the golden asse-第21章

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ke　courage　and　runne　away　to　save　thy　selfe？　Art　thou　afraid　of　the　old　woman　more　then　halfe　dead；　whom　with　a　stripe　of　thy　heele　thou　maist　easily　dispatch？　　But　whither　shall　I　fly？　　What　lodging　shall　I　seek？　　See　my　Assy　cogitation。　　Who　is　he　that　passeth　by　the　way　and　will　not　take　me　up？　　While　I　devised　these　things；　I　brake　the　halter　wherewith　I　was　tyed　and　ran　away　with　all　my　force；　howbeit　I　could　not　escape　the　kitish　eyes　of　the　old　woman；　for　shee　ran　after　me；　and　with　more　audacity　then　becommeth　her　kind　age；　caught　me　by　the　halter　and　thought　to　pull　me　home：　but　I　not　forgetting　the　cruell　purpose　of　the　theeves；　was　mooved　with　small　pity；　for　I　kicked　her　with　my　hinder　heeles　to　the　ground　and　had　welnigh　slaine　her；　who　（although　shee　was　throwne　and　hurled　downe）　yet　shee　held　still　the　halter；　and　would　not　let　me　goe；　then　shee　cryed　with　a　loud　voyce　and　called　for　succour；　but　she　little　prevayled；　because　there　was　no　person　that　heard　her；　save　onely　the　captive　gentlewoman；　who　hearing　the　voice　of　the　old　woman；　came　out　to　see　what　the　matter　was；　and　perceiving　her　hanging　at　the　halter；　tooke　a　good　courage　and　wrested　it　out　of　her　hand；　and　（entreating　me　with　gentle　words）　got　upon　my　backe。　　Then　I　began　to　runne；　and　shee　gently　kicked　mee　forward；　whereof　I　was　nothing　displeased；　for　I　had　as　great　a　desire　to　escape　as　shee　：　insomuch　that　I　seemed　to　scowre　away　like　a　horse。　　And　when　the　Gentlewoman　did　speake；　I　would　answere　her　with　my　neighing；　and　oftentimes　（under　colour　to　rub　my　backe）　I　would　sweetly　kisse　her　tender　feet。　　Then　shee　fetching　a　sigh　from　the　bottome　of　her　heart；　lifted　up　her　eyes　to　the　heavens；　saying　：　O　soveraigne　Gods；　deliver　mee　if　it　be　your　pleasure；　from　these　present　dangers　：　and　thou　cruell　fortune　cease　thy　wrath；　let　the　sorrow　suffice　thee　which　I　have　already　sustained。　　And　thou　little　Asse；　that　art　the　occasion　of　my　safety　and　liberty；　if　thou　canst　once　render　me　safe　and　sound　to　my　parents；　and　to　him　that　so　greatly　desireth　to　have　me　to　his　wife；　thou　shalt　see　what　thankes　I　will　give　：　with　what　honour　I　will　reward　thee；　and　how　I　will　use　thee。　First；　I　will　bravely　dresse　the　haires　of　thy　forehead；　and　then　will　I　finely　combe　thy　maine；　I　　will　tye　up　thy　rugged　tayle　trimly；　I　will　decke　thee　round　about　with　golden　trappes；　in　such　sort　that　thou　shalt　glitter　like　the　starres　of　the　skie；　I　will　bring　thee　daily　in　my　apron　the　kirnels　of　nuts；　and　will　pamper　thee　up　with　delicates；　I　will　set　store　by　thee；　as　by　one　that　is　the　preserver　of　my　life　：　Finally；　thou　shalt　lack　no　manner　of　thing。　　Moreover　amongst　thy　glorious　fare；　thy　great　ease；　and　the　blisse　of　thy　life；　thou　shalt　not　be　destitute　of　dignity；　for　thou　shalt　be　chronicled　perpetually　in　memory　of　my　present　fortune；　and　the　providence　divine。　　All　the　whole　history　shall　be　painted　upon　the　wall　of　our　house；　thou　shalt　he　renowned　throughout　all　the　world。　　And　it　shall　be　registred　in　the　bookes　of　Doctours；　that　an　Asse　saved　the　life　of　a　young　maiden　that　was　captive　amongst　Theeves　：　Thou　shalt　be　numbred　amongst　the　ancient　miracles　：　wee　beleeve　that　by　like　example　of　truth　Phryxus　saved　himselfe　from　drowning　upon　the　Ram；　Arion　escaped　upon　a　Dolphin；　and　that　Europa　was　delivered　by　the　Bull。　If　Jupiter　transformed　himselfe　into　a　Bull；　why　may　it　not　be　that　under　the　shape　of　this　Asse；　is　hidden　the　figure　of　a　man；　or　some　power　divine？　　While　that　the　Virgin　did　thus　sorrowfully　unfold　her　desires；　we　fortuned　to　come　to　a　place　where　three　wayes　did　meet；　and　shee　tooke　me　by　the　halter；　and　would　have　me　to　turne　on　the　right　hand　to　her　fathers　house　：　but　I　（knowing　that　the　theeves　were　gone　that　way　to　fetch　the　residue　of　their　pillage）　resisted　with　my　head　as　much　as　I　might；　saying　within　my　selfe　：　What　wilt　thou　doe　unhappy　maiden？　　Why　wouldst　thou　goe　so　willingly　to　hell？　　Why　wilt　thou　runne　into　destruction　by　meane　of　my　feet？　　Why　dost　thou　seek　thine　own　harme；　and　mine　likewise？　And　while　we　strived　together　whether　way　we　might　take；　the　theeves　returned；　laiden　with　their　pray；　and　perceived　us　a　farre　off　by　the　light　of　the　Moon：　and　after　they　had　known　us；　one　of　them　gan　say；　Whither　goe　you　so　hastely？　　Be　you　not　afraid　of　spirits？　And　you　（you　harlot）　doe　you　not　goe　to　see　your　parents？　Come　on；　we　will　beare　you　company？　And　therewithall　they　tooke　me　by　the　hatter；　and　drave　me　backe　againe；　beating　me　cruelly　with　a　great　staffe　（that　they　had）　full　of　knobs：　then　I　returning　againe　to　my　ready　destruction；　and　remembering　the　griefe　of　my　hoofe；　began　to　shake　my　head；　and　to　waxe　lame；　but　he　that　led　me　by　the　halter　said；　What；　dost　thou　stumble？　Canst　thou　not　goe？　These　rotten　feet　of　thine　ran　well　enough；　but　they　cannot　walke：　thou　couldest　mince　it　finely　even　now　with　the　gentlewoman；　that　thou　seemedst　to　passe　the　horse　Pegasus　in　swiftnesse。　　In　saying　of　these　words　they　beat　mee　againe；　that　they　broke　a　great　staffe　upon　mee。　And　when　we　were　come　almost　home；　we　saw　the　old　woman　hanging　upon　a　bow　of　a　Cipresse　tree；　then　one　of　them　cut　downe　the　bowe　whereon　shee　hanged；　and　cast　her　into　the　bottome　of　a　great　ditch　：　after　this　they　bound　the　maiden　and　fell　greedily　to　their　victuals；　which　the　miserable　old　woman　had　prepared　for　them。　　At　which　time　they　began　to　devise　with　themselves　of　our　death；　and　how　they　might　be　revenged；　divers　was　the　opinions　of　this　divers　number：　the　first　said；　that　hee　thought　best　the　Mayd　should　be　burned　alive：　the　second　said　she　should　be　throwne　out　to　wild　beasts：　the　third　said；　she　should　be　hanged　upon　a　gibbet：　the　fourth　said　she　should　be　flead　alive：　thus　was　the　death　of　the　poore　Maiden　scanned　betweene　them　foure。　But　one　of　the　theeves　after　every　man　had　declared　his　judgement；　did　speake　in　this　manner：　it　is　not　convenient　unto　the　oath　of　our　company；　to　suffer　you　to　waxe　more　cruell　then　the　quality　of　the　offence　doth　merit；　for　I　would　that　shee　should　not　be　hanged　nor　burned；　nor　throwne　to　beasts；　nor　dye　any　sodaine　death；　but　by　my　council　I　would　have　her　punished　according　to　her　desert。　You　know　well　what　you　have　determined　already　of　this　dull　Asse；　that　eateth　more　then　he　is　worth；　that　faineth　lamenesse；　and　that　was　the　cause　of　the　flying　away　of　the　Maid　：　my　mind　is　that　he　shall　be　slaine　to　morrow；　and　when　all　the　guts　and　entrailes　of　his　body　is　taken　out；　let　the　Maide　be　sowne　into　his　belly；　then　let　us　lay　them　upon　a　great　stone　against　the　broiling　heate　of　the　Sunne；　so　they　shall　both　sustaine　all　the　punishments　which　you　have　ordained　：　for　first　the　Asse　shall　be　slaine　as　you　have　determined；　and　she　shall　have　her　members　torne　and　gnawn　with　wild　beasts；　when　as　she　is　bitten　and　rent　with　wormes；　shee　shall　endure　the　paine　of　the　fire；　when　as　the　broyling　heat　of　the　Sunne　shall　scortch　and　parch　the　belly　of　the　Asse；　shee　shall　abide　the　gallows　when　the　Dogs　and　Vultures　shall　have　the　guts　of　her　body　hanging　in　their　ravenous　mouthes。　　I　pray　you　number　all　the　torments　which　she　shall　suffer　：　First　shee　shall　dwell　within　the　paunch　of　an　Asse　：　secondly　her　nosethrilles　shall　receive　a　carraine　stinke　of　the　beast　：　thirdly　shee　shall　dye　for　hunger　：　last　of　all；　shee　shall　finde　no　meane　to　ridde　her　selfe　from　her　paines；　for　her　hand　shalt　be　sowen　up　within　the　skinne　of　the　Asse　：　This　being　said；　all　the　Theeves　consented；　and　when　I　（poore　Asse）　heard　and　understood　all　their　device；　I　did　nothing　else　but　lament　and　bewayle　my　dead　carkasse；　which　should　be　handled　in　such　sort　on　the　next　morrow。




THE　SEVENTH　BOOKE



THE　TWENTY…FOURTH　CHAPTER


How　hee　that　was　left　behinde　at　Hippata　did　bring　newes　concerning　the　robbery　of　Miloes　house；　came　home　and　declared　to　his　Company；　that　all　the　fault　was　laid　to　one　Apuleius　his　charge。

　　A　soone　as　night　was　past；　and　the　cleare　Chariot　of　the　Sunne　had　spred　his　bright　beames　on　every　coast；　came　one　of　the　company　of　the　theeves；　（for　so　his　and　their　greeting　together　did　declare）　who　at　the　first　entry　into　the　Cave　（after　hee　had　breathed　himselfe；　and　was　able　to　speake）　told　these　tydings　unto　his　companions　in　this　sort。　　Sirs；　as　touching　the　house　of　Milo　of　Hippata；　which　we　forcibly　entred　and　ransackt　the　last　day；　we　may　put　away　all　feare　and　doubt　nothing　at　all。　　For　after　that　ye　by　force　of　armes；　had　spoyled　and　taken　away　all　things　in　the　house；　and　returned　hither　into　our　Cave；　I　（thrusting　my　selfe　amongst　the　presse　of　the　people；　and　shewing　my　selfe　as　though　I　were　sad　and　sorrowful　for　the　mischance）　consulted　with　them　for　the　boulting　out　of　the　matter；　and　devising　what　meanes　might　be　wrought　for　the　apprehension　of　the　theeves；　to　the　intent　I　might　learne　and　see　all　that　was　done　to　make　relation　thereof　unto　you　as　you　willed　me；　insomuch　that　the　whole　fact　at　length　by　manifest　and　evident　proofes　as　also　by　the　common　opinion　and　judgement　of　the　people；　was　laid　to　one　Lucius　Apuleius　charge　as　manifest　author　of　this　common　robbery；　who　a　few　dayse　before　by　false　and　forged　letters　and　colored　honesty；　fell　so　farre　in　favour　with　this　Milo；　that　he　entertained　him　into　his　house；　and　received　him　as　a　chiefe　of　his　familiar　friends；　which　Lucius　after　that　he　had　sojourned　there　a　good　space；　and　won　the　heart　of　Miloes　Maid；　by　fained　love；　did　thoroughly　learne　the　waies　and　doores　of　all　the　house；　and　curiously　viewed　the　cofers　and　chests；　wherein　was　laid　the　whole　substance　of　Milo：　neither　was　there　small　cause　given　to　judge　him　culpable；　since　as　the　very　same　night　that　this　robbery　was　done　he　fled　away；　and　could　not　be　found　in　no　place：　and　to　the　intent　hee　might　cleane　escape；　and　better　prevent　such　as　made　hew　and　crie　after　him；　he　tooke　his　white　horse　and　galloped　away；　and　after　this；　his　servant　was　found　in　the　house；　who　（accused　as　accessary　to　the　fellony　and　escape　of　his　Master）　was　committed　to　the　common　gaole；　and　the　next　day　following　was　cruelly　scourged　and　tormented　till　hee　was　welnigh　dead；　to　the　intent　hee　should　confesse　the　matter；　but　when　they　could　wreast　or　learne　no　such　thing　of　him；　yet　sent　they　many　persons　after；　towardes　Lucius　Countrey　to　enquire　him　out；　and　so　to　take　him　prisoner。　As　he　declared　these　things；　I　did　greatly　lament　with　my　selfe；　to　thinke　of　mine　old　and　pristine　estate；　and　what　felicity　I　was　sometimes　in；　in　comparison　to　the　misery　that　I　presently　susteined；　being　changed　into　a　miserable　Asse；　then　had　I　no　small　occasion　to　remember；　how　the　old　and　ancient　Writers　did　affirme；　that　fortune　was　starke　blind　without　eies；　because　she　alwaies　bestoweth　her　riches　upon　evil　persons；　and　fooles；　and　chooseth　or　favoureth　no　mortall　person　by　judgement；　but　is　alwaies　conversent；　especially　with　much　as　if　she　could　see；　she　should　most　shunne；　and　forsake；　yea　and　that　which　is　more　worse；　she　sheweth　such　evill　or　contrary　opinions　in　men；　that　the　wicked　doe　glory　with　the　name　of　good；　and　contrary　the　good　and　innocent　be　detracted　and　slandred　as　evill。　　Furthermore　I；　who　by　her　great　cruelty；　was　turned　into　a　foure　footed　Asse；　in　most　vile　and　abject　manner　：　yea；　and　whose