the golden asse-第26节
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e 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。
THE SEVENTH BOOKE
THE TWENTY…FOURTH CHAPTER
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。
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； insomu
