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"The Golden Asse"
Translated by William Adlington, 1566
Illustrations by Martin Van Maele
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THE SIXTH BOOKE
THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius carried away the Gentlewoman, and how they were taken
againe by the theeves, and what a kind of death was invented for them.
By and by the theeves came home laden with treasure, and many of them
which were of strongest courage (leaving behind such as were lame and
wounded, to heale and aire themselves) said they would returne backe
againe to fetch the rest of their pillage, which they had hidden in a
certaine cave, and so they snatched up their dinner greedily, and
brought us forth into the way and beate us before them with staves.
About night (after that we had passed over many hilles and dales) we
came to a great cave, where they laded us with mighty burthens, and
would not suffer us to refresh our selves any season but brought us
againe in our way, and hied so fast homeward, that what with their haste
and their cruell stripes, I fell downe upon a stone by the way side,
then they beate me pittifully in lifting me up, and hurt my right thigh
and my left hoofe, and one of them said, What shall we do with this lame
Ill favoured Asse, that is not worth the meate he eats? And other said,
Since the time that we had him first he never did any good, and I thinke
he came unto our house with evill lucke, for we have had great wounds
since, and losse of our valiant captaines, and other said, As soone as
he hath brought home his burthen, I will surely throw him out upon the
mountaine to be a pray for wild beasts: While these gentlemen reasoned
together of my death, we fortuned to come home, for the feare that I was
in, caused my feet to turne into wings: after that we were discharged of
our burthens, they went to their fellowes that were wounded, and told
them of our great tardity and slownesse by the way, neither was I
brought into small anguish, when I perceived my death prepared before my
face: Why standest thou still Lucius? Why dost thou not looke for thy
death? Knowst thou not that the theeves have ordained to slay thee?
seest thou not these sharpe and pointed flints which shall bruise and
teare thee in peeces, if by adventure thou happen upon them? Thy gentle
Magitian hath not onely given thee the shape and travell of an Asse, but
also a skinne so soft and tender as it were a swallow: why dost thou not
take courage and runne away to save thy selfe? Art thou afraid of the
old woman more then halfe dead, whom with a stripe of thy heele thou
maist easily dispatch? But whither shall I fly? What lodging shall I
seek? See my Assy cogitation. Who is he that passeth by the way and will
not take me up? While I devised these things, I brake the halter
wherewith I was tyed and ran away with all my force, howbeit I could not
escape the kitish eyes of the old woman, for shee ran after me, and with
more audacity then becommeth her kind age, caught me by the halter and
thought to pull me home: but I not forgetting the cruell purpose of the
theeves, was mooved with small pity, for I kicked her with my hinder
heeles to the ground and had welnigh slaine her, who (although shee was
throwne and hurled downe) yet shee held still the halter, and would not
let me goe; then shee cryed with a loud voyce and called for succour,
but she little prevayled, because there was no person that heard her,
save onely the captive gentlewoman, who hearing the voice of the old
woman, came out to see what the matter was, and perceiving her hanging
at the halter, tooke a good courage and wrested it out of her hand, and
(entreating me with gentle words) got upon my backe. Then I began to
runne, and shee gently kicked mee forward, whereof I was nothing
displeased, for I had as great a desire to escape as shee: insomuch that
I seemed to scowre away like a horse. And when the Gentlewoman did
speake, I would answere her with my neighing, and oftentimes (under
colour to rub my backe) I would sweetly kisse her tender feet. Then shee
fetching a sigh from the bottome of her heart, lifted up her eyes to the
heavens, saying: O soveraigne Gods, deliver mee if it be your pleasure,
from these present dangers: and thou cruell fortune cease thy wrath, let
the sorrow suffice thee which I have already sustained. And thou little
Asse, that art the occasion of my safety and liberty, if thou canst once
render me safe and sound to my parents, and to him that so greatly
desireth to have me to his wife, thou shalt see what thankes I will
give: with what honour I will reward thee, and how I will use thee.
First, I will bravely dresse the haires of thy forehead, and then will I
finely combe thy maine, I will tye up thy rugged tayle trimly, I will
decke thee round about with golden trappes, in such sort that thou shalt
glitter like the starres of the skie, I will bring thee daily in my
apron the kirnels of nuts, and will pamper thee up with delicates; I
will set store by thee, as by one that is the preserver of my life:
Finally, thou shalt lack no manner of thing. Moreover amongst thy
glorious fare, thy great ease, and the blisse of thy life, thou shalt
not be destitute of dignity, for thou shalt be chronicled perpetually in
memory of my present fortune, and the providence divine. All the whole
history shall be painted upon the wall of our house, thou shalt he
renowned throughout all the world. And it shall be registred in the
bookes of Doctours, that an Asse saved the life of a young maiden that
was captive amongst Theeves: Thou shalt be numbred amongst the ancient
miracles: wee beleeve that by like example of truth Phryxus saved
himselfe from drowning upon the Ram, Arion escaped upon a Dolphin, and
that Europa was delivered by the Bull. If Jupiter transformed himselfe
into a Bull, why may it not be that under the shape of this Asse, is
hidden the figure of a man, or some power divine? While that the Virgin
did thus sorrowfully unfold her desires, we fortuned to come to a place
where three wayes did meet, and shee tooke me by the halter, and would
have me to turne on the right hand to her fathers house: but I (knowing
that the theeves were gone that way to fetch the residue of their
pillage) resisted with my head as much as I might, saying within my
selfe: What wilt thou doe unhappy maiden? Why wouldst thou goe so
willingly to hell? Why wilt thou runne into destruction by meane of my
feet? Why dost thou seek thine own harme, and mine likewise? And while
we strived together whether way we might take, the theeves returned,
laiden with their pray, and perceived us a farre off by the light of the
Moon: and after they had known us, one of them gan say, Whither goe you
so hastely? Be you not afraid of spirits? And you (you harlot) doe you
not goe to see your parents? Come on, we will beare you company? And
therewithall they tooke me by the hatter, and drave me backe againe,
beating me cruelly with a great staffe (that they had) full of knobs:
then I returning againe to my ready destruction, and remembering the
griefe of my hoofe, began to shake my head, and to waxe lame, but he
that led me by the halter said, What, dost thou stumble? Canst thou not
goe? These rotten feet of thine ran well enough, but they cannot walke:
thou couldest mince it finely even now with the gentlewoman, that thou
seemedst to passe the horse Pegasus in swiftnesse. In saying of these
words they beat mee againe, that they broke a great staffe upon mee. And
when we were come almost home, we saw the old woman hanging upon a bow
of a Cipresse tree; then one of them cut downe the bowe whereon shee
hanged, and cast her into the bottome of a great ditch: after this they
bound the maiden and fell greedily to their victuals, which the
miserable old woman had prepared for them. At which time they began to
devise with themselves of our death, and how they might be revenged;
divers was the opinions of this divers number: the first said, that hee
thought best the Mayd should be burned alive: the second said she should
be throwne out to wild beasts: the third said, she should be hanged upon
a gibbet: the fourth said she should be flead alive: thus was the death
of the poore Maiden scanned betweene them foure. But one of the theeves
after every man had declared his judgement, did speake in this manner:
it is not convenient unto the oath of our company, to suffer you to waxe
more cruell then the quality of the offence doth merit, for I would that
shee should not be hanged nor burned, nor throwne to beasts, nor dye any
sodaine death, but by my council I would have her punished according to
her desert. You know well what you have determined already of this dull
Asse, that eateth more then he is worth, that faineth lamenesse, and
that was the cause of the flying away of the Maid: my mind is that he
shall be slaine to morrow, and when all the guts and entrailes of his
body is taken out, let the Maide be sowne into his belly, then let us
lay them upon a great stone against the broiling heate of the Sunne, so
they shall both sustaine all the punishments which you have ordained:
for first the Asse shall be slaine as you have determined, and she shall
have her members torne and gnawn with wild beasts, when as she is bitten
and rent with wormes, shee shall endure the paine of the fire, when as
the broyling heat of the Sunne shall scortch and parch the belly of the
Asse, shee shall abide the gallows when the Dogs and Vultures shall have
the guts of her body hanging in their ravenous mouthes. I pray you
number all the torments which she shall suffer: First shee shall dwell
within the paunch of an Asse: secondly her nosethrilles shall receive a
carraine stinke of the beast: thirdly shee shall dye for hunger: last of
all, shee shall finde no meane to ridde her selfe from her paines, for
her hand shalt be sowen up within the skinne of the Asse: This being
said, all the Theeves consented, and when I (poore Asse) heard and
understood all their device, I did nothing else but lament and bewayle
my dead carkasse, which should be handled in such sort on the next
morrow.
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THE SEVENTH BOOKE
THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How hee that was left behinde at Hippata did bring newes concerning the
robbery of Miloes house, came home and declared to his Company, that all
the fault was laid to one Apuleius his charge.
A soone as night was past, and the cleare Chariot of the Sunne
had spred his bright beames on every coast, came one of the company of
the theeves, (for so his and their greeting together did declare) who at
the first entry into the Cave (after hee had breathed himselfe, and was
able to speake) told these tydings unto his companions in this sort.
Sirs, as touching the house of Milo of Hippata, which we forcibly entred
and ransackt the last day, we may put away all feare and doubt nothing
at all. For after that ye by force of armes, had spoyled and taken away
all things in the house, and returned hither into our Cave; I (thrusting
my selfe amongst the presse of the people, and shewing my selfe as
though I were sad and sorrowful for the mischance) consulted with them
for the boulting out of the matter, and devising what meanes might be
wrought for the apprehension of the theeves, to the intent I might
learne and see all that was done to make relation thereof unto you as
you willed me, insomuch that the whole fact at length by manifest and
evident proofes as also by the common opinion and judgement of the
people, was laid to one Lucius Apuleius charge as manifest author of
this common robbery, who a few dayse before by false and forged letters
and colored honesty, fell so farre in favour with this Milo, that he
entertained him into his house, and received him as a chiefe of his
familiar friends, which Lucius after that he had sojourned there a good
space, and won the heart of Miloes Maid, by fained love, did thoroughly
learne the waies and doores of all the house, and curiously viewed the
cofers and chests, wherein was laid the whole substance of Milo: neither
was there small cause given to judge him culpable, since as the very
same night that this robbery was done he fled away, and could not be
found in no place: and to the intent hee might cleane escape, and better
prevent such as made hew and crie after him, he tooke his white horse
and galloped away, and after this, his servant was found in the house,
who (accused as accessary to the fellony and escape of his Master) was
committed to the common gaole, and the next day following was cruelly
scourged and tormented till hee was welnigh dead, to the intent hee
should confesse the matter, but when they could wreast or learne no such
thing of him, yet sent they many persons after, towardes Lucius Countrey
to enquire him out, and so to take him prisoner. As he declared these
things, I did greatly lament with my selfe, to thinke of mine old and
pristine estate, and what felicity I was sometimes in, in comparison to
the misery that I presently susteined, being changed into a miserable
Asse, then had I no small occasion to remember, how the old and ancient
Writers did affirme, that fortune was starke blind without eies, because
she alwaies bestoweth her riches upon evil persons, and fooles, and
chooseth or favoureth no mortall person by judgement, but is alwaies
conversent, especially with much as if she could see, she should most
shunne, and forsake, yea and that which is more worse, she sheweth such
evill or contrary opinions in men, that the wicked doe glory with the
name of good, and contrary the good and innocent be detracted and
slandred as evill. Furthermore I, who by her great cruelty, was turned
into a foure footed Asse, in most vile and abject manner: yea, and whose
estate seemed worthily to be lamented and pittied of the most hard and
stonie hearts, was accused of theft and robbing of my deare host Milo,
which villany might rather be called parricide then theft, yet might not
I defend mine owne cause or denie the fact any way, by reason I could
not speake; howbeit least my conscience should seeme to accuse me by
reason of silence, and againe being enforced by impatience I endevored
to speake, and faine would have said, Never did I that fact, and verely
the first word, never, I cried out once or twise, somewhat handsome, but
the residue I could in no wise pronounce, but still remaining in one
voice, cried, Never, never, never. howbeit I settled my hanging lips as
round as I could to speake the residue: but why should I further
complaine of the crueltie of my fortune, since as I was not much
ashamed, by reason that my servant and my horse, was likewise accused
with me of the robbery.
Martin Van Maele
While I pondered with my selfe all these things, a great care [came]
to my remembrance, touching the death, which the theeves provised for me
and the maiden, and still as I looked downe to my belly, I thought of my
poore gentlewoman that should be closed within me. And the theefe which
a little before had brought the false newes against me, drew out of the
skirt of his coate, a thousand crowns, which he had rifled from such as
hee met, and brought it into the common treasury. Then hee carefully
enquired how the residue of his companions did. To whom it was declared
that the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers manners,
whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a certaine
season, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places, that by
the exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band might be
reduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were unwilling,
might be compelled by menaces and threatnings, and such as were willing
might be incouraged forward with reward. Further be said, that there
were some, which (seeing the profite which they had) would forsake their
base and servile estate, and rather bee contented to live like tyrants
amongst them. Moreover he declared, that for his part he had spoken with
a certaine tall man, a valiant companion, but of young age, stout in
body, and couragious in fight, whom he had fully perswaded to exercise
his idle hands, dull with slothfullnesse, to his greater profit, and
(while he might) to receive the blisse of better Fortune, and not to
hold out his sturdy arme to begge for a penny, but rather to take as
much gold and silver as hee would. Then everyone consented, that hee
that seemed so worthy to be their companion, should be one of their
company, and that they would search for others to make up the residue of
the number, whereupon he went out, and by and by (returning againe)
brought in a tall young man (as he promised) to whom none of the residue
might bee compared, for hee was higher then they by the head, and of
more bignesse in body, his beard began to burgen, but hee was poorely
apparelled, insomuch that you might see all his belly naked. As soone as
he was entred in he said, God speed yee souldiers of Mars and my
faithfull companions, I pray you make me one of your band, and I will
ensure you, that you shall have a man of singular courage and lively
audacity: for I had rather receive stripes upon my backe, then money or
gold in my hands. And as for death (which every man doth feare) I passe
nothing at all, yet thinke you not that I am an abject or a begger,
neither judge you my vertue and prowesse by ragged clothes, for I have
beene a Captaine of a great company, and subdued all the countrey of
Macedonia. I am the renowned theefe Hemes the Thracian, whose name all
countreys and nations do so greatly feare: I am the sonne of Theron the
noble theefe, nourished with humane bloud, entertained amongst the
stoutest; finally I am inheritour and follower of all my fathers
vertues, yet I lost in a short time all my company and all my riches, by
one assault, which I made upon a Factor of the Prince, which sometime
had beene Captaine of two hundred men, for fortune was cleane against
me; harken and I will tell you the whole matter. There was a certaine
man in the court of the Emperour, which had many offices, and in great
favour, who at last by the envy of divers persons, was banished away and
compelled to forsake the court: his wife Platina, a woman of rare faith
and singular shamefastnes having borne ten children to her husband,
despised all worldly Pompe and delicacy, and determined to follow her
husband, and to be partaker of his perils and danger, wherefore shee cut
off her haire, disguised her selfe like a man, and tooke with her all
her treasure, passing through the hands of the souldiers, and the naked
swords without any feare, whereby she endured many miseries, and was
partaker of much affliction, to save the life of her husband, such was
her love which she bare unto him. And when they had escaped many
perillous dangers, as well by land as by sea, they went together towards
Zacynthe, to continue there according as fortune had appointed. But when
they were arived on the sea coast of Actium (where we in our returne
from Macedony were roving about) when night came, they returned into a
house not far distant from their ship, where they lay all night. Then we
entred in and tooke away all their substance, but verely we were in
great danger: for the good matron perceiving us incontinently by the
noise of the gate, went into the chamber, and called up every man by his
name, and likewise the neighbors that dwelled round about, insomuch that
by reason of the feare that every one was in, we hardly escaped away,
but this most holy woman, faithfull and true to her husband (as the
truth must be declared) returned to Caesar, desiring his aid and
puissance, and demanding vengeance of the injury done to her husband,
who granted all her desire: then went my company to wracke, insomuch
that every man was slaine, so great was the authority and word of the
Prince. Howbeit, when all my band was lost, and taken by search of the
Emperours army, I onely stole away and delivered my selfe from the
violence of the souldiers, for I clothed my selfe in a womans attire,
and mounted upon an Asse, that carryed barly sheafes, and (passing
through the middle of them all) I escaped away, because every one deemed
that I was a woman by reason I lacked a beard. Howbeit I left not off
for all this, nor did degenerate from the glory of my father, or mine
own vertue, but freshly comming from the bloody skirmish, and disguised
like a woman, I invaded townes and castles alone to get some pray. And
therewithall he pulled out two thousand crownes, which he had under his
coate, saying: Hold here the dowry which I present unto you, hold eke my
person, which you shall alwayes find trusty and faithfull, if you
willingly receive me: and I will ensure you that in so doing, within
short space I wilt make and turne this stony house of yours into gold.
Then by and by every one consented to make him their Captaine, and so
they gave him better garments, and threw away his old. When they had
changed his attire, hee imbraced them one after another, then placed
they him in the highest roome of the table, and drunk unto him in token
of good lucke.
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THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed.
After supper they began to talke, and declare unto him the going away
of the Gentlewoman, and how I hare her upon my backe, and what death was
ordained for us two. Then he desired to see her, whereupon the
Gentlewoman was brought forth fast bound, whom as soone as he beheld, he
turned himselfe wringing his nose, and blamed them saying: I am not so
much a beast, or so rash a fellow to drive you quite from your purpose,
but my conscience will not suffer me to conceale any thing that toucheth
your profit, since I am as carefull for you, howbeit if my counsell doe
displease you, you may at your liberty proceed in your enterprise. I
doubt not but all theeves, and such as have a good judgement, will
preferre their owne lucre and gain above all things in the world, and
above their vengeance, which purchaseth damage to divers persons.
Therefore if you put this virgin in the Asses belly, you shall but
execute your indignation against her, without all manner of profit; But
I would advise you to carry the virgin to some towne and to sell her:
and such a brave girle as she is, may be sold for a great quantity of
money. And I my selfe know certaine bawdy Marchants, amongst whom
peradventure one will give us summes of gold for her. This is my opinion
touching this affaire: but advise you what you intend to do, for you may
rule me in this case. In this manner the good theefe pleaded and
defended our cause, being a good Patron to the silly virgin, and to me
poore Asse. But they staied hereupon a good space, with long
deliberation, which made my heart (God wot) and spirit greatly to
quaile. Howbeit in the end they consented to his opinion, and by and by
the Maiden was unloosed of her bonds, who seeing the young man, and
hearing the name of brothels and bawdy Merchants, began to wax joyfull,
and smiled with herself. Then began I to deeme evill of the generation
of women, when as I saw the Maiden (who was appointed to be married to a
young Gentleman, and who so greatly desired the same) was now delighted
with the talke of a wicked brothel house, and other things dishonest. In
this sort the consent and manners of women depended in the judgement of
an Asse.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new companion.
Then the young man spake againe, saying, Masters, why goe wee not
about to make our prayers unto Mars, touching this selling of the
Maiden, and to seeke for other companions. But as farre as I see, here
is no other manner of beast to make sacrifice withall, nor wine
sufficient for us to drinke. Let me have (quoth hee) tenne more with me,
and wee will goe to the next Castle, to provide for meat and other
things necessary. So he and tenne more with him, went their way: In the
meane season, the residue made a great fire and an Alter with greene
turfes in the honour of Mars. By and by after they came againe, bringing
with them bottles of wine, and a great number of beasts, amongst which
there was a big Ram Goat, fat, old, and hairy, which they killed and
offered unto Mars. Then supper was prepared sumptuously, and the new
companion said unto the other, You ought to accompt me not onely your
Captaine in robbery and fight, but also in pleasures and jolity,
whereupon by and by with pleasant cheere he prepared meat, and trimming
up the house he set all things in order, and brought the pottage and
dainty dishes to the Table: but above all he plyed them wel with great
pots and jugs of wine. Sometimes (seeming to fetch somewhat) hee would
goe to the Maiden and give her pieces of meate, which he privily tooke
away, and would drinke unto her, which she willingly tooke in good part.
Moreover, hee kissed her twice or thrice whereof she was well pleased
but I (not well contented thereat) thought in my selfe: O wretched Maid,
thou hast forgotten thy marriage, and doest esteeme this stranger and
bloudy theefe above thy husband which thy Parents ordained for thee, now
perceive I well thou hast no remorse of conscience, but more delight to
tarry and play the harlot heere amongst so many swords. What? knowest
thou not how the other theeves if they knew thy demeanour would put thee
to death as they had once appointed, and so worke my destruction
likewise? Well now I perceive thou hast a pleasure in the dammage and
hurt of other. While I did angerly devise with my selfe all these
things, I perceived by certaine signes and tokens (not ignorant to so
wise an Asse) that he was not the notable theefe Hemus, but rather
Lepolemus her husband, for after much communication he beganne to speake
more franckly, not fearing at all my presence, and said, Be of good
cheere my sweete friend Charites, for thou shalt have by and by all
these thy enemies captive unto thee. Then hee filled wine to the theeves
more and more, and never ceased, till as they were all overcome with
abundance of meat and drinke, when as hee himselfe abstained and bridled
his owne appetite. And truely I did greatly suspect, least hee had
mingled in their cups some deadly poyson, for incontinently they all
fell downe asleepe on the ground one after an other, and lay as though
they had beene dead.
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THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the
theeves were asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of.
When the theeves were all asleepe by their great and immoderate
drinking, the young man Lepolemus took the Maiden and set her upon my
backe, and went homeward. When we were come home, all the people of the
Citie, especially her Parents, friends, and family, came running forth
joyfully, and the children and Maidens of the towne gathered together to
see this virgin in great triumph sitting upon an Asse. Then I (willing
to shew as much joy as I might, as present occasion served) I set and
pricked up my long eares, ratled my nosethrils, and cryed stoutly, nay
rather I made the towne to ring againe with my shrilling sound: when wee
were come to her fathers house, shee was received in a chamber
honourably: as for me, Lepolemus (accompanied with a great number of
Citizens) did presently after drive me backe againe with other horses to
the cave of the theeves, where wee found them all asleepe lying on the
ground as wee left them; then they first brought out all the gold, and
silver, and other treasure of the house, and laded us withall, which
when they had done, they threw many of the theeves downe into the
bottome of deepe ditches, and the residue they slew with their swords:
after this wee returned home glad and merry of so great vengeance upon
them, and the riches which wee carried was commited to the publike
treasurie. This done, the Maid was married to Lepolemus, according to
the law, whom by so much travell he had valiantly recovered: then my
good Mistresse looked about for me, and asking for me commanded the very
same day of her marriage, that my manger should be filled with barly,
and that I should have hay and oats aboundantly, and she would call me
her little Camell. But how greatly did I curse Fotis, in that shee
transformed me into an Asse, and not into a dogge, because I saw the
dogges had filled their paunches with the reliks and bones of so worthy
a supper. The next day this new wedded woman (my Mistresse) did greatly
commend me before her Parents and husband, for the kindnesse which I had
shewed unto her, and never leaved off untill such time as they promised
to reward me with great honours. Then they called together all their
friends, and thus it was concluded: one said, that I should be closed in
a stable and never worke, but continually to be fedde and fatted with
fine and chosen barly and beanes and good littour, howbeit another
prevailed, who wishing my liberty, perswaded them that it was better for
me to runne in the fields amongst the lascivious horses and mares,
whereby I might engender some mules for my Mistresse: then he that had
in charge to keepe the horse, was called for, and I was delivered unto
him with great care, insomuch that I was right pleasant and joyous,
because I hoped that I should carry no more fardels nor burthens,
moreover I thought that when I should thus be at liberty, in the spring
time of the yeere when the meddows and fields were greene, I should find
some roses in some place, whereby I was fully perswaded that if my
Master and Mistresse did render to me so many thanks and honours being
an Asse, they would much more reward me being turned into a man: but
when he (to whom the charge of me was so straightly committed) had
brought me a good way distant from the City, I perceived no delicate
meates nor no liberty which I should have, but by and by his covetous
wife and most cursed queane made me a mill Asse, and (beating me with a
cudgill full of knots) would wring bread for her selfe and her husband
out of my skinne. Yet was she not contented to weary me and make me a
drudge with carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired of
her neighbours to beare their sackes likewise, howbeit shee would not
give me such meate as I should have, nor sufficient to sustaine my life
withall, for the barly which I ground for mine owne dinner she would
sell to the Inhabitants by. And after that I had laboured all day, she
would set before me at night a little filthy branne, nothing cleane but
full of stones. Being in this calamity, yet fortune worked me other
torments, for on a day I was let loose into the fields to pasture, by
the commandement of my master. O how I leaped for joy, how I neighed to
see my selfe in such liberty, but especially since I beheld so many
Mares, which I thought should be my wives and concubines; and I espied
out and chose the fairest before I came nigh them; but this my joyfull
hope turned into otter destruction, for incontinently all the stone
Horses which were well fedde and made strong by ease of pasture, and
thereby much more puissant then a poore Asse, were jealous over me, and
(having no regard to the law and order of God Jupiter) ranne fiercely
and terribly against me; one lifted up his forefeete and kicked me
spitefully, another turned himselfe, and with his hinder heeles spurned
me cruelly, the third threatning with a malicious neighing, dressed his
eares and shewing his sharpe and white teeth bit me on every side. In
like sort have I read in Histories how the King of Thrace would throw
his miserable ghests to be torne in peeces and devoured of his wild
Horses, so niggish was that Tyrant of his provender, that he nourished
them with the bodies of men.
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THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was made a common Asse to fetch home wood, and how
he was handled by a boy.
After that I was thus handled by horses, I was brought home againe to
the Mill, but behold fortune (insatiable of my torments) had devised a
new paine for me. I was appointed to bring home wood every day from a
high hill, and who should drive me thither and home again, but a boy
that was the veriest hangman in all the world, who was not contented
with the great travell that I tooke in climbing up the hill, neither
pleased when he saw my hoofe torne and worne away by sharpe flintes, but
he beat me cruelly with a great staffe, insomuch that the marrow of my
bones did ake for woe, for he would strike me continually on the right
hip, and still in one place, whereby he tore my skinne and made of my
wide sore a great hole or trench, or rather a window to looke out at,
and although it runne downe of blood, yet would he not cease beating me
in that place: moreover he laded me with such great burthens of wood
that you would thinke they had been rather prepared for Elephants then
for me, and when he perceived that my wood hanged more on one side then
another, (when he should rather take away the heavy sides, and so ease
me, or else lift them up to make them equall with the other) he laid
great stones upon the weaker side to remedy the matter, yet could be not
be contented with this my great misery and immoderate burthens of wood,
but when hee came to any river (as there were many by the way) he to
save his feete from water, would leape upon my loynes likewise, which
was no small loade upon loade. And if by adversity I had fell downe in
any dirty or myrie place, when he should have pulled me out either with
ropes, or lifted me up by the taile, he would never helpe me, but lay me
on from top to toe with a mighty staffe, till he had left no haire on
all my body, no not so much as on mine eares, whereby I was compelled by
force of blowes to stand up. The same hangman boy did invent another
torment for me: he gathered a great many sharp thornes as sharp as
needles and bound them together like a fagot, and tyed them at my tayle
to pricke me, then was I afflicted on every side, for if I had
indeavoured to runne away, the thornes would have pricked me, if I had
stood still, the boy would have beaten mee, and yet the boy beate mee to
make me runne, whereby I perceived that the hangman did devise nothing
else save only to kill me by some manner of meanes, and he would sweare
and threaten to do me worse harme, and because hee might have some
occasion to execute his malicious minde, upon a day (after that I had
endeavoured too much by my patience) I lifted up my heeles and spurned
him welfavouredly. Then he invented this vengeance against me, after
that he had well laded me with shrubs and rubble, and trussed it round
upon my backe, hee brought me out into the way: then hee stole a burning
coale out of a mans house of the next village, and put it into the
middle of the rubbell; the rubbell and shrubs being very dry, did fall
on a light fire and burned me on every side. I could see no remedy how I
might save my selfe, and in such a case it was not best for me to stand
still but fortune was favourable towards me, perhaps to reserve me for
more dangers, for I espyed a great hole full of raine water that fell
the day before, thither I ranne hastily and plunged my selfe therein, in
such sort that I quenched the fire, and was delivered from that present
perill, but the vile boy to excuse himselfe declared to all the
neighbours and shepheards about, that I willingly tumbled in the fire as
I passed through the village. Then he laughed upon me saying: How long
shall we nourish and keepe this fiery Asse in vaine?
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THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was accused of Lechery by the boy.
A few dayes after, the boy invented another mischiefe: For when he
had sold all the wood which I bare, to certaine men dwelling in a
village by, he lead me homeward unladen: And then he cryed that he was
not able to rule me, and that hee would not drive mee any longer to the
hill for wood, saying: Doe you not see this slow and dulle Asse, who
besides all the mischiefes that he hath wrought already, inventeth daily
more and more. For he espyeth any woman passing by the way, whether she
be old or marryed, or if it be a young child, hee will throw his burthen
from his backe, and runneth fiercely upon them. And after that he hath
thrown them downe, he will stride over them to commit his buggery and
beastly pleasure, moreover hee will faine as though hee would kisse
them, but he will bite their faces cruelly, which thing may worke us
great displeasure, or rather to be imputed unto us as a crime: and even
now when he espyed an honest maiden passing by die high way, he by and
by threw downe his wood and runne after her: And when he had throwne her
down upon the ground, he would have ravished her before the face of all
the world, had it not beene that by reason of her crying out, she was
succored and pulled from his heeles, and so delivered. And if it had so
come to passe that this fearefull maid had beene slaine by him, what
danger had we beene in? By these and like lies, he provoked the
shepheards earnestly against me, which grieved mee (God wot) full sore
that said nothing. Then one of the shepheards said: Why doe we not make
sacrifice of this common adulterous Asse? My sonne (quoth he) let us
kill him and throw his guts to the dogges, and reserve his flesh for the
labourers supper. Then let us cast dust upon his skinne, and carry it
home to our master, and say that the Woolves have devoured him. The boy
that was my evill accuser made no delay, but prepared himselfe to
execute the sentence of the shepheard, rejoycing at my present danger,
but O how greatly did I then repent that the stripe which I gave him
with my heele had not killed him. Then he drew out his sword and made it
sharp upon the whetstone to slay me, but another of the shepheards gan
say, Verely it is a great offence to kill so faire an Asse, and so (by
accusation of luxurie and lascivious wantonnesse) to lack so necessarie
his labour and service, where otherwise if ye would cut off his stones,
he might not onely be deprived of his courage but also become gentle,
that we should be delivered from all feare and danger. Moreover he would
be thereby more fat and better in flesh. For I know my selfe as well
many Asses, as also most fierce horses, that by reason of their
wantonnesse have beene most mad and terrible, but (when they were gelded
and cut) they have become gentle and tame, and tractable to all use.
Wherefore I would counsell you to geld him. And if you consent thereto,
I will by and by, when I go to the next market fetch mine irons and
tooles for the purpose: And I ensure you after that I have gelded and
cut off his stones, I will deliver him unto you as tame as a lambe. When
I did perceive that I was delivered from death, and reserved to be
gelded, I was greatly sorrie, insomuch that I thought all the hinder
part of my body and my stones did ake for woe, but I sought about to
kill my selfe by some manner of meanes, to the end if I should die, I
would die with unperished members.
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THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the
wood.
While I devised with my selfe in what manner I might end my life, the
roperipe boy on the next morrow lead me to the same hill againe, and
tied me to a bow of a great Oke, and in the meane season he tooke his
hatchet and cut wood to load me withall, but behold there crept out of a
cave by, a marvailous great Beare, holding out his mighty head, whom
when I saw, I was sodainly stroken in feare, and (throwing all the
strength of my body into my hinder heeles) lifted up my strained head
and brake the halter, wherewith I was tied. Then there was no need to
bid me runne away, for I scoured not only on foot, but tumbled over the
stones and rocks with my body till I carne into the open fields, to the
intent I would escape from the terrible Beare, but especially from the
boy that was worse than the Beare. Then a certaine stranger that passed
by the way (espying me alone as a stray Asse) tooke me up and roade upon
my backe, beating me with a staffe (which he bare in his hand) through a
wide and unknowne lane, whereat I was nothing displeased, but willingly
went forward to avoid the cruell paine of gelding, which the shepherds
had ordained for me, but as for the stripes I was nothing moved, since I
was accustomed to be beaten so every day. But evill fortune would not
suffer me to continue in so good estate long: For the shepheards looking
about for a Cow that they had lost (after they had sought in divers
places) fortuned to come upon us unwares, who when they espied and knew
me, they would have taken me by the halter, but he that rode upon my
backe resisted them saying, O Lord masters, what intend you to do? Will
you rob me? Then said the shepheards, What? thinkest thou we handle thee
otherwise then thou deservest, which hast stollen away our Asse? Why
dost thou not rather tell us where thou hast hidden the boy whom thou
hast slaine? And therewithall they pulled him downe to the ground,
beating him with their fists, and spurning him with their feete. Then he
answered unto them saying, titathat he saw no manner of boy, but onely
found the Asse loose and straying abroad, which he tooke up to the
intent to have some reward for the finding of him and to restore him
againe to his Master. And I would to God (quoth he) that this Asse
(which verely was never seene) could speake as a man to give witnesse of
mine innocency: Then would you be ashamed of the injury which you have
done to me. Thus (reasoning for Himselfe) he nothing prevailed, for they
tied the halter about my necke, and (maugre his face) pulled me quite
away, and lead me backe againe through the woods of the hill to the
place where the boy accustomed to resort. And after they could find him
in no place, at length they found his body rent and torne in peeces, and
his members dispersed in sundry places, which I well knew was done by
the cruell Beare: and verely 1 would have told it if I might have
spoken, but (which I could onely do) I greatly rejoiced at his death,
although it came too late. Then they gathered together the peeces of his
body and buried them. By and by they laid the fault to my new Master,
that tooke me up by the way, and (bringing him home fast bound to their
houses) purposed on the next morrow to accuse him of murther, and to
lead him before the Justices to have judgement of death.
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THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that was
slaine.
In the meane season, while the Parents of the boy did lament and
weepe for the death of their sonne, the shepheard (according to his
promise) came with his instruments and tooles to geld me. Then one of
them said, Tush we little esteeme the mischiefe he did yesterday, but
now we are contented that to morrow his stones shall not onely be cut
off, but also his head. So was it brought to passe, that my death was
delayed till the next morrow, but what thanks did I give to that good
boy, who (being so slaine) was the cause of my pardon for one short day.
Howbeit I had no time then to rest my selfe, for the Mother of the boy,
weeping and lamenting for his death, attired in mourning vesture, tare
her haire and beat her breast, and came presently into the stable,
saying, Is it reason that this carelesse beast should do nothing all day
but hold his head in the manger, filling and belling his guts with meat
without compassion of my great miserie, or remembrance of the pittiful
death of his slaine Master: and contemning my age and infirmity,
thinketh that I am unable to revenge his mischiefs, moreover he would
perswade me, that he were not culpable. Indeed, it is a convenient thing
to looke and plead for safety, when as the conscience doeth confesse the
offence, as theeves and malefactors accustome to do. But O good Lord,
thou cursed beast, if thou couldest utter the contents of thine owne
mind, whom (though it were the veriest foole in all the world) mightest
thou perswade that this murther was voide or without thy fault, when as
it lay in thy power, either to keepe off the theeves with thy heeles, or
else to bite and teare them with thy teeth? Couldest not thou (that so
often in his life time diddest spurne and kicke him) defend him now at
the point of death by the like meane? Yet at least, thou shouldest have
taken him upon thy backe, and so brought him from the cruell hands of
the theeves: where contrary thou runnest away alone, forsaking thy good
Master, thy pastor and conductor. Knowest thou not, that such as denie
their wholsome help and aid to them which lie in danger of death, ought
to be punished, because they have offended against good manners, and the
law naturall? But I promise thee, thou shalt not long rejoyce at my
harmes, thou shalt feele the smart of thy homicide and offence, I will
see what I can doe. And therewithall she unclosed her apron, and bound
all my feete together, to the end I might not help my selfe, then she
tooke a great barre, which accustomed to bar the stable doore, and never
ceased beating me till she was so weary that the bar fell out of her
hands, whereupon she (complaining of the soone faintnesse of her armes)
ran to her fire and brought a firebrand and thrust it under my taile,
burning me continually, till such time as (having but one remedy) I
arayed her face and eies with my durty dunge, whereby (what with the
stinke thereof, and what with the filthinesse that fell in her eies) she
was welnigh blinded: so I enforced the queane to leave off, otherwise I
had died as Meleager did by the sticke, which his mad mother Althea cast
into the fire.
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THE EIGHTH BOOKE
THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How a young man came and declared the miserable death of Lepolemus and
his wife Charites.
About midnight came a young man, which seemed to be one of the family
of the good woman Charites, who sometimes endured so much misery and
calamity with mee amongst the theeves, who after that hee had taken a
stoole, and sate downe before the fireside, in the company of the
servants, began to declare many terrible things that had happened unto
the house of Charites, saying: O yee house-keepers, shepheards and
cowheards, you shall understand that wee have lost our good mistris
Charites miserably and by evill adventure: and to the end you may learne
and know all the whole matter, I purpose to tell you the circumstances
of every point, whereby such as are more learned then I (to whom fortune
hath ministred more copious stile) may painte it out in paper in forme
of an History. There was a young Gentleman dwelling in the next City,
borne of good parentage, valiant in prowesse, and riche in substance,
but very much given and adicted to whorehunting, and continuall
revelling. Whereby he fell in company with Theeves, and had his hand
ready to the effusion of humane blood; his name was Thrasillus. The
matter was this according to the report of every man. Hee demanded
Charites in marriage, who although he were a man more comely then the
residue that wooed her, and also had riches abundantly, yet because he
was of evill fame, and a man of wicked manners and conversation, he had
the repulse and was put off by Charites, and so she married with
Lepolemus. Howbeit this young man secretly loved her, yet moved somewhat
at her refusall, hee busily searched some meanes to worke his damnable
intent. And (having found occasion and opportunity to accomplish his
purpose, which he had long time concealed) brought to passe, that the
same day that Charites was delivered by the subtill meane and valiant
audacity of her husband, from the puissance of the Theeves, he mingled
himselfe among the assembly, faining that he was glad of the new
marriage, and comming home againe of the maiden, Whereby (by reason that
he came of so noble parents) he was received and entertained into the
house as one of their chiefe and principall friends: Howbeit under
cloake of a faithfull welwiller, hee dissimuled his mischievous mind and
intent: in continuance of time by much familiarity and often
conversation and banketting together, he fell more and more in favour,
like as we see it fortuneth to Lovers, who first doe little delight
themselves in love: till as by continuall acquaintance they kisse and
imbrace each other. Thrasillus perceiving that it was a hard matter to
breake his minde secretly to Charites, whereby he was wholly barred from
the accomplishment of his luxurious appetite, and on the other side
perceiving that the love of her and her husband was so strongly lincked
together, that the bond betweene them might in no wise be dissevered,
moreover, it was a thing impossible to ravish her, although he had
consented thereto, yet was hee still provoked forward by vehement lust,
when as hee saw himselfe unable to bring his purpose to passe. Howbeit
at length the thing which seemed so hard and difficill, thorough hope of
his fortified love, did now appeare easie and facill: but marke I pray
you diligently to what end the furious force of his inordinate desire
came. On a day Lepolemus went to the chase with Thrasillus, to hunt for
Goates, for his wife Charites desired him earnestly to meddle with no
other beasts, which were of more fierce and wilde nature. When they were
come within the chase to a great thicket fortressed about with bryers
and thornes, they compassed round with their Dogs and beset every place
with nets: by and by warning was given to let loose. The Dogs rushed in
with such a cry, that all the Forrest rang againe with the noyse, but
behold there leaped out no Goat, nor Deere, nor gentle Hinde, but an
horrible and dangerous wild Boare, hard and thicke skinned, bristeled
terribly with thornes, foming at the mouth, grinding his teeth, and
looking direfully with fiery eyes. The Dogs that first set upon him, he
tare and rent with his tuskes, and then he ranne quite through the nets,
and escaped away. When wee saw the fury of this beast, wee were greatly
striken with feare, and because wee never accustomed to chase such
dreadfull Boares, and further because we were unarmed and without
weapons, we got and hid our selves under bushes and trees. Then
Thrasillus having found opportunity to worke his treason, said to
Lepolemus: What stand we here amazed? Why show we our selves like
dastards? Why leese we so worthy a prey with our feminine hearts? Let us
mount upon our Horses, and pursue him incontinently: take you a hunting
staffe, and I will take a chasing speare. By and by they leaped upon
their Horses, and followed the beast. But hee returning against them
with furious force, pryed with his eyes, on whom hee might first assayle
with his tuskes: Lepolemus strooke the beast first on the backe with his
hunting staffe. Thrasillus faining to ayde and assist him, came behind,
and cut off the hinder legges of Lepolemus Horse, in such sort that hee
fell downe to the ground with his master: and sodainely the Boare came
upon Lepolemus and furiously tare and rent him with his teeth. Howbeit,
Thrasillus was not sufficed to see him thus wounded, but when he desired
his friendly help, he thrust Lepolemus through the right thigh with his
speare, the more because he thought the wound of the speare would be
taken for a wound of the Boars teeth, then he killed the beast likewise,
And when he was thus miserably slaine, every one of us came out of our
holes, and went towards our slaine master. But although that Thrasillus
was joyfull of the death of Lepolemus, whom he did greatly hate, yet he
cloked the matter with a sorrowfull countenance, he fained a dolorous
face, he often imbraced the body which himselfe slew, he played all the
parts of a mourning person, saving there fell no teares from his eyes.
Thus hee resembled us in each point, who verily and not without occasion
had cause to lament for our master, laying all the blame of this
homicide unto the Boare. Incontinently after the sorrowfull newes of the
death of Lepolemus, came to the eares of all the family, but especially
to Charites, who after she had heard such pitifull tydings, as a mad and
raging woman, ran up and down the streets, crying and howling
lamentably. All the Citizens gathered together, and such as they met
bare them company running towards the chasse. When they came to the
slaine body of Lepolemus, Charites threw her selfe upon him weeping and
lamenting grievously for his death, in such sort, that she would have
presently ended her life, upon the corps of her slaine husband, whom
shee so entirely loved, had it not beene that her parents and friends
did comfort her, and pulled her away. The body was taken up, and in
funerall pompe brought to the City and buried. In the meane season,
Thrasillus fained much sorrow for the death of Lepolemus, but in his
heart he was well pleased and joyfull. And to counterfeit the matter, he
would come to Charites and say: O what a losse have I had of my friend,
my fellow, my companion Lepolemus? O Charites comfort your selfe,
pacifie your dolour, refraine your weeping, beat not your breasts: and
with such other and like words and divers examples he endeavoured to
suppresse her great sorrow, but he spake not this for any other intent
but to win the heart of the woman, and to nourish his odious love with
filthy delight. Howbeit Charites after the buriall of her husband sought
the meanes to follow him, and (not sustaining the sorrows wherein she
was Wrapped) got her secretly into a chamber and purposed to finish her
life there with dolour and tribulation. But Thrasillus was very
importunate, and at length brought to passe, that at the intercession of
the Parents and friends of Charites, she somewhat refreshed her fallen
members with refection of meate and baine. Howbeit, she did it more at
the commandement of her Parents, then for any thing else: for she could
in no wise be merry, nor receive any comfort, but tormented her selfe
day and night before the Image of her husband which she made like unto
Bacchus, and rendred unto him divine honours and services. In the meane
season Thrasillus not able to refraine any longer, before Charites had
asswaged her dolor, before her troubled mind had pacified her fury, even
in the middle of all her griefes, while she tare her haire and rent her
garments, demanded her in marriage, and so without shame, he detected
the secrets and unspeakeable deceipts of his heart. But Charites
detested and abhorred his demand, and as she had beene stroken with some
clap of thunder, with some storme, or with the lightning of Jupiter, she
presently fell downe to the ground all amazed. Howbeit when her spirits
were revived arid that she returned to her selfe, perceiving that
Thrasillus was so importunate, she demanded respite to deliberate and to
take advise on the matter. In the meane season, the shape of Lepolemus
that was slaine so miserably, appeared to Charites saying, O my sweet
wife (which no other person can say but I) I pray thee for the love
which is betweene us two, if there he any memorie of me in thy heart, or
remembrance of my pittifull death, marry with any other person, so that
thou marry not with the traitour Thrasillus, have no conference with
him, eate not with him, lie not with him, avoid the bloudie hand of mine
enemie, couple not thy selfe with a paricide, for those wounds (the
bloud whereof thy teares did wash away) were not the wounds of the teeth
of the Boare, but the speare of Thrasillus, that deprived me from thee.
Thus spake Lepolemus, unto his loving wife, and declared the residue of
the damnable fact. Then Charites, awaking from sleepe, began to renew
her dolour, to teare her garments, and to beate her armes with her
comely hands, howbeit she revealed the vision which she saw to no manner
of person, but dissimuling that she knew no part of the mischiefe,
devised with her selfe how she might be revenged on the traitor, and
finish her owne life to end and knit up all sorrow. Incontinently came
Thrasillus, the detestable demander of sodaine pleasure, and wearied the
closed eares of Charites with talke of marriage, but she gently refused
his communication, and coloring the matter, with passing craft in the
middest of his earnest desires gan say, Thrasillus you shall understand
that yet the face of your brother and my husband, is alwayes before mine
eies, I smell yet the Cinamon sent of his pretious body, I yet feele
Lepolemus alive in my heart: wherefore you shall do well if you grant to
me miserable woman, necessarie time to bewaile his death, that after the
residue of a few moneths, the whole yeare may be expired, which thing
toucheth as well my shame as your wholsome profit, lest peradventure by
your speed and quicke marriage we should justly raise and provoke the
spirit of my husband to worke our destruction. Howbeit, Thrasillus was
not contented with this promise, but more and more came upon her:
Insomuch, that she was enforced to speake to him in this manner: My
friend Thrasillus, if thou be so contented untill the whole yeare be
compleate and finished, behold here is my bodie, take thy pleasure, but
in such sort and so secret that no servant of the house may perceive it.
Then Thrasillus trusting to the false promises of the woman, and
preferring his inordinate pleasure above all things in the world, was
joyfull in his heart and looked for night, when as he might have his
purpose. But come thou about midnight (quoth Charites) disguised without
companie, and doe but hisse at my chamber doore, and my nourse shall
attend and let thee in. This counsell pleased Thrasillus marveilously,
who (suspecting no harme) did alwaies looke for night, and the houre
assigned by Charites. The time was scarce come, when as (according to
her commandement) he disguised himselfe, and went straight to the
chamber, where he found the nourse attending for him, who (by the
appointment of her Mistresse) fed him with flattering talke, and gave
him mingled and doled drinke in a cup, excusing the absence of her
Mistresse Charites, by reason that she attended on her Father being
sick, untill such time, that with sweet talke and operation of the wine,
he fell in a sound sleepe: Now when he lay prostrate on the ground
readie to all adventure, Charites (being called for) came in, and with
manly courage and bold force stood over the sleeping murderer, saying:
Behold the faithfull companion of my husband, behold this valiant
hunter; behold me deere spouse, this is the hand which shed my bloud,
this is the heart which hath devised so many subtill meanes to worke my
destruction, these be the eies whom I have ill pleased, behold now they
foreshew their owne destinie: sleepe carelesse, dreame that thou art in
the hands of the mercifull, for I will not hurt thee with thy sword or
any other weapon: God forbid that I should slay thee as thou slewest my
husband, but thy eies shall faile thee, and thou shalt see no more, then
that whereof thou dreamest: Thou shalt thinke the death of thine enemie
more sweet then thy life: Thou shalt see no light, thou shalt lacke the
aide of a leader, thou shalt not have me as thou hopest, thou shalt have
no delight of my marriage, thou shalt not die, and yet living thou shalt
have no joy, but wander betweene light and darknesse as an unsure Image:
thou shalt seeke for the hand that pricked out thine eies, yet shalt
thou not know of whom thou shouldest complaine: I will make sacrifice
with the bloud of thine eies upon the grave of my husband. But what
gainest thou through my delay? Perhaps thou dreamest that thou embracest
me in thy armes: leave off the darknesse of sleepe and awake thou to
receive a penall deprivation of thy sight, lift up thy face, regard thy
vengeance and evill fortune, reckon thy miserie; so pleaseth thine eies
to a chast woman, that thou shall have blindnesse to thy companion, and
an everlasting remorse of thy miserable conscience. When she had spoken
these words, she tooke a great needle from her head and pricked out both
his eies: which done, she by and by caught the naked sword which her
husband Lepolemus accustomed to weare, and ranne throughout all the
Citie like a mad woman towards the Sepulchre of her husband. Then all we
of the house, with all the Citizens, ranne incontinently after her to
take the sword out of her hand, but she clasping about the tombe of
Lepolemus, kept us off with her naked weapon, and when she perceived
that every one of us wept and lamented, she spake in this sort: I pray
you my friends weepe not, nor lament for me, for I have revenged the
death of my husband, I have punished deservedly the wicked breaker of
our marriage; now is it time to seeke out my sweet Lepolemus, and
presently with this sword to finish my life. And therewithall after she
had made relation of the whole matter, declared the vision which she saw
and told by what meane she deceived Thrasillus, thrusting her sword
under her right brest, and wallowing in her owne bloud, at length with
manly courage yeelded up the Ghost. Then immediately the friends of
miserable Charites did bury her body within the same Sepulchre.
Thrasillus hearing all the matter, and knowing not by what meanes he
might end his life, for he thought his sword was not sufficient to
revenge so great a crime, at length went to the same Sepulchre, and
cryed with a lowd voice, saying: o yee dead spirites whom I have so
highly and greatly offended, vouchsafe to receive me, behold I make
Sacrifice unto you with my whole body: which said, hee closed the
Sepulchre, purposing to famish himselfe, and to finish his life there in
sorrow. These things the young man with pitifull sighes and teares,
declared unto the Cowheards and Shepheards, which caused them all to
weepe: but they fearing to become subject unto new masters, prepared
themselves to depart away.
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THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper: and what danger he
was in.
By and by the Horsekeeper, to whom the charge of me was committed,
brought forth all his substance, and laded me and other Horses withall,
and so departed thence: we bare women, children, pullets, sparrowes,
kiddes, whelpes, and other things which were not able to keepe pace with
us, and that which I bare upon my backe, although it was a mighty
burthen, yet seemed it very light because I was driven away from him
that most terribly had appointed to kill me. When we had passed over a
great mountaine full of trees, and were come againe into the open
fields, behold we approached nigh to a faire and rich Castell, where it
was told unto us that we were not able to passe in our journey that
night, by reason of the great number of terrible Wolves which were in
the Country about, so fierce and cruell that they put every man in
feare, in such sort that they would invade and set upon such which
passed by like theeves, and devoure both them and their beasts.
Moreover, we were advertised that there lay in the way where we should
passe, many dead bodies eaten and torne with wolves. Wherefore we were
willed to stay there all night, and on the next morning, to goe close
and round together, whereby we might passe and escape all dangers. But
(notwithstanding this good counsell) our caitife drivers were so
covetous to goe forward, and so fearefull of pursuite, that they never
stayed till the morning: But being welnigh midnight, they made us trudge
in our way apace. Then I fearing the great danger which might happen,
ran amongst the middle of the other Horses, to the end I might defend
and save my poore buttocks from the Wolves, whereat every man much
marvelled to see, that I scowred away swifter then the other Horses. But
such was my agility, not to get me any prayse, but rather for feare: at
that time I remembered with my selfe, that the valiant Horse Pegasus did
fly in the ayre more to avoyd the danger of dreadful Chimera, then for
any thing else. The shepheards which drave us before them were well
armed like warriours: one had a speare, another had a sheepehooke, some
had darts, some clubbes, some gathered up great stones, some held up
their sharp Javelings, and some feared away the Woolves with light
firebrands. Finally wee lacked nothing to make up an Army, but onely
Drummes and Trumpets. But when we had passed these dangers, not without
small feare, wee fortuned to fall into worse, for the Woolves came not
upon us, either because of the great multitude of our company, or else
because [of] our firebrands, or peradventure they were gone to some
other place, for wee could see none, but the Inhabitants of the next
villages (supposing that wee were Theeves by reason of the great
multitude) for the defence of their owne substance, and for the feare
that they were in, set great and mighty masties upon us, which they had
kept and nourished for the safety of their houses, who compassing us
round about leaped on every side, tearing us with their teeth, in such
sort that they pulled many of us to the ground: verily it was a
pittifull sight to see so many Dogs, some following such as flyed, some
invading such as stood still, some tearing those which lay prostrate,
but generally there were none which escaped cleare: Behold upon this
another danger ensued, the Inhabitants of the Towne stood in their
garrets and windowes, throwing great stones upon our heads, that wee
could not tell whether it were best for us to avoyd the gaping mouthes
of the Dogges at hand or the perill of the stones afarre, amongst whome
there was one that hurled a great flint upon a woman, which sate upon my
backe, who cryed out pitiously, desiring her husband to helpe her. Then
he (comming to succour and ayd his wife) beganne to speake in this sort:
Alas masters, what mean you to trouble us poore labouring men so
cruelly? What meane you to revenge your selves upon us, that doe you no
harme? What thinke you to gaine by us? You dwell not in Caves or Dennes:
you are no people barbarous, that you should delight in effusion of
humane blood. At these words the tempest of stones did cease, and the
storme of the Dogges vanished away. Then one (standing on the toppe of a
great Cypresse tree) spake unto us saying: Thinke you not masters that
we doe this to the intent to rifle or take away any of your goods, but
for the safeguard of our selves and family: now a Gods name you may
depart away. So we went forward, some wounded with stones, some bitten
with Dogs, but generally there was none which escaped free.
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THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to cure
their wounds.
When we had gone a good part of our way, we came to a certaine wood
invironed with great trees and compassed about with pleasant meddowes,
whereas the Shepheards appointed to continue a certaine space to cure
their wounds and sores; then they sate downe on the ground to refresh
their wearie minds, and afterwards they sought for medicines, to heale
their bodies: some washed away their blood with the water of the running
River: some stopped their wounds with Spunges and cloutes, in this
manner every one provided for his owne safety. In the meane season wee
perceived an old man, who seemed to be a Shepheard, by reason of the
Goates and Sheep that fed round about him. Then one of our company
demanded whether he had any milke, butter, or cheese to sell. To whom he
made answere saying: Doe you looke for any meate or drinke, or any other
refection here? Know you not in what place you be?
And therewithall he tooke his sheepe and drave them away as fast as
he might possible. This answere made our shepheards greatly to feare,
that they thought of nothing else, but to enquire what Country they were
in: Howbeit they saw no manner of person of whom they might demand. At
length as they were thus in doubt, they perceived another old man with a
staffe in his hand very weary with travell, who approaching nigh to our
company, began to weepe and complaine saying: Alas masters I pray you
succour me miserable caitife, and restore my nephew to me againe, that
by following a sparrow that flew before him, is fallen into a ditch
hereby, and verily I thinke he is in danger of death. As for me, I am
not able to helpe him out by reason of mine old age, but you that are so
valiant and lusty may easily helpe me herein, and deliver me my boy, my
heire and guide of my life. These words made us all to pity him. And
then the youngest and stoutest of our company, who alone escaped best
the late skirmish of Dogges and stones, rose up and demanded in what
ditch the boy was fallen: Mary (quod he) yonder, and pointed with his
finger, and brought him to a great thicket of bushes and thornes where
they both entred in. In the meane season, after we cured our wounds, we
tooke up our packs, purposing to depart away. And because we would not
goe away without the young man our fellow: The shepheards whistled and
called for him, but when he gave no answer, they sent one out of their
company to seeke him out, who after a while returned againe with a pale
face and sorrowfull newes, saying that he saw a terrible Dragon eating
and devouring their companion: and as for the old man, hee could see him
in no place. When they heard this, (remembring likewise the words of the
first old man that shaked his head, and drave away his sheep) they ran
away beating us before them, to fly from this desart and pestilent
Country.
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THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How a woman killed her selfe and her child, because her husband
haunted harlots.
After that we had passed a great part of our journey, we came to a
village where we lay all night, but harken, and I will tell you what
mischiefe happened there: you shall understand there was a servant to
whom his Master had committed the whole government of his house, and was
Master of the lodging where we lay: this servant had married a Maiden of
the same house, howbeit he was greatly in love with a harlot of the
towne, and accustomed to resort unto her, wherewith his wife was so
highly displeased and became so jealous, that she gathered together all
her husbands substance, with his tales and books of account, and threw
them into a light fire: she was not contented with this, but she tooke a
cord and bound her child which she had by her husband, about her middle
and cast her selfe headlong into a deepe pit. The Master taking in evill
part the death of these twaine, tooke his servant which was the cause of
this murther by his luxurie, and first after that he had put off all his
apparell, he annointed his body with honey, and then bound him sure to a
fig-tree, where in a rotten stocke a great number of Pismares had
builded their neasts, the Pismares after they had felt the sweetnesse of
the honey came upon his body, and by little and little (in continuance
of time) devoured all his flesh, in such sort, that there remained on
the tree but his bare bones: this was declared unto us by the
inhabitants of the village there, who greatly sorrowed for the death of
this servant: then we avoiding likewise from this dreadfull lodging
incontinently departed away.
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THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons, and how they looked
in his mouth to know his age.
After this we came to a faire Citie very populous, where our
shepheards determined to continue, by reason that it seemed a place
where they might live unknowne, far from such as should pursue them, and
because it was a countrey very plentifull of corne and other victuals,
where when we had remained the space of three dayes, and that I poore
Asse and the other horses were fed and kept in the stable to the intent
we might seeme more saleable, we were brought out at length to the
market, and by and by a crier sounded with his horne to notifie that we
were to be sold: all my companion horses were bought up by Gentlemen,
but as for me I stood still forsaken of all men. And when many buiers
came by and looked in my mouth to know mine age, I was so weary with
opening my jawes that at length (unable to endure any longer) when one
came with a stinking paire of hands and grated my gummes with his filthy
fingers, I bit them cleane off, which thing caused the standers by to
forsake me as being a fierce and cruell beast: the crier when he had
gotten a hoarse voice with crying, and saw that no man would buy me,
began to mocke me saying, To what end stand we here with this wilde
Asse, this feeble beast, this slow jade with worne hooves, good for
nothing but to make sives of his skin? Why do we not give him to some
body for he earneth not his hay? In this manner he made all the standers
by to laugh exceedingly, but my evill fortune which was ever so cruell
against me, whom I by travell of so many countreys could in no wise
escape, did more and more envie me, with invention of new meanes to
afflict my poore body in giving me a new Master as spitefull as the
rest. There was an old man somewhat bald, with long and gray haire, one
of the number of those that go from door to door, throughout all the
villages, bearing the Image of the goddesse Syria, and playing with
Cimbals to get the almes of good and charitable folks, this old man came
hastely towards the cryer, and demanded where I was bred: Marry (quoth
he) in Cappadocia: Then he enquired what age I was of, the cryer
answered as a Mathematician, which disposed to me my Planets, that I was
five yeares old, and willed the old man to looke in my mouth: For I
would not willingly (quoth he) incur the penalty of the law Cornelia, in
selling a free Citizen for a servile slave, buy a Gods name this faire
beast to ride home on, and about in the countrey: But this curious buier
did never stint to question of my qualities, and at length he demanded
whether I were gentle or no: Gentle (quoth the crier) as gentle as a
Lambe, tractable to all use, he will never bite, he will never kicke,
hut you would rather thinke that under the shape of an Asse there were
some well advised man, which verely you may easily conject, for if you
would thrust your nose in his taile you shall perceive how patient he
is: Thus the cryer mocked the old man, but he perceiving his taunts and
jests, waxed very angry saying, Away doting cryer, I pray the omnipotent
and omniparent goddesse Syria, Saint Sabod, Bellona, with her mother
Idea, and Venus, with Adonis, to strike out both thine eies, that with
taunting mocks hast scoffed me in this sort: Dost thou thinke that I
will put a goddesse upon the backe of any fierce beast, whereby her
divine Image should be throwne downe on the ground, and so I poore miser
should be compelled (tearing my haire) to looke for some Physition to
helpe her? When I heard him speake thus, I thought with my selfe
sodainly to leap upon him like a mad Asse, to the intent he should not
buy me, but incontinently there came another Marchant that prevented my
thought, and offered 17 Pence for me, then my Master was glad and
received the money, and delivered me to my new Master who was called
Phelibus, and he caried his new servant home, and before he came to his
house, he called out his daughters saying, Behold my daughters, what a
gentle servant I have bought for you: then they were marvailous glad,
and comming out pratling and shouting for joy, thought verely that he
had brought home a fit and conveniable servant for their purpose, but
when they perceived that it was an Asse, they began to provoke him,
saying that he had not bought a servant for his Maidens, but rather an
Asse for himselfe. Howbeit (quoth they) keepe him not wholly for your
owne riding, but let us likewise have him at commandement. Therewithall
they led me into the stable, and tied me to the manger: there was a
certaine yong man with a mighty body, wel skilled in playing on
instruments before the gods to get money, who (as soone as he had espied
me) entertained me verie well, for he filled my racke and maunger full
of meat, and spake merrily saying, O master Asse, you are very welcome,
now you shall take my office in hand, you are come to supply my roome,
and to ease me of my miserable labour: but I pray God thou rnaist long
live and please my Master well, to the end thou maist continually
deliver me from so great paine. When I heard these words I did
prognosticate my miserie to come.
Martin Van Maele
The day following I saw there a great number of persons apparelled in
divers colours, having painted faces, mitres on their heads, vestiments
coloured like saffron, Surplesses of silke, and on their feet yellow
shooes, who attired the goddesse in a robe of Purple, and put her upon
my backe. Then they went forth with their armes naked to their
shoulders, bearing with them great swords and mightie axes, and dancing
like mad persons. After that we had passed many small villages, we
fortuned to come to one Britunis house, where at our first entrie they
began to hurle themselves hither and thither, as though they were mad.
They made a thousand gestures with their feete and their hands, they
would bite themselves, finally, every one tooke his weapon and wounded
his armes in divers places.
Amongst whom there was one more mad then the rest, that let many
deepe sighes from the bottome of his heart, as though he had beene
ravished in spirite, or replenished with divine power. And after that,
he somewhat returning to himselfe, invented and forged a great lye,
saying, that he had displeased the divine majesty of the goddesse, by
doing of some thing which was not convenable to the order of their holy
religion, wherefore he would doe vengeance of himselfe: and therewithall
he tooke a whip, and scourged his owne body, that the bloud issued out
aboundantly, which thing caused me greatly to feare, to see such wounds
and effusion of bloud, least the same goddesse desiring so much the
bloud of men, should likewise desire the bloud of an Asse. After they
were wearie with hurling and beating themselves, they sate downe, and
behold, the inhabitants came in, and offered gold, silver, vessels of
wine, milke, cheese, flower, wheate and other things: amongst whom there
was one, that brought barly to the Asse that carried the goddesse, but
the greedie whoresons thrust all into their sacke, which they brought
for the purpose and put it upon my backe, to the end I might serve for
two purposes, that is to say, for the barne by reason of my corne, and
for the Temple by reason of the goddesse. In this sort, they went from
place to place, robbing all the Countrey over. At length they came to a
certaine Castle where under colour of divination, they brought to passe
that they obtained a fat sheepe of a poore husbandman for the goddesse
supper and to make sacrifice withall. After that the banket was
prepared, they washed their bodies, and brought in a tall young man of
the village, to sup with them, who had scarce tasted a few pottage, when
hee began to discover their beastly customes and inordinate desire of
luxury. For they compassed him round about, sitting at the table, and
abused the young man, contrary to all nature and reason. When I beheld
this horrible fact, I could not but attempt to utter my mind and say, O
masters, but I could pronounce no more but the first letter O, which I
roared out so valiantly, that the young men of the towne seeking for a
straie Asse, that they had lost the same night, and hearing my voice,
whereby they judged that I had beene theirs, entred into the house
unwares, and found these persons committing their vile abhomination,
which when they saw, they declared to all the inhabitants by, their
unnatural villany, mocking and laughing at this the pure and cleane
chastity of their religion. In the meane season, Phelibus and his
company, (by reason of the bruit which was dispersed throughout all the
region there of their beastly wickednesse) put all their trumpery upon
my backe, and departed away about midnight. When we had passed a great
part of our journey, before the rising of the Sun, we came into a wild
desart, where they conspired together to slay me. For after they had
taken the goddesse from my backe and set her gingerly upon the ground,
they likewise tooke off my harnesse, and bound me surely to an Oake,
beating me with their whip, in such sort that all my body was mortified.
Amongst whom there was one that threatened to cut off my legs with his
hatchet, because by my noyse I diffamed his chastity, but the other
regarding more their owne profit than my utility, thought best to spare
my life, because I might carry home the goddesse. So they laded me
againe, driving me before them with their naked swords, till they came
to a noble City: where the principall Patrone bearing high reverence
unto the goddesse, Came in great devotion before us with Tympany,
Cymbals, and other instruments, and received her, and all our company
with much sacrifice and veneration. But there I remember, I thought my
selfe in most danger, for there was one that brought to the Master of
the house, a side of a fat Bucke for a present, which being hanged
behind the kitchin doore, not far from the ground, was cleane eaten up
by a gray hound, that came in. The Cooke when he saw the Venison
devoured, lamented and wept pitifully. And because supper time
approached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too much negligence,
he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife perceiving whereabout
he went, ran incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both her
hands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O husband, are you out of
your writs? pray husband follow my counsel, cary this strange Asse out
into some secret place and kill him, which done, cut off one of his
sides, and sawce it well like the side of the Bucke, and set it before
your Master. Then the Cooke hearing the counsell of his wife, was well
pleased to slay me to save himselfe: and so he went to the whetstone, to
sharpe his tooles accordingly.
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THE NINTH BOOKE
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of
other things that happened.
In this manner the traiterous Cooke prepared himselfe to slay me: and
when he was ready with his knives to doe his feat, I devised with my
selfe how I might escape the present perill, and I did not long delay:
for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and flinging
my heeles hither and thither to save my selfe, at length I ran hastily
into a Parlour, where the Master of the house was feasting with the
Priests of the goddesse Syria, and disquieted all the company, throwing
downe their meats and drinks from the table. The Master of the house
dismayed at my great disorder, commanded one of his servants to take me
up, and locke me in some strong place, to the end I might disturb them
no more. But I little regarded my imprisonment, considering that I was
happily delivered from the hands of the traiterous Cooke. Howbeit
fortune, or the fatall disposition of the divine providence, which
neither can be avoided by wise counsell, neither yet by any wholesome
remedie, invented a new torment, for by and by a young ladde came
running into the Parlour all trembling, and declared to the Master of
the house, that there was a madde Dog running about in the streetes,
which had done much harme, for he had bitten many grey hounds and horses
in the Inne by: And he spared neither man nor beast. For there was one
Mitilius a Mulettour, Epheseus, a Cooke, Hyppanius a chamberlaine, and
Appolonius a Physition, who (thinking to chase away the madde Dogge)
were cruelly wounded by him, insomuch that many Horses and other beasts
infected with the venyme of his poysonous teeth became madde likewise.
Which thing caused them all at the table greatly to feare, and thinking
that I had beene bitten in like sort, came out with speares, Clubs, and
Pitchforks purposing to slay me, and I had undoubtedly beene slaine, had
I not by and by crept into the Chamber, where my Master intended to
lodge all night. Then they closed and locked fast the doores about me,
and kept the chamber round, till such time as they thought that the
pestilent rage of madnesse had killed me. When I was thus shutte in the
chamber alone, I laid me downe upon the bed to sleepe, considering it
was long time past, since I lay and tooke my rest as a man doth. When
morning was come, and that I was well reposed, I rose up lustily. In the
meane season, they which were appointed to watch about the chamber all
night, reasoned with themselves in this sort, Verely (quoth one) I think
that this rude Asse be dead. So think I (quoth another) for the
outragious poyson of madness hath killed him, but being thus in divers
opinions of a poore Ass, they looked through a crevis, and espied me
standing still, sober and quiet in the middle of the chamber; then they
opened the doores, and came towards me, to prove whether I were gentle
or no. Amongst whom there was one, which in my opinion, was sent from
Heaven to save my life, that willed the other to set a bason of faire
water before me, and thereby they would know whether I were mad or no,
for if I did drinke without feare as I accustomed to do, it was a signe
that I was whole, and in mine Assie wits, where contrary if I did flie
and abhorre the tast of the water, it was evident proofe of my madness,
which thing he said that he had read in ancient and credible books,
whereupon they tooke a bason of cleere water, and presented it before
me: but I as soone as I perceived the wholesome water of my life, ran
incontinently, thrusting my head into the bason, drank as though I had
beene greatly athirst; then they stroked me with their hands, and bowed
mine eares, and tooke me by the halter, to prove my patience, but I
taking each thing in good part, disproved their mad presumption, by my
meeke and gentle behaviour: when I was thus delivered from this double
danger, the next day I was laded againe with the goddesse Siria, and
other trumpery, and was brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbals
to beg in the villages which we passed by according to our custome. And
after that we had gone through a few towns and Castles, we fortuned to
come to a certaine village, which was builded (as the inhabitants there
affirme) upon the foundation of a famous ancient Citie. And after that
we had turned into the next Inne, we heard of a prettie jest committed
in the towne there, which I would that you should know likewise.
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THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold.
There was a man dwelling in the towne very poore, that had nothing
but that which he got by the labour and travell of his hands: his wife
was a faire young woman, but very lascivious, and given to the appetite
and desire of the flesh. It fortuned on a day, that while this poore man
was gone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse,
according as he accustomed to doe, his wives lover secretly came into
his house to have his pleasure with her. And so it chanced that during
the time that shee and he were basking together, her husband suspecting
no such matter, returned home praising the chast continency of his wife,
in that hee found his doores fast closed, wherefore as his custome was,
he whistled to declare his comming. Then his crafty wife ready with
shifts, caught her lover and covered him under a great tub standing in a
corner, and therewithall she opened the doore, blaming her husband in
this sort: Commest thou home every day with empty hands, and bringest
nothing to maintaine our house? thou hast no regard for our profit,
neither providest for any meate or drinke, whereas I poore wretch doe
nothing day and night but occupie my selfe with spinning, and yet my
travell will scarce find the Candels which we spend. O how much more
happy is my neighbour Daphne, that eateth and drinketh at her pleasure
and passeth the time with her amorous lovers according to her desire.
What is the matter (quoth her husband) though Our Master hath made
holiday at the fields, yet thinke not but I have made provision for our
supper; doest thou not see this tub that keepeth a place here in our
house in vaine, and doth us no service? Behold I have sold it to a good
fellow (that is here present) for five pence, wherefore I pray thee lend
me thy hand, that I may deliver him the tub. His wife (having invented a
present shift) laughed on her husband, saying: What marchant I pray you
have you brought home hither, to fetch away my tub for five pence, for
which I poore woman that sit all day alone in my house have beene
proffered so often seaven: her husband being well apayed of her words
demanded what he was that had bought the tub: Looke (quoth she) he is
gone under, to see where it be sound or no: then her lover which was
under the tub, began to stirre and rustle himselfe, and because his
words might agree to the words of the woman, he sayd: Dame will you have
me tell the truth, this tub is rotten and crackt as me seemeth on every
side. And then turning to her husband sayd: I pray you honest man light
a Candle, that I may make cleane the tub within, to see if it be for my
purpose or no. for I doe not mind to cast away my money wilfully: he by
and by (being made a very Oxe) lighted a candle, saying, I pray you good
brother put not your selfe to so much paine, let me make the tub cleane
and ready for you. Whereupon he put off his coate, and crept under the
tub to rub away the filth from the sides. In the meane season this
minion lover cast his wife on the bottome of the tub and had his
pleasure with her over his head, and as he was in the middest of his
pastime, hee turned his head on this side and that side, finding fault
with this and with that, till as they had both ended their businesse,
when as he delivered seaven pence for the tub, and caused the good man
himselfe to carry it on his backe againe to his Inne.
THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison,
and how Apuleius was sold to a Baker.
After that we had tarried there a few dayes at the cost and charges
of the whole Village, and had gotten much mony by our divination and
prognostication of things to come: The priests of the goddesse Siria
invented a new meanes to picke mens purses, for they had certaine lotts,
whereon were written:
Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut in futurum loeta germinent sata
That is to say: The Oxen tied and yoked together, doe till the ground
to the intent it may bring forth his increase: and by these kind of
lottes they deceive many of the simple sort, for if one had demanded
whether he should have a good wife or no, they would say that his lot
did testifie the same, that he should. be tyed and yoked to a good woman
and have increase of children. If one demanded whether he should buy
lands and possession, they said that he should have much ground that
should yeeld his increase. If one demanded whether he should have a good
and prosperous voyage, they said he should have good successe, and it
should be for the increase of his profit. If one demanded whether hee
should vanquish his enemies, and prevaile in pursuite of theeves, they
said that this enemy should be tyed and yoked to him: and his pursuits
after theeves should be prosperous. Thus by the telling of fortunes,
they gathered a great quantity of money, but when they were weary with
giving of answers, they drave me away before them next night, through a
lane which was more dangerous and stony then the way which we went the
night before, for on the one side were quagmires and foggy marshes, on
the other side were falling trenches and ditches, whereby my legges
failed me, in such sort that I could scarce come to the plaine field
pathes. And behold by and by a great company of inhabitants of the towne
armed with weapons and on horsebacke overtooke us, and incontinently
arresting Philebus and his Priests, tied them by the necks and beate
them cruelly, calling them theeves and robbers, and after they had
manacled their hands: Shew us (quoth they) the cup of gold, which (under
the colour of your solemne religion) ye have taken away, and now ye
thinke to escape in the night without punishment for your fact. By and
by one came towards me, and thrusting his hand into the bosome of the
goddesse Siria, brought out the cup which they had stole. Howbeit for
all they appeared evident and plaine they would not be confounded nor
abashed, but jesting and laughing out the matter, gan say: Is it reason
masters that you should thus rigorously intreat us, and threaten for a
small trifling cup, which the mother of the Goddesse determined to give
to her sister for a present? Howbeit for all their lyes and
cavellations, they were carryed backe unto the towne, and put in prison
by the Inhabitants, who taking the cup of gold, and the goddesse which I
bare, did put and consecrate them amongst the treasure of the temple.
The next day I was carryed to the market to be sold, and my price was
set at seaven pence more then Philebus gave for me. There fortuned to
passe by a Baker of the next village, who after that he had bought a
great deale of corne, bought me likewise to carry it home, and when he
had well laded me therewith, be drave me through a thorny and dangerous
way to his bake house; there I saw a great company of horses that went
in the mill day and night grinding of corne, but lest I should be
discouraged at the first, my master entertained me well, for the first
day I did nothing but fare daintily, howbeit such mine ease and felicity
did not long endure, for the next day following I was tyed to the mill
betimes in the morning with my face covered, to the end in turning amid
winding so often one way, I should not become giddy, but keepe a
certaine course, but although when I was a man I had seen many such
horsemills and knew well enough how they should be turned, yet feining
my selfe ignorant of such kind of toile, I stood still and would not
goe, whereby I thought I should be taken from the mill as an Asse unapt,
and put to some other light thing, or else to he driven into the fields
to pasture, but my subtility did me small good, for by and by when the
mill stood still, the servants came about me, crying and beating me
forward, in such sort that I could not stay to advise my selfe, whereby
all the company laughed to see so suddaine a change. When a good part of
the day was past, that I was not able to endure any longer, they tooke
off my harnesse, and tied me to the manger, but although my bones were
weary, and that I needed to refresh my selfe with rest and provender,
yet I was so curious that I did greatly delight to behold the bakers
art, insomuch that I could not eate nor drinke while I looked on.
O good Lord what a sort of poore slaves were there; some had their
skinne blacke and blew, some had their backes striped with lashes, some
were covered with rugged sackes, some had their members onely hidden:
some wore such ragged clouts, that you might perceive all their naked
bodies, some were marked and burned in the heads with hot yrons, some
had their haire halfe clipped, some had lockes of their legges, some
very ugly and evill favoured, that they could scarce see, their eyes and
face were so blacke and dimme with smoake, like those that fight in the
sands, and know not where they strike by reason of dust: And some had
their faces all mealy. But how should I speake of the horses my
companions, how they being old and weake, thrust their heads into the
manger: they had their neckes all wounded and worne away: they rated
their nosethrilles with a continuall cough, their sides were bare with
their harnesse and great travell, their ribs were broken with beating,
their hooves were battered broad with incessant labour, and their skinne
rugged by reason of their lancknesse. When I saw this dreadfull sight, I
began to feare, least I should come to the like state: and considering
with my selfe the good fortune which I was sometime in when I was a man,
I greatly lamented, holding downe my head, and would eate no meate, but
I saw no comfort or consolation of my evill fortune, saving that my mind
was somewhat recreated to heare and understand what every man said, for
they neither feared nor doubted my presence. At that time I remembred
how Homer the divine author of ancient Poetry, described him to be a
wise man, which had travelled divers countries and nations, wherefore I
gave great thanks to my Asse for me, in that by this meanes I had seene
the experience of many things, and was become more wise (notwithstanding
the great misery and labour which I daily sustained): but I will tell
you a pretty jest, which commeth now to my remembrance, to the intent
your eares may be delighted in hearing the same.
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THE FORTIETH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was handled by the Bakers wife, which was a harlot.
The Baker which bought me was an honest and sober man; but his wife
was the most pestilent woman in all the world, insomuch that he endured
many miseries and afflictions with her, so that I my selfe did secretly
pitty his estate, and bewaile his evill fortune: for she had not one
fault alone, but all the mischiefes that could be devised: shee was
crabbed, cruell, lascivious, drunken, obstinate, niggish, covetous,
riotous in filthy expenses, and an enemy to faith and chastity, a
despise of all the Gods, whom other did honour, one that affirmed that
she had a God by her selfe, wherby she deceived all men, but especially
her poore husband, one that abandoned her body with continuall
whoredome. This mischievous queane hated me in such sort, that shee
commanded every day before she was up, that I should he put into the
mill to grind: and the first thing which she would doe in the morning,
was to see me cruelly beaten, and that I should grind when the other
beasts did feed and take rest. When I saw that I was so cruelly handled,
she gave me occasion to learne her conversation and life, for I saw
oftentimes a yong man which would privily goe into her chamber whose
face I did greatly desire to see, but I could not by reason mine eyes
were covered every day. And verily if I had beene free and at liberty, I
would have discovered all her abhomination. She had an old woman, a
bawd, a messenger of mischiefe that daily haunted to her house, and made
good cheere with her to the utter undoing and impoverishment of her
husband, but I that was greatly offended with the negligence of Fotis,
who made me an Asse, in stead of a Bird, did yet comfort my selfe by
this onely meane, in that to the miserable deformity of my shape, I had
long eares, whereby I might heare all things that was done: On a day I
heard the old bawd say to the Bakers wife:
Dame you have chosen (without my counsell) a young man to your lover,
who as me seemeth, is dull, fearefull, without any grace, and
dastardlike coucheth at the frowning looke of your odious husband,
whereby you have no delight nor pleasure with him: how farre better is
the young man Philesiterus who is comely, beautifull, in the flower of
his youth, liberall, courteous, valiant and stout against the diligent
pries and watches of your husband, whereby to embrace the worthiest
dames of this country, and worthy to weare a crowne of gold, for one
part that he played to one that was jealous over his wife. Hearken how
it was and then judge the diversity of these two Lovers: Know you not
one Barbarus a Senator of our towne, whom the vulgar people call
likewise Scorpion for his severity of manners? This Barbarus had a
gentlewoman to his wife, whom he caused daily to be enclosed within his
house, with diligent custody. Then the Bakers wife said, I know her very
well, for we two dwelleth together in one house: Then you know (quoth
the old woman) the whole tale of Philesiterus? No verily (said she) but
I greatly desire to know it: therefore I pray you mother tell me the
whole story. By and by the old woman which knew well to babble, began to
tell as followeth.
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THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee
should be kept close in his house, and what happened.
You shall understand that on a day this Barbarus preparing himselfe
to ride abroad, and willing to keepe the chastity of his wife (whom he
so well loved) alone to himselfe, called his man Myrmex (whose faith he
had tryed and proved in many things) and secretly committed to him the
custody of his wife, willing him that he should threaten, that if any
man did but touch her with his finger as he passed by, he would not
onely put him in prison, and bind him hand and foote, but also cause him
to be put to death, or else to be famished for lacke of sustenance,
which words he confirmed by an oath of all the Gods in heaven, and so
departed away: When Barbarus was gone, Myrmex being greatly astonied of
his masters threatnings, would not suffer his mistresse to goe abroad,
but as she sate all day a Spinning, he was so carefull that he sate by
her; when night came he went with her to the baines, holding her by the
garment, so faithfull he was to fulfill the commandement of his master:
Howbeit the beauty of this matron could not be hidden from the burning
eyes of Philesiterus, who considering her great chastity and how she was
diligently kept by Myrmex, thought it impossible to have his purpose,
yet (indeavouring by all kind of meanes to enterprise the matter, and
remembring the fragility of man, that might be intised and corrupted
with money, since as by gold the adamant gates may be opened) on a day,
when he found Myrmex alone, he discovered his love, desiring him to shew
his favour, (otherwise he should certainly dye) with assurance that he
need not to feare when as he might privily be let in and out in the
night, without knowledge of any person. When he thought, with these and
other gentle words to allure and prick forward the obstinate mind of
Myrmex he shewed him glittering gold in his hand, saying that he would
give his mistresse twenty crowns and him ten, but Myrmex hearing these
words, was greatly troubled, abhorring in his mind to commit such a
mischiefe: wherfore he stopped his eares, and turning his head departed
away: howbeit the glittering view of these crownes could never be out of
his mind, but being at home he seemed to see the money before his eyes,
which was so worthy a prey, wherefore poore Myrmex being in divers
opinions could not tell what to doe, for on the one side lie considered
the promise which he made to his master, and the punishment that should
ensue if he did contrary. On the other side he thought of the gaine, and
the passing pleasure of the crownes of gold; in the end the desire of
the money did more prevaile then the feare of death, for the beauty of
the flowrishing crownes did so sticke in his mind, that where the
menaces of his master compelled him to tarry at home, the pestilent
avarice of gold egged him out a doores, wherefore putting all shame
aside, without further delay, he declared all the whole matter to his
Mistresse, who according to the nature of a woman, when she heard him
speake of so great a summe she bound chastity in a string, and gave
authority to Myrmex to rule her in that case. Myrmex seeing the intent
of his Mistresse, was very glad, and for great desire of the gold, he
ran hastily to Philesiterus, declaring that his Mistresse was consented
to his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold which he promised. Then
incontinently Philesiterus delivered him tenne Crownes, and when night
came, Myrmex brought him disguised into his mistresses Chamber. About
Midnight when he and she were naked together, making sacrifice unto the
Goddesse Venus, behold her husband (contrary to their expectation) came
and knocked at the doore, calling with a loud voice to his Servant
Myrmex: whose long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master, in
such sort that he threatned to beat Myrmex cruelly: but he being
troubled with feare, and driven to his latter shifts, excused the matter
saying: that he could not find the key: by reason it was so darke. In
the meane season Philesiterus hearing the noise at the doore, slipt on
his coat and privily ran out of the Chamber. When Myrmex had opened the
doore to his Master that threatned terribly, and had let him in, he went
into the Chamber to his wife: In the mean while Myrmex let out
Philesiterus, and barred the doores fast, and went againe to bed. The
next morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two unknown slippers
lying under his bed, which Philesiterus had forgotten when he went away.
Then he conceived a great suspition and jealousie in mind, howbeit he
would not discover it to his wife, neither to any other person, but
putting secretly the slippers into his bosome, commanded his other
Servants to bind Myrmex incontinently, and to bring him bound to the
Justice after him, thinking verily that by the meane of the slippers he
might boult out the matter. It fortuned that while Barbarus went towards
the Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, followed him
weeping, not because he was accused before his master, but by reason he
knew his owne conscience guilty: behold by adventure Philesiterus (going
about earnest businesse) fortuned to meet with them by the way, who
fearing the matter which he committed the night before, and doubting
lest it should be knowne, did suddainly invent a meane to excuse Myrmex,
for he ran upon him and beate him about the head with his fists, saying:
Ah mischievous varlet that thou art, and perjured knave. It were a good
deed if the Goddesse and thy master here, would put thee to death, for
thou art worthy to be imprisoned and to weare out these yrons, that
stalest my slippers away when thou werest at my baines yester night.
Barbarus hearing this returned incontinently home, and called his
servant Myrmex, commanding him to deliver the slippers againe to the
right owner.
Martin Van Maele
The old woman had scant finished her tale when the Bakers wife gan
say: Verily she is blessed and most blessed, that hath the fruition of
so worthy a lover, but as for me poore miser, I am fallen into the hands
of a coward, who is not onely afraid of my husband but also of every
clap of the mill, and dares not doe nothing, before the blind face of
yonder scabbed Asse. Then the old woman answered, I promise you
certainly if you will, you shall have this young man at your pleasure,
and therewithall when night came, she departed out of her chamber. In
the meane season, the Bakers wife made ready a supper with abundance of
wine and exquisite fare: so that there lacked nothing, but the comming
of the young man, for her husband supped at one of her neighbours
houses. When time came that my harnesse should be taken off and that I
should rest my selfe, I was not so joyfull of my liberty, as when the
vaile was taken from mine eyes, I should see all the abhomination of
this mischievous queane. When night was come and the Sunne gone downe,
behold the old bawd and the young man, who seemed to be but a child, by
reason he had no beard, came to the doore. Then the Bakers wife kissed
him a thousand times and received him courteously, placed him downe at
the table: but he had scarce eaten the first morsell, when the good man
(contrary to his wives expectation) returned home, for she thought he
would not have come so soone: but Lord how she cursed him, praying God
that he might breake his necke at the first entry in. In the meane
season, she caught her lover and thrust him into the bin where she
bolted her flower, and dissembling the matter, finely came to her
husband demanding why he came home so soone. I could not abide (quoth
he) to see so great a mischiefe and wicked fact, which my neighbours
wife committed, but I must run away: O harlot as she is, how hath she
dishonoured her husband, I sweare by the goddesse Ceres, that if I had
[not] seene it with mine eyes, I would never I have beleeved it. His
wife desirous to know the matter, desired him to tell what she had done:
then hee accorded to the request of his wife, and ignorant of the estate
of his own house, declared the mischance of another. You shall
understand (quoth he) that the wife of the Fuller my companion, who
seemed to me a wise and chast woman, regarding her own honesty and
profit of her house, was found this night with her knave. For while we
went to wash our hands, hee and she were together: who being troubled
with our presence ran into a corner, and she thrust him into a mow made
with twigs, appoynted to lay on clothes to make them white with the
smoake of fume and brymstone. Then she sate down with us at the table to
colour the matter: in the meant season the young man covered in the mow,
could not forbeare sneesing, by reason of the smoake of the brymstone.
The good man thinking it had beene his wife that sneesed, cryed, Christ
helpe. But when he sneesed more, he suspected the matter, and willing to
know who it was, rose from the table, and went to the mow, where hee
found a young man welnigh dead with smoke. When hee understood the whole
matter, he was so inflamed with anger that he called for a sword to kill
him, and undoubtedly he had killed him, had I not restrained his violent
hands from his purpose, assuring him, that his enemy would dye with the
force of his brimstone, without the harme which he should doe. Howbeit
my words would not appease his fury, but as necessity required he tooke
the young man well nigh choked, and carried him out at the doores. In
the meane season, I counsailed his wife to absent her selfe at some of
her Neighbours houses, till the choller of her husband was pacified,
lest he should be moved against her, as he was against the young man.
And so being weary of their supper, I forthwith returned home. When the
Baker had told his tale, his impudent wife began to curse and abhorre
the wife of the Fuller, and generally all other wives, which abandon
their bodies with any other then with their owne Husbands, breaking the
faith and bond of marriage, whereby she said, they were worthy to be
burned alive. But knowing her owne guilty conscience and proper
whoredome, lest her lover should be hurt lying in the bin, she willed
her husband to goe to bed, but he having eaten nothing, said that he
would sup before he went to rest: whereby shee was compelled to maugre
her eies, to set such things on the Table as she had prepared for her
lover.
But I, considering the great mischiefe of this wicked queane, devised
with my selfe how I might reveale the matter to my Master, and by
kicking away the cover of the binne (where like a Snaile the young-man
was couched) to make her whoredome apparent and knowne. At length I was
ayded by the providence of God, for there was an old man to whom the
custody of us was committed, that drave me poore Asse, and the other
Horses the same time to the water to drinke; then had I good occasion
ministred, to revenge the injury of my master, for as I passed by, I
perceived the fingers of the young-man upon the side of the binne, and
lifting up my heeles, I spurned off the flesh with the force of my
hoofes, whereby he was compelled to cry out, and to throw downe the
binne on the ground, and so the whoredome of the Bakers wife was knowne
and revealed. The Baker seeing this was not a little moved at the
dishonesty of his wife, but hee tooke the young-man trembling for feare
by the hand, and with cold and courteous words spake in this sort: Feare
not my Sonne, nor thinke that I am so barbarous or cruell a person, that
I would stiffle thee up with the smoke of Sulphur as our neighbour
accustometh, nor I will not punish thee according to the rigour of the
law of Julia, which commandeth the Adulterers should be put to death: No
no, I will not execute my cruelty against so faire and comely a young
man as you be, but we will devide our pleasure betweene us, by lying all
three in one bed, to the end there may be no debate nor dissention
betweene us, but that either of us may be contented, for I have alwayes
lived with my wife in such tranquillity, that according to the saying of
the wisemen, whatsoever I say, she holdeth for law, and indeed equity
will not suffer, but that the husband should beare more authority then
the wife: with these and like words he led the young-man to his Chamber,
and closed his wife in another Chamber. On the next morrow, he called
two of the most sturdiest Servants of his house, who held up the young-
man, while he scourged his buttockes welfavouredly with rods like a
child. When he had well beaten him, he said: Art not thou ashamed, thou
that art so tender and delicate a child, to desire the violation of
honest marriages, and to defame thy selfe with wicked living, whereby
thou hast gotten the name of an Adulterer? After he had spoken these and
like words, he whipped him againe, and chased him out of his house. The
young-man who was the comeliest of all the adulterers, ran away, and did
nothing else that night save onely bewaile his striped and painted
buttockes. Soone after the Baker sent one to his wife, who divorced her
away in his name, but she beside her owne naturall mischiefe, (offended
at this great contumely, though she had worthily deserved the same) had
recourse to wicked arts and trumpery, never ceasing untill she had found
out an Enchantresse, who (as it was thought) could doe what she would
with her Sorcery and conjuration. The Bakers wife began to intreate her,
promising that she would largely recompence her, if shee could bring one
of these things to passe, eyther to make that her husband may be
reconciled to her againe, or else if hee would not agree thereto, to
send an ill spirit into him, to dispossesse the spirit of her husband.
Then the witch with her abhominable science, began to conjure and to
make her Ceremonies, to turne the heart of the Baker to his wife, but
all was in vaine, wherefore considering on the one side that she could
not bring her purpose to passe, and on the other side the losse of her
gaine, she ran hastily to the Baker, threatning to send an evill spirit
to kill him, by meane of her conjurations. But peradventure some
scrupulous reader may demand me a question, how I, being an Asse, and
tyed alwayes in the mill house, could know the secrets of these women:
Verily I answer, notwithstanding my shape of an Asse, I had the sence
and knowledge of a man, and curiously endeavoured to know out such
injuries as were done to my master. About noone there came a woman into
the Milhouse, very sorrowfull, raggedly attired, with bare feete,
meigre, ill-favoured, and her hayre scattering upon her face: This woman
tooke the Baker by the hand, and faining that she had some secret matter
to tell him, went into a chamber, where they remained a good space, till
all the corne was ground, when as the servants were compelled to call
their master to give them more corne, but when they had called very
often, and no person gave answer, they began to mistrust, insomuch that
they brake open the doore: when they were come in, they could not find
the woman, hut onely their master hanging dead upon a rafter of the
chamber, whereupon they cryed and lamented greatly, and according to the
custome, when they had washed themselves, they tooke the body and buried
it. The next day morrow, the daughter of the Baker, which was married
but a little before to one of the next Village, came crying and beating
her breast, not because she heard of the death of her father by any man,
but because his lamentable spirit, with a halter about his necke
appeared to her in the night, declaring the whole circumstance of his
death, and how by inchantment he was descended into hell, which caused
her to thinke that her father was dead. After that she had lamented a
good space, and was somewhat comforted by the servants of the house, and
when nine dayes were expired, as inheretrix to her father, she sold away
all the substance of the house, whereby the goods chanced into divers
mens hands.
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THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was sold to a Gardener,
and what dreadfull things happened.
There was a poore Gardener amongst the rest, which bought me for the
summe of fifty pence, which seemed to him a great price, but he thought
to gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my body. The matter
requireth to tell likewise, how I was handled in his service. This
Gardener accustomed to drive me, every morning laded with hearbes to the
next Village, and when he had sold his hearbes, hee would mount upon my
backe and returne to the Garden, and while he digged the ground and
watered the hearbes, and went about other businesse, I did nothing but
repose my selfe with great ease, but when Winter approached with sharpe
haile, raine and frosts, and I standing under a hedge side, was welnigh
killed up with cold, and my master was so poore that he had no lodging
for himselfe, much lesse had he any littor or place to cover me withall,
for he himselfe alwayes lay under a little roofe shadowed with boughes.
In the morning when I arose, I found my hoofes shriveled together with
cold, and unable to passe upon the sharpe ice, and frosty mire, neither
could I fill my belly with meate, as I accustomed to doe, for my master
and I supped together, and had both one fare: howbeit it was very
slender since as wee had nothing else saving old and unsavoury sallets
which were suffered to grow for seed, like long broomes, and that had
lost all their sweet sappe and juice.
It fortuned on a day that an honest man of the next village was
benighted and constrained by reason of the rain to lodge (very lagged
and weary).in our Garden, where although he was but meanely received,
yet it served well enough considering time and necessity. This honest
man to recompence our entertainment, promised to give my master some
corne, oyle, and two bottels of wine: wherefore my master not delaying
the matter, laded me with sackes and bottels, and rode to the Towne
which was seaven miles off.
When we came to the honest mans house, he entertained and feasted my
master exceedingly. And it fortuned while they eate and dranke together
as signe of great amity there chanced a strange and dreadfull case: for
there was a Hen which ran kackling about the yard, as though she would
have layed an Egge. The good man of the house perceiving her, said: O
good and profitable pullet that feedest us every day with thy fruit,
thou seemest as though thou wouldest give us some pittance for our
dinner: Ho boy put the Pannier in the corner that the Hen may lay. Then
the boy did as his master commanded, but the Hen forsaking the Pannier,
came toward her master and laid at his feet not an Egge, which every man
knoweth, but a Chickin with feathers, clawes, and eyes, which
incontinently ran peeping after his damme. By and by happened a more
strange thing, which would cause any man to abhorre: under the Table
where they sate, the ground opened, and there appeared a great well and
fountain of bloud, insomuch that the drops thereof sparckled about the
Table. At the same time while they wondred at this dreadfull sight one
of the Servants came running out of the Seller, and told that all the
wine was boyled out of the vessels, as though there had beene some great
fire under. By and by a Weasel was scene that drew into the house a dead
Serpent, and out of the mouth of a Shepheards dog leaped a live frog,
and immediately after one brought word that a Ram had strangled the same
dog at one bit. All these things that happened, astonied the good man of
the house, and the residue that were present, insomuch that they could
not tell what to doe, or with what sacrifice to appease the anger of the
gods. While every man was thus stroken in feare, behold, one brought
word to the good man of the house, that his three sonnes who had been
brought up in good literature, and endued with good manners were dead,
for they three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man
which was their neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next unto him
dwelled another young man very rich both in lands and goods, but bending
from the race of his progenies dissentions, and ruling himselfe in the
towne according to his owne will. This young royster did mortally hate
this poore man, insomuch that he would kill his sheepe, steale his oxen,
and spoyle his corne and other fruits before the time of ripenesse, yet
was he not contented with this, but he would encroch upon the poore mans
ground, and clayme all the heritage as his owne. The poore man which was
very simple and fearefull, seeing all his goods taken away by the
avarice of the rich man, called together and assembled many of his
friends to shew them all his land, to the end he might have but so much
ground of his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, he
found these three brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in his
adversity and tribulation.
Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wise
perswade him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause any
temperance of his tongue, but the more they went about with gentle words
to tell him his faults, the more would he fret and likewise fume,
swearing all the oathes under God, that he little regarded the presence
of the whole City, whereupon incontinently he commanded his servants to
take the poore man by the eares, and carry him out of his ground, which
greatly offended all the standers by. Then one of the brethren spake
unto him somewhat boldly, saying: It is but a folly to have such
affiance in your riches, whereby you should use your tyranny against the
poore, when as the law is common for all men, and a redresse may be had
to suppresse your insolency. These words chafed him more then the
burning oile, or flaming brimstone, or scourge of whipps, saying: that
they should be hanged and their law too, before he would be subject unto
any person: and therewithall he called out his bandogges and great
masties, which accustomed to eate the carrion and carkases of dead
beasts in the fields, and to set upon such as passed by the way: then he
commanded they should be put upon all the assistance to teare them in
peeces: who as soone as they heard the hisse of their master, ran
fiercely upon them invading them on every side, insomuch that the more
they flied to escape away, the more cruell and terrible were the dogges.
It fortuned amongst all this fearefull company, that in running, the
youngest of the three brethren stombled at a stone, and fell down to the
ground: Then the dogs came upon him and tare him in peeces with their
teeth, whereby he was compelled to cry for succour: His other two
brethren hearing his lamentable voice ran towards him to helpe him,
casting their cloakes about their left armes, tooke up stones to chase
away the dogs, but all was in vaine, for they might see their brother
dismembred in every part of his body: Who lying at the very point of
death, desired his brethren to revenge his death against that cruell
tyrant: And therewithall lie gave up the ghost. The other two brethren
perceiving so great a murther, and neglecting their owne lives, like
desperate persons dressed themselves against the tyrant, and threw a
great number of stones at him, but the bloudy theefe exercised in such
and like mischiefes, tooke a speare and thrust it cleane through the
body: howbeit he fell not downe to the ground. For the speare that came
out at his backe ran into the earth, and sustained him up. By and by
carne one of these tyrants servants the most sturdiest of the rest to
helpe his master, who at the first comming tooke up a stone and threw at
the third brother, but by reason the stone ran along his arme it did not
hurt him, which chanced otherwise then all mens expectation was: by and
by the young man feigning that his arme was greatly wounded, spake these
words unto the cruell bloud sucker: Now maist thou, thou wretch, triumph
upon the destruction of all our family, now hast thou fed thy insatiable
cruelty with the bloud of three brethren, now maist thou rejoyce at the
fall of us Citizens, yet thinke not but that how farre thou dost remove
and extend the bounds of thy land, thou shalt have some neighbor, but
how greatly am I sorry in that I have lost mine arme wherewithall I
minded to cut off thy head. When he had spoken these words, the furious
theefe drew out his dagger, and running upon the young man thought
verily to have slaine him, but it chanced otherwise: For the young man
resisted him stoutly, and in buckling together by violence wrested the
dagger out of his hand: which done, he killed the rich theefe with his
owne weapon, and to the intent the young man would escape the hands of
the servants which came running to assist their master, with the same
dagger he cut his owne throat. These things were signified by the
strange and dreadfull wondres which fortuned in the house of the good
man, who after he had heard these sorrowfull tydings could in no wise
weepe, so farre was he stroken with dolour, but presently taking his
knife wherewith he cut his cheese and other meate before, he cut his
owne throat likewise, in such sort that he fell upon the bord and
imbraced the table with the streames of his blond, in most miserable
manner. Hereby was my master the Gardener deprived of his hope, and
paying for his dinner the watry teares of his eyes, mounted upon my
backe and so we went homeward the same way as wee came.
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THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was found by his shadow.
As wee passed by the way wee met with a tall souldier (for so his
habite and countenance declared) who with proud and arrogant words spake
to my master in this sort:
Quorsum vacuum ducis Asinum?
My master somewhat astonied at the strange sights which he saw
before, and ignorant of the Latine tongue, roade on and spake never a
word: The souldier unable to refraine his insolence, and offended at his
silence, strake him on the shoulders as he sate on my backe; then my
master gently made answer that he understood not what he said, whereat
the souldier angerly demanded againe, whither he roade with his Asse?
Marry (quoth he) to the next City: But I (quoth the souldier) have need
of his helpe, to carry the trusses of our Captaine from yonder Castle,
and therewithall he tooke me by the halter and would violently have
taken me away: but my master wiping away the blood of the blow which he
received of the souldier, desired him gently and civilly to take some
pitty upon him, and to let him depart with his owne, swearing and
affirming that his slow Asse, welnigh dead with sicknesse, could scarce
carry a few handfuls of hearbs to the next towne, much lesse he was able
to beare any greater trusses: but when he saw the souldier would in no
wise be intreated, but ready with his staffe to cleave my masters head,
my master fell down at his feete, under colour to move him to some
pitty, but when he saw his time, he tooke the souldier by the legs and
cast him upon the ground: Then he buffetted him, thumped him, bit him,
and tooke a stone and beat his face and his sides, that he could not
turne and defend himselfe, but onely threaten that if ever he rose, he
would choppe him in pieces. The Gardener when he heard him say so, drew
out his javelin which hee had by his side, and when he had throwne it
away, he knockt and beate him more cruelly then he did before, insomuch
that the souldier could not tell by what meanes to save himselfe, but by
feining that he was dead, Then my master tooke the javelin and mounted
upon my backe, riding in all hast to the next village, having no regard
to goe to his Garden, and when he came thither, he turned into one of
his friends house and declared all the whole matter, desiring him to
save his life and to hide himselfe and his Asse in some secret place,
untill such time as all danger were past. Then his friends not
forgetting the ancient amity betweene them, entertained him willingly
and drew me up a paire of staires into a chamber, my master crept into a
chest, and lay there with the cover closed fast: The souldier (as I
afterwards learned) rose up as one awaked from a drunken sleepe, but he
could scarce goe by reason of his wounds: howbeit at length by little
and little through ayd of his staffe he came to the towne, but hee would
not declare the matter to any person nor complaine to any justice, lest
he should be accused of cowardise or dastardnesse, yet in the end he
told some of his companions of all the matter that happened: then they
tooke him and caused him to be closed in some secret place, thinking
that beside the injury which he had received, he should be accused of
the breach of his faith, by reason of the losse of his speare, and when
they had learned the signes of my master, they went to search him out:
at last there was an unfaithfull neighbour that told them where he was,
then incontinently the souldiers went to the Justice declaring that they
had lost by the way a silver goblet of their Captaines, and that a
Gardener had found it, who refusing to deliver the goblet, was hidden in
one of his friends houses: by and by the Magistrates understanding the
losse of the Captaine, came to the doores where we were, commanded our
host to deliver my master upon paine of death: howbeit these threatnings
could not enforce him to confesse that he was within his doores, but by
reason of his faithfull promise and for the safeguard of his friend, he
said, that hee saw not the Gardener a great while, neither knew where he
was: the souldiers said contrary, whereby to know the verity of the
matter, the Magistrates commanded their Seargants and ministers to
search every comer of the house, but when they could find neither
Gardener nor Asse, there was a great contention betweene the souldiers
and our Host, for they sayd we were within the house: and he said no,
but I that was very curious to know the matter, when I heard so great a
noyse, put my head out of the window to learne what the stirre and
tumult did signifie. It fortuned that one of the souldiers perceived my
shadow, whereupon he began to cry, saying: that hee had certainly seene
me; then they were all glad and came up into the chamber, and pulled me
downe like a prisoner. When they had found mee, they doubted nothing of
the Gardener, but seeking about more narrowly, at length they found him
couched in a chest. And so they brought out the poore gardener to the
Justices, who was committed immediately to prison, but they could never
forbeare laughing from the time they found me by my shadow, wherefore is
risen a common Proverbe: 'The shadow of the Asse.'
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THE TENTH BOOKE
THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a Captaines
house, and what happened there.
The next day how my master the Gardener sped, I knew not, but the
gentle souldier, who was well beaten for his cowardise, lead me to his
lodging without the contradiction of any man: Where hee laded me well,
and garnished my body (as seemed to me) like an Asse of armes. For on
the one side I bare an helmet that shined exceedingly: On the other side
a Target that glistered more a thousand folde. And on the top of my
burthen he put a long speare, which things he placed thus gallantly, not
because he was so expert in warre (for the Gardener proved the contrary)
but to the end he might feare those which passed by, when they saw such
a similitude of warre. When we had gone a good part of our journey, over
the plaine and easie fields, we fortuned to come to a little towne,
where we lodged at a certaine Captaines house. And there the souldier
tooke me to one of the servants, while he himselfe went towards his
captaine; who had the charge of a thousand men. And when we had remained
there a few dayes, I understood of a wicked and mischievous fact
committed there, which I have put in writing to the end you may know the
same. The master of the house had a sonne instructed in good literature,
and endued with vertuous manners, such a one as you would desire to have
the like. Long time before his mother dyed, and when his father married
a new wife, and had another child of the age of xii. yeares. The
stepdame was more excellent in beauty then honesty: for she loved this
young man her sonne in law, either because she was unchast by nature, or
because she was enforced by fate of stepmother, to commit so great a
mischiefe. Gentle reader, thou shalt not read of a fable, but rather a
tragedy: This woman when her love began first to kindle in her heart,
could easily resist her desire and inordinate appetite by reason of
shame and feare, lest her intent should be knowne: But after it
compassed and burned every part of her brest, she was compelled to yeeld
unto the raging flame of Cupid, and under colour of the disease and
infirmity of her body, to conceale the wound of her restlesse mind.
Every man knoweth well the signes and tokens of love, and the malady
convenient to the same: Her countenance was pale, her eyes sorrowfull,
her knees weake, and there was no comfort in her, but continuall weeping
and sobbing, insomuch that you would have thought that she had some
spice of an ague, saving that she wept unmeasurably: the Phisitians knew
not her disease, when they felt the beating of her veines, the
intemperance of her heart, the sobbing sighes, and her often tossing of
every side: No, no, the cunning Phisitian knew it not, but a scholler of
Venus Court might easily conjecture the whole. After that she had beene
long time tormented in her affliction, and was no more able to conceale
her ardent desire, shee caused her sonne to be called for, (which word
son she would faine put away if it were not for shame:) Then he nothing
disobedient to the commandement of his mother, with a sad and modest
countenance, came into the chamber of his stepdame, the mother of his
brother, but she speaking never a word was in great doubt what she might
doe, and could not tell what to say first, by reason of shame. The young
man suspecting no ill, with humble courtesie demanded the cause of her
present disease. Then she having found an occasion to utter her intent,
with weeping eyes and covered face, began boldly to speake unto him in
this manner: Thou, thou, art the originall cause of all my dolour: Thou
art my comfort and onely health, for those thy comely eyes are so
enfastned within my brest, that unlesse they succour me, I shall
certainly die: Have pitty therefore upon me, be not the occasion of my
destruction, neither let my conscience reclaime to offend thy father,
when as thou shalt save the life of thy mother. Moreover since thou dost
resemble thy fathers shape in every point, it giveth me cause the more
to fancy thee: Now is ministred unto thee time and place: Now hast thou
occasion to worke thy will, seeing that we are alone. And it is a common
saying:
Never knowne, never done.
This young man troubled in mind at so suddaine an ill, although hee
abhorred to commit so beastly a crime, yet hee would not cast her off
with a present deniall, but warily pacified her mind with delay of
promise. Wherefore he promised to doe all according to her desire: And
in the meane season, he willed his mother to be of good cheere, and
comfort her selfe till as he might find some convenient time to come
unto her, when his father was ridden forth: Wherewithall hee got him
away from the pestilent sight of his stepdame. And knowing that this
matter touching the ruine of all the whole house needed the counsell of
wise and grave persons, he went incontinently to a sage old man and
declared the whole circumstance of the matter. The old man after long
deliberation, thought there was no better way to avoyd the storme of
cruell fortune to come, then to run away. In the meane season this
wicked woman impatient of her love, and the long delay of her sonne,
egged her husband to ride abroad into farre countreyes. And then she
asked the young-man the accomplishment of his promise, but he to rid
himselfe entirely from her hands, would find alwayes excuses, till in
the end she understood by the messengers that came in and out, that he
nothing regarded her. Then she by how much she loved him before, by so
much and more she hated him now. And by and by she called one of her
servants, ready to all mischiefes: To whom she declared all her secrets.
And there it was concluded betweene them two, that the surest way was to
kill the young man: Whereupon this varlet went incontinently to buy
poyson, which he mingled with wine, to the intent he would give it to
the young man to drinke, and thereby presently to kill him. But while
they were in deliberation how they might offer it unto him, behold here
happened a strange adventure. For the young sonne of the woman that came
from schoole at noone (being very thirsty) tooke the pot wherein the
poyson was mingled, and ignorant of the venim, dranke a good draught
thereof, which was prepared to kill his brother: whereby he presently
fell downe to the ground dead. His schoolemaster seeing his suddaine
change, called his mother, and all the servants of the house with a lowd
voyce. Incontinently every man declared his opinion, touching the death
of the child: but the cruell woman the onely example of stepmothers
malice, was nothing moved by the bitter death of her sonne, or by her
owne conscience of paracide, or by the misfortune of her house, or by
the dolour of her husband, but rather devised the destruction of all her
family. For by and by shee sent a messenger after her husband to tell
him the great misfortune which happened after his departure. And when
lie came home, the wicked woman declared that his sonne had empoysoned
his brother, because he would not consent to his will, and told him
divers other leasings, adding in the end that hee threatned to kill her
likewise, because she discovered the fact: Then the unhappy father was
stroken with double dolour of the death of his two children, for on the
one side he saw his younger sonne slaine before his eyes, on the other
side, he seemed to see the elder condemned to dye for his offence:
Againe, where he beheld his wife lament in such sort, it gave him
further occasion to hate his sonne more deadly; but the funerals of his
younger sonne were scarce finished, when the old man the father with
weeping eyes even at the returne from the grave, went to the Justice and
accused his sonne of the slaughter of his brother, and how he threatned
to slay his wife, whereby the rather at his weeping and lamentation, he
moved all the Magistrates and people to pitty, insomuch that without any
delay, or further inquisition they cryed all that hee should be stoned
to death, but the Justices fearing a farther inconvenience to arise by
the particular vengeance, and to the end there might fortune no sedition
amongst the people, prayed the decurions and other Officers of the City,
that they might proceed by examination of witnesses, and with order of
justice according to the ancient custome before the judging of any hasty
sentence or judgment, without the hearing of the contrary part, like as
the barbarous and cruell tyrants accustome to use: otherwise they should
give an ill example to their successours. This opinion pleased every
man, wherefore the Senatours and counsellors were called, who being
placed in order according to their dignity, caused the accuser and
defender to be brought forth, and by the example of the Athenian law,
and judgement materiall, their Advocates were commanded to plead their
causes briefly without preambles or motions of the people to pitty,
which were too long a processe. And if you demand how I understood all
this matter, you shall understand that I heard many declare the same,
but to recite what words the accuser used in his invective, what answer
the defender made, the orations and pleadings of each party, verily I am
not able to doe: for I was fast bound at the manger. But as I learned
and knew by others, I will God willing declare unto you. So it was
ordered, that after the pleadings of both sides was ended, they thought
best to try and boult out the verity by witnesses, all presumptions and
likelihood set apart, and to call in the servant, who onely was reported
to know all the matter: by and by the servant came in, who nothing
abashed, at the feare of so great a judgment, or at the presence of the
Judges, or at his owne guilty conscience, which hee so finely fained,
but with a bold countenance presented himselfe before the justices and
confirmed the accusation against the young man, saying: O yee judges, on
a day when this young man loathed and hated his stepmother, hee called
mee, desiring mee to poyson his brother, whereby hee might revenge
himselfe, and if I would doe it and keepe the matter secret, hee
promised to give me a good reward for my paines: but when the young man
perceived that I would not accord to his will, he threatned to slay mee,
whereupon hee went himselfe and bought poyson, and after tempered it
with wine, and then gave it me to give the child, which when I refused
he offered it to his brother with his own hands. When the varlet with a
trembling countenance had ended these words which seemed a likelihood of
truth, the judgement was ended: neither was there found any judge or
counsellor, so mercifull to the young man accused, as would not judge
him culpable, but that he should be put and sowne in a skin, with a
dogge, a Cocke, a Snake, and an Ape, according to the law against
parricides: wherefore they wanted nothing but (as the ancient custome
was) to put white stones and black into a pot, and to take them out
againe, to see whether the young-man accused should be acquitted by
judgment or condemned, which was a thing irrevocable.
In the mean season he was delivered to the hands of the executioner.
But there arose a sage and ancient Physitian, a man of a good conscience
and credit throughout all the City, that stopped the mouth of the pot
wherein the stones were cast, saying: I am right glad ye reverend
judges, that I am a man of name and estimation amongst you, whereby I am
accompted such a one as will not suffer any person to be put to death by
false and untrue accusations, considering there hath bin no homicide or
murther committed by this yong man in this case, neither you (being
sworn to judge uprightly) to be misinformed and abused by invented lyes
and tales. For I cannot but declare and open my conscience, least I
should be found to beare small honour and faith to the Gods, wherefore I
pray you give eare, and I will shew you the whole truth of the matter.
You shall understand that this servant which hath merited to be hanged,
came one of these dayes to speake with me, promising to give me a
hundred crownes, if I would give him present poyson, which would cause a
man to dye suddenly, saying, that he would have it for one that was
sicke of an incurable disease, to the end he might be delivered from all
torment, but I smelling his crafty and subtill fetch, and fearing least
he would worke some mischiefe withall, gave him a drinke; but to the
intent I might cleare my selfe from all danger that might happen, I
would not presently take the money which he offered. But least any of
the crownes should lacke weight or be found counterfeit, I willed him to
scale the purse wherein they were put, with his manuell signe, whereby
the next day we might goe together to the Goldsmith to try them, which
he did; wherefore understanding that he was brought present before you
this day, I hastily commanded one of my servants to fetch the purse
which he had sealed, and here I bring it unto you to see whether he will
deny his owne signe or no: and you may easily conject that his words are
untrue, which he alleadged against the young man, touching the buying of
the poyson, considering hee bought the poyson himselfe. When the
Physitian had spoken these words you might perceive how the trayterous
knave changed his colour, how hee sweat for feare, how he trembled in
every part of his body: and how he set one leg upon another, scratching
Ibis head and grinding his teeth, whereby there was no person but would
judge him culpable. In the end, when he was somewhat returned to his
former subtility, he began to deny all that was said, and stoutly
affirmed, that the Physitian did lye. But the Physitian perceiving that
he was rayled at and his words denyed, did never cease to confirme his
sayings, and to disprove the varlet, till such time as the Officers by
the commandment of the Judges, bound his hands and brought out the
seale, wherewith he had sealed the purse which augmented suspition which
was conceived of him first. Howbeit, neither the feare of the wheele or
any other torment according to the use of the Grecians, which were ready
prepared, no, nor yet the fire could enforce him to confesse the matter,
so obstinate and grounded was he in his mischievous mind. But the
Physitian perceiving that the menaces of these torments did nothing
prevaile, gan say: I cannot suffer or abide that this young man who is
innocent, should against all law and conscience, be punished and
condemned to die, and the other which is culpable, should escape so
easily, and after mocke and flowte at your judgement: for I will give
you an evident proofe and argument of this present crime. You shall
understand, that when this caytiffe demanded of me a present and strong
poyson, considering that it was not my part to give occasion of any
others death, but rather to cure and save sicke persons by meane of
medicines: and on the other side, fearing least if I should deny his
request, I might minister a further cause of his mischiefe, either that
he would buy poyson of some other, or else returne and worke his wicked
intent, with a sword or some dangerous weapon, I gave him no poyson, but
a doling drinke of Mandragora, which is of such force, that it will
cause any man to sleepe as though he were dead. Neither is it any
marvaile if this most desperate man, who is certainly assured to be put
to death, ordained by an ancient custome, can suffer and abide these
facill and easie torments, but if it be so that the child hath received
the drinke as I tempered it with mine owne hands, he is yet alive and
doth but sleepe, and after his sleepe he shall returne to life againe,
but if he be dead indeed, then may you further enquire of the causes of
his death. The opinion of this ancient Physitian was found good, and
every man had a desire to goe to the Sepulchre where the child was layd;
there was none of the Justices, none of any reputation of the towne, nor
any of the common people, but went to see this strange sight. Amongst
them all the father of the child remooved with his owne hands the stone
of the Sepulchre, and found his Sonne rising up after his dead and
soporiferous sleepe, whom when he beheld, he imbraced him in his armes,
and presented him before the people, with great joy and consolation, and
as he was wrapped and bound in his grave, so he brought him before the
Judges, whereupon the wickednesse of the Servant, and, the treason of
the stepdame was plainely discovered, and the verity of the matter
revealed, whereby the woman was perpetually exiled, the Servant hanged
on a Gallowes, and the Physitian had the Crownes, which was prepared to
buy the poyson. Behold how the fortune of the old man was changed, who
thinking to be deprived of all his race and posterity, was in one moment
made the Father of two Children. But as for me, I was ruled and handled
by fortune, according to her pleasure.
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THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius was sold to two brethren, whereof one was a Baker,
and the other a Cooke, and how finely and daintily he fared.
THE Souldier that payed never a peny for me, by the commandement of
his Captaine was sent unto Rome, to cary Letters to the great Prince,
and Generall of the Campe. Before he went, he sold me for eleven pence
to two of his Companions, being Servants to a man of worship, whereof
one was a Baker that baked sweet bread and delicates, the other a Cooke,
which dressed fine and excellent meats for his Master. These two lived
in common, and would drive me from place to place, to carry such things
as was necessary, insomuch that I was received by these two, as a third
Brother, and Companion, and I thought I was never better placed, then
with them: for when night came that Supper was done, and their businesse
ended, they would bring many good morsels into their Chamber for
themselves. One would bring Pigs, Chickens, fish, and other good meates,
the other fine bread, pasties, tarts, custards and other delicate
Junkets dipped in hony. And when they had shut their chamber doore, and
went to the bains: (O Lord) how I would fill my guts with these goodly
dishes: neither was I so much a foole, or so very an Asse, to leave the
dainty meats, and to grind my teeth upon hard hay. In this sort I
continued a great space, for I played the honest Asse, taking but a
little of one dish, and a little of another, wherby no man distrusted
me. In the end, I was more hardier and began to devoure the whole messes
of the sweet delicates, which caused the Baker and the Cooke to suspect,
howbeit they nothing mistrusted me, but searched about to apprehend the
theefe. At length they began to accuse one another of theft, and to set
the dishes and morsels of meat in order, one by another, because they
would learne what was taken away, whereby one of them was compelled to
say thus to his fellow: Is it reason to breake promise and faith in this
sort, by stealing away the best meat, and to sell it to augment thy
good, and yet neverthelesse to have thy part in the residue that is
left: if our partnership doe mislike thee, we will be partners and
brothers in other things, but in this we will breake of: for I perceive
that the great losse which I sustain, will at length be a cause of great
discord betweene us. Then answered the other, Verily I praise thy great
constancy and subtilnesse, in that (when thou hast secretly taken away
the meat) [thou] dost begin to complaine first, whereas I by long space
of time have suffered thee, because I would not seeme to accuse my
brother of theft, but I am right glad in that wee are fallen into
communication of the matter, least by our silence, like contention might
arise betweene us, as fortuned betweene Eteocles and his Brother. When
they had reasoned together in this sort, they swore both earnestly, that
neither of them stale or tooke away any jote of the meate, wherefore
they concluded to search out the Theefe by all kind of meanes. For they
could not imagin or thinke, the Asse who stood alone there, would eate
any such meates, neither could they thinke that Mice or Flyes, were so
ravenous, as to devouer whole dishes of meat, like the Birds Harpies
which carried away the meates of Phineus the King of Archadia. In the
Meane season while I was fed with dainty morsels, I gathered together my
flesh, my skin waxed soft, my haire began to shine, and was gallant on
every part, but such faire and comely shape of my body, was cause of my
dishonour, for the Baker and Cooke marvelled to see me so slick and
fine, considering I did eate no hay at all. Wherefore on a time at their
accustomed houre, they went to the baines, and locked their chamber
doore. It fortuned that ere they departed away, they espyed me through a
hole, how I fell roundly to my victuals: then they marvelled greatly,
and little esteemed the losse of their meate, laughed exceedingly,
calling the servants of the house, to shew them the greedy gorge and
appetite of the Asse. Their laughing was so immoderate that the master
of the house heard them, and demanded the cause of their laughter, and
when hee understood all the matter, hee looked through the hole
likewise, wherewith he took such a delectation that hee commanded the
doore to be opened, that hee might see mee at his pleasure. Then I
perceiving every man laugh, was nothing abashed, but rather more bold,
whereby I never rested eating, till such time as the master of the house
commanded me to be brought into his parler as a novelty, and there
caused all kinds of meates which were never touched to be set on the
table, which (although I had eaten sufficiently before, yet to win the
further favour of the master of the house) I did greedily devoure and
made a cleane riddance of all the delicate meates. And to prove my
nature wholly, they gave met such meates as every Asse doth abhorre: for
they put before mee beefe and vinegar, birds and pepper, fish and
verjuice: in the meane season they that beheld met at the table did
nothing but laugh. Then one of the servants of the house sayd to his
master, I pray you sir give him some drinke to his supper: Marry (quoth
hee) I thinke thou saist true, for it may be, that to his meate hee
would drinke likewise a cup of wine. Hoe boy, wash yonder pot, and fill
it with wine, which done, carry it to the Asse, and say that I have
drunke to him. Then all the standers by looked on, to see what would
come to passe: but I (as soone as I beheld the cup) staied not long, but
gathering my lips together, supped up all the wine at one draught. The
master being right joyfull hereat caused the Baker and Cooke which had
bought me, to come before him, to whom he delivered foure times as much
for me, as they paid, which done he committed me to one of his rich
Libertines, and charged him to looke well to me, and that I should lacke
nothing, who obeied his masters commandement in every point: and to the
end he would creepe further into his favour, he taught me a thousand
qualities. First he instructed me to sit at the table upon my taile, and
how I should leape and dance, holding up my former feete: moreover hee
taught me how I should answer when any body spake unto me, with nodding
my head, which was a strange and marvailous thing, and if I did lacke
drinke, I should looke still upon the pot. All which things I did
willingly bring to passe, and obeyed his doctrine: howbeit, I could have
done all these things without his teaching, but I feared greatly lest in
shewing my selfe cunning without a master, I should pretend some great
and strange wonder, and thereby be throwne out to wild beasts. But my
fame was spred about in every place, and the qualities which I could
doe, insomuch that my master was renowned throughout all the Country by
reason of mee. For every man would say: Behold the Gentleman that hath
an Asse, that will eate and drinke with him, that will dance, and
understand what is said to him, will shew his fantasie by signes. But
first I will tell you (which I should have done before) who my master
was, and of what country. His name was Thiasus, hee was borne at
Corinth, which is a principall towne of Achaia, and he had passed many
offices of honor, till hee had taken upon him the degree Quinquenuall,
according as his birth and dignity required, who to shew his
worthinesse, and to purchase the benevolence of every person, appointed
publike joyes and triumphs, to endure the space of three dayes, and to
bring his endeavour to passe, he came into Thessaly to buy excellent
Beasts, and valiant fighters for the purpose.
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THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How a certaine Matron fell in love with Apuleius, how hee had his
pleasure with her, and what other things happened.
When he had bought such things as was necessary, he would not returne
home into his Countrey in Chariots, or waggon, neither would he ride
upon Thessalian Horses, or Jenets of France, or Spanish Mules, which be
most excellent as can be found, but caused me to be garnished and
trimmed with trappers and barbs of Gold, with brave harnesse, with
purple coverings, with a bridle of silver, with pictured cloths, and
with shrilling bells, and in this manner he rode upon me lovingly,
speaking and intreating me with gentle words, but above all things he
did greatly rejoyce in that I was his Servant to beare him upon my
backe, and his Companion to feed with him at the Table: After long time
when we had travelled as well by Sea as Land, and fortuned to arrive at
Corinth, the people of the Towne came about us on every side, not so
much to doe honour to Thiasus, as to see me: For my fame was so greatly
spread there, that I gained my master much money, and when the people
was desirous to see me play prankes, they caused the Gates to be shut,
and such as entered in should pay money, by meanes whereof I was a
profitable companion to them every day: There fortuned to be amongst the
Assembly a noble and rich Matron that conceived much delight to behold
me, and could find no remedy to her passions and disordinate appetite,
but continually desired to have her pleasure with me, as Pasiphae had
with a Bull. In the end she promised a great reward to my keeper for the
custody of me one night, who for gaine of a little money accorded to her
desire, and when I had supped in a Parler with my Master, we departed
away and went into our Chamber, where we found the faire Matron, who had
tarried a great space for our comming: I am not able to recite unto you
how all things were prepared: there were foure Eunuches that lay on a
bed of downe on the ground with Boulsters accordingly for us to lye on,
the Coverlet was of cloth of Gold, and the pillowes soft and tender,
whereon the delicate Matron had accustomed to lay her head. Then the
Eunuches not minding to delay any longer the pleasure of their Mistresse
closed the doores of the Chamber and departed away: within the Chamber
were Lamps that gave a cleare light all the place over: Then she put off
all her Garments to her naked skinne, and taking the Lampe that stood
next to her, began to annoint all her body with balme, and mine
likewise, but especially my nose, which done, she kissed me, not as they
accustome to doe at the stews, or in brothel houses, or in the Curtain
Schools for gaine of money, but purely, sincerely, and with great
affection, casting out these and like loving words: Thou art he whom I
love, thou art he whom I onely desire, without thee I cannot live, and
other like preamble of talke as women can use well enough, when as they
mind to shew or declare their burning passions and great affection of
love: Then she tooke me by the halter and cast me downe upon the bed,
which was nothing strange unto me, considering that she was so
beautifull a Matron and I so wel bolded out with wine, and perfumed with
balme, whereby I was readily prepared for the purpose: But nothing
grieved me so much as to think, how I should with my huge and great legs
imbrace so faire a Matron, or how I should touch her fine, dainty, and
silken skinne, with my hard hoofes, or how it was possible to kisse her
soft, pretty and ruddy lips, with my monstrous mouth and stony teeth, or
how she, who was young and tender, could be able to receive me.
And I verily thought, if I should hurt the woman by any kind of
meane, I should be throwne to the wild Beasts: But in the meane season
she kissed me, and looked in my mouth with burning eyes, saying: I hold
thee my canny, I hold thee my noose, my sparrow, and therewithall she
eftsoones imbraced my body round about, and had her pleasure with me,
whereby I thought the mother of Miniatures did not ceaseless quench her
inordinate desire with a Bull. When night was passed, with much joy and
small sleepe, the Matron went before day to my keeper to bargain with
him another night, which he willingly granted, partly for gaine of
money, and partly to finde new pastime for my master. Who after he was
informed of all the history of my luxury, was right glad, and rewarded
my keeper well for his paine, minding to shew before the face of all the
people, what I could doe: but because they would not suffer the Matron
to abide such shame, by reason of her dignity, and because they could
finde no other that would endeavour so great a reproach, at length they
obtained for money a poore woman, which was condemned to be eaten of
wilde beasts, with whom I should openly have to doe: But first I will
tell you what tale I heard concerning this woman. This woman had a
husband, whose father minding to ride forth, commanded his wife which he
left at home great with child, that if she were delivered of a daughter,
it should incontinently be killed. When the time of her delivery came,
it fortuned that she had a daughter, whom she would not suffer to be
slaine, by reason of the naturall affection which she hare unto her
child, but secretly committed her to one of her neighbours to nurse. And
when her husband returned home, shee declared unto him that shee was
delivered of a daughter, whom (as hee commanded), shee had caused to be
put to death. But when this child came to age, and ready to be married,
the mother knew not by what meanes shee should endow her daughter, but
that her husband should understand and perceive it. Wherefore shee
discovered the matter to her sonne, who was the husband of this woman,
condemned to be eaten of wild beasts: For shee greatly feared least hee
should unawares fancie or fall in love with his owne sister. The young
man understanding the whole matter (to please and gratify his mother)
went immediately to the young maiden, keeping the matter secret in his
heart, for feare of inconvenience, and (lamenting to see his sister
forsaken both of mother and father) incontinently after endowed her with
part of his owne goods, and would have married her to one of his
especial and trusty friends: But although hee brought this to passe very
secretly and sagely, yet in the end cruell fortune sowed great sedition
in his house. For his wife who was now condemned to beasts, waxed
jealous of her husband and began to suspect the young woman as a harlot
and common queane, insomuch that shee invented all manner of meanes to
dispatch her out of the way. And in the end shee invented this kind of
mischiefe: She privily stale away her husbands ring, and went into the
country, whereas she commanded one of her trusty servants to take the
ring and carry it to the mayden. To whom he should declare that her
brother did pray her to come into the country to him, and that she
should come alone without any person. And to the end shee should not
delay but come with all speed he should deliver her the ring, which
should be a sufficient testimony of the message. This mayden as soone as
she had received the ring of her brother, being very willing and
desirous to obey his commandement: (For she knew no otherwise but that
he had sent for her) went in all hast as the messenger willed her to
doe. But when she was come to the snare and engine which was prepared
for her, the mischievous woman, like one that were mad, and possessed
with some ill spirit, when the poore maiden called for helpe with a loud
voyce to her brother, the wicked harlot (weening that she had invented
and feined the matter) tooke a burning firebrand and thrust it into her
secret place, whereby she died miserably. The husband of this maiden but
especially her brother, advertised of her death, came to the place where
she was slain, and after great lamentation and weeping, they caused her
to be buried honourably. This yong man her brother taking in ill part
the miserable death of his sister, as it was convenient he should,
conceived so great dolour within his mind and was strucken with so
pestilent fury of bitter anguish, that he fell into the burning passions
of a dangerous ague, whereby he seemed in such necessity, that he needed
to have some speedy remedy to save his life. The woman that slew the
Maiden having lost the name of wife together with her faith, went to a
traiterous Physician, who had killed a great many persons in his dayes
and promised him fifty peeces of Gold, if he would give her a present
poyson to kill her husband out of hand, but in presence of her Husband,
she feined that it was necessary for him to receive a certaine kind of
drink, which the Maisters and Doctours of Physicke doe call a sacred
Potion, to the intent he might purge Choller and scoure the interiour
parts of his body. But the Physitian in stead of that drinke prepared a
mortall and deadly poyson, and when he had tempered it accordingly, he
tooke the pot in the presence of the family, and other neighbours and
friends of the sick yong man, and offered it to his patient. But the
bold and hardy woman, to the end she might accomplish her wicked intent,
and also gaine the money which she had promised the Physitian, staid the
pot with her hand, saying: I pray you master Physitian, minister not
this drinke unto my deare Husband, untill such time as you have drunke
some part thereof your selfe: For what know I, whether you have mingled
any poyson in the drinke or no, wherein I would have you not to be
offended: For I know that you are a man of wisedome and learning, but
this I do to the intent the conscience and love that I beare to the
health and safeguard of my husband, may be apparent. The Physitian being
greatly troubled at the wickednesse of this mischievous woman, as voyd
of all counsell and leysure to consider of the matter, and least he
might give any cause of suspition to the standers by, or shew any
scruple of his guilty conscience, by reason of long delay, tooke the pot
in his hand, and presently drunke a good draught thereof, which done,
the young man having no mistrust, drunke up the residue. The Physitian
would have gone immediately home to receive a counterpoyson, to expeth
and drive out the first poyson: But the wicked woman persevering in her
mischiefe, would not suffer him to depart a foot, untill such time as
the poyson began to worke in him, and then by much prayer and
intercession she licensed him to goe home: By the way the poyson invaded
the intrailes and bowels of the whole body of the Physitian, in such
sort that with great paine he came to his owne house, where he had
scarce time to speake to his wife, and to will her to receive the
promised salitary of the death of two persons, but he yeelded up the
ghost: And the other young man lived not long after, but likewise dyed,
amongst the feined and deceitfull teares of his cursed wife. A few dayes
after, when the young man was buried and the funerall ended, the
Physitians wife demanded of her the fifty peeces of gold which she
promised her husband for the drinke, whereat the ill disposed woman,
with resemblance of honesty, answered her with gentle words, and
promised to give her the fifty peeces of gold, if she would fetch her a
little of that same drinke, to proceed and make an end of all her
enterprise. The Physitians wife partly to winne the further favour of
this rich woman, and partly to gaine the money, ranne incontinently
home, and brought her a whole roote of poyson, which when she saw,
having now occasion to execute her further malice, and to finish the
damnable plot, began to stretch out her bloody hands to murther. She had
a daughter by her husband (that was poysoned) who according to order of
law, was appointed heire of all the lands and goods of her father: but
this woman knowing that the mothers succoured their children, and
received all their goods after their death, purposed to shew her selfe a
like parent to her child, as she was a wife to her husband, whereupon
she prepared a dinner with her owne hands, and empoysoned both the wife
of the Physitian and her owne daughter: The child being young and tender
dyed incontinently by force of the drinke, but the Physitians wife being
stout and strong of complexion, feeling the poison to trill down into
her body, doubted the matter, and thereupon knowing of certainty that
she had received her bane, ran forthwith to the judges house, that what
with her cryes, and exclamations, she raised up the people of the towne,
and promising them to shew divers wicked and mischievous acts, caused
that the doores and gates were opened. When she came in she declared
from the beginning to the end the abhomination of this woman: but shee
had scarce ended her tale, when opening her falling lips, and grinding
her teeth together, she fell downe dead before the face of the Judge,
who incontinently to try the truth of the matter, caused the cursed
woman, and her servants to be pulled out of the house, and enforced by
paine of torment to confesse the verity, which being knowne, this
mischievous woman farre lesse then she deserved, but because there could
be no more cruell a death invented for the quality of her offence, was
condemned to be eaten with wild beasts. Behold with this woman was I
appointed to have to doe before the face of the people, but I being
wrapped in great anguish, and envying the day of the triumph, when we
two should so abandon our selves together, devised rather to sley my
selfe, then to pollute my body with this mischievous harlot, and so for
ever to remaine defamed: but it was impossible for me so to doe,
considering that I lacked hands, and was not able to hold a knife in my
hoofes: howbeit standing in a pretty cabin, I rejoyced in my selfe to
see that spring time was come, and that all things flourished, and that
I was in good hope to find some Roses, to render me my humane shape.
When the day of triumph came, I was led with great pompe and benevolence
to the appointed place, where when I was brought, I first saw the
preamble of that triumph, dedicated with dancers and merry taunting
jests, and in the meane season was placed before the gate of the
Theater, whereas on the one side I saw the greene and fresh grasse
growing before the entry thereof, whereon I greatly desired to feed: on
the other side I conceived a great delectation to see when the Theater
gates were opened, how all things was finely prepared and set forth: For
there I might see young children and maidens in the flowre of their
youth of excellent beauty, and attired gorgiously, dancing and mooved in
comely order, according to the order of Grecia, for sometime they would
dance in length, sometime round together, sometime divide themselves
into foure parts, and sometime loose hands on every side: but when the
trumpet gave warning that every man should retire to his place, then
began the triumph to appeare. First there was a hill of wood, not much
unlike that which the Poet Homer called Idea, for it was garnished about
with all sort of greene verdures and lively trees, from the top whereof
ran downe a cleare and fresh fountaine, nourishing the waters below,
about which wood were many young and tender Goates, plucking and feeding
daintily on the budding trees, then came a young man a shepheard
representing Paris, richly arrayed with vestments of Barbary, having a
mitre of gold upon his head, and seeming as though he kept the goates.
After him ensued another young man all naked, saving that his left
shoulder was covered with a rich cloake, and his head shining with
glistering haires, and hanging downe, through which you might perceive
two little wings, whereby you might conjecture that he was Mercury, with
his rod called Caduceus, he bare in his right hand an Apple of gold, and
with a seemely gate went towards him that represented Paris, and after
hee had delivered him the Apple, he made a signe, signifying that
Jupiter had commanded him so to doe: when he had done his message he
departed away. And by and by, there approached a faire and comely
mayden, not much unlike to Juno, for she had a Diademe of gold upon her
head, and in her hand she bare a regall scepter: then followed another
resembling Pallas, for she had on her head a shining sallet, whereon was
bound a garland of Olive branches, having in one hand a target or
shield: and in the other a speare as though she would fight: then came
another which passed the other in beauty, and presented the Goddesse
Venus, with the color of Ambrosia, when she was a maiden, and to the end
she would shew her perfect beauty, shee appeared all naked, saving that
her fine and dainty skin was covered with a thin smocke, which the wind
blew hither and thither to testifie the youth and flowre of the age of
the dame. Her colour was of two sorts, for her body was white as
descended from heaven, and her smocke was blewish, as arrived from the
sea: After every one of the Virgins which seemed goddesses, followed
certaine waiting servants, Castor and Pollus went behind Juno, having on
their heads helmets covered with starres. This Virgin Juno sounded a
Flute, which shee bare in her hand, and mooved her selfe towards the
shepheard Paris, shewing by honest signes and tokens, and promising that
hee should be Lord of all Asia, if hee would judge her the fairest of
the three, and to give her the apple of gold: the other maiden which
seemed by her armour to be Pallas, was accompanied with two young men
armed, and brandishing their naked swords in their hands, whereof one
named Terror, and the other Feare; behind them approached one sounding
his trumpet to provoke and stirre men to battell; this maiden began to
dance and shake her head, throwing her fierce and terrible eyes upon
Paris and promising that if it pleased him to give her the victory of
beauty, shee would make him the most strong and victorious man alive.
Then came Venus and presented her selfe in the middle of the Theater,
with much favour of all the people, for shee was accompanied with a
great many of youth, whereby you would have judged them all to be
Cupidoes, either to have flowne from heaven or else from the river of
the sea, for they had wings, arrowes, and the residue of their habit
according in each point, and they bare in their hands torches lighted,
as though it had beene a day of marriage. Then came in a great multitude
of faire maidens: on the one side were the most comely Graces: on the
other side, the most beautifull Houres carrying garlands and loose
flowers, and making great honor to the goddesse of pleasure; the flutes
and Pipes yeelded out the sweet sound of Lydians, whereby they pleased
the minds of the standers by exceedingly, but the more pleasing Venus
mooved forward more and more, and shaking her head answered by her
motion and gesture, to the sound of the instruments. For sometimes she
would winke gently, sometimes threaten and looke aspishly, and sometimes
dance onely with her eyes: As soone as she was come before the Judge,
she made a signe and token to give him the most fairest spouse of all
the world, if he would prefer her above the residue of the goddesses.
Then the young Phrygian shepheard Paris with a willing mind delivered
the golden Apple to Venus, which was the victory of beauty.
Why doe ye marvell, ye Orators, ye Lawyers, and Advocates, if many of
our judges now a daies sell their judgements for money, when as in the
beginning of the world one onely Grace corrupted the sentence betweene
God and men, and that one rusticall Judge and shepheard appointed by the
counsell of great Jupiter, sold his judgement for a little pleasure,
which was the cause afterward of the ruine of all his progeny? By like
manner of meane, was sentence given between the noble Greekes: For the
noble and valiant personage Palamedes was convicted and attainted of
treason, by false perswasion and accusation, and Ulisses being but of
base condition, was preferred in Martiall prowesse above great Ajax.
What judgement was there likewise amongst the Athenian lawyers, sage and
expert in all sciences? Was not Socrates who was preferred by Apollo,
above all the wise men in the world, by envy and malice of wicked
persons impoysoned with the herbe Cicuta, as one that corrupted the
youth of the countrey, whom alwaies be kept under by correction? For we
see now a dayes many excellent Philosophers greatly desire to follow his
sect, and by perpetual study to value and revolve his workes, but to the
end I may not be reproved of indignation by any one that might say:
What, shall we suffer an Asse to play the Philosopher? I will returne to
my further purpose.
After the judgement of Paris was ended, Juno and Pallas departed away
angerly, shewing by their gesture, that they would revenge themselves on
Paris, but Venus that was right pleased and glad in her heart, danced
about the Theater with much joy. This done from the top of the hill
through a privy spout, ran a floud of the colour of Saffron, which fell
upon the Goates, and changed their white haire into yellow, with a sweet
odour to all them of the Theater. By and by after by certaine engines,
the ground opened, and swallowed up the hill of wood: and then behold
there came a man of armes through the multitude, demanding by the
consent of the people, the woman who was condemned to the beasts, and
appointed for me to have to doe withall: our bed was finely and bravely
prepared, and covered with silke and other things necessary. But I,
beside the shame to commit this horrible fact, and to pollute my body
with this wicked harlot did greatly feare the danger of death: for I
thought in my selfe, that when she and I were together, the savage beast
appointed to devoure the woman, was not so instructed and taught, or
would so temper his greedinesse, as that hee would teare her in peeces
lying under mee, and spare mee with a regard of mine innocency.
Wherefore I was more carefull for the safeguard of my life, then for the
shame that I should abide, but in the meane season while my master made
ready the bed, all the residue did greatly delight to see the hunting
and pleasantnesse of the triumph, I began to thinke and devise for my
selfe. When I perceived that no man had regard to mee, that was so tame
and gentle an Asse, I stole out of the gate that was next me, and then I
ran away with all force, and came to Cenchris, which is the most famous
towne of all the Carthaginians, bordering upon the Seas called Ageum,
and Saronicum, where is a great and mighty Haven, frequented with many a
sundry Nation. There because I would avoyd the multitude of the people,
I went to a secret place of the Sea coast, where I laid me down upon the
sand, to ease and refresh my selfe, for the day was past and the Sunne
gone downe, and lying in this sort on the ground, did fall in a sound
sleepe.
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THE ELEVENTH BOOKE
THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape.
When midnight came that I had slept my first sleepe, I awaked with
suddaine feare, and saw the Moone shining bright, as when shee is at the
full, and seeming as though she leaped out of the Sea. Then thought I
with my selfe, that was the most secret time, when the goddesse Ceres
had most puissance and force, considering that all humane things be
governed by her providence: and not onely all beasts private and tame,
but also all wild and savage beasts be under her protection. And
considering that all bodies in the heavens, the earth and the seas, be
by her increasing motions increased, and by her diminishing motions
diminished: as weary of all my cruell fortune and calamity, I found good
hope and soveraigne remedy, though it were very late, to be delivered
from all my misery, by invocation and prayer, to the excellent beauty of
the Goddesse, whom I saw shining before mine eyes, wherefore shaking off
mine Assie and drowsie sleepe, I arose with a joyfull face, and mooved
by a great affection to purifie my selfe, I plunged my selfe seven times
into the water of the Sea, which number of seven is conveniable and
agreeable to holy and divine things, as the worthy and sage Philosopher
Pythagoras hath declared. Then with a weeping countenance, I made this
Orison to the puissant Goddesse, saying: O blessed Queene of heaven,
whether thou be the Dame Ceres which art the originall and motherly
nource of all fruitfull things in earth, who after the finding of thy
daughter Proserpina, through the great joy which thou diddest presently
conceive, madest barraine and unfruitfull ground to be plowed and sowne,
and now thou inhabitest in the land of Eleusie; or whether thou be the
celestiall Venus, who in the beginning of the world diddest couple
together all kind of things with an ingendered love, by an eternall
propagation of humane kind, art now worshipped within the Temples of the
Ile Paphos, thou which art the sister of the God Phoebus, who nourishest
so many people by the generation of beasts, and art now adored at the
sacred places of Ephesus, thou which art horrible Proserpina, by reason
of the deadly howlings which thou yeeldest, that hast power to stoppe
and put away the invasion of the hags and Ghoasts which appeare unto
men, and to keepe them downe in the closures of the earth: thou which
art worshipped in divers manners, and doest illuminate all the borders
of the earth by thy feminine shape, thou which nourishest all the fruits
of the world by thy vigor and force; with whatsoever name or fashion it
is lawfull to call upon thee, I pray thee, to end my great travaile and
misery, and deliver mee from the wretched fortune, which had so long
time pursued me. Grant peace and rest if it please thee to my
adversities, for I have endured too much labour and perill. Remoove from
me my shape of mine Asse, and render to me my pristine estate, and if I
have offended in any point of divine Majesty, let me rather dye then
live, for I am full weary of my life. When I had ended this orison, and
discovered my plaints to the Goddesse, I fortuned to fall asleepe, and
by and by appeared unto me a divine and venerable face, worshipped even
of the Gods themselves. Then by little and little I seemed to see the
whole figure of her body, mounting out of the sea and standing before
mee, wherefore I purpose to describe her divine semblance, if the
poverty of my humane speech will suffer me, or her divine power give me
eloquence thereto. First shee had a great abundance of haire, dispersed
and scattered about her neck, on the crowne of her head she bare many
garlands enterlaced with floures, in the middle of her forehead was a
compasse in fashion of a glasse, or resembling the light of the Moone,
in one of her hands she bare serpents, in the other, blades of corne,
her vestiment was of fine silke yeelding divers colours, sometime
yellow, sometime rosie, sometime flamy, and sometime (which troubled my
spirit sore) darke and obscure, covered with a blacke robe in manner of
a shield, and pleated in most subtill fashion at the skirts of her
garments, the welts appeared comely, whereas here and there the starres
glimpsed, and in the middle of them was placed the Moone, which shone
like a flame of fire, round about the robe was a coronet or garland made
with flowers and fruits. In her right hand shee had a timbrell of
brasse, which gave a pleasant sound, in her left hand shee bare a cup of
gold, out of the mouth whereof the serpent Aspis lifted up his head,
with a swelling throat, her odoriferous feete were covered with shoes
interlaced and wrought with victorious palme. Thus the divine shape
breathing out the pleasant spice of fertill Arabia, disdained not with
her divine voyce to utter these words unto me: Behold Lucius I am come,
thy weeping and prayers hath mooved mee to succour thee. I am she that
is the naturall mother of all things, mistresse and governesse of all
the Elements, the initiall progeny of worlds, chiefe of powers divine,
Queene of heaven! the principall of the Gods celestiall, the light of
the goddesses: at my will the planets of the ayre, the wholesome winds
of the Seas, and the silences of hell be diposed; my name, my divinity
is adored throughout all the world in divers manners, in variable
customes and in many names, for the Phrygians call me the mother of the
Gods: the Athenians, Minerva: the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians, Diana:
the Sicilians Proserpina: the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, other
Bellona, other Hecate: and principally the Aethiopians which dwell in
the Orient, and the Aegyptians which are excellent in all kind of
ancient doctrine, and by their proper ceremonies accustome to worship
mee, doe call mee Queene Isis. Behold I am come to take pitty of thy
fortune and tribulation, behold I am present to favour and ayd thee,
leave off thy weeping and lamentation, put away all thy sorrow, for
behold the healthfull day which is ordained by my providence, therefore
be ready to attend to my commandement. This day which shall come after
this night, is dedicated to my service, by an eternall religion, my
Priests and Ministers doe accustome after the tempests of the Sea, be
ceased, to offer in my name a new ship as a first fruit of my
Navigation. I command thee not to prophane or despise the sacrifice in
any wise, for the great Priest shall carry this day following in
procession by my exhortation, a Garland of Roses, next the timbrell of
his right hand: follow thou my procession amongst the people, and when
thou commest to the Priest make as though thou wouldest kisse his hand,
but snatch at the Roses, whereby I will put away the skin and shape of
an Asse, which kind of beast I have long time abhorred and despised, but
above all things beware thou doubt not nor feare any of those things, as
hard and difficill to bee brought to passe, for in the same houre that I
am come to thee, I have commanded the Priest by a vision what he shall
doe, and all the people by my commandement shall be compelled to give
thee place and say nothing! Moreover, thinke not that amongst so faire
and joyfull Ceremonies, and in so good a company that any person shall
abhorre thy ill-favoured and deformed figure, or that any man shall be
so hardy, as to blame and reprove thy suddaine restoration to humane
shape, wherby they should gather or conceive any sinister opinion: and
know thou this of certaine, that the residue of thy life untill the
houre of death shall be bound and subject to me! And think it not an
injury to be alwayes serviceable towards me, since as by my meane and
benefit thou shalt become a man: thou shalt live blessed in this world,
thou shalt live glorious by my guide and protection, and when thou
descendest to Hell, where thou shalt see me shine in that subterene
place, shining (as thou seest me now) in the darkness of Acheron, and
raigning in the deepe profundity of Stix, thou shalt worship me, as one
that hath bin favourable to thee, and if I perceive that thou art
obedient to my commandement, addict to my religion, and merite my divine
grace, know thou, that I will prolong thy dales above the time that the
fates have appointed, and the celestial Planets ordeined.
Martin Van Maele
When the divine Image had spoken these words, she vanished away! By
and by when I awaked, I arose, haveing the members of my bodie mixed
with feare, joy and sweate, and marvailed at the cleare presence of the
puissant goddesse, and being sprinkled with the water of the sea, I
recounted orderly her admonitions and divine commandements. Soone after,
the darknes chased away, and the cleare and golden sunne arose, when as
behold I saw the streets replenished with people going in a religious
sort and in great triumph. All things seemed that day to be joyfull, as
well all manner of beasts and houses, as also the very day it selfe
seemed to rejoyce. For after the hore-frost, ensued the hot and temperat
sun, whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come,
did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously: the mother of stars, the
parent of times, and mistres of all the world: The fruitfull trees
rejoyced at their fertility: The barren and sterill were contented at
their shadow, rendering sweete and pleasant shrills! The seas were quiet
from winds and tempests: the heaven had chaced away the clouds, and
appeared faire and cleare with his proper light. Behold then more and
more appeared the pomps and processions, attired in regall manner and
singing joyfully: One was girded about the middle like a man of armes:
Another bare and spare, and had a cloake and high-shooes like a hunter!
another was attired in a robe of silke, and socks of gold, having his
haire laid out, and dressed in forme of a woman! There was another ware
legge-harnesse, and bare a target, a sallet, and a speare like a martial
souldier: after him marched one attired in purple with vergers before
him like a magistrate! after him followed one with a maurell, a staffe,
a paire of pantofles, and with a gray beard, signifying a philosopher:
after him went one with lime, betokening a fowler, another with hookes
declaring a fisher: I saw there a meeke and tame beare, which in matron
habite was carried on a stoole: An Ape with a bonet on his head, and
covered with lawne, resemling a shepheard, and bearing a cup of gold in
his hand: an Asse which had wings glewed to his backe, and went after an
old man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus, and the other
Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures and popular delectations, which
wandered hither and thither, you might see the pompe of the goddesse
triumphantly march forward: The woman attired in white vestiments, and
rejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads,
bedspread the waies with hearbes, which they bare in their aprons, where
this regall and devout procession should passe: Other caried glasses on
their backes, to testifie obeisance to the goddess which came after.
Other bare combs of Ivory, and declared by their gesture and motions of
their armes, that they were ordained and readie to dresse the goddesse:
Others dropped in the wayes as they went Balme and other pretious
ointments: Then came a great number, as well of men as women, with
Candels, torches, and other lights, doing honour to the celestiall
goddesse: After that sounded the musical harmony of instruments: then
came a faire companie of youth, apparelled in white vestiments, singing
both meter and verse, with a comely grade which some studious Poet had
made in honour of the Muses: In the meane season, arrived the blowers of
trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapes, and to the temple before
them were officers and beadles, preparing roome for the goddess to
passe. Then came the great company of men and women, which had taken
divine orders, whose garments glistered all the streets over. The women
had their haire annointed and their heads covered with linnen: but the
men had their crownes shaven, which were the terrene stars of the
goddesse, holding in their hand instruments of brasse, silver and gold,
which rendered a pleasant sound.
Martin Van Maele
The principall Priests which were apparelled with white surplesses
hanging downe to the ground, bare the relikes of the puissant goddesse.
One carried in his hand a light, not unlike to those which we used in
our houses, saving that in the middle thereof appeared a bole which
rendred a more bright flame. The second attired hike the other bare in
his hand an Altar, which the goddesse her selfe named the succor of
nations. The third held a tree of palme with leaves of gold, and the
verge of Mercurie. The fourth shewed out a token of equitie by his left
hand, which was deformed in every place, signifiing thereby more equitie
then by the right hand. The same Priest carried a round vessell of gold,
in forme of a cap. The fifth bare a van, wrought with springs of gold,
and another carried a vessell for wine: By and by after the goddesse
followed a foot as men do, and specially Mercurie, the messenger of the
goddesse infernall and supernall, with his face sometime blacke,
sometime faire, lifting up the head of the dogges Annubis, and bearing
in his left hand, his verge, and in his right hand, the branches of a
palme tree, after whom followed a cow with an upright gate, representing
the figure of the great goddesse, and he that guided her, marched on
with much gravity. Another carried after the secrets of their religion,
closed in a coffer. There was one that bare on his stomacke a figure of
his god, not formed like any beast, bird, savage thing or humane shape,
but made by a new invention, whereby was signified that such a religion
should not be discovered or revealed to any person. There was a vessel
wrought with a round bottome, haveing on the one side, pictures figured
like unto the manner of the Egyptians, and on the other side was an
eare, whereupon stood the Serpent Aspis, holding out his scaly necke.
Finally, came he which was appointed to my good fortun according to the
promise of the goddesse. For the great Priest which bare the restoration
of my human shape, by the commandement of the goddes, Approached more
and more, bearing in his left hand the timbrill, and in the other a
garland of Roses to give me, to the end I might be delivered from cruel
fortune, which was alwaies mine enemie, after the sufferance of so much
calamitie and paine, and after the endurance of so manie perilles: Then
I not returning hastilie, by reason of sodaine joye, lest I should
disturbe the quiet procession with mine importunitie, but going softly
through the prease of the people, which gave me place on every side,
went after the Priest. The priest being admonished the night before, as
I might well perceive stood still and holding out his hand, thrust out
the garland of roses into my mouth, I (trembling) devoured with a great
affection: And as soone as I had eaten them, I was not deceived of the
promise made unto me. For my deforme and Assie face abated, and first
the rugged haire of my body fell off, my thick skin waxed soft and
tender, the hooves of my feet changed into toes, my hands returned
againe, my neck grew short, my head and mouth began round, my long eares
were made little, my great and stonie teeth waxed lesse like the teeth
of men, and my tayle which combred me most, appeared no where: then the
people began to marvaile, and the religious honoured the goddesse, for
so evident a miracle, they wondered at the visions which they saw in the
night, and the facilitie of my reformation, whereby they rendered
testimonie of so great a benefit which I received of the goddesse. When
I saw my selfe in such estate, I stood still a good space and said
nothing, for I could not tell what to say, nor what word I shoulde first
speake, nor what thanks I should render to the goddesse, but the great
Priest understanding all my fortune and miserie, by divine
advertisement, commanded that one should give me garments to cover me:
Howbeit as soone as I was transformed from an asse to my humane shape, I
hid the privitie of my body with my hands as shame and necessity
compelled mee. Then one of the company put off his upper robe and put it
on my backe: which done, the Priest looked upon me, with a sweete and
benigne voice, gan say in this sort: O my friend Lucius, after the
endurance of so many labours, and the escape of so many tempests of
fortune, thou art at length come to the port and haven of rest and
mercy: neither did thy noble linage, thy dignity, thy doctrine, or any
thing prevaile, but that thou hast endured so many servil pleasures, by
a little folly of thy youthfullnes, whereby thou hast had a sinister
reward for thy unprosperous curiositie, but howsoever the blindnes of
fortune tormented thee in divers dangers: so it is, that now unwares to
her, thou art come to this present felicitie: let fortune go, and fume
with fury in another place, let her finde some other matter to execute
her cruelty, for fortune hath no puissance against them which serve and
honour our goddesse. For what availed the theeves: the beasts savage:
thy great servitude: the ill and dangerous waits: the long passages: the
feare of death every day? Know thou, that now thou art safe, and under
the protection of her, who by her cleare light doth lighten the other
gods: wherefore rejoyce and take a convenable countenance to thy white
habit, follow the pomp of this devout and honorable procession, to the
end that such which be not devout to the Goddes, may see and acknowledge
their errour. Behold Lucius, thou art delivered from so great miseries,
by the providence of the goddesse Isis, rejoyce therefore and triumph of
the victory of fortune; to the end thou maist live more safe and sure,
make thy selfe one of this holy order, dedicate thy minde to the Obsequy
of our Religion, and take upon thee a a voluntary yoake of ministrie:
And when thou beginnest to serve and honour the goddes, then thou shalt
feele the fruit of thy liberty: After that the great Priest had
prophesied in this manner, with often breathings, he made a conclusion
of his words: Then I went amongst the company of die rest and followed
the procession: everie one of the people knew me, and pointing at me
with their fingers, said in this sort: Behold him who is this day
transformed into a man by the puissance of the soveraigne goddesse,
verily he is blessed and most blessed that hath merited so great grace
from heaven, as by the innocencie of his former life, and as it were by
a new regeneration is reserved to the obsequie of the goddesse. In the
meane season by little and little we approached nigh unto the sea cost,
even to that place where I lay the night before being an Asse. There
after the images and reliques were orderly disposed, the great Priest
compassed about with divers pictures according to the fashion of the
Aegyptians, did dedicate and consecrate with certaine prayers a fair
ship made very cunningly, and purified the same with a torch, an egge,
and sulphur; the saile was of white linnen cloath, whereon was written
certaine letters, which testified the navigation to be prosperous, the
mast was of a great length, made of a Pine tree, round and very
excellent with a shining top, the cabin was covered over with coverings
of gold, and all the shippe was made of Citron tree very faire; then all
the people as well religious as prophane tooke a great number of Vannes,
replenished with odours and pleasant smells and threw them into the sea
mingled with milke, untill the ship was filled up with large gifts and
prosperous devotions, when as with a pleasant wind it launched out into
the deep. But when they had lost the sight of the ship, every man caried
againe that he brought, and went toward the temple in like pompe and
order as they came to the sea side. When we were come to the temple, the
great priest and those which were deputed to carrie the divine figures,
but especially those which had long time bin worshippers of the
religion, went into the secret chamber of the goddesse, where they put
and placed the images according to their ordor. This done, one of the
company which was a scribe or interpreter of letters, who in forme of a
preacher stood up in a chaire before the place of the holy college, and
began to reade out of a booke, and to interpret to the great prince, the
senate, and to all the noble order of chivalry, and generally to all the
Romane people, and to all such as be under the jurisdiction of Rome,
these words following (Laois Aphesus) which signified the end of their
divin service and that it was lawfull for every man to depart, whereat
all the people gave a great showt, and replenished with much joy, bare
all kind of hearbs and garlands of flowers home to their houses, kissing
and imbracing the steps where the goddesse passed: howbeit I could not
doe as the rest, for my mind would not suffer me to depart one foot
away, so attentiv was I to behold the beauty of the goddesse, with
remembrance of the great miserie I had endured.
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THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER
Martin Van Maele
How the parents and friends of Apuleius heard news that he was alive and
in health.
In the mean season newes was carried into my countrey (as swift as
the flight of birds, or as the blast of windes) of the grace and benefit
which I received of the goddesse, and of my fortune worthy to be had in
memory. Then my parents friends and servants of our house understanding
that I was not dead, as they were falsely informed, came towards me with
great diligence to see me, as a man raised from death to life: and I
which never thought to see them againe, was as joyfull as they,
accepting and taking in good part their honest gifts and oblations that
they gave, to the intent I might buy such things as was necessarie for
my body: for after I had made relation unto them of all my pristine
miserie, and present joyes, I went before the face of the goddesse and
hired me a house within the cloister of the temple to the end I might
continually be ready to the service of the goddesse, and ordinarily
frequent the company of the priests, whereby I would wholy become devout
to the goddesse, and an inseparable worshipper of her divine name: It
fortuned that the goddesse appeared to me oftetimes in the night
perswading and commanding me to take the order of her religion, but I,
though I was indued with a desirous good will, yet the feare of the same
withheld me considering her obeysance was hard and difficile, the
chastitie of the Priests intolerable, and the life fraile and subject to
manie inconveniences. Being thus in doubt, I refrained my selfe from all
those things as seemed impossible.
On a night the great priest appeared unto me, presenting his lap full
of treasure, and when I demanded what it signified, he answered, that it
was sent me from the countrey of Thessaly, and that a servant of mine
named Candidus was arived likewise: when I was awake, I mused in my
selfe what this vision should pretend, considering I had never any
servant called by that name: but what soever it did signifie, this I
verely thought, that it was a foreshew of gaine and prosperous chance:
while I was thus astonied I went to the temple, and taried there till
the opening of the gates, then I went in and began to pray before the
face of the goddesse, the Priest prepared and set the divine things of
every Altar, and pulled out the fountaine and holy vessell with solempne
supplication. Then they began to sing the mattens of the morning,
testifying thereby the houre of the prime. By and by behold arived my
servant which I had left in the country, when Fotis by errour made me an
Asse, bringing with him my horse, recovered by her through certaine
signes and tokens which I had upon my backe. Then I perceived the
interpretation of my dreame, by reason that beside the promise of gaine,
my white horse was restored to me, which was signified by the argument
of my servant Candidus.
This done I retired to the service of the goddesse in hope of greater
benefits, considering I had received a signe and token, whereby my
courage increased every day more and more to take upon me the orders and
sacraments of the temple: insomuch that I oftentimes communed with the
Priest, desiring him greatly to give me the degree of the religion, but
he which was a man of gravitie, and well renowned in the order of
priesthood, deferred my affection from day to day, with comfort and
better hope, as parents commonly bridle the desires of their children,
when they attempt or indeavour any unprofitable thing, saying, that the
day when any one should be admitted into their order is appointed by the
goddesse, the Priest which should minister the sacrifice is chosen by
her providence, and the necessary charges of the ceremonies is alotted
by her commandement, all which things he willed me to attend with
marvailous patience, and that I should beware either of too much
hastinesse, or too great slacknesse, considering that there was like
danger, if being called I should delay: or not called I should be hasty:
moreover he said that there was none of his company either of so
desperate a mind, or so rash and hardy, as to enterprise any thing
without the commandernent of the goddesse, whereby he should commit a
deadly offence, considering that it was in her power to damne and save
all persons, and if any were at the point of death, and in the way to
damnation, so that he were capable to receive the secrets of the
goddesse, it was in her power by divine providence to reduce him to the
path of health, as by a certaine kind of regeneration: Finally he said
that I must attend the celestiall precept, although it was evident and
plaine, that the goddesse had already vouchsafed to call and appoint me
to her ministery, and to will me refraine from prophane and unlawfull
meates, as those Priests which were already received, to the end I might
come more apt and cleane to the knowledge of the secrets of religion.
Then was I obedient unto these words, and attentive with meek
quietnesse, and probable taciturnity, I daily served at the temple: in
the end the wholesome gentlenesse of the goddesse did nothing deceive
me, for in the night she appeared to me in a vision, shewing that the
day was come which I had wished for so long, she told me what provision
and charges I should be at, and how that she had appointed her
principallest Priest Mythra to be minister with me in my sacrifices.
Martin Van Maele
When I heard these divine commandements, I greatly rejoyced: and
arose before day to speake with the great Priest, whom I fortuned to
espie comming out of his chamber: Then I saluted him, and thought with
my selfe to aske and demand his counsell with a bold courage, but as
soone as he perceived me, he began first to say: O Lucius now know I
well that thou art most happy and blessed, whom the divine goddesse doth
so greatly accept with mercy, why dost thou delay? Behold the day which
thou desiredst when as thou shalt receive at my hands the order of
religion, and know the most pure secrets of the gods, whereupon the old
man tooke me by the hand, and lead me to the gate of the great temple,
where at the first entrie he made a solempne celebration, and after
morning sacrifice ended, brought out of the secret place of the temple
books, partly written with unknown characters, and partly painted with
figures of beasts declaring briefly every sentence, with tops and
tailes, turning in fashion of a wheele, which were strange and
impossible to be read of the prophane people: There he interpreted to me
such things as were necessary to the use and preparation of mine order.
This done, I gave charge to certaine of my companions to buy liberally,
whatsoever was needfull and convenient, then he brought me to the next
bains accompanied with all the religious sort, and demanding pardon of
the goddesse, washed me and purified my body, according to custome.
After this, when noone approached, he brought me backe againe to the
temple, presented me before the face of the goddesse, giving a charge of
certaine secret things unlawfull to be uttered, and commanding me, and
generally all the rest, to fast by the space of ten continuall daies,
without eating of any beast, or drinking any wine, which thing I
observed with a marvellous continencie. Then behold the day approached,
when as the sacrifice should be done, and when night came there arrived
on every coast, a great multitude of Priests, who according to their
order offered me many presents and gifts: then was all the Laity and
prophane people commanded to depart, and when they had put on my back a
linnen robe, they brought me to the most secret and sacred place of all
the temple. You would peradventure demand (you studious reader) what was
said and done there, verely I would tell you if it were lawfull for me
to tell, you should know if it were convenient for you to heare, but
both thy eares, and my tongue shall incur the like paine of rash
curiositie: Howbeit, I will content thy mind for this present time,
which peradventure is somewhat religious and given to some devotion,
listen therefore and beleeve it to be true: Thou shalt understand that I
approached neere unto Hell, even to the gates of Proserpina, and after
that, I was ravished throughout all the Element, I returned to my proper
place: About midnight I saw the Sun shine, I saw likewise the gods
celestiall and gods infernall, before whom I presented my selfe, and
worshipped them: Behold now have I told thee, which although thou hast
heard, yet it is necessarie thou conceale it; this have I declared
without offence, for the understanding of the prophane.
When morning came, and that the solemnities were finished, I came
forth sanctified with xii. Stoles and in a religious habit, whereof I am
not forbidden to speake, considering that many persons saw me at that
time: there I was commanded to stand upon a seate of wood, which stood
in the middle of the temple, before the figure and remembrance of the
goddesse; my vestiment was of fine linnen, covered and embroidered with
flowers. I had a pretious Cope upon my shoulders hanging downe to the
ground, whereon were beasts wrought of divers colours as Indian dragons,
and Hiperborian Griphons, whom in forme of birds, the other world doth
ingender; the Priests commonly call such a habit, a celestiall Stole: in
my right hand I carried a light torch, and a garland of flowers upon my
head, with Palme leaves sprouting out on every side: I was adorned like
unto the Sun, and made in fashion of an Image, in such sort that all the
people compassed about to behold me: then they began to solemnize the
feast of the nativitie, and the new procession with sumptuous bankets
and delicate meates: the third day was likewise celebrated with like
ceremonies with a religious dinner, and with all the consummation of the
order: when I had continued there a good space, I conceived a marvailous
great pleasure and consolation in beholding ordinarily the Image of the
goddesse, who at length admonished me to depart homeward, not without
rendring of thanks, which although it were not sufficient, yet they were
according to my power. Howbeit I could unneth be perswaded to depart,
before I had fallen prostrate before the face of the goddesse, and wiped
her steps with my face, whereby I began so greatly to weepe and sigh
that my words were interrupted, and as devouring my prayer, I began to
say in this sort: O holy and blessed dame, the perpetuall comfort of
humane kind, who by thy bounty and grace nourishest all the world, and
hearest a great affection to the adversities of the miserable, as a
loving mother thou takest no rest, neither art thou idle at any time in
giving thy benefits, and succoring all men, as well on land as sea; thou
art she that puttest away all stormes and dangers from mans life by thy
right hand, whereby likewise thou restrainest the fatall dispositions,
appeasest the great tempests of fortune and keepest backe the course of
the stars: the gods supernall doe honour thee: the gods infernall have
thee in reverence: thou environest all the world, thou givest light to
the Sunne, thou governest the world, thou treadest downe the power of
hell: By thy meane the times returne, the Planets rejoyce, the Elements
serve: at thy commandment the winds do blow, the clouds increase, the
seeds prosper, and the fruits prevaile, the birds of the aire, the
beasts of the hill, the serpents of the den, and the fishes of the sea,
do tremble at thy majesty, but my spirit is not able to give thee
sufficient praise, my patrimonie is unable to satisfie thy sacrifice, my
voice hath no power to utter that which I thinke, no if I had a thousand
mouths and so many tongues: Howbeit as a good religious person, and
according to my estate, I will alwaies keepe thee in remembrance and
close thee within my breast. When I had ended mine orison, I went to
embrace the great Priest Mythra my spirituall father, and to demand his
pardon, considering I was unable to recompence the good which he had
done to me: after great greeting and thanks I departed from him to visit
my parents and friends; and within a while after by the exhortation of
the goddesse. I made up my packet, and tooke shipping toward the Citie
of Rome, where with a prosperous winde I arrived about the xii. day of
December. And the greatest desire that I had there, was daily to make my
praiers to the soveraigne goddesse Isis, who by reason of the place
where her temple was builded, was called Campensis, and continually
adored of the people of Rome. Her minister and worshipper was I, howbeit
I was a stranger to her Church, and unknowne to her religion there.
Martin Van Maele
When the yeare was ended, and the goddesse warned me againe to
receive this new order and consecration, I marvailed greatly what it
should signifie, and what should happen, considering that I was a
sacred. person already. but it fortuned that while I partly reasoned
with my selfe, and partly examining the thing with the Priests and
Bishops, there came a new and marvailous thought in my mind, that is to
say, I was onely religious to the goddesse Isis, but not sacred to the
religion of great Osiris the soveraigne father of all the goddesses,
between whom, although there was a religious unitie and concord, yet
there was a great difference of order and ceremony. And because it was
necessary that I should likewise be a minister unto Osiris, there was no
long delay: for in the night after, appeared unto me one of that order,
covered with linnen robes, holding in his hands speares wrapped in Ivie,
and other things not convenient to declare, which then he left in my
chamber, and sitting in my seate, recited to me such things as were
necessary for the sumptuous banket of mine entrie. And to the end I
might know him againe, he shewed me how the ankle of his left foote was
somewhat maimed, which caused him a little to halt.
After that I manifestly knew the will of the God Osiris, when mattins
was ended, I went from one to another, to find him out which had the
halting marke on his foote, according as I learned by my vision; at
length I found it true: for I perceived one of the company of the
Priests who had not onely the token of his foote, but the stature and
habite of his body, resembling in every point as he appeared in the
night: he was called Asinius Marcellus, a name not much disagreeing from
my transformation. By and by I went to him, which knew well enough all
the matter, as being monished by like precept in the night: for the
night before as he dressed the flowers and garlands about the head of
the god Osiris, he understood by the mouth of the image which told the
predestinations of all men, how he had sent a poore man of Madura, to
whom he should minister his sacraments, to the end hee should receive a
reward by divine providence, and the other glory, for his vertuous
studies. When I saw my selfe this deputed unto religion, my desire was
stopped by reason of povertie, for I had spent a great part of my goods
in travell and peregrination, but most of all in the Citie of Rome,
whereby my low estate withdrew me a great while.
Martin Van Maele
In the end being oft times stirred forward, not without great trouble
of mind, I was constrained to sell my robe for a little money: howbeit
sufficient for all my affaires. Then the Priest spake unto me saying,
How is it that for a little pleasure thou art not afraid to sell thy
vestiments, and entring into so great ceremonies, fearest to fall into
povertie? Prepare thy selfe, and abstaine from all animall meats, as
beasts and fish. In the meane season I frequented the sacrifices of
Serapis, which were done in the night, which thing gave me great comfort
to my peregrination, and ministred unto me more plentifull living,
considering I gained some money in haunting the court, by reason of my
Latin tongue.
Immediately after I was eftsoones called and admonished by the god
Osiris, to receive a third order of religion. Then I was greatly
astonied, because I could not tell what this new vision signified, or
what the intent of the celestiall god was, doubting least the former
Priests had given me ill counsell, and fearing that they had not
faithfully instructed me: being in this manner as it were incensed the
god Osiris appeared to me the night following, and giving me admonition
said, There is no occasion why thou shouldest be afraid with so often
order of religion, as though there were somewhat omitted, but that thou
shouldest rather rejoyce, since as it hath pleased the gods to call thee
three times, when as there was never yet any person that atchieved to
the order but once: wherefore thou maist thinke thy selfe happy for so
great benefits. And know thou that the religion which thou must now
receive, is right necessary, if thou meane to persever in the
worshipping of the goddesse, and to make solempnity on the festivall day
with the blessed habite, which thing shalt be a glory and renowne to
thee.
After this sort, the divine majesty perswaded me in my sleepe,
whereupon by and by I went towards the Priest, and declared all that
which I had seene, then I fasted ten dayes according to the custome, and
of mine owne proper will I abstained longer then I was commanded: and
verely I did nothing repent of the paine which I had taken, and of the
charges which I was at, considering that the divine providence had given
me such an order, that I gained much money in pleading of causes:
Finally after a few dayes, the great god Osiris appeared to me in the
night, not disguised in any other forme, but in his owne essence,
commanding me that I should be an Advocate in the court, and not feare
the slander and envie of ill persons, which beare me stomacke and grudge
by reason of my doctrine, which I had gotten by much labour: moreover,
he would not that I should be any longer of the number of his Priests,
but he allotted me to be one of the Decurions and Senatours: and after
he appointed me a place within the ancient pallace, which was erected in
the time of Silla, where I executed my office in great joy with a shaven
Crowne.
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Martin Van Maele
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