the golden asse-第26章

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ubtill　meanes　to　worke　my　destruction；　these　be　the　eies　whom　I　have　ill　pleased；　behold　now　they　foreshew　their　owne　destinie：　sleepe　carelesse；　dreame　that　thou　art　in　the　hands　of　the　mercifull；　for　I　will　not　hurt　thee　with　thy　sword　or　any　other　weapon：　God　forbid　that　I　should　slay　thee　as　thou　slewest　my　husband；　but　thy　eies　shall　faile　thee；　and　thou　shalt　see　no　more；　then　that　whereof　thou　dreamest：　Thou　shalt　thinke　the　death　of　thine　enemie　more　sweet　then　thy　life：　Thou　shalt　see　no　light；　thou　shalt　lacke　the　aide　of　a　leader；　thou　shalt　not　have　me　as　thou　hopest；　thou　shalt　have　no　delight　of　my　marriage；　thou　shalt　not　die；　and　yet　living　thou　shalt　have　no　joy；　but　wander　betweene　light　and　darknesse　as　an　unsure　Image：　thou　shalt　seeke　for　the　hand　that　pricked　out　thine　eies；　yet　shalt　thou　not　know　of　whom　thou　shouldest　complaine：　I　will　make　sacrifice　with　the　bloud　of　thine　eies　upon　the　grave　of　my　husband。　But　what　gainest　thou　through　my　delay？　　Perhaps　thou　dreamest　that　thou　embracest　me　in　thy　armes：　leave　off　the　darknesse　of　sleepe　and　awake　thou　to　receive　a　penall　deprivation　of　thy　sight；　lift　up　thy　face；　regard　thy　vengeance　and　evill　fortune；　reckon　thy　miserie；　so　pleaseth　thine　eies　to　a　chast　woman；　that　thou　shall　have　blindnesse　to　thy　companion；　and　an　everlasting　remorse　of　thy　miserable　conscience。　When　she　had　spoken　these　words；　she　tooke　a　great　needle　from　her　head　and　pricked　out　both　his　eies：　which　done；　she　by　and　by　caught　the　naked　sword　which　her　husband　Lepolemus　accustomed　to　weare；　and　ranne　throughout　all　the　Citie　like　a　mad　woman　towards　the　Sepulchre　of　her　husband。　　Then　all　we　of　the　house；　with　all　the　Citizens；　ranne　incontinently　after　her　to　take　the　sword　out　of　her　hand；　but　she　clasping　about　the　tombe　of　Lepolemus；　kept　us　off　with　her　naked　weapon；　and　when　she　perceived　that　every　one　of　us　wept　and　lamented；　she　spake　in　this　sort　：　I　pray　you　my　friends　weepe　not；　nor　lament　for　me；　for　I　have　revenged　the　death　of　my　husband；　I　have　punished　deservedly　the　wicked　breaker　of　our　marriage；　now　is　it　time　to　seeke　out　my　sweet　Lepolemus；　and　presently　with　this　sword　to　finish　my　life。　　And　therewithall　after　she　had　made　relation　of　the　whole　matter；　declared　the　vision　which　she　saw　and　told　by　what　meane　she　deceived　Thrasillus；　thrusting　her　sword　under　her　right　brest；　and　wallowing　in　her　owne　bloud；　at　length　with　manly　courage　yeelded　up　the　Ghost。　　Then　immediately　the　friends　of　miserable　Charites　did　bury　her　body　within　the　same　Sepulchre。　Thrasillus　hearing　all　the　matter；　and　knowing　not　by　what　meanes　he　might　end　his　life；　for　he　thought　his　sword　was　not　sufficient　to　revenge　so　great　a　crime；　at　length　went　to　the　same　Sepulchre；　and　cryed　with　a　lowd　voice；　saying：　o　yee　dead　spirites　whom　I　have　so　highly　and　greatly　offended；　vouchsafe　to　receive　me；　behold　I　make　Sacrifice　unto　you　with　my　whole　body　：　which　said；　hee　closed　the　Sepulchre；　purposing　to　famish　himselfe；　and　to　finish　his　life　there　in　sorrow。　　These　things　the　young　man　with　pitifull　sighes　and　teares；　declared　unto　the　Cowheards　and　Shepheards；　which　caused　them　all　to　weepe　：　but　they　fearing　to　become　subject　unto　new　masters；　prepared　themselves　to　depart　away。



THE　THIRTY…THIRD　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　was　lead　away　by　the　Horsekeeper　：　and　what　danger　he　was　in。

By　and　by　the　Horsekeeper；　to　whom　the　charge　of　me　was　committed；　brought　forth　all　his　substance；　and　laded　me　and　other　Horses　withall；　and　so　departed　thence　：　we　bare　women；　children；　pullets；　sparrowes；　kiddes；　whelpes；　and　other　things　which　were　not　able　to　keepe　pace　with　us；　and　that　which　I　bare　upon　my　backe；　although　it　was　a　mighty　burthen；　yet　seemed　it　very　light　because　I　was　driven　away　from　him　that　most　terribly　had　appointed　to　kill　me。　　When　we　had　passed　over　a　great　mountaine　full　of　trees；　and　were　come　againe　into　the　open　fields；　behold　we　approached　nigh　to　a　faire　and　rich　Castell；　where　it　was　told　unto　us　that　we　were　not　able　to　passe　in　our　journey　that　night；　by　reason　of　the　great　number　of　terrible　Wolves　which　were　in　the　Country　about；　so　fierce　and　cruell　that　they　put　every　man　in　feare；　in　such　sort　that　they　would　invade　and　set　upon　such　which　passed　by　like　theeves；　and　devoure　both　them　and　their　beasts。　Moreover；　we　were　advertised　that　there　lay　in　the　way　where　we　should　passe；　many　dead　bodies　eaten　and　torne　with　wolves。　Wherefore　we　were　willed　to　stay　there　all　night；　and　on　the　next　morning；　to　goe　close　and　round　together；　whereby　we　might　passe　and　escape　all　dangers。　　But　（notwithstanding　this　good　counsell）　our　caitife　drivers　were　so　covetous　to　goe　forward；　and　so　fearefull　of　pursuite；　that　they　never　stayed　till　the　morning　：　But　being　welnigh　midnight；　they　made　us　trudge　in　our　way　apace。　Then　I　fearing　the　great　danger　which　might　happen；　ran　amongst　the　middle　of　the　other　Horses；　to　the　end　I　might　defend　and　save　my　poore　buttocks　from　the　Wolves；　whereat　every　man　much　marvelled　to　see；　that　I　scowred　away　swifter　then　the　other　Horses。　But　such　was　my　agility；　not　to　get　me　any　prayse；　but　rather　for　feare：　at　that　time　I　remembered　with　my　selfe；　that　the　valiant　Horse　Pegasus　did　fly　in　the　ayre　more　to　avoyd　the　danger　of　dreadful　Chimera；　then　for　any　thing　else。　　The　shepheards　which　drave　us　before　them　were　well　armed　like　warriours：　one　had　a　speare；　another　had　a　sheepehooke；　some　had　darts；　some　clubbes；　some　gathered　up　great　stones；　some　held　up　their　sharp　Javelings；　and　some　feared　away　the　Woolves　with　light　firebrands。　Finally　wee　lacked　nothing　to　make　up　an　Army；　but　onely　Drummes　and　Trumpets。　　But　when　we　had　passed　these　dangers；　not　without　small　feare；　wee　fortuned　to　fall　into　worse；　for　the　Woolves　came　not　upon　us；　either　because　of　the　great　multitude　of　our　company；　or　else　because　＇of＇　our　firebrands；　or　peradventure　they　were　gone　to　some　other　place；　for　wee　could　see　none；　but　the　Inhabitants　of　the　next　villages　（supposing　that　wee　were　Theeves　by　reason　of　the　great　multitude）　for　the　defence　of　their　owne　substance；　and　for　the　feare　that　they　were　in；　set　great　and　mighty　masties　upon　us；　which　they　had　kept　and　nourished　for　the　safety　of　their　houses；　who　compassing　us　round　about　leaped　on　every　side；　tearing　us　with　their　teeth；　in　such　sort　that　they　pulled　many　of　us　to　the　ground：　verily　it　was　a　pittifull　sight　to　see　so　many　Dogs；　some　following　such　as　flyed；　some　invading　such　as　stood　still；　some　tearing　those　which　lay　prostrate；　but　generally　there　were　none　which　escaped　cleare：　Behold　upon　this　another　danger　ensued；　the　Inhabitants　of　the　Towne　stood　in　their　garrets　and　windowes；　throwing　great　stones　upon　our　heads；　that　wee　could　not　tell　whether　it　were　best　for　us　to　avoyd　the　gaping　mouthes　of　the　Dogges　at　hand　or　the　perill　of　the　stones　afarre；　amongst　whome　there　was　one　that　hurled　a　great　flint　upon　a　woman；　which　sate　upon　my　backe；　who　cryed　out　pitiously；　desiring　her　husband　to　helpe　her。　　Then　he　（comming　to　succour　and　ayd　his　wife）　beganne　to　speake　in　this　sort：　Alas　masters；　what　mean　you　to　trouble　us　poore　labouring　men　so　cruelly？　What　meane　you　to　revenge　your　selves　upon　us；　that　doe　you　no　harme？　What　thinke　you　to　gaine　by　us？　　You　dwell　not　in　Caves　or　Dennes：　you　are　no　people　barbarous；　that　you　should　delight　in　effusion　of　humane　blood。　At　these　words　the　tempest　of　stones　did　cease；　and　the　storme　of　the　Dogges　vanished　away。　Then　one　（standing　on　the　toppe　of　a　great　Cypresse　tree）　spake　unto　us　saying　：　Thinke　you　not　masters　that　we　doe　this　to　the　intent　to　rifle　or　take　away　any　of　your　goods；　but　for　the　safeguard　of　our　selves　and　family　：　now　a　Gods　name　you　may　depart　away。　So　we　went　forward；　some　wounded　with　stones；　some　bitten　with　Dogs；　but　generally　there　was　none　which　escaped　free。



THE　THIRTY…FOURTH　CHAPTER


How　the　shepheards　determined　to　abide　in　a　certaine　wood　to　cure　their　wounds。

　When　we　had　gone　a　good　part　of　our　way；　we　came　to　a　certaine　wood　invironed　with　great　trees　and　compassed　about　with　pleasant　meddowes；　whereas　the　Shepheards　appointed　to　continue　a　certaine　space　to　cure　their　wounds　and　sores；　then　they　sate　downe　on　the　ground　to　refresh　their　wearie　minds；　and　afterwards　they　sought　for　medicines；　to　heale　their　bodies：　some　washed　away　their　blood　with　the　water　of　the　running　River：　some　stopped　their　wounds　with　Spunges　and　cloutes；　in　this　manner　every　one　provided　for　his　owne　safety。　　In　the　meane　season　wee　perceived　an　old　man；　who　seemed　to　be　a　Shepheard；　by　reason　of　the　Goates　and　Sheep　that　fed　round　about　him。　Then　one　of　our　company　demanded　whether　he　had　any　milke；　butter；　or　cheese　to　sell。　　To　whom　he　made　answere　saying　：　Doe　you　looke　for　any　meate　or　drinke；　or　any　other　refection　here？　　Know　you　not　in　what　place　you　be？

　And　therewithall　he　tooke　his　sheepe　and　drave　them　away　as　fast　as　he　might　possible。　This　answere　made　our　shepheards　greatly　to　feare；　that　they　thought　of　nothing　else；　but　to　enquire　what　Country　they　were　in　：　Howbeit　they　saw　no　manner　of　person　of　whom　they　might　demand。　At　length　as　they　were　thus　in　doubt；　they　perceived　another　old　man　with　a　staffe　in　his　hand　very　weary　with　travell；　who　approaching　nigh　to　our　company；　began　to　weepe　and　complaine　saying　：　Alas　masters　I　pray　you　succour　me　miserable　caitife；　and　restore　my　nephew　to　me　againe；　that　by　following　a　sparrow　that　flew　before　him；　is　fallen　into　a　ditch　hereby；　and　verily　I　thinke　he　is　in　danger　of　death。　　As　for　me；　I　am　not　able　to　helpe　him　out　by　reason　of　mine　old　age；　but　you　that　are　so　valiant　and　lusty　may　easily　helpe　me　herein；　and　deliver　me　my　boy；　my　heire　and　guide　of　my　life。　These　words　made　us　all　to　pity　him。　　And　then　the　youngest　and　stoutest　of　our　company；　who　alone　escaped　best　the　late　skirmish　of　Dogges　and　stones；　rose　up　and　demanded　in　what　ditch　the　boy　was　fallen　：　Mary　（quod　he）　yonder；　and　pointed　with　his　finger；　and　brought　him　to　a　great　thicket　of　bushes　and　thornes　where　they　both　entred　in。　　In　the　meane　season；　after　we　cured　our　wounds；　we　tooke　up　our　packs；　purposing　to　depart　away。　　And　because　we　would　not　goe　away　without　the　young　man　our　fellow　：　The　shepheards　whistled　and　called　for　him；　but　when　he　gave　no　answer；　they　sent　one　out　of　their　company　to　seeke　him　out；　who　after　a　while　returned　againe　with　a　pale　face　and　sorrowfull　newes；　saying　that　he　saw　a　terrible　Dragon　eating　and　devouring　their　companion　：　and　as　for　the　old　man；　hee　could　see　him　in　no　place。　　When　they　heard　this；　（remembring　likewise　the　words　of　the　first　old　man　that　shaked　his　head；　and　drave　away　his　sheep）　they　ran　away　beating　us　before　them；　to　fly　from　this　desart　and　pestilent　Country。



　THE　THIRTY…FIFTH　CHAPTER

　How　a　woman　killed　her　selfe　and　her　child；　because　her　husband　haunted　harlots。

　After　that　we　had　passed　a　great　part　of　our　journey；　we　came　to　a　village　where　we　lay　all　night；　but　harken；　and　I　will　tell　you　what　mischiefe　happened　there　：　you　shall　understand　there　was　a　servant　to　whom　his　Master　had　committed　the　whole　government　of　his　house；　and　was　Master　of　the　lodging　where　we　lay　：　this　servant　had　married　a　Maid