the golden asse-第12章

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d　with　unhappy　fortune　that　I　little　esteemed　mine　own　danger；　and　went　willingly　to　eat　of　these　roses；　though　I　knew　them　to　be　present　poyson　：　and　as　I　drew　neere　I　saw　a　yong　man　that　seemed　to　be　the　gardener；　come　upon　mee；　and　when　he　perceived　that　I　had　devoured　all　his　hearbes　in　the　garden；　he　came　swearing　with　a　great　staffe　n　his　hand；　and　laid　upon　me　in　such　sort；　that　I　was　well　nigh　dead；　but　I　speedily　devised　some　remedy　my　self；　for　I　lift　up　my　legs　and　kicked　him　with　my　hinder　heels；　that　I　left　him　lying　at　the　hill　foot　wel　nigh　slain；　and　so　I　ran　away。　　Incontinently　came　out　his　wife；　who　seeing　her　husband　halfe　dead；　cried　and　howled　in　pittifull　sort；　and　went　toward　her　husband；　to　the　intent　that　by　her　lowd　cries　shee　might　purchase　to　me　present　destruction。　　Then　all　the　persons　of　the　town；　moved　by　her　noise　came　forth；　and　cried　fro　dogs　to　teare　me　down。　　Out　came　a　great　company　of　Bandogs　and　mastifes；　more　fit　to　pul　down　bears　and　lions　than　me；　whom　when　I　beheld　I　thought　verily　I　should　presently　die　：　but　I　turned　myself　about；　and　ranne　as　fast　as　ever　I　might　to　the　stable　from　whence　I　came。　　Then　the　men　of　the　towne　called　in　their　dogs；　and　took　me　and　bound　mee　to　the　staple　of　a　post；　and　scourged　me　with　a　great　knotted　whip　till　I　was　well　nigh　dead；　and　they　would　undoubtedly　have　slaine　me；　had　it　not　come　to　passe；　that　what　with　the　paine　　of　their　beating；　and　the　greene　hearbes　that　lay　in　my　guts；　I　caught　such　a　laske　that　I　all　besprinkled　their　faces　with　my　liquid　dung；　and　enforced　them　to　leave　off。



THE　NINETEENTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　was　prevented　of　his　purpose；　and　how　the　Theeves　came　to　their　den。

Not　long　after；　the　theeves　laded　us　againe；　but　especially　me；　and　brought　us　forth　of　the　stable；　and　when　wee　had　gone　a　good　part　of　our　journey　what　with　the　long　way；　my　great　burthen；　the　beating　of　staves；　and　my　worne　hooves；　I　was　so　weary　that　I　could　scantly　go。　　Then　I　saw　a　little　before　mee　a　river　running　with　fair　water；　and　I　said　to　myself；　Behold；　now　I　have　found　a　good　occasion　：　for　I　will　fall　down　when　I　come　yonder；　and　surely　I　will　not　rise　againe；　neither　with　scourging　nor　with　beating；　for　I　had　rather　be　slaine　there　presently；　than　goe　any　further。

And　the　cause　why　I　had　determined　so　to　doe　was　this；　I　thought　that　the　theeves　when　they　did　see　me　so　feeble　and　weake　that　I　could　not　travell；　to　the　intent　they　would　not　stay　in　their　journey；　they　would　take　the　burthen　from　my　backe　and　put　it　on　my　fellowes；　and　so　for　my　further　punishment　to　leave　me　as　a　prey　to　the　wolves　and　ravening　beasts。　　But　evill　fortune　prevented　so　good　a　consideration；　for　the　other　Asse　being　of　the　same　purpose　that　I　was　of；　by　feigned　and　coloured　wearinesse　fell　downe　first；　with　all　his　burthen　on　the　ground　as　though　hee　were　dead；　and　he　would　not　rise　neither　with　beating　nor　with　pricking；　　nor　stand　upon　his　legs；　though　they　pulled　him　by　the　tail；　by　his　legs；　and　by　his　eares　：　which　when　the　theeves　beheld；　as　without　all　hope　they　said　one　unto　another；　What　should　we　stand　here　so　long　about　a　dead　or　rather　a　stony　asse？　let　us　bee　gone　：　and　so　they　tooke　his　burthen；　and　divided　some　to　mee；　and　some　to　my　horse。　And　then　they　drew　out　their　swords　and　cut　off　his　legs；　and　threw　his　body　from　the　point　of　a　hill　down　into　a　great　valley。　　Then　I　considering　with　my　selfe　of　the　evill　fortune　of　my　poore　companion；　and　purposed　now　to　forget　all　subtility　and　deceit；　and　to　play　the　good　Asse　to　get　my　masters　favour；　for　I　perceived　by　their　talke　that　we　were　come　home　well　nigh　at　our　journeys　end。　　And　after　that　wee　had　passed　over　a　little　hill；　we　came　to　our　appointed　place；　and　when　we　were　unladen　of　our　burthens；　and　all　things　carried　in；　I　tumbled　and　wallowed　in　the　dust；　to　refresh　my　selfe　in　stead　of　water。　　The　thing　and　the　time　compelleth　me　to　make　description　of　the　places；　and　especially　of　the　den　where　the　theeves　did　inhabit；　I　will　prove　my　wit　in　what　I　can　doe；　and　the　consider　you　whether　I　was　an　Asse　in　judgement　and　sence；　or　no。　　For　first　there　was　an　exceeding　great　hill　compassed　about　with　big　trees　very　high；　with　many　turning　bottoms　full　of　sharp　stones；　whereby　it　was　inaccessible。　　There　was　many　winding　and　hollow　vallies；　environed　with　thickets　and　thornes；　and　naturally　fortressed　round　about。　　From　the　top　of　the　hill　ranne　a　running　water　as　cleare　as　silver；　that　watered　all　the　valleyes　below；　that　it　seemed　like　unto　a　sea　inclosed；　or　a　standing　floud。　　Before　the　denne　where　was　no　hill　stood　an　high　tower；　and　at　the　foot　thereof　were　sheep…coats　fenced　and　walled　with　clay。　　Before　the　gate　of　the　house　were　pathes　made　in　stead　of　wals；　in　such　sort　that　you　could　easily　judge　it　to　be　a　very　den　for　theeves；　and　there　was　nothing　else　except　a　little　coat　covered　with　thatch；　wherein　the　theeves　did　　nightly　accustome　to　watch　by　order；　as　I　after　perceived。　　And　when　they　were　all　crept　into　the　house；　and　we　were　all　tied　fast　with　halters　at　the　dore；　they　began　to　chide　with　an　old　woman　there；　crooked　with　age；　who　had　the　government　and　rule　of　all　the　house；　and　said；　How　is　it　old　witch；　old　trot；　and　strumpet；　that　thou　sittest　idley　all　day　at　home；　and　having　no　regard　to　our　perillous　labours；　hast　provided　nothing　for　our　suppers；　but　sittest　eating　and　swilling　thyself　from　morning　till　night？　　Then　the　old　woman　trembled；　and　scantly　able　to　speak　gan　say；　Behold　my　puissant　and　faithfull　masters；　you　shall　have　meat　and　pottage　enough　by　and　by　：　here　is　first　store　of　bread；　wine　plenty；　filled　in　cleane　rinsed　pots；　likewise　here　is　hot　water　prepared　to　bathe　you。

Which　when　she　had　said；　they　put　off　all　their　garments　and　refreshed　themselves　by　the　fire。　　And　after　they　were　washed　and　noynted　with　oyle；　they　sate　downe　at　the　table　garnished　with　all　kind　of　dainty　meats。　　　They　were　no　sooner　sate　downe；　but　in　came　another　company　of　yong　men　more　in　number　than　was　before；　who　seemed　likewise　to　bee　Theeves；　for　they　brought　in　their　preyes　of　gold　and　silver；　Plate；　jewels；　and　rich　robes；　and　when　they　had　likewise　washed；　they　sate　among　the　rest；　and　served　one　another　by　order。　　Then　they　drank　and　eat　exceedingly；　laughing；　crying　and　making　much　noyse；　that　I　thought　that　I　was　among　the　tyrannous　and　wilde　Lapithes；　Thebans；　and　Centaures。　At　length　one　of　them　more　valiant　than　the　rest；　spake　in　this　sort；　We　verily　have　manfully　conquered　the　house　of　Milo　of　Hippata；　and　beside　all　the　riches　and　treasure　which　by　force　we　have　brought　away；　we　are　all　come　home　safe；　and　are　increased　the　more　by　this　horse　and　this　Asse。　　But　you　that　have　roved　about　in　the　country　of　Boetia；　have　lost　your　valiante　captaine　Lamathus；　whose　life　I　more　regarded　than　all　the　treasure　which　you　have　brought　：　and　therfore　the　memory　of　him　shall　bee　renowned　for　ever　amongst　the　most　noble　kings　and　valiant　captains　：　but　you　accustome　when　you　goe　abroad；　like　men　with　ganders　hearts　to　creepe　through　every　corner　and　hole　for　every　trifle。　　Then　one　of　them　that　came　last　answered；　Why　are　you　only　ignorant；　that　the　greater　the　number　is；　the　sooner　they　may　rob　and　spoyle　the　house？　And　although　the　family　be　dispersed　in　divers　lodgings；　yet　every　man　had　rather　to　defend　his　own　life；　than　to　save　the　riches　of　his　master　：　but　when　there　be　but　a　few　theeves；　then　will　they　not　only　rather　regard　themselves；　but　also　their　substance；　how　little　or　great　soever　it　be。　　And　to　the　intent　you　may　beleeve　me　I　will　shew　you　an　example　：　wee　were　come　nothing　nigh　to　Thebes；　where　is　the　fountain　of　our　art　and　science；　but　we　learned　where　a　rich　Chuffe　called　Chriseros　did　dwell；　who　for　fear　of　offices　in　the　publique　wel　dissembled　his　estate；　and　lived　sole　and　solitary　in　a　small　coat；　howbeit　replenished　with　aboundance　of　treasure；　and　went　daily　in　ragged　and　torn　apparel。　　Wherefore　wee　devised　with　our　selves　to　go　to　his　house　and　spoyl　him　of　all　his　riches。　And　when　night　came　we　drew　towards　the　dore；　which　was　so　strongly　closed；　　that　we　could　neither　move　it；　nor　lift　it　out　of　the　hooks；　and　we　thought　it　best　not　to　break　it　open　lest　by　the　noyse　we　should　raise　up　to　our　harm　the　neighbours　by。　　Then　our　strong　and　valiant　captaine　Lamathus　trusting　in　his　own　strength　and　force；　thrust　in　his　had　through　a　hole　in　the　dore；　and　thought　to　pull　back　the　bolt　：　but　the　covetous　caitif　Chriseros　being　awake；　and　making　no　noise　came　softly　to　the　dore　and　caught　his　hand　and　with　a　great　naile　nailed　it　fast　to　the　post　：　which　when　he　had　done；　he　ran　up　to　the　high　chamber　and　called　every　one　of　his　neighbours　by　name；　desiring　them　to　succour　him　with　all　possible　speed；　for　his　own　house　was　on　fire。　　Then　every　one　for　fear　of　his　owne　danger　came　running　out　to　aid　him；　wherewith　we　fearing　our　present　peril；　knew　not　what　was　best　to　be　don；　whether　wee　should　leave　our　companion　there；　or　yeeld　ourselves　to　die　with　him　：　but　we　by　his　consent　devised　a　better　way；　for　we　cut　off　his　arm　by　the　elbow　and　so　let　it　hang　there　：　then　wee　bound　his　wound　with　clouts；　lest　we　should　be　traced　by　the　drops　of　blood　：　which　don　we　took　Lamathus　and　led　him　away；　for　fear　we　would　be　taken　：　but　being　so　nigh　pursued　that　we　were　in　present　danger；　and　that　Lamathus　could　not　keepe　our　company　by　reason　of　faintnesse；　and　on　the　other　side　perceiving　that　it　was　not　for　his　profit　to　linger　behinde；　he　spake　unto　us　as　a　man　of　singular　courage　and　vertue；　desiring　us　by　much　entreaty　and　prayer　and　by　the　puissance　of　the　god　Mars；　and　the　faith　of　our　confederacy；　to　deliver　his　body　from　torment　and　miserable　captivity　：　and　further　he　said；　How　is　it　possible　that　so　courageous　a　Captaine　can　live　without　his　hand；　wherewith　he　could　somtime　rob　and　slay　so　many　people？　　I　would　thinke　myself　sufficiently　happy　if　I　could　be　slaine　by　one　of　you。　　But　when　he　saw　that　we　all　refused　to　commit　any　such　fact；　he　drew　out　his　sword　with　his　other　hand；　and　after　that　he　had　often　kissed　it；　he　drove　it　clean　through　his　body。　　Then　we　honoured　the　corps　of　so　puissant　a　man；　and　wrapped　it　in　linnen　cloathes　and　threw　it　into　the　sea。　　So　lieth　our　master　Lamathus；　buried　and　did　in　the　grave　of　water；　and　ended　his　life　as　I　have　declared。　　But　Alcinus；　though　he　were　a　man　of　great　enterprise；　　yet　could　he　not　beware　by　Lamathus；　nor　voide　himselfe　from　evill　fortune；　for　on　a　day　when　he　had　entred　into　an　old　womans　house　to　rob　her；　he　went　up　into　a　high　chamber；　where　hee　should　first　have　strangled　her　：　but　he　had　more　regard　to　throw　down　the　bags　of　mony　and　gold　out　at　a　window；　to　us　that　stood　under；　and　when　he　was　so　greedy　that　he　would　leave　nothing　behinde；　he　went　into　the　old　womans　bed　where　she　lay　asleep；　and　would　have　taken　off　the　coverlet　to　have　thrown　downe　likewise；　but　shee　awaked；　and　kneeling　on　her　knees；　desired　him　in　this　manner　：　O　sir　I　pray　you　cast　not　away　such　torn　and　ragged　clouts　into　my　neighbours　houses；　for　they　are　rich　enough；　and　need　no　such　things。　　Then　Alcinus　thinking　her　words　to　be　true；　was　brought　in　beleefe；　that　such　things　as　he　had　throwne　out　alread