned of the fleſhe with the force of my hoofes, whereby he was compelled to crie out, and to throwe downe the binne on the groūd,^[96] & ſo the whoredome of the Bakers wife was knowen and reuealed. The Baker ſeing this, was litle moued at the diſhoneſtie of his wife, but he toke the yonge man tremblinge for feare by the hande, & with cold and curteiſe woordes ſpake in this ſorte: Feare not my ſonne nor thinke that I am ſo barbarous or cruell perſon, that I would ſti[••]e thée vp with the ſmoke of Sulphur, as our neighbour accuſtometh, nor I wil not puniſh thée according to the rigor of the lawe Iulia, whiche cōmaundeth that adulterers ſhould be put to death: No no, I wil not execute my crueltie againſt ſo fayre and comely a yonge mā as you be, but we wil deuide our pleaſure betwéene vs, by liynge all thrée in one bedde, to the ende there may be no debate nor diſſentiō betwéene vs, but that either of vs may be cōtented, for I haue alwaies liued with my his necke appeared to her in the night, declaringe the whole circumſtance of his death, and how by inchauntment he was deſcended to hell, whiche cauſed her to thinke that her father was dead. After that ſhe had lamented a good ſpace, & was ſomewhat comforted by the ſeruauntes of the houſe, and when nine daies were expired, as inheritrix to her father, ſhe ſolde away all the ſubſtance of the houſe, whereby the goodes chaunſed into diuers mens handes.

¶How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was ſolde to a Gardiner, and what dreadfull thinges happened.

Cap. 42.

THere was a poore gardiner emongſt ye reſt, which bought me for the ſumme of fiftie pence, whiche ſéemed to him a great price, but he thought to gaine it againe by the continuall trauell of my bodie: The matter requireth to tell likewiſe, how I was hādled in his ſeruice. This gardiner accuſtomed to driue me euery morning laded wt herbes to the next village, & when he had ſolde his herbes, he would mount vpon my backe and returne to the gardein, & while he digged the grounde, and watred the herbes, and wente about other buſines, I did nothing but repoſe my ſelfe with great eaſe, but when winter approched, with ſharpe haile, raine, and froſtes, and I ſtanding alwaies vnder a hedge ſide, was welnie killed vp with colde, and my maiſter was ſo poore that he had no lodginge for him ſelfe, much leſſe he had any litter or place to couer me withal, for he him ſelf alwaies lay vnder a litle roofe, ſhadowed and couered with bowes. In the morninge when I roſe, I founde my hoofes ſhriueled together with colde, & vnable to paſſe vpon the ſharpe yſe, & froſtie myre, neither could I fill my belly with meate as I accuſtomed to doo, for my maiſter & I ſupped together and had both one fare: Howbeit it was very ſlēder ſince as we had nothing els ſauinge old and vnſauory ſallets, which were ſuffred to grow for ſéede, like long broomes, and that had loſte all their ſwéete ſape & iuice.^[97] It fortuned on a day that an honeſt mā of the next village was benighted, and conſtrained by reaſon of the raine to lodge (very lagged and wery) in our garden, where although he was but meanly receaued, yet it ſerued wel inough conſidering time & neceſſitie. This honeſt man to recōpenſe our entertainment, promiſed to giue my maſter ſome corne, oile, & two bottels of wine: wherefore my maiſter not delaiyng the matter, laded me with ſackes & bottels, and rode to the towne which was ſeuen miles of, when we came to the honeſt mans houſe, he entertained & feaſted my maiſter excéedingly, and it fortuned while they eate and dranke together, as ſigne of great amitie there chaunſed a ſtraūge and dreadfull caſe:^[98] for there was a henne which ranne kacklinge about the yarde, as though ſhe woulde haue laide an egge: The goodman of the houſe perceauinge her, ſaide: O good and profitable pullet that féedeſt vs euery day with thy fruicte, thou ſéemeſt as though thou wouldeſt giue vs ſome pittance for our dinner; Ho boy put the pannier in the corner that the henne may lay. Then the boye did as his maiſter commaunded, but the henne forſakinge the pannier came towardes her maiſter, and laid at his féete not an egge whiche euery man knoweth, but a chickin with feathers, clawes and eyes, whiche incontinently ranne péepinge after his dame.^[99] By and by, happened a more ſtraunge thinge whiche would cauſe any man to abhorre, vnder the table where they ſatte the grounde opened, & there appeared a great well and fountaine of bloudde, in ſo much that the droppes thereof ſprinkled about the table: At the ſame time while they wōdred at this dreadfull ſight, one of the ſeruauntes came runninge out of the ſeller, and tolde that all the wine was boiled out of the veſſelles, as though there had bene ſome great fire vnder: By and by a Weſell was ſéene that drewe into the houſe a dead Serpent, and out of the mouth of a ſhéepeherdes dogge leaped a liue frogge, and immediatly after one brought woorde that a Ramme had ſtrangled the ſame dogge with one bitte: All theſe thinges that happened aſtonied the good man of the houſe, and the reſidewe that were preſent, in ſo muche they could not tell what to doo, or with what ſacrafice to appeaſe the anger of the Goddes. While euery man was thus ſtriken in feare: beholde one brought woorde to the goodman of the houſe,^[100] that his thrée ſonnes who had bene brought vp in good litrature, and endewed with good manners were dead, for they thrée had great acquaintance and auncient amitie with a poore man, which was their neighbour and dwelled harde by thē. And nexte vnto him dwelled an other yonge man verie riche bothe in landes and goodes, but bendyng from the race of his progenies diſſentions, and rulinge him ſelfe in the towne accordinge to his owne will. This yonge royſter did mortally hate this poore man, in ſo muche that he woulde kill his ſhéepe, ſteale his Oxen,^[101] and ſpoyle his corne and other fruictes, before the time of ripenes, yet was he not contented with this, but he woulde encroche vppon the poore mans grounde and clayme all his heritage as his owne: The poore man whiche was very ſimple and fearfull, ſéeinge all his goodes taken awaye by the auarice of the riche, called together and aſſembled many of his fréendes to ſhowe them the metes and boundes of his lande, to the ende he might haue but ſo muche grounde of his fathers heritage as mighte burie him. Emongeſt whome he founde theſe thrée bretherne as fréendes to helpe and ayde him in his aduerſitie and tribulation: How be it the preſence of theſe honeſt Citizins, coulde in no wiſe perſwade him to leaue his extorte power, no nor yet to cauſe any temperaunce of his tongue, but the more they wente aboute with gentle woordes to tell him his faultes, the more woulde he frette and fume, ſwearinge all the Othes vnder God, that he litle regarded the preſence of the whole Citie, whereupon incontinently he commaunded his ſeruantes to take the poore manne by the eares, and carrie him out of his grounde, whiche greatly offended all the ſtanders by: Then one of the brethern ſpake vnto him ſomewhat boldely, ſayinge: It is but a foly to haue ſuche affiance in your richeſſe, whereby you ſhould vſe your tirannie againſte the poore,^[102] when as the lawe is common for all men, and a redreſſe may be had to ſuppreſſe your inſolence.

Theſe woordes chaſed him more then the burninge oyle, or flaming brimſtone, or ſcourge of whippes, ſaiyng: y• they ſhould be al hanged & their lawes too, before he would be ſubiect to any perſon: and therewithall he called out his bandogges, & great maſtiffes, whiche accuſtomed to eate the karrein & karkeis of dead beaſtes in the fieldes, and to ſette vpon ſuche as pāſſed by the way, then he cōmaunded they ſhould be put vpō all the aſſiſtaunce to teare them in pieces, who aſſone as they harde the hiſſe of their maiſters, ranne fiercely vppon them, inuading them on euery ſide, in ſo much that the more they flied to eſcape away, the more cruell and terrible were the dogges. It fortuned emongeſt all this fearfull companie, that in running, the yongeſt of the thrée brethren, ſtumbled at a ſtone, and fell downe to the grounde: Then the dogges came vpon him and tare him in pieces with their teethe, whereby he was compelled to crie out for ſuccour: His other twoo brethren hearing his lamentable voice, ranne towardes him to helpe him, caſting their clokes about their left armes, tooke vp ſtones to chaſe away the dogges, but all was in vaine, for they might ſée their brother diſmembred in euerie part of his body: Who liyng at the very point of death, deſired his brethren to reuenge his death againſt the cruell tyrant: And therewithall he gaue vp the ghoſt. The other twoo brethern perceiuing ſo great a murder, and neglecting their owne liues, like deſperat perſons dreſſed them ſelues againſt the tyrant, and threw a great nomber of ſtones at him, but the bloudy thiefe exerciſed to ſuch & like miſchiefes, tooke a ſpeare & thruſt him cleane thorough the bodie: Howbeit he fell not downe to the grounde. For the ſpeare that came out at his backe ranne into the yearth and ſuſtained him vp, by and by came one of this Tirantes ſeruaūts the moſt ſturdieſt of the reſt to helpe his maiſter, who at his firſt coming, toke vp a ſtone, & threw at the third brother, but by reaſon the ſtone ranne alonge his arme it did not hurt him, whiche chaunſed otherwiſe then all mens expectation was, by and by the yonge man feigning that his arme was greatly wounded, ſpake theſe woordes vnto the cruel bloudſucker: Now maiſt thou, [•]hou wretche triumphe vpon the deſtruction of all our family, nowe haſte thou fedde thy inſatiable crueltie with the bloud of thrée brethern, nowe maiſte thou reioyſe at the fall of vs Citizins, yet thinke not but that howe farre ſo euer thou doeſt remoue and extende the boundes of thy lande, thou ſhalt haue ſome neighbour, but howe greatly am I ſory in that I haue loſte mine arme wher withall I minded to cut of thy head, when he had ſpoken theſe woordes: The furious thiefe drewe out his dagger, & running vpon the yong man thought verely to haue ſlaine him, but it chaunſed otherwiſe: For the yonge man reſiſted him ſtoutly, & in bucklinge together by violēce wreſted the dagger out of his hād: whiche done, he killed the riche thiefe with his owne weapon,^[103] and to the intent the yonge man would eſcape the handes of the ſeruauntes, whiche came runninge to aſſiſte their maiſter, with the ſame dagger he cutte his owne throate. Theſe thinges were ſignified by the ſtraunge and dreadful wonders which fortuned in the houſe of the good man, who after he had harde theſe ſorowfull tidinges coulde in no wiſe wéepe, ſo farre was he ſtroken with dolor, but preſently takinge his knife wherewith he cutte his cheéſe and other meate before, he cutte his owne throate like wiſe, in ſuche ſorte that he fell vpon the borde and embrued the table with the ſtreames of his bloud in moſt miſerable manner: Hereby was my maiſter the gardiner depriued of his hope, and paying for his dinner the watry teares of his eies, mounted vpon my backe, and ſo we wente homewarde the ſame way as we came.

¶How Apueeius was founde by his ſhadow.

Cap. 43.

AS we paſſed by the way we mette with a tale ſouldiour (for ſo his habite and countenaunce declared) who with proude and arrogant woordes, ſpake to my maiſter in this ſorte: Quorium vacuum ducis à ſuum? My maiſter ſomwhat aſtonied at the ſtraunge ſightes which he ſaw before, and ignorant of the latine tongue rode on & ſpake neuer a woorde: The ſouldiour vnable to refraine his inſolence & offended at his ſilence, ſtrake him on the ſhoulders as he ſatte vpon my backe, then my maiſter gently made anſweare that he vnderſtoode not what he ſaide, whereat the Souldiour angerly demaunded againe whither he rode with his Aſſe: Mary (ꝙ he) to the nexte Citie: but I (ꝙ the Souldiour) haue néede of his helpe, to carry the truſſes of our Capitayne from yender Caſtell, and therewithall he toke me by the halter, and woulde violently haue taken me away: but my maiſter wipinge away the bloudde of the blowe which he receaued of the Souldiour, deſired him gentely and cinily to take ſome pitie vppon him, and to lette him departe with his owne, ſwearyng and affirminge that his ſlowe. Aſſe, we[•]nie dead with ſicknes, coulde ſkarſe carry a fewe handfulles of herbes to the nexte towne, much leſſe he was able to beare any greater truſſes: but when he ſaw the Souldiour would in no wiſe be entreated, but ready with his ſtaffe to cleaue my maiſters head, my maiſter fell downe at his [•]éete, vnder colour to moue him to ſome pitie, but when he ſawe his time, he tooke the Souldiour by the legges and caſte him vppon the grounde: Then he buffeted him, thumped him, bitte him, and toke a ſtone and beate his face and his ſides, that he could not turn[•] or defende him ſelfe, but onely threaten that if euer he roſe he woulde choppe him in pieces. The Gardener when he harde him ſay ſo, drewe out his iauelin which he had by his ſide, and when he had throwen it away, he knockt and beatte him more cruelly then he did before, in ſo muche that the Souldiour coulde not tell by what meanes to ſaue him ſelfe, but by feigninge that he was dead. Then my maiſter toke the iauelin and mounted vppon my backe, ridinge in all haſte to the nexte village, hauinge no regarde to goe to his garden, and when he came thither, he turned into one of his fréendes houſe and declared all the whole matter, deſiringe him to ſaue his life, and to hide him ſelfe and his Aſſe in ſome ſecrete place,^[104] vntill ſuche time as all daunger were paſte. Then his fréende not forgettinge the auncient amitie betwéene them, entertained him willingly, and drewe me vp a payre of ſteares into a chāber, my maiſter crept into a cheſt & lay hidden there with the couer cloſed faſte: The Souldiour (as I afterwardes learned) roſe vp as one awaked from a dronken ſléepe, but he coulde ſkarſe goe by reaſon of his woūdes: how be it at length by litle and litle thorough ayde of his ſtaffe he came to the towne, but he woulde not declare the matter to any perſon, nor complaine to any iuſtice, leaſt he ſhould be accuſed of cowardiſe or daſterdnes, yet in the ende he tolde ſome of his cōpaignions of all the matter that happened, then they toke him, & cauſed him to be cloſed in ſome ſecret place, thinkinge that beſide the iniury whiche he had receaued, he ſhould be accuſed of y• breche of his faith, by reaſon of y• loſſe of his ſpeare, & when they had learned y• ſignes of my maſter, thei wēt to ſearch him out: at laſt ther was an vnfaithful neighbour y• tolde them where we were, then incōtinently the Souldiours went to the Iuſtice, declaringe that they had loſt by the way a ſiluer goblet of their Capitaines, and that a gardener had found it, who refuſing to redeleuer y• goblet, was hiddē in one of his fréendes houſe: by and by the Magiſtrates vnderſtandinge the loſſe of the Capitaine, came to the doores where we were, and commaunded our Oſte to deliuer my maiſter vpon paine of death: Howbeit theſe threatninges coulde not enforce him to confeſſe that he was within his doores, but by reaſon of his faithfull promiſe, and for the ſaluegarde of his friende: he ſaid, that he ſawe not the gardener a great while, neither knew where he was: the ſouldiours ſaide contrary, whereby to know the verity of the mater, the Magiſtrates commaunded their Sergeantes and miniſters to ſearche euery corner of the houſe, but when they coulde finde neither gardi[•]er nor Aſſe: There was a great contention betwéene the Souldiours and our Oſte, for they ſaide we weare within the houſe: and he ſaide no, but I that was very curious to know the matter, when I harde ſo great a noyes, put my head out of the window to learne what the ſtirre and tumulte did ſignifie. It fortuned that one of the ſouldiours perceaued my ſhadowe, whereupon he beganne to crie, ſaying: that he had certainly ſéene me, then they were all gladde and came vp into the chamber and pulled me downe like a priſoner, when they had founde me they doubted nothinge of the Gardiner, but ſéekinge about more narrowly, at length they founde him couched in a cheſte. And ſo they brought out the poore Gardiner to the Iuſtices, who was committed immediatly to pryſon, but they could neuer forbeare laughing from the time they founde me by my ſhadow, whereof is riſen a common prouerbe: The ſhadowe of the Aſſe.

The tenth Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶Howe the Souldiour draue Apuleius away, and how he came to a Capitaines houſe: And what happened there.

Cap. 44.

THe nexte daie howe my maiſter the Gardiner ſpedde. I knewe not, but the gentle Souldiour, who was well beaten for his cowardiſe, ledde me to his lodging without the contradictiō of any man: Where he laded me wel, and garniſhed my bodie (as ſéemed to me) like an Aſſe of armes. For on the one ſide I bare a helmet that ſhined excedingly: On the other ſide a tergat that gliſtered more a thouſand folde. And on the toppe of my burthen, he had put a longe ſpeare, whiche thinges he placed thus gallantlie, not becauſe he was ſo expert in warre, (for the Gardiner proued contrary) but to thende he might feare thoſe whiche paſſed by, when they ſawe ſuch a ſimilitude of warre. When we had gone a good part of our iourney, ouer the plain and eaſie fieldes, we fortuned to come to a little towne, where we lodged at a certaine Capitaines houſe. And there the Souldiour tooke me to one of the ſeruauntes, while he him ſelfe went towarde his Capitaine: Who had the charge of a thouſand men. And when we had remained there a fewe daies, I vnderſtode of a wicked and miſcheuous facte committed there,^[105] whiche I haue put in wrytinge, to the[•]de you may knowe the ſame.

The maiſter of the houſe had a ſonne inſtructed in good litrature, and ende[••]ed with vertuous manners, ſuch a one as you would deſire to haue the like, longe time before his mother died. And thē his father maried a newe wife, and had an other childe of the age of .xij. yéeres. This ſtepdame was more excellent in beantie then honeſtie: For ſhe loued this yonge man her ſonne in lawe, either becauſe ſhe was vnchaſt by nature, or becauſe ſhe was enforced by fate of ſtepmother, to cōmit ſo great a miſchiefe. Gentle Reader, thou ſhalt not reade of a fable, but rather a tragedy: This womā whē her loue began firſt to kindle in her hart, coulde eaſely reſiſt her deſire and inordinate appetite, by reaſon of ſhame and feare, leſt her intent ſhould be knowē: But, after that it compaſſed and burned euerie parte of her breſt,^[106] ſhe was cōpelled to yelde vnto the raginge flame of Cupid, and vnder colour of the diſeaſe and infirmiti[•] of her body, to conceale the wound of her reſtles mind. Euery man knoweth well the ſignes & tokens of loue, & the maladie conuenient to the ſame: Her countenance was pale, her eies ſorrowfull, her knées weake, & there was no comfort in her, but continuall wéepinge & ſobbing, in ſo much you would haue thought that ſhe had ſome ſpice of an ague, ſauing that ſhe wepte vnmeaſurably. The Phiſitions knewe not her diſeaſe, whē they felt the beating of her vaines, the intemperance of her beat, the ſobbing ſighes, and her often toſſing on euery ſide: No, no, the conning Phiſitions knewe it not, but a ſcholler of Venus court might eaſely cōiect the whole. After that ſhe had bene long time tormented in her affection, and was no more able to conceale her ardent de[••]er, ſhe cauſed her ſonne to be called for (which woord Sonne, ſhe would faine put awaye, if it weare not for ſhame): Then he nothing diſobedient to the commaundement of his mother, with a ſadde and modeſt countenance, came into the chamber of his Stepdame, the mother of his brother: but ſhe ſpeaking neuer a woord, was in great doubt what ſhe might doo, and coulde not tell what to ſaie firſt, by reaſon of ſhame. This yonge man ſuſpectinge no ill, with humble curteſie demaunded the cauſe of her preſent diſeaſe. Then ſhe hauinge founde an occaſion to vtter her wicked intente, with wéepinge eyes and couered face, beganne bouldly to ſpeake vnto him in this manner. Thou, thou, art the original cauſe of my preſent dolour: Thou art my comfort and onely health, for thoſe thy comly eyes, are ſo faſtened within my breſte, that vnleſſe thou ſuccour[•] me, I ſhall certainly die: Haue pitie therfore vpon me, be not the occaſion of my deſtruction, neither lette thy conſcience reclaime to offend thy father, when as thou ſhalt ſaue the life of thy mother. Moreouer, ſince as thou doeſt reſemble thy fathers ſhape in euerie point, it geueth me cauſe the more to fancie thée: Nowe is miniſtred vnto thée tyme and place: Nowe haſte thou occaſion to woorke thy will, ſéeing that we are alone. And it is a common ſaiyng:

Neuer knowen, neuer done.

This yong man troubled in his mynde, at ſo ſodein an ill, although he abhorred to cōmit ſo great a crime, yet he would not caſt her of with a preſent deniall, but warely pacified her mynde with delaie of promiſſe. Wherfore he promiſed her to doo all accordinge to her defier: And in the meane ſeaſon, he willed his mother to be of good chere, and comforte her ſelfe, till as he might finde ſome conuenient tyme to come vnto her, when his father was ridden foorth: Wherwithal he got him away, frō the peſtilent ſight of his Stepdame. And knowing that this matter touching the ru[•]ue of all the [〈1 page duplicate〉] [〈1 page duplicate〉] whole houſe, néeded the counſell of wyſe and graue perſones, he went incontinently to a ſage old man, and declared the whole circumſtāce of the matter.^[107] The old man after long deliberatiō, thought there was no better meane to auoide y• ſtorme of cruell fortune to come, then to runne awaye. In the meane ſeaſon this wicked woman impacient of her loue, and the lōg delaie of her ſonne, egged her huſbande to ride abroade into farre countries. And then ſhe aſked the yong man the accompliſhment of his promiſſe, but he to deliuer him ſelfe, entierly from her hādes, would finde alwaies excuſes, till in the ende, ſhe vnderſtode by the meſſengers that came in and out, that he nothing regarded her. Then the, by howe muche ſhe loued him before, by ſo much & more ſhe hated him nowe. And by and by, ſhe called one of her ſeruauntes, ready to all miſchiefes: To whome ſhe declared all her ſecretes. And there it was concluded betwenè them twoo, that the ſureſt waye was to kill the yong man: Whereupon this Verlet went incōtinentlie to buie poiſon, which he mingled with wine, to the intent he would giue it the yong man to drinke, and thereby preſently to kill him. But while they were in deliberation howe they might offer it vnto him. Beholde, here happened a ſtraunge aduenture. For the yonge ſonne of the woman that came from ſchole at noone (being very thirſty) tooke the potte wherein the poyſon was mingled, and ignorāt of the hidden venym dranke a good draught thereof, whiche was prepared to kill his brother:^[108] Whereby he preſently fell downe to y• groūd dead. His ſcholemaiſter ſeing this ſodain chaūce called his mother, and all the ſeruauntes of the houſe with a loude voyce. Incontinently euerie man declared his opinion, touching the death of the childe: But the cruell woman, the onely example of ſtepmothers malice was nothinge moued by the bitter death of her ſonne, or by her owne conſcience of parracide, or by the miſfortune of her houſe, or by the dolor of her huſbande but rather deuiſed the deſtruction of all her family. For by and by ſhe ſent a meſſanger after her huſband to tell him the great miſfortune which happened after his departure. And when he came home the wicked woman declared that his ſonne had empoiſened his brother, becauſe he would not conſent to his will, and tolde him diuers other leſinges, adding in y• ende that he threatned to kill her likewiſe, becauſe ſhe diſcouered the fact: Then the vnhappy father was ſtroken with double dolor of the death of his twoo children, for on the one ſide he ſawe his yonger ſonne ſlaine before his eyes, on the other ſide he ſéemed to ſée y• elder condēned to die for his offence: Againe where he behelde his wife lamente in ſuch ſorte, it gaue him farther occaſiō to hate his ſonne more deadly, but the funeralles of his yonger ſonne were ſkarſe finiſhed, when the olde mā the father with wéeping eyes euen at the returne from the graue, wēt to the Iuſtice and accuſed his ſonne of the ſlaughter of his brother, & how he threatned to ſlea his wife, wherby the rather at his weping and great lamentation, he moued all the Magiſtrates & people to pitie, in ſo much that without any delay, or further inquiſitiō they cried all that he ſhould be ſtonied to death, but the Iuſtices fearinge a farther inconuenience: to ariſe by a particular vengeance,^[109] and to the ende there might fortune no ſedition emongſt the people, praied the Decurious and other officers of the Citie, that they might procéede by examination of witneſſes, and with order of Iuſtice accordinge to the auncient cuſtome, before the giuing of any haſtie ſentence, or iudgement without hearinge of the cōtrary part, like as the barbarous & cruell Tirāts accuſtome to vſe. Otherwiſe they ſhould giue an ill example to their ſucceſſors, this opiniō pleaſed euery mā, wherfore the Senators & counſelours were called, who being placed in order accordinge to their dignitie, cauſed the accuſer & defender to be brought foorth, & by the example of the Atheman law, and iudgement martial, their aduocates were commauned to plead their cauſes briefly, without preambles or motions of the people to pitie,^[110] whiche were to longe a proceſſe: And if you demaunde how I vnderſtoode al this matter, you ſhal vnderſtand y• I hard many declare the ſame, but to recite what woordes y• accuſer vſed in his inuectiue, what anſweare the defendour made, the orations & pleadinges of ech partie: verely I am not able to doo, for I was faſt bounde at the maunger, but as I learned & knew by others, I will God willing declare vnto you: So it was ordred y• after the pleadinges of both ſides was ended, thei thought beſt to trie & boulte out the veritie by witneſſes, all preſumptions & likelyhoodes ſet a parte, & to cal in the ſeruant, who onely was reported to know al the matter, by & by the ſeruaunt came in, who nothing abaſhed at y• feare of ſo great a iudgemēt, or at the preſence of y• Iudges, or at his own giltie cōſcience, which he, ſo finely feigned but with a bold coūtenance preſented him ſelf before the Iuſtices, & confirmed the accuſation againſt the yonge man, ſaying: O ye Iudges, on a day whē this yonge mā lothed & hated his Stepmother he called me, deſiring me to poiſon his brother, wherby he might reuenge him ſelfe, & If I would doo it, & kéepe y• matter ſecrete, he promiſed to giue me a good reward for my paines, but when the yonge man perceaued y• I would not accorde to his will, he threatned to ſlea me: wherupō he went him ſelfe & bought poiſon, & after tēpred it with wine, & then gaue it me to giue to y• childe, which when I refuſed, he offred it to his brother wt his owne hādes. When the verlet with a trēbling countenaunce had ended theſe woordes, which ſeemed a likelyhoode of truth, the iudgement was ended: neither was there foūd any Iudge or Counſelour ſo mercyful to the yong mā accuſed as would not iudge him culpable, but y• he ſhould be put & ſowen in a ſkinne, with a dogge, a cocke, a ſnake, & an Ape, accordinge to the lawe againſt parracides:^[111] wherfore there wanted nothing, but (as the aūcient cuſtome was) to put white ſtones & blacke, into a potte, and to take them out againe, to ſée whether the yonge man accuſed ſhould be acquited by iudgement or condēned, whiche was a thing irreuocable. In y• meane ſeaſon he was deliuered to y• handes of the executioner. But there aroſe a ſage & ancient Phiſitian, a mā of good conſciēce & credite thorough out all the Citie, y• ſtopped the mouth of y• potte wherin y• ſtones were caſt, ſaiyng: I am right gladde ye reuerende Iudges, y• I am a mā of name & eſtimation emongſt you, wherby I am accompted ſuch a one as will not ſuffer any perſon to be put to death by falſe & vntrue accuſations, conſideringe there hath bene no homicide or murder committed by this yonge man in this caſe,^[112] neither you (beinge ſworne to iudge vprightly) to be miſinformed & abuſed by inuented lies & tales: For I cānot but declare & open my conſcience, leaſt I ſhould be founde to beare ſmall honour & faith to the Goddes: wherefore I pray you giue eare, and I will ſhowe you the whole truth of the matter: you ſhal vnderſtand y• this ſeruant which hath merited to be hāged, came one of theſe daies to ſpeake with me, promiſing to giue me a hūdred crounes, if I would giue him a preſent poyſon, whiche would cauſe a man to die ſodenly, ſaying: that he would haue it for one that was ſicke of an incurable diſeaſe, to the ende he might be deliuered from all his torment, but I ſmelling his crafty and ſubtill fetche, and fearinge leaſt he would worke ſome miſchiefe withall, gaue him a drinke: but to the intent I might cléere my ſelfe from al daunger y• might happen, I would not preſently take the money, which he offred: but leaſt any one of the crownes ſhould lacke weight or be foūd coūtrefaite, I willed him to ſeale the purſe wherein they were put with his manuell ſigne, wherby the next day we might goe together to y• goldſmithe to trie them, which he did, wherfore vnderſtanding that he was brought preſent before you this day, I haſtely cōmaunded one of my ſeruantes to fetche the purſe which he had ſealed, & here I bring it vnto you to ſée whether he will denie his owne ſigne or no:and you may eaſely coniect that his woordes are vntrue, whiche he alleaged againſt the yong man touching the biynge of the poyſon, conſideringe he bought the poyſon him ſelfe. Whē the Phiſitian had ſpoken theſe woordes you might perceaue how the trayterous knaue chaunged his colour, how he ſwette for feare, how he trembled in euery part of his bodie:^[113] And how he ſet one legge vpon an other, ſcratchyng his head, and grindinge his téeth, wherby there was no perſon but would iudge him culpable. In the ende when he was ſomewhat returned to his former ſubtiltie, he beganne to denie all that was ſaide, and ſtoutely affirmed that the Phiſitian did lie. But the Phiſitian perceauinge that he was rayled at and his woordes denied, did neuer ceaſe to confirme his ſaiynges and to diſproue the verlet, til ſuch time as the officers by the commaundement of the Iudges, bound his handes and brought out the ſeale, wherwith he had ſealed the purſe, which augmented the ſuſpition which was conceaued of him firſt. Howbeit neither the feare of the whele or any other torment (according to the vſe of the Grecians) whiche weare ready prepared, no nor yet the fire coulde enforce him to confeſſe the matter, ſo obſtinate and grounded was he in his miſchieuous minde, but the Phiſitian perceauing that the menaces of thoſe tormentes did nothing preuaile, gan ſay: I cānot ſuffer or abide that this yong man who is innocēt, ſhould againſt all lawe and conſcience be puniſhed and condemned to die, & the other whiche is culpable ſhould eſcape ſo eaſely, and after mocke & floute at your iudgement: For I will giue you an euident proufe and argument of this preſent crime, you ſhall vnderſtande that when this caytife demaunded of me a preſent and ſtronge poyſon, conſideringe that it was not my parte to giue occaſion of any others death,^[114] but rather to cure & ſaue ſicke perſons by meane of medicines: And on the other ſide, fearinge leaſt if I ſhould denie his requeſt I might miniſter a further cauſe of his miſchiefe, eyther that he would bie poyſon of ſome other, or els returne and woorke his wicked intent with a ſwoorde or ſome daungerous weapō, I gaue him no poiſon but a doling drinke of Mandragora, which is of ſuch force that it wil cauſe any man to ſléepe as though he weare dead: Neither is it any meruell if this moſte deſperate man, who is certainely aſſured to be put to death, ordained by an auncient cuſtome, can ſuffer or abide theſe facill & eaſie tormentes: but if it be ſo that the childe hath receaued the drinke as I tempred it with mine owne handes, he is yet aliue and doth but ſléepe, and after his ſléepe he ſhall returne to life againe: but if he be dead in déede, then may you further enquire of y• cauſes of his death: The opinion of this aūcient Phiſitian was found good, & euery man had a deſire to goe to the ſepulchre where y• childe was laide, there was none of y• Iuſtices, none of any reputatiō of the towne, nor any of the common people, but went to ſee this ſtrange ſight: Emongſt thē al, the father of the childe remoued with his owne hāds the ſtone of the ſepulchre, & founde his ſonne riſing vp after his dead & Soporiferous ſléepe, whom whē he beheld he embraſed him in his armes, & preſented him before y• people with great ioye & conſolation, & as he was wrapped & bound in his graue, ſo he brought him before the iudges, wherupon the wickednes of the ſeruaunt, & the treaſon of the ſtepdame was plainly diſcouered, & the veritie of the matter reueled, whereby the woman was perpetually exiled,^[115] the ſeruaunt hanged on a gallowes, & the Phiſitian had the crounes which was prepared to bie the poyſon: behold how the fortune of y• old man was chaunged, who thinking to be depriued of all his race & poſteritie, was in one moment made the father of twoo children. But as for me I was ruled and handled by fortune, according to her pleaſure.

¶How Apuleius was ſolde to twoo brethern, whereof one was a Baker, and the other a Cooke, and how finely and deintily he fared.

Cap 45.

THe Souldiour which paid neuer a penny for me, by the cōmaundement of his Capitaine, was ſent vnto Rome to carry letters to the great Prince, & generall of the Campe, & before he went he ſold me for eleuen pence, to twoo of his cōpaignions, being ſeruāts to a man of woorſhip, wherof one was a Baker y• baked ſwéete bread & delicates: the other a Cooke, whiche dreſſed fine and excellent meates for his maiſter, theſe two liued in common, & would driue me from place to place to carry ſuche thinges as was neceſſarie, in ſo muche that I was receaued by theſe twoo, as a thirde brother and compaignion, and I thought I was neuer better placed then with them: For when night came y• ſupper was done & their buſines ended, they would bring many good morſels into their chamber for thē ſelues: One wold bring pigges, chickins, fiſh, & other good meates, the other fine bread, paſties, tartes, cuſtardes, & other delicate ionckettes dipped in honie. And when thei had ſhutte their chamber doore and went to the baynes: (O Lorde) how I woulde fill my guttes with thoſe goodly diſhes: Neither was I ſo muche a foole, or ſo very an Aſſe, to leaue the deintie meates & grinde my téeth vpō harde hey. In this ſort I continued a great ſpace, for I plaied the honeſt Aſſe, takinge but a litle of one diſhe, and a litle of an other, whereby no man miſtruſted me. In the ende I was more hardier & beganne to deuoure the whole meſſes, of the ſwéeteſt delicates, which cauſed the Baker & the Cooke to ſuſpect, how be it they neuer miſtruſted me, but ſearched about to apprehēde the théefe: At length they began to accuſe one an other of thefte, & to ſette the diſhes & morſels of meate in order, one by an other, becauſe they would learne what was takē away, wherby one of thē was cōpelled to ſay thus to his fellow: is it reaſon to breake promiſe and faith in this ſorte, by ſtealinge away the beſte meate, and to ſell it to augment thy good, and yet neuertheleſſe to haue thy parte of the reſidew that is lefte, if our partnerſhippe doo miſlike thée, we wilbe parteners and brothers in other thinges, but in this we will breake of: for I perceaue that the great loſſe which I ſuſtaine wil at length be a cauſe of great diſcorde betwéene vs: Thē anſweared the other, verely I prayſe thy great conſtācie and ſubtilnes, in that (when thou haſt ſecretely takē away the meate) doeſt beginne to cōplayne firſt, wheras I by longe ſpace of time haue ſuffred thée, becauſe I woulde not ſéeme to accuſe my brother of thefte, but I am right gladde in that we are fallen into commnnication of this matter, leaſt by our ſilence like contention might ariſe betwéene vs, as fortuned betwéene Ethe[••]les and his brother, when thei had reaſoned together in this ſort: they ſwoore both earneſtly that neyther of them ſtale or toke away any iote of the meate, wherefore they concluded to ſearche out the théefe by al kinde of meanes. For they coulde not imagine or thinke that the Aſſe, who ſtoode alone there woulde eate any ſuche meates, neither coulde they thinke that myce or ſlies, were ſo rauenous as to deuoure whole diſhes of meate, like the byrdes Harpies which carried away y• meates of Phineus kinge of Archadia. In the meane ſeaſon while I was fedde with deintie morſelles I gathered together my fleſh, my ſkinne waxed ſofte, my heare beganne to ſhine, and I was gallant on euery parte, but ſuche fayre and comely ſhape of my bodie was cauſe of my diſhonour, for the Baker and the Cooke merueled to ſée me ſo ſlike and fine, conſidering I did eate no hay at all: Wherefore on a time at their accuſtomed houre they wente to the baynes & locked their chamber doore. It fortuned that eare they departed away, they eſpied me thorough a hole how I fel roundly to my victuales: Then they merueled greatly, and litle eſtéeminge the loſſe of their meate laughed excéedingly, callinge y• ſeruauntes of the houſe, to ſhowe them the gréedy gorge and appetite of the Aſſe. Their laughinge was ſo immoderate, that the maiſter of the houſe harde them, & demaūded the cauſe of their laughter, and when he vnderſtoode all the matter, he looked thorough y• hole likewiſe, wherwith he toke ſuch a delectation that he commaūded the doore to be opened, that he might ſée him at his pleaſure. Then I beholding euery man laugh, was nothing abaſhed, but rather more bold, whereby I neuer reſted eating, til ſuch time as the maſter of y• houſe commaunded me to be brought into his parler as a noueltie, & theere cauſed al kindes of meates, which were neuer touched to be ſet on the table, which (although I had eaten ſufficiently before, yet to winne the further fauour of the maiſter of the houſe) I did gréedely deuoure, & made a cleane riddance of the delicate meates. And to proue my nature wholy, they gaue me ſuche meate as euery Aſſe doth greatly abhorre: for they put before me biefe and vinegre, bi[•]des and pepper, fiſhe & vergiſſe, in the meane ſeaſon, thei that beheld me at the table did nothing but laugh: Then one of the ſeruaūts of the houſe ſaid to his maiſter, I pray you ſir giue him ſome drinke to his ſupper: Mary (ꝙ he) I thinke thou ſayeſt true: For ſo it may be that to his meate, he wold drinke likewiſe a cuppe of wine. No boy, waſhe yonder potte, and fill it with wine, whiche done carrie it to the Aſſe, and ſay that I haue dronke to him. Then all the ſtanders by looked on, to ſée what woulde come to paſſe, but I (aſſone as I behelde the cuppe) ſtayed not long, but gathering my lippes together, ſupped vp all the wine at one draught: The maiſter being right ioyfull hereat, cauſed the Baker and the Cooke, which had bought me to come before him, to whome he deliuered fower times as much for me as they paide, which done he committed me to one of his riche libertines, and charged him to looke wel to me, and that I ſhould lacke nothinge, who obayed his maiſters commaūdement in euery pointe: And to the ende he would crepe further into his fauour, he taught me a thouſande qualities. Firſt he inſtructed me to ſitte at y• table vpon my taile, and how I ſhould leape & daunce holding vp my former féete, moreouer he taught me how I ſhould anſweare whē any body ſpake vnto me, with nodding my head, which was a ſtraūge & meruelous thing, & if I did lacke drinke, I ſhould looke ſtill vpon the potte. All whiche thinges I did willingly bring to paſſe, & obeyed his doctrine: howbeit I could haue done al theſe things without his teaching, but I feared greatly leaſt in ſhowing my ſelfe conning without a maſter, I ſhoulde portende ſome great and ſtraunge wonder, & therby be throwen out to wilde beaſtes. But my fame was ſpredde about in euery place, and the qualities which I could doo, in ſo much y• my maſter was renoumed thorough out all the countrie by reaſon of me. For euery man woulde ſay: Beholde the gentleman that hath an Aſſe, that will eate and drinke with him, that will daunce, and vnderſtādinge what is ſaid to him, will ſhow his fantaſie by ſignes. But firſt I will tel you (which I ſhould haue done before) who my maiſter was, and of what coūtry, his name was Thiaſus, he was borne at Corinth, which is the principal towne of al Achaia, he had paſſed many offices of honour, till he had taken vppon him the degrée Quinquenuall, accordinge as his birth and dignitie required, who to ſhowe his woorthines, and to purchaſe the beneuolence of euery perſon, apoynted publique ioyes and triumphes, to endure the ſpace of thrée dayes, and to bringe his endeuor to paſſe, he came into Theſſalie to bie excellēt beaſtes, & valiant fighters for the purpoſe.

¶How a certaine Matron fell in loue with Apuleius, and howe he had his pleaſure with her, and what other thinges happened.

Cap. 46.

WHen he had bought ſuch thinges ss was neceſſary, he woulde not returne home into his country in chariottes, or waggons, neither would he ride vpon Theſſalian horſes, or gennettes of fraunce, or ſpaniſhe mules, which be moſt excellēt that can be founde, but cauſed me to be garniſhed and trimmed with trappers & bardes of golde, with braue harneſſe, with purple coueringes, with a bridle of ſiluer, with pictured clothes, & with ſhrillinge belles, & in this manner he code vpon me louingly, ſpeaking & entreating me with gentle woordes, but aboue all thinges he did greatly reioyſe, in that I was his ſeruant to beare him vpon my backe, and his compaignion to féede with him at the table: After long time whē we had traueled aſwel by ſea as lande, & fortuned to arriue at Corinth, the people of the towne came about vs on euery ſide, not ſo muche to doo honour vnto Thiaſus as to ſée me: For my fame was ſo greatly ſpredde there, y• I gained my maiſter muche money, and when the people was deſirous to ſée me play qualities, they cauſed the gates te be ſhutte, and ſuche as ent[•]ed in ſhould pay money, by meanes wherof, I was a profitable compaignion to them euery day: There fortuned to be emongſt the aſſembly a noble and riche Matron, that conceaued much delight to behold me, in ſo much that ſhe was amorous of me, and coulde finde no remedie to her paſſions and diſordinate appetite, but cōtinually deſired to haue her pleaſure with me, as Paſiphae had with a Bull. In the ende ſhe promiſed a great rewarde to my kéeper for the cuſtodie of me one night, who for gayne of a litle money acccorded to her deſire, and when I had ſupped in a parler with my maiſter, we departed away and went into our chamber, where we found the fayre matron, who had tarried a great ſpace for our comminge: I am not able to recite vnto you how al thinges there were prepared, there weare fower Eunuques that laide a bedde of downe on the grounde with bolſters accordingly for vs to lie on, the couerlette was of clothe of Golde, and the pillowes ſofte and tender, wheron the delicate Matron had accuſtomed to lay her head, then the Eunuques not mindinge to delay any lenger the pleaſure of their Miſtris, cloſed the doores of the chamber and departed away, within the chamber weare lampes that gaue a cléere light all the place ouer: Then ſhe put of all her garmentes to her naked ſkinne, and takinge the lampe that ſtoode nexte to her, beganne to annointe all her body with baulme, and mine likewiſe, but eſpecially my noſe, whiche done ſhe kiſſed me, not as thei accuſtome to doo at the ſtewes, or in brothell houſes, or in the courtiſant ſchooles for gayne of money, but purely, ſincerly, and with great affection, caſtinge out theſe and like louinge woordes: Thou arte he whome I loue, thou arte he whome I onely deſire, without thée I cannot liue, and other like preamble of talke, as women can vſe well inoughe, when they minde to ſhowe or declare their burninge paſſions and great affection of loue: Then ſhe toke me by the halter and caſte me vpon the bedde, whiche was nothinge ſtraunge vnto me, conſideringe that ſhe was ſo beautifull a Matron, and I ſo well bolen out with wyne, and perfumed with balme, whereby I was readely prepared for the purpoſe: But nothing greued me ſo much, as to thinke how I ſhould with my huge and great legges embraſe ſo faire a matrō, or how I ſhould touche her fine, deintie, and ſilkē ſkinne, with my hard hoofes, or howe it was poſſible to kiſſe her ſoft, her pretie and ruddie lippes, with my monſtrous mouthe and ſtony téeth, or how ſhe, who was ſo yonge and tender, could be able to receiue me. And I (verely thought) if I ſhould hurte the womā by any kind of meane, I ſhould be throwen out to the wilde beaſtes: But in the meane ſeaſon ſhe kiſſed me, and looked on me with burninge eies, ſaiyng: I holde thée my cony, I hold thée my nops, my ſparowe, and therewithall ſhe eftſones embraſed my bodie round about, and had her pleaſure with me, whereby I thought the mother of Minotaurus, did not cauſeleſſe quenche her inordinat de[•]ier with a Bull. When night was paſſed,^[116] with muche ioye and ſmall ſleape: The matron went before daie to my kéeper, to bargaine with him for an other night, whiche he willingly graunted, partly for gaine of money, and partly to finde newe paſtime for my maiſter. Who after he was enformed of all y• hiſtorie of my luxurie, was right glad, and rewarded my kéeper wel for his peines, minding to ſhowe before the face of all the people what I could doo: but becauſe they would not ſuffre the matron to abide ſuche ſhame, by reaſon of her dignitie, and becauſe they could finde no other that would endeuour ſo great a reproche. At length they obteined for money, a poore woman, which was condemned to be eatē of wild beaſtes, with whome I ſhould openly haue to doo. But firſt I will tell you what a tale I hard, concerning this woman. This woman had a huſbande, whoſe father minding to ride foorth, commaunded his wife which he left at home great with childe, that if ſhe weare deliuered of a doughter, it ſhould incontinently be killed.

Whē the time of her deliuery came, it fortuned that ſhe had a daughter, whome ſhe would not ſuffer to be ſlaine, by reaſon of the natural affection which ſhe bare vnto her childe, but ſecretly cōmitted her to one of her neighbours to nource. And when her huſbande returned home, ſhe declared vnto him, that ſhe was deliuered of a daughter, whome as he commaunded, ſhe had cauſed to be put to death. But when this childe came to age, and readie to be maried: The mother knew not by what meanes ſhe ſhould endow her daughter, but that her huſband ſhould vnderſtand and perceiue it. Wherfore ſhe diſcouered the matter to her ſonne, who was the huſband of this woman, condemned to be eaten of wilde beaſtes: For ſhe greatly feared, leſt he ſhold vnwares, fancie or fall in loue with his owne ſiſter. The yong man vnderſtanding the whole matter (to pleaſe & gratifie his mother) wēt immediatly to the yōg maidē, keping the matter ſecret in his hart, for feare of inconuenience & (lamenting to ſée his ſiſter forſaken, both of mother and father) incontinently after, endowed her wt part of his owne goodes, and would haue maried her to one of his eſpeciall & truſty frendes: But although he brought this to paſſe very ſecretly & ſagely, yet in the ende cruell and enuious fortune, ſowed great ſedition in his houſe. For his wife, who was now cōdemned to beaſtes, waxed ielous of her huſband, and began to ſuſpect the yong woman as a harlot and commō queane, in ſo much that ſhe inuented all manner of meanes to diſpatche her out of the way. And in the end, ſhe inuented this kinde of miſchiefe: She priuely ſtale away her huſbandes ringe, & went into the coūtrey, where as ſhe cōmaunded one of her truſtie ſeruaūtes, to take y• ringe & to carie it to the maiden. To whom he ſhould declare y• her brother did pray her to come into y• coūtrie to him, & that ſhe ſhould come alone without any other perſon. And to thēd ſhe ſhold not delay but come with al ſpede, he ſhould deliuer her the ringe, which ſhould be a ſufficiēt teſtimony of his meſſage. The maidē, aſſone as ſhe had receiued y• ring of her brother, being very willing & deſirous to obey his cōmaundement: (For ſhe knew no otherwiſe but that he had ſent for her) went in al haſte as y• meſſenger willed her to do. But whē ſhe was come to the ſnare & engin whiche was prepared for her: The miſcheuous womā, like one that were mad, & poſſeſſed with ſome il ſpirit, ſcourged her firſt with roddes from top to too, & when y• poore maidē called for help wt a loud voice to her brother, y• wicked harlot (wéening y• ſhe had inuented & feigned y• matter) tooke a burning fireband & thruſt it into her ſecret place, whereby ſhe died miſerably. The huſband of this maiden, but eſpecialy her brother, aduertiſed of her death, came to y• place where ſhe was ſlain, & after great lamētation & weping, thei cauſed her to be buried honorably. The yongman her brother, taking in ill part y• miſerable deeth of his ſiſter, as it was conuenient he ſhould, cōceiued ſo great dolour within his mind, & was ſtroken wt ſo peſtilent furie of bitter anguiſhe, that he fell into the burning paſſions, of a daūgerous ague, wherby he ſéemed in ſuch neceſſitie, y• he néeded to haue ſome ſpéedy remedy to ſaue his life. The woman y• ſlew the maidē, hauing loſt y• name of wife together wt her faith, wēt to a traiterous Phiſitiō, who had killed a great many perſons in his daies, & promiſed him fifty pieces of gold if he would giue her a preſēt poiſō to kil her huſbād out of hād, but in preſēce of her huſband, ſhe feigned that it was neceſſarie for him, to receiue a certaine kinde of drinke, whiche y• maiſters and doctours of phiſick, doo call a ſacred potion, to thintent he might purge choller, and ſkowre the interior partes of his bodie. But the Phiſition, in ſtéede of that drinke, prepared a mortall and deadly poyſon, and whē he had tempred it accordingly, he tooke the potte in preſence of all the familie, and other neighbours & frendes of the ſicke yonge man, and offred it vnto the patient. But the bolde and hardie woman, to thende ſhe might accompliſh her wicked intent, and alſo gaine the mony whiche ſhe had promiſed the Phiſition, ſtaide the potte wt her hand, ſaying: I praie you maiſter Phiſition, miniſter not this drinke vnto my déere huſbande, vntill ſuche time as you haue dronke ſome part thereof your ſelfe: For what knowe I, whether you haue mingled any poyſon in the drinke or no, wherein I pray you not to be offended: For I know that you are a man of wiſdome and learning, but this I doo to thintent the conſcience and loue that I beare to the health & ſaluegarde of my huſband, may be apparant. The Phiſition being greatly troubled at the wickednes of this miſchieuous woman, as voide of all councell and leiſure to conſider on the matter, and leaſt he might geue any cauſe of ſuſpition to the ſtanders by, or ſhowe any ſcruple of his gilty conſcience, by reaſon of long delaie, tooke the pott in his hande, & preſently dronke a good draught therof, which done, the yonge man hauing no miſtruſt, dronke vp the reſidue. The Phiſition would haue gone immediatly home to receiue a contrepoiſon, to expell & driue out the firſt poyſon: But the wicked woman perſeuering in her miſchiefe, would not ſuffer him to departe one foote, vntill ſuch time as y• poyſon began to woorke in him, and then by much prayer and interceſſiō, ſhe licenſed him to goe home: By the way the poyſon inuaded the intrailes and bowels of the whole bodie of the Phiſitian, in ſuch ſort that with great paine he came to his owne houſe, where he had ſkarſe time to ſpeake to his wife, and to will her to receaue the promiſed ſalary of the death of twoo perſones, but he yéelded vp y• ghoſt: And the other yong man liued not long after, but likewiſe died, emongſt the feigned and deceitfull teares of his curſed wife. A few daies after, when the yong man was buried, and the funeralles ended, the Phiſicians wife demaūded of her the fiftie pieces of golde, whiche ſhe promiſed her huſband for the drinke, whereat the ill diſpoſed womā, with reſemblance of honeſtie, anſweared her with gentle woordes, and promiſed to giue her the fiſtie pieces of golde, if ſhe woulde fetche her a litle of that ſame drinke, to proceede and make an end of all her enterpriſe. The Phiſitians wife, partely to winne the further fauour of this riche woman, and partely to gayne the money, ranne incōtinently home, & brought her the whole potte of poiſon, which when ſhe ſaw, hauing now occaſion to execute her further malice, began to ſtretche out her bloudy handes to murder, ſhe had a da[•]ghter by her huſbande (that was poiſoned) who accordinge to order of law, was appointed heyre of al the lādes & goodes of her father, but this woman knowyng that the mothers, ſuccede their children and receaue all their goodes after their death, purpoſed to ſhow her ſelf a like parent to her childe, as ſhe was a wife to her huſbande, wherupon ſhe prepared a dinner with her owne handes, and empoiſoned both the wife of the Phiſitian and her owne daughter: The childe beynge yong and tender died incontinently, by force of the drinke, but the Phiſitians wife beinge ſtoute and of ſtronge complexion, féelinge the poiſon t[•]ill downe into her bodie doubted the matter, & therupon knowyng of certaintie that ſhe had receaued her baine, ranne foorthwith to the Iudges houſe, that what with her cries and exclamatiōs, ſhe raiſed vp the people of the towne, and promiſinge them to reueale and ſhowe diuers wicked and miſcheuous actes, cauſed that the doores and gates of the Iudge were opened, whē ſhe came in, ſhe declared from the beginninge to the ende, the abhomination of this woman, but ſhe had ſkarſe ended her tale, when openinge her falinge lippes, and grindinge her téeth together, ſhe fel downe dead before the face of the iudge, who incontinently to trie the truth of the matter, cauſed the curſed woman and her ſeruauntes to be pulled out of the houſe, and enforced by paine of torment to confeſſe the veritie, whiche beynge knowen, this miſchieuous woman, farre leſſe then ſhe deſerued, but becauſe there coulde be no more cruell a death inuented for the qualitie of her offence, was condemned to be caten of wilde beaſtes: beholde with this woman was I appointed to haue to doo before the face of al the people, but I beyng wrapped in great anguiſhe, and enuiynge the day of the triūphe, whē we twoo ſhould ſo abandon our ſelues together, deuiſed rather to [〈◊〉] my ſelf, then to pollute my body wt this miſcheuous harlot, and ſo for euer to remaine deffamed, but it was impoſſible for me to doo, conſidering that I lacked handes, & was not able to hold a knife in my hoofes: howbeit ſtāding in a pretie cabyn, I reioyſed in my ſelf to ſée that ſpring time was come, & that all thinges floriſhed, & that I was in good hope to finde ſome roſes, to render me to my humaine ſhape. When the day of the triumph came, I was ledde with great pompe and magnificence to the appointed place, whither when I was brought, I firſte ſawe the preamble of the triumphe, dedicated with daūſers and mery tauntyng ieſtes,^[117] and I in the meane ſeaſon, was placed before the gate of the Theatre, whereas on the one ſide, I ſawe the gréene and freſhe graſſe growinge before the entrie thereof, whereon I greatly deſired to féede: On the other ſide I conceaued a great delectation to ſée when the Theatre gates were opened, how al thinges was finely prepared & ſette foorth: For there I might ſee yonge children and maydens in the flowre of their youth, of excellent beautie, and attyred gorgeouſly, daunſing & mouing in comely order, according to the order of Grecia, for ſometime they would daunce in length, ſomtime rounde together, ſometime deuide thē ſelues in fower partes, & somtime loſe handes on euery ſide, but when the trumpet gaue warnyng y• euery mā ſhould retire to his place: Then began the triumphe to appeare. Firſt there was a hil of woodde, not much vnlike that whiche the Poet Homer called Idea, for it was garniſhed about with all ſorte of gréene verdu[•]es and liuely trées, from the toppe whereof rāne downe a cléere & freſh foūtaine, nouriſhinge the waters below, about which woodde were many yōg & tender Goates, pluckyng & féeding deintily on the budding trées, then came a yonge man a ſhéepeherde repreſentinge Paris, richly arraied with veſtmentes of Barbarie, hauinge a mitre of gold vpō his head, & ſéeming as though he kept y• goates. After him enſewed an other yong mā all naked, ſauing y• his left ſhoulder was couered with a rich cloke, and his head ſhininge with gliſteringe heares, & hangyng downe, through whiche you might perceaue twoo litle winges, wherby you might cōiecture that he was Mercury with his rodde called Caduceus, he bare in his right hand an apple of golde, and with a ſéemely gate went towardes him that repreſented Paris, and after that he had deliuered him the apple, he made a ſigne ſignifiyng that Iupiter had commaunded him ſo to doo, whē he had done his meſſage, he departed away: And by and by, behold there approched a fayre & comely maiden, not much vnlike to Iuno, for ſhe had a Diademe of golde vpon her head, and in her hande ſhe bare a regall Sceptre: then followed an other reſemblinge Pallas, for ſhe had on her head a ſhining ſallett, wheron was bounde a garlande made of Oliue braunches, hauinge in one hande a targette or ſhilde, and in the other a ſpeare as though ſhe would fight: then came an other, which paſſed the other in beautie, & repreſented the goddeſſe Venus, with the colour of Ambroſia, whē ſhe was a mayden, and to the ende ſhe would ſhow her perfect beautie, ſhe appeared all naked, ſauing that her fine and deintie ſkinne was couered with a thinne ſmocke, whiche the winde blewe hither and thither, to teſtifie the youth and flowre of the age of the Dame, her colour was of twoo ſortes, for her bodie was white, as deſcended from heauen, & her ſmocke was blewiſhe as arriued from the ſea: After euery one of the virgins whiche ſéemed Goddeſſes, followed certaine waytinge ſeruauntes, Caſtor and Pollux went behind Iuno, hauinge on their heades helmettes couered with ſtarres. This virgin Iuno ſowned a feewte, whiche ſhe bare in her hand, and moued her ſelfe towardes the ſhéepeherd Paris, ſhowyng by honeſt ſignes and tokens, and promiſinge that he ſhould be Lord of all Aſia, if he would iudge her the faireſt of the thrée, & to giue her the apple of golde: The other mayden whiche ſéemed by her armour to be Pallas, was accompaigned with two yong men, armed and brandiſhinge their naked ſwoordes in their handes, wherof one was named Terror, and the other Feare, behinde them approched one ſoundinge his trumpet to prouoke and ſtirre men to battaile, this maiden began to daunce and ſhake her head, throwyng her fierce and terrible eyes vpon Paris, and promiſing that if it pleaſed him, to giue her the victory of beawtie, ſhe would make him the moſt ſtronge & victorious man aliue. Then came Venus and preſented her ſelfe in the middle of the Theatre, with much fauour of al the people, for ſhe was accompaigned with a great number of youth, whereby you would haue iudged them to be all Cupidoes, eyther to haue flowen from heauen, or els frō the riuer of the ſea, for they had winges, arrowes, and the reſidew of their habite according in eche point, & they bare in their handes, torches lighted, as though it had bene a day of mariage, then came in a great multitude of fayre maidens: On the one ſide were the moſt comely Graces: on the other ſide the moſte beautifull Howres, carriyng garlandes and looſe flowres, & makinge great honour to the Goddeſſe of pleaſure, the flewtes, and pypes yéelded out the ſwéete ſounde of Lidians, whereby they pleaſed the mindes of the ſtāders by excéedingly, but the more pleaſinge Venus moued forwarde more and more, & ſhakinge her head, anſweared by her motion and geſture, to the ſounde of the inſtrumentes: For ſometimes ſhe woulde winke gentely, ſometimes threaten and looke aſperly, and ſometime daunce onely with her eies: Aſſone as ſhe was come before the Iudge, ſhe made a ſigne and token to giue him the moſte fayreſt ſpouſe of all the worlde, if he woulde preferre her aboue the reſidew of the Goddeſſes, then the yonge Phrigian ſhéepeherde Paris,^[118] with a willinge minde deliuered the Golden apple to Venus, whiche was the Victorie of beawtie. Why doo ye meruell ye Orators, ye Lawiers, & Aduocates, if many of our Iudges nowe a dayes ſell their iudgementes for money, when as in the beginninge of the world, one onely Grace corrupted the ſentēce betwéene God and men, and that one ruſticall iudge and ſhéepeherde, appointed by the counſell of the great Iupiter, ſolde his iudgement for a litle pleaſure, which was the cauſe afterwarde of the ruine of all his progeny: by like māner of meane was ſentence giuen betwéene the noble Gréekes: For the noble and valiaunt perſonage Palamades was conuicted and atteinted of treaſon, by falſe perſwaſion and accuſation, and Vliſſes being but of baſe condition, was preferred in Martiall proweſſe aboue great Aiax, what iudgement was there likewiſe emongſt the Atheman lawyers, ſage and expert in all ſciences, was not Socrates who was preferred by the God Apollo aboue all the wiſemen of the worlde, by enuie and malice of wicked perſons, empoysoned with the hearbe Cicuta, as one that corrupted the youth of the countrie, whome alwaies he kepte vnder by correction: For we ſée now a daies many excellent Philoſophers greatly deſire to follow his ſecte, and by perpetuall ſtudie to volue and reuolue his woorkes, but t[•] the ende I may not be reproued of indignation, by any one that might ſay, what ſhal we ſuffer an Aſſe to play the Philoſopher? I will returne to my former purpoſe. After the iudgement of Paris was ended, Iuno & Pallas departed away angerly, ſhowynge by their geſture that they would reuēge them ſelues on Paris, but Venus that was right pleaſed and gladde in her harte, daunſed about the Theatre with much ioye. This done from the toppe of the hill through a priuie ſpoute, rāne a floudde of the colour of Saffran, whiche fell vpon the Goates, & chaūged their white heare into yellow, with a ſoote odour to all thē of the Theatre. By & by after, by certaine engins, the ground opened & ſwalowed vp the hill of woodde: and then beholde there came a man of armes thorow the middle of y• multitude, demaunding by the conſent of the people, the woman who was condēned to the beaſtes, & appointed for me to haue to doo withall: our bedde was finely & brauely prepared, & couered with ſilke & other thinges neceſſary, but I beſide the ſhame to cōmitte this horrible facte, & to pollute my body wt this wicked harlot, did greatly feare the daūger of death: For I thought in my ſelfe, that when ſhe & I were together, the fauage beaſt appointed to deuoure the womā, was not ſo inſtructed & taught, or would ſo temper his gréedines, as y• he would teare her in pieces liyng vnder me, and ſpare me with a regarde of mine innocēcie. Wherfore I was more carefull for the ſaluegarde of my life, thē for the ſhame that I ſhould abide, but in the meane ſeaſon while my maiſter made reddy the bedde, and all the reſidew did greatly delight to ſée the hunting and pleaſantnes of the triumphe, I began to thinke and deuiſe for my ſelfe, and when I perceaued that no man had regarde to me, that was ſo tame and gentle an Aſſe, I ſtole out of the gate that was next me, and then I ranne away with all my force, and came to Cenchris, whiche is the moſte famous towne of all the Carthaginiens, borderinge vpon the ſeas called Ageum and Saronicum, where is a great & mighty hauen frequented with many a ſondry nation. There becauſe I would auoide the multitude of people, I wēt to a ſecrete place of the ſea coſte, where I lay me down vpon the ſande to eaſe and refreſhe my ſelfe, for the day was paſte and the Sunne gone downe, and I liyng in this ſorte on the grounde did fall in a ſounde ſléepe.

The eleuenth Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

¶How Apuleius by Roſes and praier, returned to his humaine ſhape.

Cap. 47.

WHen midnight came, that I had ſlept my firſt ſléepe, I awaked with sodein feare, and ſawe the Moone ſhininge bright, as when ſhe is at the full, and ſéeming as though ſhe leaped out of the Sea. Then I thought with my ſelfe that, that was the moſte ſecret time, when the Goddeſſe Ceres had moſt puiſance and force, conſidering that all humaine thinges be gouerned by her prouidence: And not onely all beaſtes priuate and tame, but alſo all wilde aud ſauage beaſtes be vnder her protection: And conſideringe that all bodies in the heauens, the earth, and the ſeas be by her encreſinge motions encreaſed, and by her diminiſhinge motions diminiſhed: as wery of all my cruell fortune and calamitie, I founde good hope and ſoueraigne remedie, though it were very late, to be deliuered from all my miſery, by inuocation & prayer to the excellent beautie of the Goddeſſe: whome I ſawe ſhininge before mine eyes, wherfore ſhaking of mine Aſſy and drowſie ſléepe I aroſe with a ioyfull face, and moued by a great affection to purifie my ſelfe, I plonged my head ſeuē times into the water of the ſea, which nomber of ſenen is cōuenable and agréeable to holy and diuine thinges, as the woorthy and ſage philoſopher Pythagoras hath declared. Then with a wéeping contenaūce, I made this orayſon to the puiſſant Goddeſſe, ſaiynge: O bleſſed quéene of heauen,^[119] whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the original & motherly nource of al fruictful thinges in the yearth, who after the findinge of thy daughter Proſerpina, through the great ioye whiche thou diddeſt preſently conceaue, madeſt the barrein & vnfruictful grounde to be plowed and ſowen, and now thou inhabiteſt in the land of Eleuſie, or whether thou be the celeſtiall Venus, who in the beginninge of the world diddeſt cople together all kinde of thinges wt an engendred loue, and by an eternall propagation of humaine kinde, art now woorſhipped within the Tēples of the yſle Paphos, thou whiche art the ſiſter of the god Phebus, who nouriſheſt so many people by the generation of beaſtes, & art now adored at the ſacred places of Epheſis, thou which art called horrible Proſerpina, by reason of the deadly houlinges which y• yeldeſt, that haſt power to ſtoppe & put away the inuaſiō of hegges and ghoſtes whiche appeare vnto men, & to kéepe them downe in y• cloſures of the earth: thou which arte woorſhipped in diuers manners, & doeſt luminate al the borders of the yearth by thy feminine ſhape, thou whiche nouriſheſt all the fruictes of the worlde by thy vigor & force, with what ſo euer name or faſhion it is lawful to call vpon thée, I pray thée to ende my great trauell and miſerie, and deliuer me from the wretched fortune whiche hath ſo longe time purſued me. Graunt peace and reſt if it pleaſe thée to my aduerſities, for I haue endured to to much labour and perill. Remoue frō me the ſhape of mine Aſſe, & rēder me to my priſtine eſtate: and if I haue offended in any point thy diuine Maieſtie let me rather die then liue, for I am full wery of my life. When I had ended this orayſon, & diſcouered my plaintes to the Goddeſſe, I fortuned to fall ſléepe and by and by appeared to me a diuine and venerable face, woorſhipped euen of the Goddes them ſelues: Then by litle and litle I ſéemed to ſée the whole figure of her bodie, mountinge out of the ſea and ſtandinge before me: wherfore I purpoſe to deſcribe her diuine ſemblaūce, if y• pouertie of my humaine ſpeach will ſuffer me, or her diuine power giue me eloquence therto. Firſt ſhe had a great abondance of heare, diſparſed & ſcattred about her necke, on y• crowne of her head ſhe bare many garlādes enterlaced with flowres, in the middle of her forehead, was a cōpaſſe in faſhiō of a glaſſe, or reſembling y• light of the moone, in one of her handes ſhe bare ſerpentes, in the other blades of corne, her veſtmēt was of fine ſilke yelding diuers colours, ſometime white, ſometime yelow, ſometime roſie, ſometime flamy, & ſomtime (which troubled my ſpirit sore) darke & obſcure couered with a blacke robe in māner of a shield, & pleatted in moſt ſubtill faſhion, at the ſkirtes of her garment, y• weltes appeared comely, where as here & there y• ſtarres glimpſed, & in the middle of them was placed y• Moone, which ſhone like a flame of fire, roūd about y• robe was a coron or garlande made with flowers & fruictes: In her right hande ſhe had a timbrel of braſſe which gaue a pleaſaūt founde, in her left hande ſhe bare a cuppe of golde, out of the mouth whereof the ſerpent Aſpis lifted vp his head, with a ſwellinge throate, her odoriferous féete were couered with ſhoes enterlaced & wrought with victorious palme. Thus the diuine ſhape breathing out the pleaſant ſpice of fertil Arabia, dayned not with her diuine voice to vtter theſe woordes vnto me: Beholde Lucius I am come,^[120] thy weeping & prayers hath moued me to ſuccour thée, I am ſhe that is the natural mother of all thinges, miſtris and gouerneſſe of all the Elementes, the initiall progeny of worldes, chiefe of the powers diuine, Quéene of heauen, the principall of the Goddes celeſtiall, the light of the Goddeſſes, at my wil the Planettes of the ayre, the holſome windes of the Seas, and the ſilences of Hell be diſpoſed, my name, my diuinitie, is adored thoroughout all the worlde, in diuers manners, in variable cuſtomes, and in many names, for the Phrigiens call me the mother of the Goddes: The Atheniens, Minerue: the Cipriens, Venus: the Candians, Diana: the Sicilians, Proſerpina: the Eleuſians, Ceres: ſome Iuno, other Bellona, other Hecate: and principally the Ethiopians whiche dwell in the Orient, and the Egiptians whiche are excellent in all kinde of auncient doctrine, & by their propre ceremonies accuſtome to woorſhippe me, doo call me Quéene Iſis: Behold I am come to take pitie of thy fortune and tribulation, beholde I am preſent to fauour & ayde thée, leaue of thy wepinge and lamentation, put away al thy ſorrow, for behold the healthful day which is ordeined by my prouidence, therefore be ready & attentife to my cōmaundement, the day which ſhall come after this night, is dedicate to my ſeruice by an eternal Religion, my prieſtes & miniſters, doo accuſtome after the tempeſtes of the Sea be ceaſed, to offer in my name a newe ſhippe, as a firſte fruicte of their nauigation, I commaunde thée, not to prophane or deſpiſe the ſacrifice in any wiſe, for the great Prieſt ſhal carry this day following in proceſſion by my exhortatiō a garlande of Roſes next to the timbrell of his right hand: Follow y• my proceſſion emongſt the people, and when thou comeſt to the prieſt, make as though thou wouldeſt kiſſe his hande, but ſnatch at the roſes, wherby I wil put away the ſkinne & ſhape of an Aſſe,^[121] which kinde of beaſt I haue longe time abhorred and deſpiſed, but aboue all things beware thou doubt not nor feare of auy of thoſe thinges as harde & difficill to be brought to paſſe, for in this ſame houre y• I am come to thée, I haue commaunded the Prieſt by a viſion what he ſhal doo, & all the people by my cōmaundement ſhalbe compelled to giue thée place & ſay nothing, moreouer thinke not y• emongſt ſo faire & ioyful ceremonies. & in ſo good a cōpany, that any perſon ſhall abhorre thy ilfauored and deforme figure, or that any man ſhalbe ſo hardy, as to blame & reproue thy ſodaine reſtoration to humaine ſhape, whereby they ſhould gather or conceaue any ſiniſter opiniō, and know thou this of certainty that the reſidew of thy life vntil the howre of death ſhalbe bounde & ſubiect to me: And thinke it not an iniurie to be alwaies ſeruiſeable towardes me, ſince as by my meane and benefite thou ſhalt become a mā: thou ſhalt liue bleſſed in this world, thou ſhalte liue glorious by my guide and protection, and when thou deſcendeſt to hell, where thou ſhalt ſée me in that ſubterre[•] place, ſhininge (as thou ſeeſt me now) in the darknes of Acheron, and reigninge in the déepe profūditte of Stix, thou ſhalt woorſhip me as one that hath bene fauorable to thée, and if I perceaue that thou art obedient to my commaūdement, addict to my religion, and merite my diuine grace, know thou that I will prolonge thy daies aboue the time that the fates haue appointed, and the celeſtiall planetes ordeined. When the deuine image had ſpoken theſe woordes, ſhe vaniſhed awaie: By and by, when I awaked I aroſe, hauing the members of my body mixt with feare, ioye, and ſweate, and merueiled at the cleare preſence of the puiſſaunt goddeſſe, and being ſprincled with the water of the Sea, I recounted orderly her admonitions and deuine commaundementes. Sone after, the darkenes chaſed away, and the cleare and golden Sunne aroſe, when as behold, I ſawe the ſtreates repleniſhed with people, going in a religious ſorte, & in great triumphe. All thinges ſéemed that daie to be ioyfull, as well all maner of beaſtes, and the verie houſes, as alſo the very daie it ſelfe ſéemed to reioyce. For after the horefroſt, enſued the whote and temperat Sunne, whereby the litle birdes wening that the ſpring time had ben come, did chirp and ſing in their ſteuen melodiouſly: The mother of ſtarres, the parent of times and miſtres of all ye worlde: The fruitfull trées reioyſed at their fertilitie: The barrein and ſterrill were contented at their ſhadowe, rendring ſwete and pleaſant ſhrilles: The ſeas were quiet from wyndes and tempeſtes: The heauen had chaſed away the cloudes, and appeared faire and cleare with his propre light. Beholde, then more and more appeared the pompes and proceſſions, attired in regall manner, and ſinging ioyfully: One was girded about the middle like a man of armes: An other bare a ſpeare, and had a cloke and highe ſhooes as a hunter: an other was attired in a roobe of ſilke, and ſockes of gold, hauing his heare layde out, and dreſſed in fourme of a woman: There was an other which ware legharnes, & bare a target, a ſalette, & a ſpeare, like a martiall ſouldiour: After him marched one attired in purple, with vergers before him like a Magiſtrate: After him foloweth one with a mantell, a ſtaffe, a paire of pautofles, and with a graie bearde, ſignifiyng a Philoſopher: After him went one with lyme, betokening a fowler, An other with hookes, declaringe a fiſher. I ſawe there a méeke and tame beare, whiche in matron habit was caried on a ſtole: An Ape with a bonnet on his head, and couered with lawne reſemblinge a ſhéepeherde, and bearing a cuppe of golde in his hande: An Aſſe whiche had winges glewed to his back, and went after an olde man, wherby you would iudge, the one to be Pegaſus, and the other Bellephoron. Amongeſt theſe pleaſures and populer delectations, whiche wandred hither and thither. You might ſée the pampe of the Goddeſſe triūphantlie marche forwarde: The women attired in whyte veſtmentes, and reioyſinge in that they bare garlandes and flowers vpon their heades, beſpred the wayes with herbes, whiche they bare in their aprons, where this regall and deuout proceſſion ſhoulde paſſe. Other caried glaſſes on their backes, to teſtifie obeiſaunce and honour to the Goddeſſe whiche came after. Other bare combes of Iuorie, and declared by their geſture & motions of their armes, that they were ordeined and reddy to dreſſe the Goddeſſe. Other dropped in the waies as they went, baulme and other pretious oyntmentes: Then came a great number, as well of men as of women, with candles, torches, and other lightes, doing honour to y• celeſtial goddeſſe: After tht ſounded the muſicall armonie of inſtrumentes: Then came a faire company of youth, apareled in white veſtimentes, ſinginge both metre & verſe, with a cōly grace which ſome ſtudious Poete had made in honour of the Muſes. In the meane ſeaſon, arriued ye blowers of trūpettes, which were dedicate vnto Serapis, & to the tēple before them, were officers & bedles, preparing rome for the goddeſſe to paſſe. Then came the great company of men & women, which had takē deuine orders, whoſe garmentes gliſtned al the ſtretes ouer. The wemē had their heare anointed, & their heads couered with linnē: but the men had their crownes ſhauen, which were the terren ſtarres of the goddeſſe, holdinge in their handes inſtrumentes of braſſe, ſiluer, & gold, which rendred a pleaſant ſound. The principal prieſtes, which were appareled wt white ſurpleſſes hanging down to yt groūd, bare yt relickes of yt puiſant goddeſſe. One caried in his hand a light, not vnlike to thoſe whiche we vſed in our houſes, ſauing yt in the middle thereof appeared a bole which rendred a more bright flame. The ſecond attired like the other, bare in his handes an aultar, whiche the goddeſſe her ſelfe named the ſuccour of nations. The third held vp a trée of palme, with leaues of golde, & the verge of Mercurie. The fourth ſhowed out a token of equitie by his left hande, which was deformed in euery place, ſignifiyng thereby more equitie then by the right hande. The ſame prieſt caried a round veſſell of golde, in forme of a cap. The fifte bare a Van, wroughte with ſpringes of gold, and an other caried a veſſel for wyne: By and by after, the goddeſſe followed a foote as men doo, and ſpecially Mercurie, the meſſenger of the Goddeſſe infernall and ſupernall, with his face ſometyme blacke, ſometyme fayre, liftinge vp the head of the dogge Ambis, and bearing in his lefte hand his verge, and in his right hande, the braunche of a palme trée, after whome folowed a cowe with an vpright gate, repreſentinge the figure of the great Goddeſſe, and he that guyded her, marched on with muche grauitie. And other caried after the ſecretes of their religiō, cloſed in a coffer. There was one that bare on his ſtomack the figure of his God, not formed like any beaſt, birde, ſauage thinge, or humaine ſhape, but made by a newe inuention, whereby was ſignified that ſuch a religion ſhould not be diſcouered, or reueled to any perſon. There was a veſſell wrought with a rounde bottome, hauing on the one ſide pictures figured like vnto the manner of the Egiptians, and on the other ſide was an eare, wherevpon ſtoode the ſerpent Aſpis, holdinge out his ſkaly neck. Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortune, according to the promiſſe of ye goddeſſe. For the great prieſte whiche bare the reſtoration of my humaine ſhape, by the commaundement of the goddeſſe, approched more and more, bearing in his left hande the timbrell, and in the other a garland of roſes to giue me, to thende I might be deliuered from cruell fortune, which was alwaies mine enemy, after the ſufferance of ſo muche calamitie and poine, and after the endurance of ſo many perilles: Then I, not runninge haſtely, by reaſon of ſodaine ioye, leſt I ſhould diſturbe the quiet proceſſion with mine importunitie: But going ſoftly through the preſſe of people, whiche gaue me place on euery ſide, went after the prieſt. The prieſt being admoniſhed the night before, as I might well perceiue, ſtoode ſtill, and holding out his hande, thruſt out the garlande of roſes into my mouth, whiche I (trēbling) deuoured with a great affection: And aſſone as I had eaten thē, I was not deceiued of the promiſe made vnto me. For my deforme and Aſſy face abated, and firſt the rugged heare of my body fell of, my thick ſkyn waxed ſoft and tender, the hoofes of my féete chaunged into toes, my handes returned againe, my neck grewe ſhort, my head & mouth became rounde, my long eares were made litle, my great and ſtony téeth waxed leſſe like the téeth of men, and my taile whiche combred me moſt, appeared no where, thē the people began to meruell, and the religious honored the Goddeſſe for ſo euident a miracle, they wondred at the viſions which they ſawe in the night, and the facilitie of my reformation, whereby they rendred teſtimony of ſo great a benefite which I receaued of the Goddeſſe, when I ſaw my ſelf in ſuch eſtate, I ſtode ſtil a good ſpace and ſaid nothing, for I coulde not tell what to ſay, nor what woorde I ſhould firſt ſpeake, nor what thankes I ſhould render to the Goddeſſe, but the great prieſt vnderſtanding all my fortune and miſery by diuine aduertiſement, commaunded that one ſhould giue me garmentes to couer me: Howbeit aſſone as I was tranſformed frō an Aſſe to my humaine ſhape, I hidde the priuities of my body with my handes as ſhame and neceſſitie compelled me: Then one of the companie put of his vpper robe, and put it on my backe, which done: the Prieſt loking vpon me with a ſwéete and benigne voyce, ganne ſay in this ſorte: O my fréende Lucius, after the endurance of ſo many labors, & the eſcape of ſo many tempeſtes of fortune, thou arte now at length come to the porte & hauē of reſt and mercie: Neither did thy noble lignage, thy dignitie, neither thy doctrine any thing preuaile, but that thou haſt endured ſo many ſeruill pleaſures, by a litle folly of thy youthfulneſſe, wherby thou haſt had a ſiniſter rewarde of thy vnproſperous curioſitie, but howſoeuer the blindenes of fortune tormented thée in diuers daungers: So it is that nowe vnwares to her, thou art come to this preſent felicitie, let fortune goe, & fume with furie in an other place, let her finde ſome other matter to execute her cruelty, for fortune hath no puiſance againſt them which ſerue and honour our Goddeſſe, for what auailed the theeues? the beaſtes ſauage? thy great ſeruitude? the ill & daungerous waies? the longe paſſages? the feare of death euery day? know thou that now thou art ſalue, and vnder the protection of her, who by her cléere light doth lighten the other Goddes: wherefore reioyſe, and take a conuenable coūtenance to thy white habite, followe the pompe of this deuout & honorable proceſſion, to the ende ye ſuch which be not deuout to the Goddeſſe, may ſée & acknowledge their errour. Beholde Lucius thou art deliuered frō ſo great miſeries, by the prouidence of the Goddeſſe Iſis, reioyſe therfore and triumphe of the victory of fortune, to the ende thou maiſt liue more ſalue and ſure, make thy ſelfe one of this holy order, dedicate thy minde to the obſequie of our religion, & take vpon thée a voluntary yoke of miniſterie: And when thou beginneſt to ſerue and honor the Goddeſſe, then ſhalt thou féele the fruicte of thy libertie: After that the great Prieſt had prophecied in this manner, with often brethinges, he made a concluſion of his woordes: Then I went emōgſt the company of the reſte and followed the proceſſion: Euery one of the people knewe me, & pointinge at me with their fingers, ſaide in this ſorte: beholde him who is this day tranſformed into a man by the puiſſance of the ſoueraigne Goddeſſe, verely he is bleſſed and moſt bleſſed that hath merited ſo great grace from heauen, as by the innocēcy of his former life, and as it were by a newe regeneration is reſerued to the obſequie of the Goddeſſe. In the meane ſeaſon by litle and litle we approched nighe vnto the ſea coaſte, euen to that place where I lay the night before beinge an Aſſe. There, after the images & reliques were orderly diſpoſed, the great Prieſt compaſſed about with diuers pictures according to the faſhion of the Egiptians, did dedicate & conſecrate with certaine prayers a fayre ſhippe made very cunningly, & purified the ſame wt a torch, an egge, & ſulphur, the ſayle was of white linnen cloth, wheron was writē certaine letters, which teſtified the nauigation to be proſperous, the maſte was of a great length made of a pine trée, rounde, & very excellent with a ſhining toppe, ye cabbin was couered ouer with couerings of golde, & all the ſhippe was made of Citron trée very fayre, then al the people aſwell religious as prophane toke a great nūber of Vannes repleniſhed with odors & pleaſaūt ſmelles, and threw them into the ſea mingled with milke, vntill the ſhippe was filled vp with large giftes and proſperous deuotions, when as with a pleaſant winde it launched out into the déepe: but whē thei had loſt the ſight of the ſhippe, euery mā carried again that which he brought, and went towarde the Temple in like pompe and ordre as they came to the ſea ſide. When we were come to the Temple, the great Prieſt and thoſe whiche were deputed to carry the diuine figures, but ſpecially thoſe whiche had longe time bene worſhippers of the Religiō, went into the ſecrete chāber of the Goddeſſe, where they put & placed the Images according to their order. This done one of the company whiche was a Scribe or interpretour of letters, who in forme of a preacher, ſtoode vp in a chayre before the place of the holy colledge, & began to read out of a booke, & to enterpret to the great Prince, the Senate, and to all the noble order of Cheualry, and generally to all the Romaine people, and to all ſuche as be vnder the puiſſance and iuriſdiction of Rome, theſe woordes following,^[122] [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], which ſignified y• ende of their diuine ſeruice, and that it was lawfull for euery man to depart, whereat all the people gaue a great ſhoute, & repleniſhed with much ioye, bare all kinde of herbes and garlandes of flowres home to their houſes, kiſſing and embraſing the ſteppes where the Goddeſſe paſſed: howbeit I could not doo as the reſt, for my minde wold not ſuffer me to departe one foote away, ſo earneſt and attentife was I to beholde the beautie of the Goddeſſe, with remembraunce likewiſe of my great trauell and miſerie, which I had endured.

¶How the Parentes and freendes of Apuleius, harde newes that he was aliue and in health.

Cap. 48.

IN the meane ſeaſon newes was carried into my countrie (as ſwifte as the flight of birdes, or as the blaſte of windes) of the grace and benefite whiche I receaued of the goddeſſe, and of my fortune woorthy to be had in memory. Then my parentes, fréendes, & ſeruauntes of our houſe, vnderſtandinge that I was not dead as thei were falſely enformed, came towardes me with great diligence to ſée me, as a man rayſed from death to life: And I likewiſe which did neuer thinke to ſée them againe, was as ioyfull as they, acceptinge and takinge in good part, their honeſt giftes and oblations which they gaue, to the intent I might bie ſuch things as was neceſſary for my body: After that I had made relation vnto them of all my priſtine miſery, & preſent ioyes, I wente againe before the face of the Goddeſſe, and hired me a houſe within the cloiſture of the tēple, to the ende I might continually be ready to the ſeruice of the Goddeſſe, and ordinarily frequent the company of the prieſtes, wherby I would wholy become deuout to the Goddeſſe, and an inſeparable woorſhipper of her diuine name: It fortuned that the Goddeſſe appeared to me oftentimes in the night, perſwadinge and commaundinge me to take the order of her religion, but I although I was endewed with a deſirous good wil, yet the reuerende feare of the ſame withhelde me, conſideringe that her obeyſaunce was harde and difficill, the chaſtetie of the Prieſtes intollerable, and the life fraile & ſubiect to many incōueniences, beinge thus in doubte I refrained my ſelfe from all thoſe thinges, as ſéeming impoſſible: On a night the great Prieſt appeared vnto me preſenting his lappe full of treaſure, and whē I demaunded what it ſignified, he anſweared that it was ſent me from the countrie of Theſſaly, and that a ſeruaūt of mine named Candidus was arriued like wiſe: whē I was awaked, I muſed in my ſelf what this viſtō ſhould portēde, cōſidering I neuer had any ſeruaūt called by that name: but whatſoeuer it did ſignifie, this I verely thought that it was a fore ſhow of gaine & proſperous chaunce: while I was thus aſtonied I went to the Temple, and tarried there till the openinge of the gates, then I wente in, & began to pray before the face of the Goddeſſe, the Prieſt prepared and ſet the diuine thinges on euery Aultour, & pulled out of the foūtaine the holy veſſell with ſolempne ſupplication. Then they began to ſinge the mattens of the mornyng, teſtifiyng thereby the howre of the pryme. By and by beholde arriued my ſeruauntes whiche I had left in the countrie, whē Fotis by errour made me an Aſſe, bringyng with thē my horſe, recouered by her through certaine ſignes and tokens which he had vpon his backe. Then I perceaued the enterpretatiō of my dreame, by reaſon that beſide the promiſſe of gaine, my white horſe was reſtored to me, which was ſignified by the argument of my ſeruaunt Candidus. This done I retired to the ſeruice of the Goddeſſe in hope of greater benefites, conſidering I had receaued a ſigne and token, wherby my courage encreaſed euery day more & more to take vpon me the orders and Sacramētes of the Temple: In ſo much that I oftentimes cōmuned with the Prieſt, deſiringe him greatly to giue me the firſt degree of the Religion, but he which was a mā of grauitie, & well renoumed in y• order of prieſthood, differd my affection frō day to day with comfort of better hope, as parentes cōmonly bridle the deſires of their children, when they attempt or endeuor any vnprofitable thing, ſaying: yt the day, whē any one ſhould be admitted into their order, is appointed by the Goddeſſe, the Prieſt which ſhoulde miniſter the ſacrifice, is choſen by her prouidence, and the neceſſarie charges of the ceremouies, is allotted by her commaundement, all which thinges he willed me to attēde with meruelous patience, and that I ſhould beware either of to much haſtines or to great ſlacknes, conſideringe that there was like daunger, if beynge called I ſhould delay, or not called I ſhould be haſtie: moreouer he ſaide, that there was none of his company eyther of ſo deſperate a minde, or ſo raſhe and hardie as to enterpriſe any thinge without the commaūdement of the Goddeſſe, wherby he ſhould committe a deadly offēce, conſidering that it was in her power to dampne & ſaue all perſons, and if any were at the point of death and in the way to damnation, ſo that he were capable to receaue the ſecretes of the Goddeſſe, it was in her power by diuine prouidence to reduce him to the pathe of health, as by a certaine kinde of regeneratiō: Finaly he ſaide that I muſte attende the celeſtiall precept, although it was euident and playne that the Goddeſſe had already vouchſaued to call and appointe me to her miniſtery, and to will me to refraine from prophane & vnlawful meates, as thoſe prieſts which were already receaued, to ye ende I might come more apte & cleane to the knowledge of ye ſecretes of the religiō. Then I was obedient vnto theſe woordes, and attentife with méeke quietnes, & probable taciturnitie, I dayly ſerued at the temple: in the ende the holeſom gentlenes of y• goddeſſe did nothinge deceaue me, for in a night ſhe appeared to me in a viſion, declaryng y• the day was come whiche I had wiſhed for ſo longe, ſhe told me what prouiſiō and charges I ſhould be at, and how that ſhe had appointed her principal prieſt Mithra to be a miniſter with me in my ſacrifices. When I had harde theſe diuine cōmaundementes I greatly reioyſed, and aroſe before day to ſpeake with the great prieſt, whom I fortuned to eſpie cominge out of his chamber: Then I ſaluted him, and thought with my ſelf to aſke and demaunde his coūſell with a bolde courage, but aſſone as he perceaued me, he began firſt to ſay: O Lucius now knowe I well yt thou are moſte happy and bleſſed, whom the diuine goddeſſe doth ſo greatly accept with mercy, why doeſt y• delay: Behold the day which thou diddeſt deſire, whē as thou ſhalt receaue at my handes y• order of religiō, & know y• moſt pure ſecretes of the goddeſſe, wherupō the old mā toke me by the hand, & ledde me to the gate of the great temple, where at his firſt entrie he made a ſolēpne celebratiō, and after yt the morning ſacrifice was ended, he brought out of the ſecrete place of the temple certaine bookes, partly writen with vnknowen charecters, and partely peincted with figures of beaſtes, declarings briefly euery ſentence, with toppes and tayles turned roūde in faſhiō of a whéele, which were wholy ſtraūge & impoſſible to be reade of the prophane people: There he enterpreted to me ſuche thinges as were neceſſary to the vſe and preparation of mine order. This done, I gaue in charge to certaine of my compaignions to bie liberaly what ſo euer was néedefull and conuenient, then he brought me to the next baynes, accōpaned with all the religious ſorte, and demaundinge perdon of the Goddes, waſhed me and purified my body according to ye cuſtome: After this when noone approched he brought me backe againe to the Temple, and preſented me before the face of the Goddeſſe, giuinge a charge of certaine ſecrete thinges vnlawfull to be vttered, and cōmaunding me, and generally all the reſt, to faſt by the ſpace of tenne continuall dayes, without eating of any beaſt, or drinking of any wine, which thinges I obſerued with a meruelous continencie. Then beholde the day approched, when as the ſacrifice ſhould be done, & when night came there arriued on euery coaſt a great multitude of Prieſtes, who accordinge to their order offered me many preſentes and giftes, then was all the Laitie & prophane people cōmaunded to depart, & when they had putte on my backe a linnē robe, they brought me to the moſt ſecrete and ſacred place of the Temple. You would perauēture demaūde, you ſtudious reader, what was ſaide and done there, verely I would tel you if it were lawfull for me to tell, you ſhould know if it were conuenient for you to here, but both thy eares and my tongue ſhall incurre the like paine of raſhe curioſitie: Howbeit I wil content thy minde for this preſent time, which peraduenture is ſomewhat religious and giuen to ſome deuotion, liſten therefore & beleue it to be true: thou ſhalt vnderſtande that I approched nere vnto Hell, euē to the gates of Proſerpina, & after that I was rauiſhed throughout all the Elementes, I returned to my proper place: About midnight I ſawe the ſonne ſhine, I ſaw likewiſe the Goddes celeſtiall, and Goddes infernall, before whome I preſented my ſelfe and woorſhipped them: beholde now haue I tolde thée, which although thou haſt harde, yet it is neceſſary that you conceale it, for this haue I declared without offence, for the vnderſtanding of the prophane. When morninge came and that the ſolempnities were finiſhed, I came foorth ſanctified with twelue [•]toles & in a religious habite, wherof I am not forbiddē to ſpeake, conſideringe that many perſons ſawe me at that time: there I was commaunded to ſtande vppon a ſeate of woodde which ſtoode in the middle of the temple, before the figure and remembraūce of the Goddeſſe, my veſtment was of fine linnen, couered & embrodered with flowres, I had a pretious cope vpon my ſhoulders hanginge downe to the grounde, whereon were beaſtes wrought of diuers colours, as Indian Dragons, & Hyperborian Gryphones, whome in forme of brides the other world doth engender, the Prieſtes cōmonly call ſuch a habit, a celeſtiall Stole: in my right hande I carried a light torche, and a garlande of flowres vpon my head, with Palme leaues ſtroutinge out on euery ſide: I was adorned like vnto the Sunne, and made in faſhion of an Image, in ſuche ſorte that all the people compaſſed about to beholde me: Then they beganne to ſolemniſe the feaſt of my natiuitie, and the newe proceſſion with ſumptuous bankets and delicate meates: the thirde day was likewiſe celebrate with like ceremonies, with a religious dinner, and with all the conſummation of the order, when I had continued there a good ſpace I conceaued a meruelous pleaſure and cōſolation in beholding ordinarily the Image of the goddeſſe, who at length admoniſhed me to departe homewarde, not without rendringe of thankes, whiche although were not ſufficient, yet they were according to my power: How be it I could vnneth be perſwaded to depart, before I had fallen proſtrate before the face of y• Goddeſſe, and wiped her ſteppes with my face, whereby I beganne ſo greatly to wéepe and ſighe, that my woordes were interrupted, and as deuouring my prayer I began to ſay in this ſorte: O holy & bleſſed Dame, the perpetuall comfort of humaine kinde, who by thy bountie and grace nouriſheſt all the world, and beareſt a great affection to the aduerſities of the miſerable as a louing mother, thou takeſt no reſt, neyther arte thou idle at any time in giuinge thy benefites, and ſuccoringe all men aſwell on lande as ſea, thou arte ſhe that putteſt away all ſtormes and daungers from mans life by thy right hande, whereby likewiſe thou reſtrayneſt the fatall diſpoſitions, appeaſeſt the great tempeſtes of fortunes, and kéepeſt backe the courſe of the ſtarres, the Gods ſupernall doth honour thée: the Gods infernall hath thée in reuerence: thou enuironeſt al the worlde, thou giueſt light to the Sunne, thou gouerneſt the world, thou treadeſt downe the power of Hell: By thy meane the times returne, the Planets reioyſe, the Elementes ſerue: at thy cōmaūdement the windes doo blowe, the cloudes encreaſe, the ſéedes proſper, and the fruictes preuayle, the birdes of the ayre, the beaſtes of the hill, the Serpentes of the denne, and the fiſhes of the ſea, doo tremble at thy maieſtie, but my ſpirite is not able to giue thée ſufficient prayſe, my patrimonie is vnable to ſatiſfie thy ſacrifice, my voyce hath no power to vtter that which I thinke, no if I had a thouſande mouthes and ſo many tongues: How be it as a good religious perſonne, and according to my eſtate, I wil alwaies kéepe thée in remembraunce, and cloſe thee within my breſt. When I had ended mine orayſon, I wente to embraſe the great Prieſte Mithra my ſpirituall Father and to demaunde his pardon, conſidering I was vnable to recompence the good whiche he had done me: After great gréetinges & thankes I departed from him to viſitte my parents & fréendes. And within a while after by the exhortatiō of the Goddeſſe, I made vp my packquette and toke ſhippyng towardes ye Citie of Rome, where, with a proſperous winde I arriued about the twelfe day of December. And the greateſt deſire which I had there was daily to make my praiers to y• ſoueraigne Goddeſſe Iſis, who by reaſon of the place where her temple was builded, was called Cāpenſis, & cōtinually adored of the people of Rome: Her miniſter & woorſhipper was I howbeit I was a ſtraunger to her Church, & vnknowen to her religion there: When the yeare was ended, & that the Goddeſſe warned me again to receaue this newe order & conſecration, I merueled greatly what it ſhould ſignifie, & what ſhould happen, conſidering that I was a ſacred perſon already. But it fortuned yt while I partly reaſoned with my ſelfe, and partely examined ye thing with the Prieſtes & Biſhops, there came a newe & meruelous thought to my minde, that is to ſay: I was onely religious to ye goddeſſe Iſis, but not ſacred to the religion of great Oſiris the ſoueraigne Father of all the Goddes, betwéene whome, although there was a religious vnitie and concorde, yet there was a great difference of order and ceremonie. And becauſe it was neceſſary that I ſhoulde likewiſe be a miniſter vnto Oſiris, there was no longe delay: For in the night after appered vnto me one of that order, couered with linnen robes, holding in his hādes ſpeares wrapped in yu[•]e, and other thinges not conuenient to declare, which he lefte in my chamber, and ſittinge in my ſeate, [〈◊〉] to me ſuche thinges as were neceſſary for the ſumptuons bankette of mine entry. And to the ende I might knowe him againe, he ſhowed me how the ankle of his left foote was ſomewhat maymed, whiche cauſed him a litle to halte. After that I did manifeſtly knowe the will of the God Oſiris, when Mattins was ended, I wente from one to an other to finde him out whiche had the haltinge marke of his foote, accordinge as I learned by my viſion, at length I founde it true: for I perceaued one of the company of the Prieſtes who had not onely the token of his foote, but the ſtature and habite of his body, reſemblyng in euery point as he appeared in the night, he was called Aſinius Marcellus, ^[123] a name not muche diſagreynge from my tranſformation, by and by I wēnte to him, whiche knew well inough all the matter, as beynge moniſhed by like precept in the nighte: for the night before as he dreſſed the flowres and garlandes about the head of yt God Oſiris, he vnderſtoode by the mouth of his Image, which tolde the predeſtinations of all men, how he had ſent a poore man of Madaura, to whom he ſhould miniſter his ſacramentes, to the ende y• he ſhould receaue a rewarde by diuine prouidence, and the other glory, for his vertuous ſtudies, when I ſawe my ſelfe thus deputed vnto religion, my deſire was ſtopped by reaſon of pouertie, for I had ſpente a great parte of my goodes in trauell and peregrination, but moſt of all in the citie of Rome, whereby my lowe eſtate withdrewe me a great while: In the ende, being oftentimes ſtirred forwarde, not without great trouble of minde, I was cōſtreined to ſel my roabe for a litle money: howbeit, ſufficient for all my affaires. Then the Prieſte ſpake vnto me, ſaiyng: How is it that for a little pleaſure thou art not aferde to ſell thy veſtimentes, and entring into ſo great ceremonies, doſt feare to fall into pouertie▪ prepare thy ſelfe, and abſtaine from all animall meates, as beaſtes and fiſhe. In the meane ſeaſon I did frequent the ſacrifices of Serapis, whiche were done in y• night, which thing gaue me great comfort to my peregrination, and miniſtred vnto me more plentifull liuing, cōſidering I gained ſome money in haūting to the court, by reaſon of my lattin tongue. Immediatly after, I was eftſones called and admoniſhed by the god Oſiris, to receiue a thirde order of Religiō. Then I was greatly aſtonied, becauſe I coulde not tell what this newe viſion ſignified, or what the intent of the Celeſtiall Goddes was, doubting leaſt the former Prieſtes had giuen me ill councell, and fearinge that they had not faithfully enſtructed me, beinge in this maner as it were incenſed. The God Oſiris, appeared to me the night! folowing, and geuing me admonition, ſaiynge: There is no occaſion why thou ſhouldeſt be aferd with ſo often order of Religion, as though there were ſomwhat omitted, but that thou ſhouldeſt rather reioyſe, ſince as it hath pleaſed ye Goddes to cal thée thrée times, when as there was neuer yet any perſone that atchieued to the order but once: Wherfore thou maiſt thinke thy ſelfe moſt happy for ſo great benefites. And knowe thou that the Religion which thou muſt nowe receiue, is right neceſſary, if thou meane to perſeuer in the woorſhipping of the Goddeſſe and to make ſolempnitie on the feſtiual day with thy bleſſed habite, which thing ſhalbe a glory and renoume to thée. After this ſorte the diuine maieſtie perſwaded me in my ſléepe, whereupō by and by I went towardes the Prieſt, and declared all that which I had ſéene, then I faſted the ſpace of tenne daies according to the cuſtome, and of mine own proper wil I abſtained lenger then I was cōmaunded: And verely I did nothing repent of the paine whiche I had taken, & of the charges which I was at, conſidering that the diuine prouidence had giuen me ſuch an order that I gayned much money in pleadinge of cauſes: Finally after a few dayes the great God Oſiris appeared to me in the night, not deſguiſed in any other forme but in his owne eſſence, cōmaundinge me that I ſhould be an Aduocate in the court, & not feare the ſclaunder & enuie of ill perſons, whiche bare me ſtomacke & grudge by reaſon of my doctrine, whiche I had gotten by much labour: moreouer he woulde not that I ſhoulde be any lenger of the nomber of his Prieſtes, but he allotted me to be one of the Decurious & Senatours: and after he appointed me a place within the auncient Pallaice, which was erected in the time of Silla, whereas I executed mine office in great ioy with a ſhauen crowne.

FINIS.

❧The Table of the firſt Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Aſſe.

• HOvve Apuleius ridinge into Theſſalie, fortuned to fall into cōpanie vvith tvvo ſtraūgers, that reaſoned together of the mightye povver of VVitches. Cap. 1. fol. 1.
• Hovv Apulcius told to the tvvoo ſtraūgers, what he ſavv a Iuglar doo in Athēs. Cap. 2. fol. 1.
• Hovv Socrates in his returne frō Macedonie to Lariſſa, vvas ſpoiled and robbed, and hovv he fell acquainted vvith one Meroe, a VVitch. Cap. 3. fol. 3.
• Hovve Meroe the VVitche turned diuers perſons into miſerable Beaſtes. Cap. 4.
• Hovv Socrates and Ariſtomenus ſlept together in one chāber, and hovve they vvere hādled by VVitches. Cap. 5. fol. 5.
• Hovv Apuleius came to a Citie called Hipate, and vvas lodged in one Malos houſe, and brought him letters from Demea of Corinth. Cap. 6. fol. 9.
• Hovve Apuleius goeinge to bie Fiſhe mette vvith his compaignion Pithias. Cap. 7. fol. 10.

¶The ſeconde Booke.

• ¶Hovv Apuleius fortuned to meete vvith his cofin Byrrhena. Cap. 8. fol. 12.
• Hovve Apuleius fell into loue vvith Fotis. Cap. 9. fol. 14.
• Hovv Birrhena ſent victualles vnto Apuleius, and hovv he talked vvith Milo of Diophanes, and hovv he laye vvith Fotis. Cap. 10. fol. 16.
• Hovv Apuleius ſupped vvith Birrhena, and vvhat a ſtraūge tale Bellephoron tolde at the table. Cap. 11. fol. 18.

¶The thirde Booke.

• ¶Hovv Apuleius vvas taken and putte in priſon for Murder. Cap. 12. fol. 24.
• Hovve Apuleius vvas accuſed by an olde man, and hovv he anſvveared for him ſelfe. Cap. 13. fol. 24.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas accuſed by tvvo vvomen, and hovv the ſlaine bodies vvere foūde blovven bladders. Cap. 14. fol. 26.
• Hovve Fotis tolde to Apuleius, vvhat VVitchecrafte her Miſtris did vſe. Cap. 15. fol. 28.
• Hovv Fotis brought Apuleius to ſee her Miſtris Enchaunt. Cap. 16. fol. 31.
• Hovve Apuleius thinkinge to be turned into a Birde, vvas turned in to an Aſſe, and hovve he vvas ledde avvaye by Theeues. Cap. 17. fol. 32.

¶The fourth Booke.

• ¶Hovv Apuleius thinking to goe to eate Roſes, vvas cruelly beaten by a Gardener and chaſed by Dogges. ca. 18. fol. 34.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas preuēted of his purpoſe, and hovve the Theeues came to their denne. Cap. 19. fol. 35.
• Hovve Thraſileon vvas diſguiſed in a Beares ſkinne, and hovv he vvas handled. Cap. 20. fol. 39.
• Hovve the Theeues ſtole avvay a Gentelvvoman, and brought her to their denne. Cap. 21. fol. 41.
• The moſte pleaſaunt and delectable tale of the Marriage of Cupide and Pſyches. Cap. 22. fol. 45.
• Hovv Apuleius carried avvay the Gentlevvoman, and hovv they vvere taken againe by the Theeues, and vvhat a kinde of death vvas inuented for thē. Cap. 23. fol. 63.

¶The ſeuenth Booke.

• ¶Hovv he that vvas lefte behinde at Hippata to bringe nevves concerning the robbery of Milos houſe, came home and declared to his compaigniōs that all the faulte was layde to one Apuleius charge. Cap. 24. fol. 66.
• How the death of the Aſſe, and the Gentelvvoman vvas ſtaide. Cap. 25. fol. 69.
• Hovv all the Theeues vveare brought in a ſleape by their nevve companion. Cap. 26. fol. 70.
• Hovv the Gētlevvomā vvas carried home by her huſbande vvhile the Theeues vvere a ſleape, and hovve muche Apuleius vvas made of. Cap. 27. fol. 71.
• Hovve Apuleius vvas made a cōmon Aſſe to fetche home vvoodde, and hovv he vvas handled by a boye. Cap. 28. fol. 72.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas accuſed of lecherie by the Boye. Cap. 29. fol. 74.
• Hovve the Boye that ledde Apuleius to the fieldes, vvas ſlaine in the vvoodde. Cap. 30. fol. 75.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas cruelly beaten by the mother of the boye that vvas ſlaine. Cap. 31. fol. 76.

¶The eight Booke.

• ¶Hovv a yonge man came and declared the miſerable death of Lepolemus, and his vvife Charites. Cap. 32. fol. 77.
• Hovve Apuleius vvas ledde avvay by the horſekeper, and vvhat daungers he vvas in. Cap. 33. fol. 81.
• Hovv the Shepeherdes determined to abide in a certayne vvoodde to cure their vvoundes. Cap. 34. fol. 83.
• Hovv a vvoman killed her ſelfe, and her childe, becauſe her huſbande haunted harlottes. Cap. 35. fol. 84.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas cheapened by diuers perſons, and hovve they loked in his mouth to knovv his age. Cap. 36. fol. 84.

¶The ninth Booke.

• ¶Hovve Apuleius ſaued him ſelfe from the Cooke by breakinge his halter, and of other thinges that happened. Cap. 37. fol. 87.
• Of the deceipte of a vvoman, vvhich made her huſbād Coockolde. Cap. 38. fol. 89.
• Hovv the Prieſtes of the goddeſſe Syria, vvere taken and put in pryſon, and hovve Apuleius was ſolde to a Baker. Cap. 39. fol. 90.
• Hovve Apuleius vvas handled by the Bakers vvife, whiche vvas a harlotte. Cap. 40. fol. 92.
• Hovv Barbasus being ielous ouer his vvife, cōmaunded that ſhe ſhould be kepte cloſe in his houſe, and vvhat happened. Cap. 41. fol. 93.
• Hovv Apuleius after the Baker vvas hanged, vvas ſolde to a Gardiner, and vvhat dreadful things happened. Ca. 42. fol. 97.
• Hovve Apuleius vvas founde dy his ſhadovv. Cap. 43. fol. 100.

¶The tenth Booke.

• ¶Hovve the Souldiour draue Apuleius awaye, and hovve he came to a Capitains houſe: and vvhat happened there. Cap. 44. fol. 102.
• Hovv Apuleius vvas ſolde to two brethern, vvhereof one vvas a Baker, and the other a Cooke, and hovve finely and deintily he fared. Cap. 45. fol. 106.
• Hovv a certaine Matron fell in loue vvith Apuleius, and hovve he had his pleaſure vvith her, and what other things happened. Cap. 46. fol. 109.

¶The eleuenth Booke.

• ¶Hovve Apuleius by Roſes and prayer, returned to his humaine ſhape. Cap. 47. fol. 115.
• Hovv the Parentes and freendes of Apuleius, harde nevves that he vvas aliue and in health. Cap. 48. fol. 121.

FINIS.

Marginal notes

1. A countrey where are many Inchantereſſes and Witches. ↩
2. The vertue of parentes makes the children honored. ↩
3. VVitches in old time weare ſuppoſed to be of ſuch power that they coulde pull downe the Moone by their inchauntment. ↩
4. The God of medicine is called Aſculapius. ↩
5. Miſerie maketh ſome men forget acquaintance. ↩
6. To vſe and haūt women maketh mē haue meigre and palc [•]aces. ↩
7. Witches are ſuppoſed tobeare whatſoeuer is ſaide. ↩
8. [•]are and care [〈◊〉] mē wa[••]nge. ↩
9. Meroe, ſo called of Meris, which in Engliſ he is ſtronge wine vntempred. ↩
10. The ſponge [〈◊〉] meth of the [〈◊〉] ↩
11. The preſumptions of Magiſtrates. ↩
12. Suche drouſie ſeruaeuntes haue ready anſweres ↩
13. The wayfaring man that hath no monie may ſinge merely before the theefe ↩
14. Cerberus is the dogge of, hell feigned by the Poetes to ſtād a[•] Plutoes gates ↩
15. [•]anthia ſaide before beware ſpoge that thou paſſe not by the runninge riuer. ↩
16. He ſpeaketh to Apulcius. ↩
17. Auarice maket[•] men ill ſpok[•] of ↩
18. Couet ouſnes is extreme miſery. ↩
19. The n[•]ggarde kepeth cloſe his doores alwaies. ↩
20. [•]o vſed Magiſtrates to goo ſometime in [•]ome. ↩
21. Such ſuppers vſeth vſerers to make. ↩
22. Yonge men are prone to fall into the daunger of loue. ↩
23. Time, place, and occaſion tēpteth a man muche. ↩
24. The like ſaying hath Terence. ↩
25. Such meate f[••]reth vp [〈◊〉] excidingh. ↩
26. A pretie tale. ↩
27. D[•]ophanes tolde the fortune of others, but his owne he coulde not tell. ↩
28. A pl[•]aſant tale. ↩
29. Kiſus the God if ſporte. ↩
30. The inuectiue [〈◊〉] againſt Apuleius. ↩
31. The anſweare of Apuleius. ↩
32. This maide was thought to be Venus. ↩
33. Hymeneu, the God of Marriage. ↩
34. W[•]men cā do[•] moſt when they be in bedde. ↩
35. Such taſke vſe goſſeps when they meete together. ↩
36. So vſeth yonge wiues to doo. ↩
37. The childe taketh the ſhape of the Father. ↩
38. The enuious perſon pine[•]h as others felicitie. ↩
39. The abſent of louers is greateſt puniſhmet. ↩
40. As euery vertue is rewarded, ſo euery vice is puniſſhed. ↩
41. Iuno was daughter of Saturne and Opis ſiſter and wife of Iupiter. Ceres other wife called [•]ſis wife of Oſ[•]ris [〈◊〉] of Egipte▪ ſhe [〈◊〉] ſuppoſed to be the Goddeſſe of Harueſt. ↩
42. The vſe of cutte purſes now a daies. ↩
43. vvho was now [〈◊〉] Aſſe. ↩
44. Surmiſes of the common people. ↩
45. His white horſe was likewiſe taken away by the Theeues. ↩
46. The Aſſe ſpeaketh. ↩
47. God ſēdes fooles fortune. ↩
48. As Traſileon Lamathus &c. ↩
49. This yonge man was [•]ep[•]lemus the yonge maydens ſpouſe. ↩
50. A pre[•]y deceiple of Lepolemus. ↩
51. A forged lie. ↩
52. Apuleius ſpeaketh. ↩
53. A prety wyle to ſaue his wife. ↩
54. [••]ere Lepolem[••] draweth to his purpoſe. ↩
55. Apuleius ſpeaketh. ↩
56. The iudgement of an Aſſe. ↩
57. A prety ieſt of an Aſſe. ↩
58. This pleaſed the Aſſe. ↩
59. Vnhappy is he that hath an ill miſtris. ↩
60. Such scrapinge dames be many now a daies. ↩
61. Pleaſure oftentimes turneth to paine. ↩
62. The Aſſe hath redde Hiſtories. ↩
63. One ſorrowe that the b[•]ye wrought to Apuleius. ↩
64. Here they deuiſe to kill the Aſſe. ↩
65. A friendly enemie to the Aſſe. ↩
66. Apuleius ſpeaketh. ↩
67. He falleth into Scilla that will auoide Charibdis. ↩
68. Apuleius geldinge was delaide. ↩
69. A fooliſh woman to laye the fault to a bruite beaſt. ↩
70. The Aſſe ſpeaketh. ↩
71. Theſe vices are lightly linked together. ↩
72. Good fame is better then riches. ↩
73. Here the Lābes made muche of the Wolfe. ↩
74. O wicked deede. ↩
75. O more miſcheuous facte. ↩
76. Worſe then Iudas. ↩
77. The parte of a good woman. ↩
78. Murder is alwaies reueled. ↩
79. The whote furies of deueliſ[•]. appetites. ↩
80. The Goddes ſuffereth no vice vnpuniſhed. ↩
81. O deede woorthy of remembraunce. ↩
82. The Aſſe ſpeaketh. ↩
83. A dreadfull place of daūger ↩
84. So vſed they in olde time to offer to Images. ↩
85. So vſed feigned Egiptiās of lat[•] yeres in Englād▪ ↩
86. There is no mallice, aboue the mallice of a woman. ↩
87. Thus old baudes ſeweth for yōg knaues. ↩
88. What is more worſe then a ielous perſon. ↩
89. Golde cōquereth all thinges. ↩
90. Women eaſely allured by giftes. ↩
91. Here gold brake faith and truſt. ↩
92. Haſte is no[•] good. ↩
93. A harlot ſpendeth the ſubſtance of her huſbande. ↩
94. As quicke of ſight abroade as linx: but blin[••] at home. ↩
95. Abhorring ſuch crimes in others [〈◊〉] they vſe them ſelues. ↩
96. Whoredome wilbe knowen▪ ↩
97. Poore fare and poore lodginge in time of neceſsitie is good. ↩
98. Terrible tokēs. ↩
99. Suche thinges happen before death and dreadfull chaūſes, ↩
100. The thinge which the ſaid ſtraunge tokens foreſhewed. ↩
101. Might, ouercometh right. ↩
102. The lawe redreſſeth the poore mās cauſ[•] ↩
103. Nothing worſe then to fall into the hādes of enemies. ↩
104. A friēde in aduerſitie is better then treaſure. ↩
105. A pitifull [〈◊〉] of a ſtepdame and her ſonne in lawe. ↩
106. A thinge rooted deepe, can ſkars he pulled vp. ↩
107. VViſdome lieth in hoare headed [•]ge. ↩
108. A womā either loueth thee burningly, or hateth the extremely. ↩
109. To proceede by lawe is iuſtice, for lawe is very iuſtice. ↩
110. The Aſſe ſpeaketh. ↩
111. Thus they vſed in olde time to putte ſuche to death, as had killed any of their kinrede. But that lawe was afterward abrogate. ↩
112. Iudges are ſworne to execute Iuſtice. ↩
113. [〈◊〉]vſeth theeues to doo, when euident proufes are ſhowen. ↩
114. The office of a Phiſician is to cute and not to kill, as I haue harde tell many Phiſiciās of ſpeculation haue done, before thei haue come to practiſe. ↩
115. Sorrowe into gladnes, the women mentioned in the warres that the Romaines had againſt the Carthaginiēſes, were ſo gladde when they ſaw their ſonnes aliue, who were reported to be dead, that their hartes bra[••]e a ſonder, and ſo died for ioye. ↩
116. Here I haue lef[•] out certain lines propter honeſtatem. ↩
117. Here the trīuph is expreſſed. ↩
118. The offer of loue, paſſed kingdomes and treaſure. ↩
119. The Aſſes prayer to the Moone. ↩
120. The woordes of the God deſſe, to the Aſſe. ↩
121. The onely helpe of the Aſſe. ↩
122. Populis miſsio. ↩
123. Aſinius by taking away the letter i. is made Aſinus. ↩