The Golden Asse
by Lucius Apuleius
Adlington's translation, 1566
THE NINTH BOOKE
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius saved
himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of other things that
happened.
In this manner the traiterous Cooke
prepared himselfe to slay me: and when he was ready with his knives to doe his
feat, I devised with my selfe how I might escape the present perill, and I did
not long delay: for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and
flinging my heeles hither and thither to save my selfe, at length I ran
hastily into a Parlour, where the Master of the house was feasting with the
Priests of the goddesse Syria, and disquieted all the company, throwing downe
their meats and drinks from the table. The Master of the house dismayed at my
great disorder, commanded one of his servants to take me up, and locke me in
some strong place, to the end I might disturb them no more. But I little
regarded my imprisonment, considering that I was happily delivered from the
hands of the traiterous Cooke. Howbeit fortune, or the fatall disposition of
the divine providence, which neither can be avoided by wise counsell, neither
yet by any wholesome remedie, invented a new torment, for by and by a young
Ladde came running into the Parlour all trembling, and declared to the Master
of the house, that there was a madde Dog running about in the Streets, which
had done much harme, for he had bitten many gray hounds and Horses in the Inne
by: And he spared neither man nor beast. For there was one Mitilius a
Mulettour, Epheseus, a Cooke, Hyppanius a chamberlaine, and Appolonius a
Physition, who (thinking to chase away the madde Dogge) were cruelly wounded
by him, insomuch that many Horses and other beasts infected with the venyme of
his poysonous teeth became madde likewise. Which thing caused them all at the
table greatly to feare, and thinking that I had beene bitten in like sort,
came out with speares, Clubs, and Pitchforks purposing to slay me, and I had
undoubtedly beene slaine, had I not by and by crept into the Chamber, where my
Master intended to lodge all night. Then they closed and locked fast the
doores about me, and kept the chamber round, till such time as they thought
that the pestilent rage of madnesse had killed me. When I was thus shutte in
the chamber alone, I laid me downe upon the bed to sleepe, considering it was
long time past, since I lay and tooke my rest as a man doth. When morning was
come, and that I was well reposed, I rose up lustily. In the meane season,
they which were appointed to watch about the chamber all night, reasoned with
themselves in this sort, Verely (quoth one) I think that this rude Asse be
dead. So think I (quoth another) for the outragious poyson of madness hath
killed him, but being thus in divers opinions of a poore Ass, they looked
through a crevis, and espied me standing still, sober and quiet in the middle
of the chamber; then they opened the doores, and came towards me, to prove
whether I were gentle or no. Amongst whom there was one, which in my opinion,
was sent from Heaven to save my life, that willed the other to set a bason of
faire water before me, and thereby they would know whether I were mad or no,
for if I did drinke without feare as I accustomed to do, it was a signe that I
was whole, and in mine Assie wits, where contrary if I did flie and abhorre
the tast of the water, it was evident proofe of my madness, which thing he
said that he had read in ancient and credible books, whereupon they tooke a
bason of cleere water, and presented it before me: but I as soone as I
perceived the wholesome water of my life, ran incontinently, thrusting my head
into the bason, drank as though I had beene greatly athirst; then they stroked
me with their hands, and bowed mine eares, and tooke me by the halter, to
prove my patience, but I taking each thing in good part, disproved their mad
presumption, by my meeke and gentle behaviour: when I was thus delivered from
this double dagger, the next day I was laded againe with the goddesse Siria,
and other trumpery, and was brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbals to
beg in the villages which we passed by according to our custome. And after
that we had gone through a few towns and Castles, we fortuned to come to a
certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitants there affirme) upon
the foundation of a famous ancient Citie. And after that we had turned into
the next Inne, we heard of a prettie jest committed in the towne there, which
I would that you should know likewise.
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER
Of the deceipt of a
Woman which made her husband Cuckold.
There was a man dwelling in the towne
very poore, that had nothing but that which he got by the labour and travell
of his hands: his wife was a faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given
to the appetite and desire of the flesh. It fortuned on a day, that while this
poore man was gone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse,
according as he accustomed to doe, his wives lover secretly came into his
house to have his pleasure with her. And so it chanced that during the time
that shee and he were basking together, her husband suspecting no such matter,
returned home praising the chast continency of his wife, in that hee found his
doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was, he whistled to declare his
comming. Then his crafty wife ready with shifts, caught her lover and covered
him under a great tub standing in a corner, and therewithall she opened the
doore, blaming her husband in this sort: Commest thou home every day with
empty hands, and bringest nothing to maintaine our house? thou has no regard
for our profit, neither providest for any meate of drinke, whereas I poore
wretch doe nothing day and night but occupie my selfe with spinning, and yet
my travell will scarce find the Candels which we spend. O how much more happy
is my neighbour Daphne, that eateth and drinketh at her pleasure, and passeth
the time with her amorous lovers according to her desire. What is the matter
(quoth her husband) though our Master hath made holiday at the fields, yet
thinke not but I have made provision for our supper; doest thou not see this
tub that keepeth a place here in our house in vaine, and doth us no service?
Behold I have sold it to a good fellow (that is here present) for five pence,
wherefore I pray thee lend me thy hand, that I may deliver him the tub. His
wife (having invented a present shift) laughed on her husband, saying: What
marchant I pray you have you brought home hither, to fetch away my tub for
five pence, for which I poore woman that sit all day alone in my house have
beene proferred so often seaven: her husband being well
apayed [*]
of her words demanded what he was that had bought the tub:
Looke (quoth she) he is gone under, to see where it be sound or no: then her
lover which was under the tub, began to stirre and rustle himselfe, and
because his words might agree to the words of the woman, he sayd: Dame will
you have me tell the truth, this tub is rotten and crackt as me seemeth on
every side. And then turning to her husband sayd: I pray you honest man light
a Candle, that I may make cleane the tub within, to see if it be for my
purpose or no, for I doe not mind to cast away my money wilfully: he by and by
(being made a very Oxe) lighted a candle, saying, O pray you good brother put
not your selfe to so much paine, let me make the tub cleane and ready for you.
Whereupon he put off his coate, and crept under the tub to rub away the filth
from the sides. In the meane season this minion lover cast his wife on the
bottome of the tub and had his pleasure with her over his head, and as he was
in the middest of his pastime, hee turned his head on this side and that side,
finding fault with this and with that, till as they had both ended their
businesse, when as he delivered seaven pence for the tub, and caused the good
man himselfe to carry it on his backe againe to his Inne.
THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER
How the Priests of the
goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison, and how Apuleius was sold to a
Baker.
After that we had tarried there a few
dayes at the cost and charges of the whole Village, and had gotten much mony
by our divination and prognostication of things to come: The priests of the
goddesse Siria invented a new meanes to picke mens purses, for they had
certaine lofts, whereon were written: Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut
in futurum lœta germinent sata: that is to say: The Oxen tied and yoked
together, doe till the ground to the intent it may bring forth his increase:
and by these kind of lottes they deceive many of the simple sort, for if one
had demanded whether he should have a good wife or no, they would say that his
lot did testify the same, that he should be tyed and yoked to a good woman and
have increase of his children. If one demanded whether he should buy lands and
possession, they said that he should have much ground that should yeeld his
increase. If one demanded whether he should have a good and prosperous voyage,
they said he should have a good successe, and it should be for the increase of
his profit. If one demanded whether hee should vanquish his enemies, and
prevaile in pursuite of theeves, they said that this enemy should be tyed and
yoked to him: and his pursuits after theeves should be prosperous. Thus by the
telling of fortunes, they gathered a great quantity of money, but when they
were weary with giving of answers, they drave me away before them next night,
through a lane which was more dangerous and stony then the way which we went
the night before, for on the one side were quagmires and foggy marshes, on the
other side were falling trenches and ditches, whereby my legges failed me, in
such sort that I could scarce come to the plaine field pathes. And behold by
and by a great company of inhabitants of the towne armed with weapons and on
horsebacke overtooke us, and incontinently arresting Philebus and his Priests,
tied them by the necks and beate them cruelly, calling them theeves and
robbers, and after that they had manacled their hands: Shew us (quoth they)
the cup of gold, which (under the colour of your solemne religion) ye have
taken away, and now ye thinke to escape in the night without punishment for
your fact. By and by one came towards me, and thrusting his hand into the
bosome of the goddesse Siria, brought out the cup which they had stole.
Howbeit for all they appeared evident and plaine they would not be confounded
nor abashed, but jesting and laughing out the matter, gan say: Is it reason
masters that you should thus rigorously intreat us, and threaten for a small
trifling cup, which the mother of the Goddesse determined to give to her
sister for a present? Howbeit for all their lyes and
cavellations [*],
they were carryed backe unto the towne, and put in prison
by the Inhabitants, who taking the cup of gold, and the goddesse which I bare,
did put and consecrate them amongst the treasure of the temple. The next day I
was carryed to the market to be sold, and my price was set at seaven pence
more then Philebus gave for me. There fortuned to passe by a Baker of the next
village, who after that he had bought a great deale of corne, bought me
likewise to carry it home, and when he had well laded me therewith, he drave
me through a thorny and dangerous way to his bake house; there I saw a great
company of horses that went in the mill day and night grinding of corne, but
lest I should be discouraged at the first, my master entertained me well, for
the first day I did nothing but fare daintily, howbeit such mine ease and
felicity did not long endure, for the next day following I was tyed to the
mill betimes in the morning with my face covered, to the end in turning and
winding so often one way, I should not become giddy, but keepe a certaine
course, but although when I was a man I had seen many such horsemills and knew
well enough how they should be turned, yet feigning my selfe ignorant of such
kind of toile, I stood still and would not goe, whereby I thought I should be
taken from the mill as an Asse unapt, and put to some other light thing, or
else to be driven into the fields to pasture, but my subtility did me small
good, for by and by when the mill stood still, the servants came about me,
crying and beating me forward, in such sort that I could not stay to advise my
selfe, whereby all the company laughed to see so suddaine a change. When a
good part of the day was past, that I was not able to endure any longer, they
tooke me off my harnesse, and tied me to the manger, but although my bones
were weary, and that I needed to refresh my selfe with rest and provender, yet
I was so curious that I did greatly delight to behold the bakers art, insomuch
that I could not eate nor drinke while I looked on.
O good Lord what a sort of poore slaves were there; some had their skinne
blacke and blew, some had their backes striped with lashes, some were covered
with rugged sackes, some had their members onely hidden: some wore such ragged
clouts, that you might perceive all their naked bodies, some were marked and
burned in the heads with hot yrons, some had their haire halfe clipped, some
had lockes of their legges, some very ugly and evill favoured, that they could
scarce see, their eyes and face were so blacke and dimme with smoake, like
those that fight in the sands, and know not where they strike by reason of
dust: And some had their faces all mealy. But how should I speake of the
horses my companions, how they being old and weake, thrust their heads into
the manger: they had their neckes all wounded and worne away: they rated [sic]
their nosethrilles with a continuall cough, their sides were bare with their
harnesse and great travell, their ribs were broken with beating, their hooves
were battered broad with incessant labour, and their skinne rugged by reason
of their lancknesse. When I saw this dreadfull sight, I began to feare, least
I should come to the like state: and considering with my selfe the good
fortune which I was sometime in when I was a man, I greatly lamented, holding
downe my head, and would eate no meate, but I saw no comfort or consolation of
my evill fortune, saving that my mind was somewhat recreated to heare and
understand what every man said, for they neither feared nor doubted my
presence. At that time I remembred how Homer the divine authour of ancient
Poetry, described him to be a wise man, which had travelled divers countries
and nations, wherefore I gave great thanks to my Asse for me, in that by this
meanes I had seene the experience of many things, and was become more wise
(notwithstanding the great misery and labour which I daily sustained): but I
will tell you a pretty jest, which commeth now to my remembrance, to the
intent your eares may be delighted in hearing the same.
THE FORTIETH CHAPTER
How Apuleius was handled by
the Bakers wife, which was a harlot.
The Baker which bought me was an
honest and sober man; but his wife was the most pestilent woman in all the
world, insomuch that he endured many miseries and afflictions with her, so
that I my selfe did secretly pitty his estate, and bewaile his evill fortune:
for she had not one fault alone, but all the mischiefes that could be devised:
shee was crabbed, cruell, lascivious, drunken, obstinate, niggish, covetous,
riotous in filthy expenses, and an enemy to faith and chastity, a despiser of
all the Gods, whom other did honour, one that affirmed that she had a God by
her selfe, wherby she deceived all men, but especially her poore husband, one
that abandoned her body with continuall whoredome. This mischievous queane
hated me in such sort, that shee commanded every day before she was up, that I
should be put into the mill to grind: and the first thing which she would doe
in the morning, was to see me cruelly beaten, and that I should grind when the
other beasts did feed and take rest. When I saw that I was so cruelly handled,
she gave me occasion to learn her conversation and life, for I saw oftentimes
a yong man which would privily goe into her chamber, whose face I did greatly
desire to see, but I could not by reason mine eyes were covered every day. And
verily if I had beene free and at liberty, I would have discovered all her
abhomination. She had an old woman, a bawd, a messenger of mischiefe that
daily haunted to her house, and made good cheere with her to the utter undoing
and impoverishment of her husband, but I that was greatly offended with the
negligence of Fotis, who made me an Asse, in stead of a Bird, did yet comfort
my selfe by this onely meane, in that to the miserable deformity of my shape,
I had long eares, whereby I might heare all things that was done: On a day I
heard the old bawd say to the Bakers wife:
Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to your lover, who
as me seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, and dastardlike coucheth
at the frowning looke of your odious husband, whereby you have no delight nor
pleasure with him: how farre better is the young man Philesiterus who is
comely, beautifull, in the flower of his youth, liberall, courteous, valiant
and stout against the diligent pries and watches of your husband, whereby to
embrace the worthiest dames of this country, and worthy to weare a crowne of
gold, for one part that he played to one that was jealous over his wife.
Hearken how it was and then judge the diversity of these two Lovers: Know you
not one Barbarus a Senator of our towne, whom the vulgar people call likewise
Scorpion for his severity of manners? This Barbarus had a gentlewoman to his
wife, whom he caused daily to be enclosed within his house, with diligent
custody. Then the Bakers wife said, I know her very well, for we two dwelleth
together in one house: Then you know (quoth the old woman) the whole tale of
Philesiterus? No verily (said she) but I greatly desire to know it: therefore
I pray you mother tell me the whole story. By and by the old woman which knew
well to babble, began to tell as followeth.
THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER
How Barbarus being
jealous over his wife, commanded that shee should be kept close in his
house, and what happened.
You shall understand that on a day
this Barbarus preparing himselfe to ride abroad, and willing to keepe the
chastity of his wife (whom he so well loved) alone to himselfe, called his man
Myrmex (whose faith he had tryed and proved in many things) and secretly
committed to him the custody of his wife, willing him that he should threaten,
that if any man did but touch her with his finger as he passed by, he would
not onely put him in prison, and bind him hand and foote, but also cause him
to be put to death, or else to be famished for lacke of sustenance, which
words he confirmed by an oath of all the Gods in heaven, and so departed away:
When Barbarus was gone, Myrmex being greatly astonied of his masters
threatnings, would not suffer his mistresse to goe abroad, but as she sate all
day a Spinning, he was so carefull that he sate by her; when night came he
went with her to the baines, holding her by the garment, so faithfull he was
to fulfill the commandement of his master: Howbeit the beauty of this matron
could not be hidden from the burning eyes of Philesiterus, who considering her
great chastity, and how she was diligently kept by Myrmex, thought it
impossible to have his purpose, yet (indeavouring by all kind of meanes to
enterprise the matter, and remembring the fragility of man, that might be
intised and corrupted with money, since as by gold the adamant gates may be
opened) on a day, when he found Myrmex alone, he discovered his love, desiring
him to shew his favour, (otherwise he should certainly dye) with assurance
that he need not to feare when as he might privily be let in and out in the
night, without knowledge of any person. When he thought, with these and other
gentle words to allure and prick forward the obstinate mind of Myrmex he
shewed him glittering gold in his hand, saying that he would give his
mistresse twenty crowns and him ten, but Myrmex hearing these words, was
greatly troubled, abhorring in his mind to commit such a mischiefe: wherfore
he stopped his eares, and turning his head departed away: howbeit the
glittering view of these crownes could never out of his mind, but being at
home he seemed to see the money before his eyes, which was so worthy a prey,
wherefore poore Myrmex being in divers opinions could not tell what to doe,
for on the one side he considered the promise which he made to his master, and
the punishment that should ensue if he did contrary. On the other side he
thought of the gaine, and the passing pleasure of the crownes of gold; in the
end the desire of the money did more prevaile then the feare of death, for the
beauty of the flowrishing crownes did so sticke in his mind, that where the
menaces of his master compelled him to tarry at home, the pestilent avarice of
gold egged him out a doores, wherefore putting all shame aside, without
further delay, he declared all the whole matter to his Mistresse, who
according to the nature of a woman, when she heard him speake of so great a
summe, she bound chastity in a string, and gave authority to Myrmex to rule
her in that case. Myrmex seeing the intent of his Mistresse, was very glad,
and for great desire of the gold, he ran hastily to Philesiterus, declaring
that his Mistresse was consented to his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold
which he promised. Then incontinently Philesiterus delivered him ten Crownes,
and when night came, Myrmex brought him disguised into his mistresses Chamber.
About Midnight when he and she were naked together, making sacrifice unto the
Goddesse Venus, behold her husband (contrary to their expectation) came and
knocked at the doore, calling with a loud voice to his Servant Myrmex: whose
long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master, in such sort that he
threatned to beat Myrmex cruelly: but he being troubled with feare, and driven
to his latter shifts, excused the matter saying: that he could not find the
key: by reason it was so darke. In the meane season Philesiterus hearing the
noise at the doore, slipt on his coat and privily ran out of the Chamber. When
Myrmex had opened the doore to his Master that threatned terribly, and had let
him in, he went into the Chamber to his wife: In the mean while Myrmex let out
Philesiterus, and barred the doores fast, and went againe to bed. The next
morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two unknown slippers lying under
his bed, which Philesiterus had forgotten when he went away. Then he conceived
a great suspition and jealousie in mind, howbeit he would not discover it to
his wife, neither to any other person, but putting secretly the slippers into
his bosome, commanded his other Servants to bind Myrmex incontinently, and to
bring him bound to the Justice after him, thinking verily that by the meane of
the slippers he might boult out the matter. It fortuned that while Barbarus
went towards the Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, followed
him weeping, not because he was accused before his master, but by reason he
knew his owne conscience guilty: behold by adventure Philesiterus (going about
his earnest businesse) fortuned to meet with them by the way, who fearing the
matter which he committed the night before, and doubting lest it should be
knowne, did suddainly invent a meane to excuse Myrmex, for he ran upon him and
beate him about the head with his fists, saying: Ah mischievous varlet that
thou art, and perjured knave. It were a good deed if the Goddesse and thy
master here, would put thee to death, for thou art worthy to be imprisoned and
to weare out these yrons, that stalest my slippers away when thou werest at my
baines yester night. Barbarus hearing this returned incontinently home, and
called his servant Myrmex, commanding him to deliver the slippers againe to
the right owner. The old woman had scant finished her tale when the Bakers
wife gan say: Verily she is blessed and most blessed, that hath the fruition
of so worthy a lover, but as for me poore miser, I am fallen into the hands of
a coward, who is not onely afraid of my husband but also of every clap of the
mill, and dares not doe nothing, before the blind face of yonder scabbed Asse.
Then the old woman answered, I promise you certainly if you will, you shall
have this young man at your pleasure, and therewithall when night came, she
departed out of her chamber. In the meane season, the Bakers wife made ready a
supper with abundance of wine and exquisite fare: so that there lacked
nothing, but the comming of the young man, for her husband supped at one of
her neighbours houses. When time came that my harnesse should be taken off and
that I should rest my selfe, I was not so joyfull of my liberty, as when the
vaile was taken from mine eyes, I should see all the abhomination of this
mischievous queane. When night was come and the Sunne gone downe, behold the
old bawd and the young man, who seemed to be but a child, by reason he had no
beard, came to the doore. Then the Bakers wife kissed him a thousand times and
received him courteously, placed him downe at the table: but he had scarce
eaten the first morsell, when the good man (contrary to his wives expectation)
returned home, for she thought he would not have come so soone: but Lord how
she cursed him, praying God that he might breake his necke at the first entry
in. In the meane season, she caught her lover and thrust him into the bin
where she bolted her flower, and dissembling the matter, finely came to her
husband demanding why he came home so soone. I could not abide (quoth he) to
see so great a mischiefe and wicked fact, which my neighbours wife committed,
but I must run away: O harlot as she is, how hath she dishonoured her husband,
I sweare by the goddesse Ceres, that if I had [not] seene it with mine eyes, I
would never have beleeved it. His wife desirous to know the matter, desired
him to tell what she had done: then hee accorded to the request of his wife,
and ignorant of the estate of his own house, declared the mischance of
another. You shall understand (quoth he) that the wife of the
Fuller [*]
my companion, who seemed to me a wise and chast woman,
regarding her own honesty and profit of her house, was found this night with
her knave. For while we went to wash our hands, hee and she were together: who
being troubled with our presence ran into a corner, she thrust him into a
mow [*]
made with twigs, appoynted to lay on clothes to make
them white with the smoake of fume and brymstone. Then she sate down with us
at the table to colour the matter: in the meane season the young man covered
in the mow, could not forbeare sneesing, by reason of the smoake of the
brymstone. The good man thinking it had beene his wife that sneesed, cryed,
Christ helpe. But when he sneesed more, he suspected the matter, and willing
to know who it was, rose from the table, and went to the mow, where hee found
a young man welnigh dead with smoke. When hee understood the whole matter, he
was so inflamed with anger that he called for a sword to kill him, and
undoubtedly he had killed him, had I not restrained his violent hands from his
purpose, assuring him, that his enemy would dye with the force of his
brimstone, without the harme which he should doe. Howbeit my words would not
appease his fury, but as necessity required he tooke the young man well nigh
choked, and carried him out at the doores. In the meane season, I counsailed
his wife, till the choller of her Husband was pacified, lest he should be
moved against her, as he was against the young-man. And so being weary of
their Supper, I forthwith returned home. When the Baker had told his tale, his
impudent wife began to curse and abhorre the wife of the Fuller, and generally
all other wives, which abandon their bodies with any other then with their
owne Husbands, breaking the faith and bond of marriage, whereby she said, they
were worthy to be burned alive. But knowing her owne guilty conscience and
proper whoredome, lest her lover should be hurt lying in the bin, she willed
her husband to goe to bed, but he having eaten nothing, said that he would sup
before he went to rest: whereby she was compelled to maugre her eies, to set
such things on the Table as she had prepared for her lover.
But I, considering the great mischiefe of this wicked queane, devised with
my selfe how I might reveale the matter to my Master, and by kicking away the
cover of the binne (where like a Snaile the young-man was couched) to make her
whoredome apparent and knowne. At length I was ayded by the providence of God,
for there was an old man to whom the custody of us was committed, that drave
me poore Asse, and the other Horses the same time to the water to drinke; then
had I good occasion ministred, to revenge the injury of my master, for as I
passed by, I perceived the fingers of the young-man upon the side of the
binne, and lifting up my heeles, I spurned off the flesh with the force of my
hoofes, whereby he was compelled to cry out, and to throw downe the binne on
the ground, and so the whoredome of the Bakers wife was knowne and revealed.
The Baker seeing this was not a little moved at the dishonesty of his wife,
but hee tooke the young-man trembling for feare by the hand, and with cold and
courteous words spake in this sort: Feare not my Sonne, nor thinke that I am
so barbarous or cruell a person, that I would stifle thee up with the smoke of
Sulphur as our neighbour accustometh, nor I will not punish thee according to
the rigour of the law of Julia, which commandeth the Adulterers should be put
to death: No no, I will not execute my cruelty against so faire and comely a
young-man as you be, but we will devide our pleasure betweene us, by lying all
three in one bed, to the end there may be no debate nor dissention betweene
us, but that either of us may be contented, for I have alwayes lived with my
wife in such tranquillity, that according to the saying of the wise-men,
whatsoever I say, she holdeth for law, and indeed equity will not suffer, but
that the husband should beare more authority then the wife: with these and
like words he led the young-man to his Chamber, and closed his wife in another
Chamber. On the next morrow, he called two of the most sturdiest Servants of
his house, who held up the young-man, while he scourged his buttockes
welfavouredly with rods like a child. When he had well beaten him, he said:
Art not thou ashamed, thou that art so tender and delicate a child, to desire
the violation of honest marriages, and to defame thy selfe with wicked living,
whereby thou hast gotten the name of an Adulterer? After he had spoken these
and like words, he whipped him againe, and chased him out of his house. The
young-man who was the comeliest of all the adulterers, ran away, and did
nothing else that night save onely bewaile his striped and painted buttockes.
Soone after the Baker sent one to his wife, who divorced her away in his name,
but she beside her owne naturall mischiefe, (offended at this great contumely,
though she had worthily deserved the same) had recourse to wicked arts and
trumpery, never ceasing untill she had found out an Enchantresse, who (as it
was thought) could doe what she would with her Sorcery and conjuration. The
Bakers wife began to intreat her, promising that she would largely recompence
her, if shee could bring one of these things to passe, eyther to make that her
husband may be reconciled to her againe, or else if hee would not agree
thereto, to send an ill spirit into him, to dispossesse the spirit of her
husband. Then the witch with her abhominable science, began to conjure and to
make her Ceremonies, to turne the heart of the Baker to his wife, but all was
in vaine, wherefore considering on the one side that she could not bring her
purpose to passe, and on the other side the losse of her gaine, she ran
hastily to the Baker, threatning to send an evill spirit to kill him, by meane
of her conjuration. But peradventure some scrupulous reader may demand me a
question, how I, being an Asse, and tyed alwayes in the mill house, could know
the secrets of these women: Verily I answer, notwithstanding my shape of an
Asse, I had the sence and knowledge of a man, and curiously endeavoured to
know out such injuries as were done to my master. About noone there came a
woman into the Milhouse, very sorrowfull, raggedly attired, with bare feete,
meigre, ill-favoured, and her hayre scattering upon her face: This woman tooke
the Baker by the hand, and faining that she had some secret matter to tell
him, went into a chamber, where they remained a good space, till all the corne
was ground, when as the servants were compelled to call their master to give
them more corne, but when they has called very often, and no person gave
answer, they began to mistrust, insomuch that they brake open the doore: when
they were come in, they could not find the woman, but onely their master
hanging dead upon a rafter of the chamber, whereupon they cryed and lamented
greatly, and according to the custome, when they had washed themselves, they
tooke the body and buried it. The next day morrow, the daughter of the Baker,
which was married but a little before to one of the next Village, came crying
and beating her breast, not because she heard of the death of her father by
any man, but because his lamentable spirit, with a halter about his necke
appeared to her in the night, declaring the whole circumstance of his death,
and how by inchantment he was descended into hell, which caused her to thinke
that her father was dead. After that she had lamented a good space, and was
somewhat comforted by the servants of the house, and when nine dayes were
expired, as inheretrix to her father, she sold away all the substance of the
house, whereby the goods chanced into divers mens hands.
THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER
How Apuleius after the
Baker was hanged, was sold to a Gardener, and what dreadfull things
happened.
There was a poore Gardener amongst the
rest, which bought me for the summe of fifty pence, which seemed to him a
great price, but he thought to gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my
body. The matter requireth to tell likewise, how I was handled in his service.
This Gardener accustomed to drive me every morning laded with hearbes to the
next Village, and when he had sold his hearbes, hee would mount upon my backe
and returne to the Garden, and while he digged the ground and watered the
hearbes, and went about other businesse, I did nothing but repose my selfe
with great ease, but when Winter approached with sharpe haile, raine and
frosts, and I standing under a hedge side, was welnigh killed up with cold,
and my master was so poore that he had no lodging for himselfe, much lesse had
he any litter or place to cover me withall, for he himselfe alwayes lay under
a little roofe shadowed with boughes. In the morning when I arose, I found my
hoofes shriveled together with cold, and unable to passe upon the sharpe ice,
and frosty mire, neither could I fill my belly with meate, as I accustomed to
doe, for my master and I supped together, and had both one fare: howbeit it
was very slender since as wee had nothing else saving old and unsavoury
sallets [*]
which were suffered to grow for seed, like
long broomes and that had lost all their sweet sappe and juice.
It fortuned on a day that an honest man of the next village was benighted
and constrained by reason of the rain to lodge (very lagged and weary) in our
Garden, where although he was but meanely received, yet it served well enough
considering time and necessity. This honest man to recompence our
entertainment, promised to give my master some corne, oyle, and two bottles of
wine: wherefore my master not delaying the matter, laded me with sackes and
bottels, and rode to the Towne which was seaven miles off.
When we came to the honest mans house, he entertained and feasted my master
exceedingly. And it fortuned while they eate and dranke together as signe of
great amity there chanced a strange and dreadfull case: for there was a Hen
which ran kackling about the yard, as though she would have layed an Egge. The
good man of the house perceiving her, said: O good and profitable pullet that
feedest us every day with thy fruit, thou seemest as though thou wouldest give
us some pittance for our dinner: Ho boy put the Pannier in the corner that the
Hen may lay. Then the boy did as his master commanded , but the Hen forsaking
the Pannier, came toward her master and laid at his feet not an Egge, which
every man knoweth, but a Chickin with feathers, clawes, and eyes, which
incontinently ran peeping after his damme. By and by happened a more strange
thing, which would cause any man to abhorre: under the Table where they sate,
the ground opened, and there appeared a great well and fountain of bloud,
insomuch that the drops thereof sparckled about the Table. At the same time
while they wondred at this dreadfull sight one of the Servants came running
out of the Seller, and told that all the wine was boyled out of the vessels,
as though there had beene some great fire under. By and by a Weasel was seene
that drew into the house a dead Serpent, and out of the mouth of a Shepheards
dog leaped a live frog, and immediately after one brought word that a Ram had
strangled the same dog at one bit. All these things that happened, astonied
the good man of the house, and the residue that were present, insomuch that
they could not tell what to doe, or with what sacrifice to appease the anger
of the gods. While every man was thus stroken in feare, behold, one brought
word to the good man of the house, that his three sonnes who had been brought
up in good literature, and endued with good manners were dead, for they three
had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man which was their
neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next unto him dwelled another young
man very rich both in lands and goods, but bending from the race of his
progenies dissentions, and ruling himselfe in the towne according to his owne
will. This young royster did mortally hate this poore man, insomuch that he
would kill his sheepe, steale his oxen, and spoyle his corne and other fruits
before the time of ripenesse, yet was he not contented with this, but he would
encroch upon the poore mans ground, and clayme all the heritage as his owne.
The poore man which was very simple and fearefull, seeing all his goods taken
away by the avarice of the rich man, called together and assembled many of his
friends to shew them all his land, to the end he might have but so much ground
of his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, he found these three
brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in his adversity and tribulation.
Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wise perswade
him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause any temperance of his
tongue, but the more they went about with gentle words to tell him of his
faults, the more would he fret and likewise fume, swearing all the oathes
under God, that he little regarded the presence of the whole City, whereupon
incontinently he commanded his servants to take the poore man by the eares,
and carry him out of his ground, which greatly offended all the standers by.
Then one of the brethren spake unto him somewhat boldly saying: It is but a
folly to have such affiance in your riches, whereby you should use your
tyranny against the poore, when as the law is common for all men, and a
redresse may be had to suppresse your insolency. These words chafed him more
then the burning oile, or flaming brimstone, or scourge of whipps, saying:
that they should be hanged and their law too, before he would be subject unto
any person: and therewithall he called out his bandogges and great masties,
which accustomed to eate the carrion and carkases of dead beasts in the
fields, and to set upon such as passed by the way: then he commanded they
should be put upon all the assistance to teare then in peeces: who as soone as
they heard the hisse of their master, ran fiercely upon them invading then on
every side, insomuch that the more they flied to escape away, the more cruell
and terrible were the dogges. It fortuned amongst all this fearefull company,
that in running, the youngest of the three brethren stumbled at a stone, and
fell down to the ground: Then the dogs came upon him and tare him in peeces
with their teeth, whereby he was compelled to cry for succour: His other two
brethren hearing his lamentable voice ran towards him to helpe him, casting
their cloakes about their left armes, tooke up stones to chase away the dogs,
but all was in vaine, for they might see their brother dismembred in every
part of his body: Who lying at the very point of death, desired his brethren
to revenge his death against that cruell tyrant: And therewithall he gave up
the ghost. The other two brethren perceiving so great a murther, and
neglecting their owne lives, like desperate persons dressed themselves against
the tyrant, and threw a great number of stones at him, but the bloudy theefe
exercised in such and like mischiefes, tooke a speare and thrust it cleane
through the body: howbeit he fell not downe to the ground. For the speare that
came out at his backe ran into the earth, and sustained him up. By and by came
one of these tyrants servants the most sturdiest of the rest to helpe his
master, who at the first comming tooke up a stone and threw it at the third
brother, but by reason the stone ran along his arme it did not hurt him, which
chanced otherwise then all mens expectation was: by and by the young man
feigning that his arme was greatly wounded, spake these words unto the cruell
bloud sucker: Now maist thou, thou wretch, triumph upon the destruction of all
our family, now hast thou fed thy insatiable cruelty with the bloud of three
brethren, now maist thou rejoyce at the fall of us Citizens, yet thinke not
but that how farre thou dost remove and extend the bounds of thy land, thou
shalt have some neighbor, but how greatly am I sorry in that I have lost mine
arme wherewithall I minded to cut off thy head. When he had spoken these
words, the furious theefe drew out his dagger, and running upon the young man
thought verily to have slaine him, but it chanced otherwise: For the young man
resisted him stoutly, and in buckling together by violence wrested the dagger
out of his hand: which done, he killed the rich theefe with his owne weapon,
and to the intent the young man would escape the hands of the servants which
came running to assist their master, with the same dagger he cut his owne
throat. These things were signified by the strange and dreadfull wondres which
fortuned in the house of the good man, who after he had heard these sorrowfull
tydings could in no wise weepe, so farre was he stroken with dolour, but
presently taking his knife wherewith he cut his cheese and other meate before,
he cut his owne throat likewise, in such sort that he fell upon the bord and
imbraced the table with the streames of his bloud, in most miserable manner.
Hereby was my master the Gardener deprived of his hope, and paying for his
dinner the watry teares of his eyes, mounted upon my backe and so we went
homeward the same way as wee came.
THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER
How Apuleius was found
by his shadow.
As wee passed by the way wee met with
a tall souldier (for so his habite and countenance declared) who with proud
and arrogant words spake to my master in this sort: Quorsum vacuum ducis
Asinum? My master somewhat astonied at the strange sights which he saw
before, and ignorant of the Latine tongue, roade on and spake never a word:
The souldier unable to refraine his insolence, and offended at his silence,
strake him on the shoulders as he sate on my backe; then my master gently made
answer that he understood not what he said, whereat the souldier angerly
demanded againe, whether he roade with his Asse? Marry (quoth he) to the next
City: But I (quoth the souldier) have need of his helpe, to carry the trusses
of our Captaine from yonder Castle, and therewithall he tooke me by the halter
and would violently have taken me away: but my master wiping away the blood of
the blow which he received of the souldier, desired him gently and civilly to
take some pitty upon him, and to let him depart with his owne, swearing and
affirming that his slow Asse, welnigh dead with sicknesse, could scarce carry
a few handfuls of hearbs to the next towne, much lesse he was able to beare
any greater trusses: but when he saw the souldier would in no wise be
intreated, but ready with his staffe to cleave my masters head, my master fell
down at his feete, under colour to move him to some pitty, but when he saw his
time, he tooke the souldier by the legs and cast him upon the ground: Then he
buffetted him, thumped him, bit him, and tooke a stone and beat his face and
his sides, that he could not turne and defend himselfe, but onely threaten
that if ever he rose, he would choppe him in pieces. The Gardener when he
heard him say so, drew out his javelin which he had by his side, and when he
had throwne it away, he knockt and beate him more cruelly then he did before,
insomuch that the souldier could not tell by what meanes to save himselfe, but
by feining that he was dead. Then my master tooke the javelin and mounted upon
my backe, riding in all hast to the next village, having no regard to goe to
his Garden, and when he came thither, he turned into one of his friends house
and declared all the whole matter, desiring him to save his life and to hide
himselfe and his Asse in some secret place, untill such time as all danger
were past. Then his friends not forgetting the ancient amity betweene them,
entertained him willingly and drew me up a paire of staires into a chamber, my
master crept into a chest, and lay there with the cover closed fast: The
souldier (as I afterwards learned) rose up as one awaked from a drunken
sleepe, but he could scarce goe by reason of his wounds: howbeit at length by
little and little through ayd of his staffe he came to the towne, but hee
would not declare the matter to any person nor complaine to any justice, lest
he should be accused of cowardise or dastardnesse, yet in the end he told some
of his companions of all the matter that happened: then they tooke him and
caused him to be closed in some secret place, thinking that beside the injury
which he had received, he should be accused of the breach of his faith, by
reason of the losse of his speare, and when they had learned the signes of my
master, they went to search him out: at last there was an unfaithfull
neighbour that told them where he was, then incontinently the souldiers went
to the Justice declaring that they had lost by the way a silver goblet of
their Captaines, and that a Gardener had found it, who refusing to deliver the
goblet, was hidden in one of his friends houses: by and by the Magistrates
understanding the losse of the Captaine, came to the doores where we were,
commanded our host to deliver my master upon paine of death: howbeit these
threatnings could not enforce him to confesse that he was within his doores,
but by reason of his faithfull promise and for the safeguard of his friend, he
said, that hee saw not the Gardener a great while, neither knew where he was:
the souldiers said contrary, whereby to know the verity of the matter, the
Magistrates commanded their Seargants and ministers to search every corner of
the house, but when they could find neither Gardener nor Asse, there was a
great contention betweene the souldiers and our Host, for they sayd we were
within the house: and he said no, but I that was very curious to know the
matter, when I heard so great a noyse, put my head out of the window to learne
what the stirre and tumult did signifie. It fortuned that one of the souldiers
perceived my shadow, whereupon he began to cry, saying: that hee had certainly
seene me; then they were all glad and came up into the chamber, and pulled me
downe like a prisoner. When they had found mee, they doubted nothing of the
Gardener, but seeking about more narrowly, at length they found him couched in
a chest. And so they brought out the poore gardener to the Justices, who was
committed immediately to prison, but they could never forbeare laughing from
the time they found me by my shadow, wherefore is risen the common Proverbe:
`The shadow of the Asse.'