the golden asse-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


every　part　of　his　body；　I　unbrideled　him；　and　walked　him　softly　in　my　hand；　to　the　end　he　might　pisse；　and　ease　himself　of　his　weariness　and　travell　：　and　while　he　went　grazing　freshly　in　the　field　（casting　his　head　sometimes　aside；　as　a　token　of　rejoycing　and　gladnesse）　I　perceived　a　little　before　me　two　companions　riding；　and　so　I　overtaking　them　made　a　third。　　And　while　I　listened　to　heare　their　communication；　the　one　of　them　laughed　and　mocked　his　fellow；　saying；　Leave　off　I　pray　thee　and　speak　no　more；　for　I　cannot　abide　to　heare　thee　tell　such　absurd　and　incredible　lies；　which　when　I　heard；　I　desired　to　heare　some　newes；　and　said；　I　pray　you　masters　make　me　partaker　of　your　talk；　that　am　not　so　curious　as　desirous　to　know　all　your　communication　：　so　shall　we　shorten　our　journey；　and　easily　passe　this　high　hill　before　us；　by　merry　and　pleasant　talke。

But　he　that　laughed　before　at　his　fellow；　said　againe；　Verily　this　tale　is　as　true；　as　if　a　man　would　say　that　by　sorcery　and　inchantment　the　floods　might　be　inforced　to　run　against　their　course；　the　seas　to　be　immovable；　the　aire　to　lacke　the　blowing　of　windes；　the　Sunne　to　be　restrained　from　his　naturall　race；　the　Moone　to　purge　his　skimme　upon　herbes　and　trees　to　serve　for　sorceries　：　the　starres　to　be　pulled　from　heaven；　the　day　to　be　darkened　and　the　dark　night　to　continue　still。　　Then　I　being　more　desirous　to　heare　his　talke　than　his　companions；　sayd；　I　pray　you；　that　began　to　tell　your　tale　even　now；　leave　not　off　so；　but　tell　the　residue。　　And　turning　to　the　other　I　sayd；　　You　perhappes　that　are　of　an　obstinate　minde　and　grosse　eares；　mocke　and　contemme　those　things　which　are　reported　for　truth；　know　you　not　that　it　is　accounted　untrue　by　the　depraved　opinion　of　men；　which　either　is　rarely　seene；　seldome　heard；　or　passeth　the　capacitie　of　mans　reason；　which　if　it　be　more　narrowly　scanned；　you　shall　not　onely　finde　it　evident　and　plaine；　but　also　very　easy　to　be　brought　to　passe。



THE　SECOND　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　told　to　the　strangers；　what　he　saw　a　jugler　do　in　Athens。

The　other　night　being　at　supper　with　a　sort　of　hungry　fellowes；　while　I　did　greedily　put　a　great　morsel　of　meate　in　my　mouth；　that　was　fried　with　the　flower　of　cheese　and　barley；　it　cleaved　so　fast　in　the　passage　of　my　throat　and　stopped　my　winde　in　such　sort　that　I　was　well　nigh　choked。　　And　yet　at　Athens　before　the　porch　there　called　Peale；　I　saw　with　these　eyes　a　jugler　that　swallowed　up　a　two　hand　sword；　with　a　very　keene　edge；　and　by　and　by　for　a　little　money　that　we　who　looked　on　gave　him；　hee　devoured　a　chasing　speare　with　the　point　downeward。　　And　after　that　hee　had　conveyed　the　whole　speare　within　the　closure　of　his　body；　and　brought　it　out　againe　behind；　there　appeared　on　the　top　thereof　（which　caused　us　all　to　marvell）　a　faire　boy　pleasant　and　nimble；　winding　and　turning　himself　in　such　sort；　that　you　would　suppose　he　had　neither　bone　nor　gristle；　and　verily　thinke　that　he　were　the　naturall　Serpent；　creeping　and　sliding　on　the　knotted　staffe；　which　the　god　of　Medicine　is　feigned　to　beare。　　But　turning　me　to　him　that　began　his　tale；　I　pray　you　（quoth　I）　follow　your　purpose；　and　I　alone　will　give　credit　unto　you；　and　for　your　paynes　will　pay　your　charges　at　the　next　Inne　we　come　unto。　　To　whom　he　answered　Certes　sir　I　thank　you　for　your　gentle　offer；　and　at　your　request　I　wil　proceed　in　my　tale；　but　first　I　will　sweare　unto　you　by　the　light　of　this　Sunne　that　shineth　here；　that　those　things　shall　be　true；　least　when　you　come　to　the　next　city　called　Thessaly；　you　should　doubt　any　thing　of　that　which　is　rife　in　the　mouthes　of　every　person；　and　done　before　the　face　of　all　men。　　And　that　I　may　first　make　relation　to　you；　what　and　who　I　am；　and　whither　I　go；　and　for　what　purpose；　know　you　that　I　am　of　Egin；　travelling　these　countries　about　from　Thessaly　to　Etolia；　and　from　Etolia　to　Boetia；　to　provide　for　honey；　cheese；　and　other　victuals　to　sell　againe　：　and　understanding　that　at　Hippata　（which　is　the　principall　city　of　all　Thessaly）；　　is　accustomed　to　be　soulde　new　cheeses　of　exceeding　good　taste　and　relish；　I　fortuned　on　a　day　to　go　thither；　to　make　my　market　there　：　but　as　it　often　happeneth；　I　came　in　an　evill　houre；　for　one　Lupus　a　purveyor　had　bought　and　ingrossed　up　all　the　day　before；　and　so　I　was　deceived。

Wherefore　towards　night　being　very　weary；　I　went　to　the　Baines　to　refresh　my　selfe；　and　behold；　I　fortuned　to　espy　my　companion　Socrates　sitting　upon　the　ground；　covered　with　a　torn　and　course　mantle；　who　was　so　meigre　and　of　so　sallow　and　miserable　a　countenance；　that　I　scantly　knew　him　：　for　fortune　had　brought　him　into　such　estate　and　calamity；　that　he　verily　seemed　as　a　common　begger　that　standeth　in　the　streets　to　crave　the　benevolence　of　the　passers　by。　　Towards　whom　（howbeit　he　was　my　singular　friend　and　familiar　acquaintance；　yet　half　in　despaire）　　I　drew　nigh　and　said；　Alas　my　Socrates；　what　meaneth　this？　how　faireth　it　with　thee？　　What　crime　hast　thou　committed？　verily　there　is　great　lamentation　and　weeping　for　thee　at　home　：　Thy　children　are　in　ward　by　decree　of　the　Provinciall　Judge　：　Thy　wife　（having　ended　her　mourning　time　in　lamentable　wise；　with　face　and　visage　blubbered　with　teares；　in　such　sort　that　she　hath　well　nigh　wept　out　both　her　eyes）　is　constrained　by　her　parents　to　put　out　of　remembrance　the　unfortunate　losse　and　lacke　of　thee　at　home；　and　against　her　will　to　take　a　new　husband。　　And　dost　thou　live　here　as　a　ghost　or　hogge；　to　our　great　shame　and　ignominy？

Then　he　answered　he　to　me　and　said；　O　my　friend　Aristomenus；　now　perceive　I　well　that　you　are　ignorant　of　the　whirling　changes；　the　unstable　forces；　and　slippery　inconstancy　of　Fortune　：　and　therewithall　he　covered　his　face　（even　then　blushing　for　very　shame）　with　his　rugged　mantle　insomuch　that　from　his　navel　downwards　he　appeared　all　naked。

But　I　not　willing　to　see　him　any　longer　in　such　great　miserie　and　calamitie；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　lifted　him　up　from　the　ground　：　who　having　his　face　covered　in　such　sort；　Let　Fortune　（quoth　he）　triumph　yet　more；　let　her　have　her　sway；　and　finish　that　which　shee　hath　begun。　　And　therewithall　I　put　off　one　of　my　garments　and　covered　him；　and　immediately　I　brought　him　to　the　Baine；　and　caused　him　to　be　anointed；　wiped；　and　the　filthy　scurfe　of　his　body　to　be　rubbed　away；　which　done；　though　I　were　very　weary　my　selfe；　yet　I　led　the　poore　miser　to　my　Inne；　where　he　reposed　his　body　upon　a　bed；　and　then　I　brought　him　meat　and　drinke；　and　so　wee　talked　together　：　for　there　we　might　be　merry　and　laugh　at　our　pleasure；　and　so　we　were；　untill　such　time　as　he　（fetching　a　pittifull　sigh　from　the　bottom　of　his　heart；　and　beating　his　face　in　miserable　sort；　began　to　say。



THE　THIRD　CHAPTER


How　Socrates　in　his　returne　from　Macedony　to　Larissa　was　spoyled　and　robbed；　and　how　he　fell　acquainted　with　one　Meroe　a　Witch。

Alas　poore　miser　that　I　am；　that　for　the　onely　desire　to　see　a　game　of　triall　of　weapons；　am　fallen　into　these　miseries　and　wretched　snares　of　misfortune。　　For　in　my　returne　from　Macedonie；　wheras　I　sould　all　my　wares；　and　played　the　Merchant　by　the　space　of　ten　months；　a　little　before　that　I　came　to　Larissa；　I　turned　out　of　the　way；　to　view　the　scituation　of　the　countrey　there；　and　behold　in　the　bottom　of　a　deep　valley　I　was　suddenly　environed　with　a　company　of　theeves；　who　robbed　and　spoiled　me　of　such　things　as　I　had；　and　yet　would　hardly　suffer　me　to　escape。　　But　I　beeing　in　such　extremity；　in　the　end　was　happily　delivered　from　their　hands；　and　so　I　fortuned　to　come　to　the　house　of　an　old　woman　that　sold　wine；　called　Meroe；　who　had　her　tongue　sufficiently　instructed　to　flattery　：　unto　whom　I　opened　the　causes　of　my　long　peregrination　and　careful　travell；　and　of　myne　unlucky　adventure　：　and　after　that　I　had　declared　to　her　such　things　as　then　presently　came　to　my　remembrance；　shee　gently　entertained　mee　and　made　mee　good　cheere；　and　by　and　by　being　pricked　with　carnall　desire；　shee　brought　me　to　her　own　bed　chamber；　whereas　I　poore　miser　the　very　first　night　of　our　lying　together　did　purchase　to　my　selfe　this　miserable　face；　and　for　her　lodging　I　gave　to　her　such　apparel　as　the　theeves　left　to　cover　me　withall。

The　I　understanding　the　cause　of　his　miserable　estate；　sayd　unto　him；　In　faith　thou　art　worthy　to　sustaine　the　most　extreame　misery　and　calamity；　which　hast　defiled　and　maculated　thyne　owne　body；　forsaken　thy　wife　traitorously；　and　dishonoured　thy　children；　parents；　and　friends；　for　the　love　of　a　vile　harlot　and　old　strumpet。　When　Socrates　heard　mee　raile　against　Meroe　in　such　sort；　he　held　up　his　finger　to　mee；　and　as　halfe　abashed　sayd；　Peace　peace　I　pray　you；　and　looking　about　lest　any　body　should　heare；　I　pray　you　（quoth　he）　I　pray　you　take　heed　what　you　say　against　so　venerable　a　woman　as　shee　is；　lest　by　your　intemperate　tongue　you　catch　some　harm。　　Then　with　resemblance　of　admiration；　What　（quoth　I）　is　she　so　excellent　a　person　as　you　name　her　to　be？　I　pray　you　tell　me。　　Then　answered　hee；　Verily　shee　is　a　Magitian；　which　hath　power　to　rule　the　heavens；　to　bringe　downe　the　sky；　to　beare　up　the　earth；　to　turne　the　waters　into　hills　and　the　hills　into　running　waters；　to　lift　up　the　terrestrial　spirits　into　the　aire；　and　to　pull　the　gods　out　of　the　heavens；　to　extinguish　the　planets；　and　to　lighten　the　deepe　darknesse　of　hell。　　Then　sayd　I　unto　Socrates；　Leave　off　this　high　and　mysticall　kinde　of　talke；　and　tell　the　matter　in　a　more　plaine　and　simple　fashion。　　Then　answered　he；　Will　you　hear　one　or　two；　or　more　of　her　facts　which　she　hath　done；　for　whereas　she　enforceth　not　onely　the　inhabitants　of　the　countrey　here；　but　also　the　Indians　and　the　Ethiopians　the　one　and　the　other；　and　also　the　Antictons；　to　love　her　in　most　raging　sort；　such　as　are　but　trifles　and　chips　of　her　occupation；　but　I　pray　you　give　eare；　and　I　will　declare　of　more　greater　matters；　which　shee　hath　done　openly　and　before　the　face　of　all　men。



THE　FOURTH　CHAPTER


How　Meroe　the　Witch　turned　divers　persons　into　miserable　beasts。

In　faith　Aristomenus　to　tell　you　the　truth；　this　woman　had　a　certaine　Lover；　whom　by　the　utterance　of　one　only　word　she　turned　into　a　Bever；　because　he　loved　another　woman　beside　her　：　and　the　reason　why　she　transformed　him　into　such　a　beast　is；　for　that　it　is　his　nature；　when　hee　perceiveth　the　hunters　and　hounds　to　draw　after　him；　to　bite　off　his　members；　and　lay　them　in　the　way；　that　the　hounds　may　be　at　a　stop　when　they　find　them；　and　to　the　intent　it　might　so　happen　unto　him　（for　that　he　fancied　another　woman）　she　turned　him　into　that　kind　of　shape。

Semblably　she　changed　one　of　her　neighbours；　being　an　old　man　and　one　that　sold　wine；　into　a　Frog；　in　that　he　was　one　of　her　occupation；　and　therefore　she　bare　him　a　grudge；　and　now　the　poore　miser　swimming　in　one　of　his　pipes　of　wine；　and　well　nigh　drowned　in　the　dregs；　doth　cry　and　call　with　an　hoarse　voice；　for　his　old　guests　and　acquaintance　that　pass　by。　　Like　wise　she　turned　one　of　the　Advocates　of　the　Court　（because　he　pleaded　and　spake　against　her　in　a　rightful　cause）　　into　a　horned　Ram；　and　now　the　poore　Ram　is　become　an　Advocate。　　Moreover　she　caused；　that　the　wife　of　a　certain　lover　that　she　had　should　never　be　delivered　of　her　childe；　but　according　to　the　comput