the golden asse-第37节
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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。
THE FORTY…SECOND CHAPTER
How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged； was sold to a Gardener； and what dreadfull things happened。
There was a poore Gardener amongst the rest； which bought me for the summe of fifty pence； which seemed to him a great price； but he thought to gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my body。 The matter requireth to tell likewise； how I was handled in his service。 This Gardener accustomed to drive me； every morning laded with hearbes to the next Village； and when he had sold his hearbes； hee would mount upon my backe and returne to the Garden； and while he digged the ground and watered the hearbes； and went about other businesse； I did nothing but repose my selfe with great ease； but when Winter approached with sharpe haile； raine and frosts； and I standing under a hedge side； was welnigh killed up with cold； and my master was so poore that he had no lodging for himselfe； much lesse had he any 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 en
