the golden asse-第6节

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every　question；　specially　hee　enquired　the　causes　of　my　peregrination　and　travell；　which　when　I　had　declared；　he　yet　busily　demanded　of　the　state　of　my　Countrey；　　and　the　chief　magistrates　there；　and　principally　of　our　Lievtenant　and　Viceroy；　who　when　he　perceived　that　I　was　not　only　wearied　by　travell；　but　also　with　talke；　and　that　I　fell　asleep　in　the　midst　of　my　tale；　and　further　that　I　spake　nothing　directly　or　advisedly；　he　suffered　me　to　depart　to　my　chamber。　　So　scaped　I　at　length　from　the　prating　and　hungry　supper　of　this　rank　old　man；　and　being　compelled　by　sleepe　and　not　by　meat；　and　having　supped　only　with　talke；　I　returned　into　my　chamber；　and　there　betooke　me　to　my　quiet　and　long　desired　rest。




THE　SECOND　BOOKE



THE　EIGHTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　fortuned　to　meet　with　his　Cousin　Byrrhena。

As　soone　as　night　was　past；　and　the　day　began　to　spring；　I　fortuned　to　awake；　and　rose　out　of　my　bed　as　halfe　amazed；　　and　very　desirous　to　know　and　see　some　marvellous　and　strange　things；　remembring　with　my　selfe　that　I　was　in　the　middle　part　of　all　Thessaly；　whereas　by　the　common　report　of　all　the　World；　the　Sorceries　and　Inchauntments　are　most　used；　I　oftentimes　repeated　with　my　self　the　tale　of　my　companion　Aristomenus　touching　the　manner　of　this　City；　and　being　mooved　by　great　desire；　I　viewed　the　whole　scituation　thereof；　neither　was　there　any　thing　which　I　saw　there；　but　that　I　did　beleeve　to　be　the　same　which　it　was　indeed；　but　every　thing　seemed　unto　me　to　be　transformed　and　altered　into　other　shapes；　by　the　wicked　power　of　Sorcerie　and　Inchantment；　insomuch　that　I　thought　that　the　stones　which　I　found　were　indurate；　and　turned　from　men　into　that　figure；　and　that　the　birds　which　I　heard　chirping；　and　the　trees　without　the　walls　of　the　city；　and　the　running　waters；　were　changed　from　men　into　such　kinde　of　likenesses。　　And　further　I　thought　that　the　Statues；　Images　and　Walls　could　goe；　and　the　Oxen　and　other　brute　beasts　could　speake　and　tell　strange　newes；　and　that　immediately　I　should　see　and　heare　some　Oracles　from　the　heavens；　and　from　the　gleed　of　the　Sun。　Thus　being　astonied　or　rather　dismayed　and　vexed　with　desire；　knowing　no　certaine　place　whither　I　intended　to　go；　I　went　from　street　to　street；　and　at　length　（as　I　curiously　gazed　on　every　thing）　I　fortuned　unwares　to　come　into　the　market　place；　whereas　I　espied　a　certaine　woman；　accompanied　with　a　great　many　servants；　towards　whom　I　drew　nigh；　　and　viewed　her　garments　beset　with　gold　and　pretious　stone；　in　such　sort　that　she　seemed　to　be　some　noble　matron。　　And　there　was　an　old　man　which　followed　her；　who　as　soon　as　he　espied　me；　said　to　himself；　Verily　this　is　Lucius；　and　then　he　came　and　embraced　me；　by　and　by　he　went　unto　his　mistresse　and　whispered　in　her　eare；　and　came　to　mee　againe　saying；　How　is　it　Lucius　that　you　will　not　salute　your　deere　Cousin　and　singular　friend？　　To　whom　I　answered；　Sir　I　dare　not　be　so　bold　as　to　take　acquaintance　of　an　unknown　woman。　　Howbeit　as　halfe　ashamed　I　drew　towards　her；　and　shee　turned　her　selfe　and　sayd；　Behold　how　he　resembleth　the　very　same　grace　as　his　mother　Salvia　doth；　behold　his　countenance　and　stature；　agreeing　thereto　in　each　poynt；　behold　his　comely　state；　his　fine　slendernesse；　his　Vermilion　colour；　his　haire　yellow　by　nature；　his　gray　and　quicke　eye；　like　to　the　Eagle；　and　his　trim　and　comely　gate；　which　do　sufficiently　prove　him　to　be　the　naturall　childe　of　Salvia。　　　And　moreover　she　sayd；　O　Lucius；　I　have　nourished　thee　with　myne　owne　proper　hand　：　and　why　not？　For　I　am　not　onely　of　kindred　to　thy　mother　by　blood；　but　also　by　nourice；　for　wee　both　descended　of　the　line　of　Plutarch；　lay　in　one　belly；　sucked　the　same　paps；　and　were　brought　up　together　in　one　house。　　And　further　there　is　no　other　difference　betweene　us　two；　but　that　she　is　married　more　honourably　than　I　：　I　am　the　same　Byrrhena　whom　you　have　often　heard　named　among　your　friends　at　home　：　wherfore　I　pray　you　to　take　so　much　pains　as　to　come　with　me　to　my　house；　and　use　it　as　your　owne。　　At　whose　words　I　was　partly　abashed　and　sayd；　God　forbid　Cosin　that　I　should　forsake　myne　Host　Milo　without　any　reasonable　cause；　but　verily　I　will；　as　often　as　I　have　occasion　to　passe　by　thy　house；　come　and　see　how　you　doe。　　And　while　we　were　talking　thus　together；　little　by　little　wee　came　to　her　house；　and　behold　the　gates　of　the　same　were　very　beautifully　set　with　pillars　quadrangle　wise；　on　the　top　wherof　were　placed　　carved　statues　and　images；　but　principally　the　Goddesse　of　Victory　was　so　lively　and　with　such　excellencie　portrayed　and　set　forth；　that　you　would　have　verily　have　thought　that　she　had　flyed；　and　　hovered　with　her　wings　hither　and　thither。　On　the　contrary　part；　the　image　of　the　Goddesse　Diana　was　wrought　in　white　marble；　which　was　a　marvellous　sight　to　see；　for　shee　seemed　as　though　the　winde　did　blow　up　her　garments；　and　that　she　did　encounter　with　them　that　came　into　the　house。　　On　each　side　of　her　were　Dogs　made　of　stone；　that　seemed　to　menace　with　their　fiery　eyes；　their　pricked　eares；　their　bended　nosethrils；　their　grinning　teeth　in　such　sort　that　you　would　have　thought　they　had　bayed　and　barked。　　An　moreover　（which　was　a　greater　marvel　to　behold）　the　excellent　carver　and　deviser　of　this　worke　had　fashioned　the　dogs　to　stand　up　fiercely　with　their　former　feet；　and　their　hinder　feet　on　the　ground　ready　to　fight。　　Behinde　the　back　of　the　goddesse　was　carved　a　stone　in　manner　of　a　Caverne；　environed　with　mosse；　herbes；　leaves；　sprigs；　green　branches　and　bowes；　growing　in　and　about　the　same；　insomuch　that　within　the　stone　it　glistered　and　shone　marvellously；　under　the　brim　of　the　stone　hanged　apples　and　grapes　carved　finely；　wherein　Art　envying　Nature；　　shewed　her　great　cunning。　　For　they　were　so　lively　set　out；　that　you　would　have　thought　if　Summer　had　been　come；　they　might　have　bin　pulled　and　eaten；　and　while　I　beheld　the　running　water；　which　seemed　to　spring　and　leap　under　the　feet　of　the　goddesse；　I　marked　the　grapes　which　hanged　in　the　water；　which　were　like　in　every　point　to　the　grapes　of　the　vine；　and　seemed　to　move　and　stir　by　the　violence　of　the　streame。　Moreover；　amongst　the　branches　of　the　stone　appeared　the　image　of　Acteon　：　and　how　that　Diana　（which　was　carved　within　the　same　stone；　standing　in　the　water）　because　he　did　see　her　naked；　did　turne　him　into　an　hart；　and　so　he　was　torne　and　slaine　of　his　owne　hounds。　　And　while　I　was　greatly　delighted　with　the　view　of　these　things；　Byrrhena　spake　to　me　and　sayd；　Cousin　all　things　here　be　at　your　commandement。　　And　therewithall　shee　willed　secretly　the　residue　to　depart　：　who　being　gone　she　sayd；　My　most　deare　Cousin　Lucius；　I　do　sweare　by　the　goddesse　Diana；　that　I　doe　greatly　tender　your　safety；　and　am　as　carefull　for　you　as　if　you　were　myne　owne　naturall　childe；　beware　I　say；　beware　of　the　evil　arts　and　wicked　allurements　of　that　Pamphiles　who　is　the　wife　of　Milo；　whom　you　call　your　Host；　for　she　is　accounted　the　most　chief　and　principall　Magitian　and　Enchantresse　living；　who　by　breathing　out　certain　words　and　charmes　over　bowes；　stones　and　other　frivolous　things；　can　throw　down　all　the　powers　of　the　heavens　into　the　deep　bottome　of　hell；　and　reduce　all　the　whole　world　againe　to　the　old　Chaos。　　For　as　soone　as　she　espieth　any　comely　yong　man；　shee　is　forthwith　stricken　with　　his　love；　and　presently　setteth　her　whole　minde　and　affection　on　him。　　She　soweth　her　seed　of　flattery；　she　invades　his　spirit　and　intangleth　him　with　continuall　snares　of　unmeasurable　love。

And　then　if　any　accord　not　to　her　filthy　desire；　or　if　they　seeme　loathsome　in　her　eye；　by　and　by　in　the　moment　of　an　houre　she　turneth　them　into　stones；　sheep　or　some　other　beast；　as　her　selfe　pleaseth；　and　some　she　presently　slayeth　and　murthereth；　of　whom　I　would　you　should　earnestly　beware。　　For　she　burneth　continually；　and　you　by　reason　of　your　tender　age　and　comely　beauty　are　capable　of　her　fire　and　love。

Thus　with　great　care　Byrrhena　gave　me　in　charge；　but　I　（that　always　coveted　and　desired；　after　that　I　had　heard　talk　of　such　Sorceries　and　Witchcrafts；　to　be　experienced　in　the　same）　little　esteemed　to　beware　of　Pamphiles；　but　willingly　determined　to　bestow　my　money　in　learning　of　that　art；　and　now　wholly　to　become　a　Witch。　　And　so　I　waxed　joyful；　and　wringing　my　selfe　out　of　her　company；　　as　out　of　linkes　or　chaines；　I　bade　her　farewell；　and　departed　toward　the　house　of　myne　host　Milo；　by　the　way　reasoning　thus　with　my　selfe　：　O　Lucius　now　take　heed；　be　vigilant；　have　a　good　care；　for　now　thou　hast　time　and　place　to　satisfie　thy　desire；　now　shake　off　thy　childishnesse　and　shew　thy　selfe　a　man；　but　especially　temper　thy　selfe　from　the　love　of　thyne　hostesse；　and　abstain　from　violation　of　the　bed　of　Milo；　but　hardly　attempt　to　winne　the　maiden　Fotis；　for　she　is　beautifull；　wanton　and　pleasant　in　talke。　And　soone　when　thou　goest　to　sleepe；　and　when　shee　bringeth　you　gently　into　thy　chamber；　and　tenderly　layeth　thee　downe　in　thy　bed；　and　lovingly　covereth　thee；　and　kisseth　thee　sweetly；　and　departeth　unwillingly；　and　casteth　her　eyes　oftentimes　backe；　and　stands　still；　then　hast　thou　a　good　occasion　ministred　to　thee　to　prove　and　try　the　mind　of　Fotis。　　Thus　while　I　reasoned　to　myselfe　I　came　to　Milos　doore；　p