the golden asse-第7节

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　thee　to　prove　and　try　the　mind　of　Fotis。　　Thus　while　I　reasoned　to　myselfe　I　came　to　Milos　doore；　persevering　still　in　my　purpose；　but　I　found　neither　Milo　nor　his　wife　at　home。



THE　NINTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　fell　in　love　with　Fotis。

When　I　was　within　the　house　I　found　my　deare　and　sweet　love　Fotis　mincing　of　meat　and　making　pottage　for　her　master　and　mistresse；　the　Cupboord　was　all　set　with　wines；　and　I　thought　I　smelled　the　savor　of　some　dainty　meats　：　she　had　about　her　middle　a　white　and　clean　apron；　and　shee　was　girded　about　her　body　under　the　paps　with　a　swathell　of　red　silke；　and　she　stirred　the　pot　and　turned　the　meat　with　her　fair　and　white　hands；　in　such　sort　that　with　stirring　and　turning　the　same；　her　loynes　and　hips　did　likewise　move　and　shake；　which　was　in　my　mind　a　comely　sight　to　see。

These　things　when　I　saw　I　was　halfe　amazed；　and　stood　musing　with　my　selfe；　and　my　courage　came　then　upon　mee；　which　before　was　scant。　　　And　I　spake　unto　Fotis　merrily　and　sayd；　O　Fotis　how　trimmely　you　can　stirre　the　pot；　and　how　finely；　with　shaking　your　buttockes；　you　can　make　pottage。　　The　shee　beeing　likewise　merrily　disposed；　made　answer；　Depart　I　say；　Miser　from　me；　depart　from　my　fire；　for　if　the　flame　thereof　doe　never　so　little　blaze　forth；　it　will　burne　thee　extreamely　and　none　can　extinguish　the　heat　thereof　but　I　alone；　who　in　stirring　the　pot　and　making　the　bed　can　so　finely　shake　my　selfe。　　When　she　had　sayd　these　words　shee　cast　her　eyes　upon　me　and　laughed；　but　I　did　not　depart　from　thence　until　such　time　as　I　had　viewed　her　in　every　point。　　But　what　should　I　speak　of　others；　when　as　I　doe　accustome　abroad　to　marke　the　face　and　haire　of　every　dame；　and　afterwards　delight　my　selfe　therewith　privately　at　home；　and　thereby　judge　the　residue　of　their　shape；　because　the　face　is　the　principall　part　of　all　the　body；　and　is　first　open　to　our　eyes。　　And　whatsoever　flourishing　and　gorgeous　apparell　doth　work　and　set　forth　in　the　corporal　parts　of　a　woman；　the　same　doth　the　naturall　and　comely　beauty　set　out　in　the　face。　Moreover　there　be　divers；　that　to　the　intent　to　shew　their　grace　and　feature；　wil　cast　off　their　partlets；　collars；　habiliments；　fronts；　cornets　and　krippins；　and　doe　more　delight　to　shew　the　fairnesse　of　their　skinne；　than　to　deck　themselves　up　in　gold　and　pretious　stones。　But　because　it　is　a　crime　unto　me　to　say　so；　and　to　give　no　example　thereof；　know　ye；　that　if　you　spoyle　and　cut　the　haire　of　any　woman　or　deprive　her　of　the　colour　of　her　face；　though　shee　were　never　so　excellent　in　beauty；　though　shee　were　throwne　downe　from　heaven；　sprung　of　the　Seas；　nourished　of　the　flouds；　though　shee　were　Venus　her　selfe；　though　shee　were　waited　upon　by　all　the　Court　of　Cupid；　though　were　girded　with　her　beautifull　skarfe　of　Love；　and　though　shee　smelled　of　perfumes　and　musks；　yet　if　shee　appeared　bald；　shee　could　in　no　wise　please；　no　not　her　owne　Vulcanus。

O　how　well　doth　a　faire　colour　and　a　shining　face　agree　with　glittering　hair！　　Behold；　it　encountreth　with　the　beams　of　the　Sunne；　and　pleaseth　the　eye　marvellously。　　Sometimes　the　beauty　of　the　haire　resembleth　the　colour　of　gold　and　honey；　sometimes　the　blew　plumes　and　azured　feathers　about　the　neckes　of　Doves；　especially　when　it　is　either　anointed　with　the　gumme　of　Arabia；　or　trimmely　tuft　out　with　the　teeth　of　a　fine　combe；　which　if　it　be　tyed　up　in　the　pole　of　the　necke；　it　seemeth　to　the　lover　that　beholdeth　the　same；　as　a　glasse　that　yeeldeth　forth　a　more　pleasant　and　gracious　comelinesse　than　if　it　should　be　sparsed　abroad　on　the　shoulders　of　the　woman；　or　hang　down　scattering　behind。　　Finally　there　is　such　a　dignity　in　the　haire；　that　whatsoever　shee　be；　though　she　be　never　to　bravely　attyred　with　gold；　silks；　pretious　stones；　and　other　rich　and　gorgeous　ornaments；　yet　if　her　hair　be　not　curiously　set　forth　shee　cannot　seeme　faire。　　But　in　my　Fotis；　her　garments　unbrast　and　unlaste　increased　her　beauty；　her　haire　hanged　about　her　shoulders；　and　was　dispersed　abroad　　upon　her　partlet；　and　in　every　part　of　her　necke；　howbeit　the　greater　part　was　trussed　upon　her　pole　with　a　lace。　　Then　I　unable　to　sustain　the　broiling　heat　that　I　was　in；　ran　upon　her　and　kissed　the　place　where　she　had　thus　laid　her　haire。　　Whereat　she　turned　her　face；　and　cast　her　rolling　eyes　upon　me；　saying；　O　Scholler；　thou　hast　tasted　now　both　hony　and　gall；　take　heed　that　thy　pleasure　do　not　turn　unto　repentance。　　Tush　（quoth　I）　my　sweet　heart；　I　am　contented　for　such　another　kiss　to　be　broiled　here　upon　this　fire；　wherwithall　I　embraced　and　kissed　her　more　often；　and　shee　embraced　and　kissed　me　likewise；　and　moreover　her　breath　smelled　like　Cinnamon；　and　the　liquor　of　her　tongue　was　like　unto　sweet　Nectar；　wherewith　when　my　mind　was　greatly　delighted　I　sayd；　Behold　Fotis　I　am　yours；　and　shall　presently　dye　unlesse　you　take　pitty　upon　me。　　Which　when　I　had　said　she　eftsoone　kissed　me；　and　bid　me　be　of　good　courage；　and　I　will　（quoth　shee）　satisfie　your　whole　desire；　and　it　shall　be　no　longer　delayed　than　until　night；　when　as　assure　your　selfe　I　will　come　and　lie　with　you；　wherfore　go　your　wayes　and　prepare　your　selfe；　for　I　intend　valiantly　and　couragiously　to　encounter　with　you　this　night。　Thus　when　we　had　lovingly　talked　and　reasoned　together；　we　departed　for　that　time。



THE　TENTH　CHAPTER


How　Byrrhena　sent　victuals　unto　Apuleius；　and　how　hee　talked　with　Milo　of　Diophanes；　and　how　he　lay　with　Fotis。

When　noone　was　come；　Byrrhena　sent　to　me　a　fat　Pigge；　five　hennes；　and　a　flagon　of　old　wine。　Then　I　called　Fotis　and　sayd；　Behold　how　Bacchus　the　egger　and　stirrer　of　Venery；　doth　offer　him　self　of　his　owne　accord；　let　us　therefore　drink　up　this　wine；　that　we　may　prepare　our　selves　and　get　us　courage　against　soone；　for　Venus　wanteth　no　other　provision　than　this；　that　the　Lamp　may　be　all　the　night　replenished　with　oyle；　and　the　cups　with　wine。　　The　residue　of　the　day　I　passed　away　at　the　Bains　and　in　banquetting；　and　towards　evening　I　went　to　supper；　for　I　was　bid　by　Milo；　and　so　I　sate　downe　at　the　table；　out　of　Pamphiles　sight　as　much　as　I　could；　being　mindfull　of　the　commandement　of　Byrrhena；　and　sometimes　I　would　cast　myne　eyes　upon　her　as　upon　the　furies　of　hell；　but　I　eftsoones　turning　my　face　behinde　me；　and　beholding　my　Fotis　ministring　at　the　table；　was　again　refreshed　and　made　merry。　And　behold　when　Pamphiles　did　see　the　candle　standing　on　the　table；　she　said；　Verily　wee　shall　have　much　raine　to　morrow。　Which　when　her　husband　did　heare；　he　demanded　of　her　by　what　reason　she　knew　it？　　Mary　（quoth　shee）　the　light　on　the　table　sheweth　the　same。　　Then　Milo　laughed　and　said；　Verily　we　nourish　a　Sybel　prophesier；　which　by　the　view　of　a　candle　doth　divine　of　Celestiall　things；　and　of　the　Sunne　it　selfe。　　Then　I　mused　in　my　minde　and　said　unto　Milo；　Of　truth　it　is　a　good　experience　and　proof　of　divination。　　Neither　is　it　any　marvell；　for　although　this　light　is　but　a　small　light；　and　made　by　the　hands　of　men；　yet　hath　it　a　remembrance　of　that　great　and　heavenly　light；　as　of　his　parent；　and　doth　shew　unto　us　what　will　happen　in　the　Skies　above。　　For　I　knew　at　Corinth　a　certain　man　of　Assyria；　who　would　give　answers　in　every　part　of　the　City；　and　for　the　gaine　of　money　would　tell　every　man　his　fortune；　to　some　he　would　tel　the　dayes　of　their　marriages；　to　others　he　would　tell　when　they　should　build；　that　their　edifices　should　continue。　　To　others；　when　they　should　best　go　e　about　their　affaires。　　To　others；　when　they　should　goe　by　sea　or　land　：　to　me；　purposing　to　take　my　journey　hither；　he　declared　many　things　strange　and　variable。　　For　sometimes　hee　sayd　that　I　should　win　glory　enough　：　sometimes　he　sayd　I　should　write　a　great　Historie　：　sometimes　againe　hee　sayd　that　I　should　devise　an　incredible　tale　：　and　sometimes　that　I　should　make　Bookes。　　Whereat　Milo　laughed　againe；　and　enquired　of　me；　of　what　stature　this　man　of　Assyria　was；　and　　what　he　was　named。　　In　faith　（quoth　I）　he　is　a　tall　man　and　somewhat　blacke；　and　hee　is　called　Diophanes。　　Then　sayd　Milo；　the　same　is　he　and　no　other；　who　semblably　hath　declared　many　things　here　unto　us；　whereby　hee　got　and　obtained　great　substance　and　Treasure。

But　the　poore　miser　fell　at　length　into　the　hands　of　unpittifull　and　cruell　fortune　：　For　beeing　on　a　day　amongst　a　great　assembly　of　people；　to　tell　the　simple　sort　their　fortune；　a　certaine　Cobler　came　unto　him；　and　desired　him　to　tel　when　it　should　be　best　for　him　to　take　his　voyage；　the　which　hee　promised　to　do　：　the　Cobler　opened　his　purse　and　told　a　hundred　pence　to　him　for　his　paines。　Whereupon　came　a　certaine　young　gentleman　and　took　Diophanes　by　the　Garment。　　Then　he　turning　himselfe；　embraced　and　kissed　him；　and　desired　the　Gentleman；　who　was　one　of　his　acquaintance；　to　sit　downe　by　him　：　and　Diophanes　being　astonied　with　this　sudden　change；　forgot　what　he　was　doing；　and　sayd；　O　deare　friend　you　are　heartily　welcome；　I　pray　you　when　arrived　you　into　these　parts？　　Then　answered　he；　I　will　tell　you　soone；　but　brother　I　pray　you　tell　mee　of　your　comming　from　the　isle　of　Euboea；　and　how　you　sped　by　the　way？　Whereunto　Diophanes　this　notable　Assyrian　（not　yet　come　unto　　his　minde；　but　halfe　amased）　soone　answered　and　sayd；　I　would　to　god　that　all　our　enemies　and