the golden asse-第25节
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raging flames of his first youth； I thought best to bridle and restraine。 It sufficeth that hee is defamed in every place for his adulterous living； wherefore all occasion ought to bee taken away by meane of marriage ： he hath chosen a Maiden that fancieth him well； and hath bereaved her of her virginity； let him have her still； and possesse her according to his owne pleasure ： then he returned to Venus； and said； And you my daughter； take you no care； neither feare the dishonour of your progeny and estate； neither have regard in that it is a mortall marriage； for it seemeth unto me just； lawfull； and legitimate by the law civill。 Incontinently after Jupiter commanded Mercury to bring up Psyches； the spouse of Cupid； into the Pallace of heaven。 And then he tooke a pot of immortality； and said； Hold Psyches； and drinke； to the end thou maist be immortall； and that Cupid may be thine everlasting husband。 By and by the great banket and marriage feast was sumptuously prepared； Cupid sate downe with his deare spouse between his armes ： Juno likewise with Jupiter； and all the other gods in order； Ganimedes filled the pot of Jupiter； and Bacchus served the rest。 Their drinke was Nectar the wine of the gods； Vulcanus prepared supper； the howers decked up the house with roses and other sweet smells； the graces threw about blame； the Muses sang with sweet harmony； Apollo tuned pleasantly to the Harpe； Venus danced finely ： Satirus and Paniscus plaid on their pipes； and thus Psyches was married to Cupid； and after she was delivered of a child whom we call Pleasure。 This the trifling old woman declared unto the captive maiden ： but I poore Asse； not standing farre of； was not a little sorry in that I lacked pen and inke to write so worthy a tale。
THE SIXTH BOOKE
THE TWENTY…THIRD CHAPTER
How Apuleius carried away the Gentlewoman； and how they were taken againe by the theeves； and what a kind of death was invented for them。
By and by the theeves came home laden with treasure； and many of them which were of strongest courage （leaving behind such as were lame and wounded； to heale and aire themselves） said they would returne backe againe to fetch the rest of their pillage； which they had hidden in a certaine cave； and so they snatched up their dinner greedily； and brought us forth into the way and beate us before them with staves。 About night （after that we had passed over many hilles and dales） we came to a great cave； where they laded us with mighty burthens； and would not suffer us to refresh our selves any season but brought us againe in our way； and hied so fast homeward； that what with their haste and their cruell stripes； I fell downe upon a stone by the way side； then they beate me pittifully in lifting me up； and hurt my right thigh and my left hoofe； and one of them said； What shall we do with this lame Ill favoured Asse； that is not worth the meate he eats？ And other said； Since the time that we had him first he never did any good； and I thinke he came unto our house with evill lucke； for we have had great wounds since； and losse of our valiant captaines； and other said； As soone as he hath brought home his burthen； I will surely throw him out upon the mountaine to be a pray for wild beasts ： While these gentlemen reasoned together of my death； we fortuned to come home； for the feare that I was in； caused my feet to turne into wings ： after that we were discharged of our burthens； they went to their fellowes that were wounded； and told them of our great tardity and slownesse by the way； neither was I brought into small anguish； when I perceived my death prepared before my face ： Why standest thou still Lucius？ Why dost thou not looke for thy death？ Knowst thou not that the theeves have ordained to slay thee？ seest thou not these sharpe and pointed flints which shall bruise and teare thee in peeces； if by adventure thou happen upon them？ Thy gentle Magitian hath not onely given thee the shape and travell of an Asse； but also a skinne so soft and tender as it were a swallow ： why dost thou not take courage and runne away to save thy selfe？ Art thou afraid of the old woman more then halfe dead； whom with a stripe of thy heele thou maist easily dispatch？ But whither shall I fly？ What lodging shall I seek？ See my Assy cogitation。 Who is he that passeth by the way and will not take me up？ While I devised these things； I brake the halter wherewith I was tyed and ran away with all my force； howbeit I could not escape the kitish eyes of the old woman； for shee ran after me； and with more audacity then becommeth her kind age； caught me by the halter and thought to pull me home： but I not forgetting the cruell purpose of the theeves； was mooved with small pity； for I kicked her with my hinder heeles to the ground and had welnigh slaine her； who （although shee was throwne and hurled downe） yet shee held still the halter； and would not let me goe； then shee cryed with a loud voyce and called for succour； but she little prevayled； because there was no person that heard her； save onely the captive gentlewoman； who hearing the voice of the old woman； came out to see what the matter was； and perceiving her hanging at the halter； tooke a good courage and wrested it out of her hand； and （entreating me with gentle words） got upon my backe。 Then I began to runne； and shee gently kicked mee forward； whereof I was nothing displeased； for I had as great a desire to escape as shee ： insomuch that I seemed to scowre away like a horse。 And when the Gentlewoman did speake； I would answere her with my neighing； and oftentimes （under colour to rub my backe） I would sweetly kisse her tender feet。 Then shee fetching a sigh from the bottome of her heart； lifted up her eyes to the heavens； saying ： O soveraigne Gods； deliver mee if it be your pleasure； from these present dangers ： and thou cruell fortune cease thy wrath； let the sorrow suffice thee which I have already sustained。 And thou little Asse； that art the occasion of my safety and liberty； if thou canst once render me safe and sound to my parents； and to him that so greatly desireth to have me to his wife； thou shalt see what thankes I will give ： with what honour I will reward thee； and how I will use thee。 First； I will bravely dresse the haires of thy forehead； and then will I finely combe thy maine； I will tye up thy rugged tayle trimly； I will decke thee round about with golden trappes； in such sort that thou shalt glitter like the starres of the skie； I will bring thee daily in my apron the kirnels of nuts； and will pamper thee up with delicates； I will set store by thee； as by one that is the preserver of my life ： Finally； thou shalt lack no manner of thing。 Moreover amongst thy glorious fare； thy great ease； and the blisse of thy life； thou shalt not be destitute of dignity； for thou shalt be chronicled perpetually in memory of my present fortune； and the providence divine。 All the whole history shall be painted upon the wall of our house； thou shalt 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
