the golden asse-第22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！


　great　cruelty；　was　turned　into　a　foure　footed　Asse；　in　most　vile　and　abject　manner　：　yea；　and　whose　estate　seemed　worthily　to　be　lamented　and　pittied　of　the　most　hard　and　stonie　hearts；　was　accused　of　theft　and　robbing　of　my　deare　host　Milo；　which　villany　might　rather　be　called　parricide　then　theft；　yet　might　not　I　defend　mine　owne　cause　or　denie　the　fact　any　way；　by　reason　I　could　not　speake；　howbeit　least　my　conscience　should　seeme　to　accuse　me　by　reason　of　silence；　and　againe　being　enforced　by　impatience　I　endevored　to　speake；　and　faine　would　have　said；　Never　did　I　that　fact；　and　verely　the　first　word；　never；　I　cried　out　once　or　twise；　somewhat　handsome；　but　the　residue　I　could　in　no　wise　pronounce；　but　still　remaining　in　one　voice；　cried；　Never；　never；　never。　　howbeit　I　settled　my　hanging　lips　as　round　as　I　could　to　speake　the　residue　：　but　why　should　I　further　complaine　of　the　crueltie　of　my　fortune；　since　as　I　was　not　much　ashamed；　by　reason　that　my　servant　and　my　horse；　was　likewise　accused　with　me　of　the　robbery。

While　I　pondered　with　my　selfe　all　these　things；　a　great　care　＇came＇　to　my　remembrance；　touching　the　death；　which　the　theeves　provised　for　me　and　the　maiden；　and　still　as　I　looked　downe　to　my　belly；　I　thought　of　my　poore　gentlewoman　that　should　be　closed　within　me。　　And　the　theefe　which　a　little　before　had　brought　the　false　newes　against　me；　drew　out　of　the　skirt　of　his　coate；　a　thousand　crowns；　which　he　had　rifled　from　such　as　hee　met；　and　brought　it　into　the　common　treasury。　　Then　hee　carefully　enquired　how　the　residue　of　his　companions　did。　　To　whom　it　was　declared　that　the　most　valiant　was　murdred　and　slaine　in　divers　manners；　whereupon　he　perswaded　them　to　remit　all　their　affaires　a　certaine　season；　and　to　seeke　for　other　fellowes　to　be　in　their　places；　that　by　the　exercise　of　new　lads；　the　terror　of　their　martiall　band　might　be　reduced　to　the　old　number；　assuring　them　that　such　as　were　unwilling；　might　be　compelled　by　menaces　and　threatnings；　and　such　as　were　willing　might　be　incouraged　forward　with　reward。　Further　be　said；　that　there　were　some；　which　（seeing　the　profite　which　they　had）　would　forsake　their　base　and　servile　estate；　and　rather　bee　contented　to　live　like　tyrants　amongst　them。　　Moreover　he　declared；　that　for　his　part　he　had　spoken　with　a　certaine　tall　man；　a　valiant　companion；　but　of　young　age；　stout　in　body；　and　couragious　in　fight；　whom　he　had　fully　perswaded　to　exercise　his　idle　hands；　dull　with　slothfullnesse；　to　his　greater　profit；　and　（while　he　might）　to　receive　the　blisse　of　better　Fortune；　and　not　to　hold　out　his　sturdy　arme　to　begge　for　a　penny；　but　rather　to　take　as　much　gold　and　silver　as　hee　would。　　Then　everyone　consented；　that　hee　that　seemed　so　worthy　to　be　their　companion；　should　be　one　of　their　company；　and　that　they　would　search　for　others　to　make　up　the　residue　of　the　number；　whereupon　he　went　out；　and　by　and　by　（returning　againe）　brought　in　a　tall　young　man　（as　he　promised）　to　whom　none　of　the　residue　might　bee　compared；　for　hee　was　higher　then　they　by　the　head；　and　of　more　bignesse　in　body；　his　beard　began　to　burgen；　but　hee　was　poorely　apparelled；　insomuch　that　you　might　see　all　his　belly　naked。　As　soone　as　he　was　entred　in　he　said；　God　speed　yee　souldiers　of　Mars　and　my　faithfull　companions；　I　pray　you　make　me　one　of　your　band；　and　I　will　ensure　you；　that　you　shall　have　a　man　of　singular　courage　and　lively　audacity　：　for　I　had　rather　receive　stripes　upon　my　backe；　then　money　or　gold　in　my　hands。　　And　as　for　death　（which　every　man　doth　feare）　I　passe　nothing　at　all；　yet　thinke　you　not　that　I　am　an　abject　or　a　begger；　neither　judge　you　my　vertue　and　prowesse　by　ragged　clothes；　for　I　have　beene　a　Captaine　of　a　great　company；　and　subdued　all　the　countrey　of　Macedonia。　　I　am　the　renowned　theefe　Hemes　the　Thracian；　whose　name　all　countreys　and　nations　do　so　greatly　feare　：　I　am　the　sonne　of　Theron　the　noble　theefe；　nourished　with　humane　bloud；　entertained　amongst　the　stoutest；　finally　I　am　inheritour　and　follower　of　all　my　fathers　vertues；　yet　I　lost　in　a　short　time　all　my　company　and　all　my　riches；　by　one　assault；　which　I　made　upon　a　Factor　of　the　Prince；　which　sometime　had　beene　Captaine　of　two　hundred　men；　for　fortune　was　cleane　against　me；　harken　and　I　will　tell　you　the　whole　matter。　　There　was　a　certaine　man　in　the　court　of　the　Emperour；　which　had　many　offices；　and　in　great　favour；　who　at　last　by　the　envy　of　divers　persons；　was　banished　away　and　compelled　to　forsake　the　court　：　his　wife　Platina；　a　woman　of　rare　faith　and　singular　shamefastnes　having　borne　ten　children　to　her　husband；　despised　all　worldly　Pompe　and　delicacy；　and　determined　to　follow　her　husband；　and　to　be　partaker　of　his　perils　and　danger；　wherefore　shee　cut　off　her　haire；　disguised　her　selfe　like　a　man；　and　tooke　with　her　all　her　treasure；　passing　through　the　hands　of　the　souldiers；　and　the　naked　swords　without　any　feare；　whereby　she　endured　many　miseries；　and　was　partaker　of　much　affliction；　to　save　the　life　of　her　husband；　such　was　her　love　which　she　bare　unto　him。　　And　when　they　had　escaped　many　perillous　dangers；　as　well　by　land　as　by　sea；　they　went　together　towards　Zacynthe；　to　continue　there　according　as　fortune　had　appointed。　　But　when　they　were　arived　on　the　sea　coast　of　Actium　（where　we　in　our　returne　from　Macedony　were　roving　about）　when　night　came；　they　returned　into　a　house　not　far　distant　from　their　ship；　where　they　lay　all　night。　　Then　we　entred　in　and　tooke　away　all　their　substance；　but　verely　we　were　in　great　danger　：　for　the　good　matron　perceiving　us　incontinently　by　the　noise　of　the　gate；　went　into　the　chamber；　and　called　up　every　man　by　his　name；　and　likewise　the　neighbors　that　dwelled　round　about；　insomuch　that　by　reason　of　the　feare　that　every　one　was　in；　we　hardly　escaped　away；　but　this　most　holy　woman；　faithfull　and　true　to　her　husband　（as　the　truth　must　be　declared）　returned　to　Caesar；　desiring　his　aid　and　puissance；　and　demanding　vengeance　of　the　injury　done　to　her　husband；　who　granted　all　her　desire　：　then　went　my　company　to　wracke；　insomuch　that　every　man　was　slaine；　so　great　was　the　authority　and　word　of　the　Prince。　　Howbeit；　when　all　my　band　was　lost；　and　taken　by　search　of　the　Emperours　army；　I　onely　stole　away　and　delivered　my　selfe　from　the　violence　of　the　souldiers；　for　I　clothed　my　selfe　in　a　womans　attire；　and　mounted　upon　an　Asse；　that　carryed　barly　sheafes；　and　（passing　through　the　middle　of　them　all）　I　escaped　away；　because　every　one　deemed　that　I　was　a　woman　by　reason　I　lacked　a　beard。　　Howbeit　I　left　not　off　for　all　this；　nor　did　degenerate　from　the　glory　of　my　father；　or　mine　own　vertue；　but　freshly　comming　from　the　bloody　skirmish；　and　disguised　like　a　woman；　I　invaded　townes　and　castles　alone　to　get　some　pray。　　And　therewithall　he　pulled　out　two　thousand　crownes；　which　he　had　under　his　coate；　saying　：　Hold　here　the　dowry　which　I　present　unto　you；　hold　eke　my　person；　which　you　shall　alwayes　find　trusty　and　faithfull；　if　you　willingly　receive　me：　and　I　will　ensure　you　that　in　so　doing；　within　short　space　I　wilt　make　and　turne　this　stony　house　of　yours　into　gold。　　Then　by　and　by　every　one　consented　to　make　him　their　Captaine；　and　so　they　gave　him　better　garments；　and　threw　away　his　old。　　When　they　had　changed　his　attire；　hee　imbraced　them　one　after　another；　then　placed　they　him　in　the　highest　roome　of　the　table；　and　drunk　unto　him　in　token　of　good　lucke。



THE　TWENTY…FIFTH　CHAPTER


How　the　death　of　the　Asse；　and　the　Gentlewoman　was　stayed。

After　supper　they　began　to　talke；　and　declare　unto　him　the　going　away　of　the　Gentlewoman；　and　how　I　hare　her　upon　my　backe；　and　what　death　was　ordained　for　us　two。　　Then　he　desired　to　see　her；　whereupon　the　Gentlewoman　was　brought　forth　fast　bound；　whom　as　soone　as　he　beheld；　he　turned　himselfe　wringing　his　nose；　and　blamed　them　saying　：　I　am　not　so　much　a　beast；　or　so　rash　a　fellow　to　drive　you　quite　from　your　purpose；　but　my　conscience　will　not　suffer　me　to　conceale　any　thing　that　toucheth　your　profit；　since　I　am　as　carefull　for　you；　howbeit　if　my　counsell　doe　displease　you；　you　may　at　your　liberty　proceed　in　your　enterprise。　　I　doubt　not　but　all　theeves；　and　such　as　have　a　good　judgement；　will　preferre　their　owne　lucre　and　gain　above　all　things　in　the　world；　and　above　their　vengeance；　which　purchaseth　damage　to　divers　persons。　　Therefore　if　you　put　this　virgin　in　the　Asses　belly；　you　shall　but　execute　your　indignation　against　her；　without　all　manner　of　profit；　But　I　would　advise　you　to　carry　the　virgin　to　some　towne　and　to　sell　her　：　and　such　a　brave　girle　as　she　is；　may　be　sold　for　a　great　quantity　of　money。　　And　I　my　selfe　know　certaine　bawdy　Marchants；　amongst　whom　peradventure　one　will　give　us　summes　of　gold　for　her。　　This　is　my　opinion　touching　this　affaire　：　but　advise　you　what　you　intend　to　do；　for　you　may　rule　me　in　this　case。　　In　this　manner　the　good　theefe　pleaded　and　defended　our　cause；　being　a　good　Patron　to　the　silly　virgin；　and　to　me　poore　Asse。　　But　they　staied　hereupon　a　good　space；　with　long　deliberation；　which　made　my　heart　（God　wot）　and　spirit　greatly　to　quaile。　　Howbeit　in　the　end　they　consented　to　his　opinion；　and　by　and　by　the　Maiden　was　unloosed　of　her　bonds；　who　seeing　the　young　man；　and　hearing　the　name　of　brothels　and　bawdy　Merchants；　began　to　wax　joyfull；　and　smiled　with　herself。　　Then　began　I　to　deeme　evill　of　the　generation　of　women；　when　as　I　saw　the　Maiden　（who　was　appointed　to　be　married　to　a　young　Gentleman；　and　who　so　greatly　desired　the　same）　was　now　delighted　with　the　talke　of　a　wicked　brothel　house；　and　other　things　dishonest。　　In　this　sort　the　consent　and　manners　of　women　depended　in　the　judgement　of　an　Asse。


　THE　TWENTY…SIXTH　CHAPTER

　How　all　the　Theeves　were　brought　asleepe　by　their　new　companion。

Then　the　young　man　spake　againe；　saying；　Masters；　why　goe　wee　not　about　to　make　our　prayers　unto　Mars；　touching　this　selling　of　the　Maiden；　and　to　seeke　for　other　companions。　But　as　farre　as　I　see；　here　is　no　other　manner　of　beast　to　make　sacrifice　withall；　nor　wine　sufficient　for　us　to　drinke。　　Let　me　have　（quoth　hee）　tenne　more　with　me；　and　wee　will　goe　to　the　next　Castle；　to　provide　for　meat　and　other　things　necessary。　　So　he　and　tenne　more　with　him；　went　their　way　：　In　the　meane　season；　the　residue　made　a　great　fire　and　an　Alter　with　greene　turfes　in　the　honour　of　Mars。　　By　and　by　after　they　came　againe；　bringing　with　them　bottles　of　wine；　and　a　great　number　of　beasts；　amongst　which　there　was　a　big　Ram　Goat；　fat；　old；　and　hairy；　which　they　killed　and　offered　unto　Mars。　　Then　supper　was　prepared　sumptuously；　and　the　new　companion　said　unto　the　other；　You　ought　to　accompt　me　not　onely　your　Captaine　in　robbery　and　fight；　but　also　in　pleasures　and　jolity；　whereupon　by　and　by　with　pleasant　cheere　he　prepared　meat；　and　trimming　up　the　house　he　set　all　things　in　order；　and　brought　the　pottage　and　dainty　dishes　to　the　Table：　but　above　all　he　plyed　them　wel　with　great　pots　and　jugs　of　wine。　　Sometimes　（seeming　to　fetch　somewhat）　hee　would　goe　to　the　Maiden　and　give　her　pieces　of　meate；　which　he　privily　tooke　away；　and　would　drinke　unto　her；　which　she　willingly　tooke　in　good　part。　　Moreover；　hee　kissed　her　twice　or　thrice　whereof　she　was　well　pleased　but　I　（not　well　contented　thereat）　thought