the golden asse-第6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！
mely you can stirre the pot； and how finely； with shaking your buttockes； you can make pottage。 The shee beeing likewise merrily disposed； made answer； Depart I say； Miser from me； depart from my fire； for if the flame thereof doe never so little blaze forth； it will burne thee extreamely and none can extinguish the heat thereof but I alone； who in stirring the pot and making the bed can so finely shake my selfe。 When she had sayd these words shee cast her eyes upon me and laughed； but I did not depart from thence until such time as I had viewed her in every point。 But what should I speak of others； when as I doe accustome abroad to marke the face and haire of every dame； and afterwards delight my selfe therewith privately at home； and thereby judge the residue of their shape； because the face is the principall part of all the body； and is first open to our eyes。 And whatsoever flourishing and gorgeous apparell doth work and set forth in the corporal parts of a woman； the same doth the naturall and comely beauty set out in the face。 Moreover there be divers； that to the intent to shew their grace and feature； wil cast off their partlets； collars； habiliments； fronts； cornets and krippins； and doe more delight to shew the fairnesse of their skinne； than to deck themselves up in gold and pretious stones。 But because it is a crime unto me to say so； and to give no example thereof； know ye； that if you spoyle and cut the haire of any woman or deprive her of the colour of her face； though shee were never so excellent in beauty； though shee were throwne downe from heaven； sprung of the Seas； nourished of the flouds； though shee were Venus her selfe； though shee were waited upon by all the Court of Cupid； though were girded with her beautifull skarfe of Love； and though shee smelled of perfumes and musks； yet if shee appeared bald； shee could in no wise please； no not her owne Vulcanus。
O how well doth a faire colour and a shining face agree with glittering hair！ Behold； it encountreth with the beams of the Sunne； and pleaseth the eye marvellously。 Sometimes the beauty of the haire resembleth the colour of gold and honey； sometimes the blew plumes and azured feathers about the neckes of Doves； especially when it is either anointed with the gumme of Arabia； or trimmely tuft out with the teeth of a fine combe； which if it be tyed up in the pole of the necke； it seemeth to the lover that beholdeth the same； as a glasse that yeeldeth forth a more pleasant and gracious comelinesse than if it should be sparsed abroad on the shoulders of the woman； or hang down scattering behind。 Finally there is such a dignity in the haire； that whatsoever shee be； though she be never to bravely attyred with gold； silks； pretious stones； and other rich and gorgeous ornaments； yet if her hair be not curiously set forth shee cannot seeme faire。 But in my Fotis； her garments unbrast and unlaste increased her beauty； her haire hanged about her shoulders； and was dispersed abroad upon her partlet； and in every part of her necke； howbeit the greater part was trussed upon her pole with a lace。 Then I unable to sustain the broiling heat that I was in； ran upon her and kissed the place where she had thus laid her haire。 Whereat she turned her face； and cast her rolling eyes upon me； saying； O Scholler； thou hast tasted now both hony and gall； take heed that thy pleasure do not turn unto repentance。 Tush （quoth I） my sweet heart； I am contented for such another kiss to be broiled here upon this fire； wherwithall I embraced and kissed her more often； and shee embraced and kissed me likewise； and moreover her breath smelled like Cinnamon； and the liquor of her tongue was like unto sweet Nectar； wherewith when my mind was greatly delighted I sayd； Behold Fotis I am yours； and shall presently dye unlesse you take pitty upon me。 Which when I had said she eftsoone kissed me； and bid me be of good courage； and I will （quoth shee） satisfie your whole desire； and it shall be no longer delayed than until night； when as assure your selfe I will come and lie with you； wherfore go your wayes and prepare your selfe； for I intend valiantly and couragiously to encounter with you this night。 Thus when we had lovingly talked and reasoned together； we departed for that time。
THE TENTH CHAPTER
How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius； and how hee talked with Milo of Diophanes； and how he lay with Fotis。
When noone was come； Byrrhena sent to me a fat Pigge； five hennes； and a flagon of old wine。 Then I called Fotis and sayd； Behold how Bacchus the egger and stirrer of Venery； doth offer him self of his owne accord； let us therefore drink up this wine； that we may prepare our selves and get us courage against soone； for Venus wanteth no other provision than this； that the Lamp may be all the night replenished with oyle； and the cups with wine。 The residue of the day I passed away at the Bains and in banquetting； and towards evening I went to supper； for I was bid by Milo； and so I sate downe at the table； out of Pamphiles sight as much as I could； being mindfull of the commandement of Byrrhena； and sometimes I would cast myne eyes upon her as upon the furies of hell； but I eftsoones turning my face behinde me； and beholding my Fotis ministring at the table； was again refreshed and made merry。 And behold when Pamphiles did see the candle standing on the table； she said； Verily wee shall have much raine to morrow。 Which when her husband did heare； he demanded of her by what reason she knew it？ Mary （quoth shee） the light on the table sheweth the same。 Then Milo laughed and said； Verily we nourish a Sybel prophesier； which by the view of a candle doth divine of Celestiall things； and of the Sunne it selfe。 Then I mused in my minde and said unto Milo； Of truth it is a good experience and proof of divination。 Neither is it any marvell； for although this light is but a small light； and made by the hands of men； yet hath it a remembrance of that great and heavenly light； as of his parent； and doth shew unto us what will happen in the Skies above。 For I knew at Corinth a certain man of Assyria； who would give answers in every part of the City； and for the gaine of money would tell every man his fortune； to some he would tel the dayes of their marriages； to others he would tell when they should build； that their edifices should continue。 To others； when they should best go e about their affaires。 To others； when they should goe by sea or land ： to me； purposing to take my journey hither； he declared many things strange and variable。 For sometimes hee sayd that I should win glory enough ： sometimes he sayd I should write a great Historie ： sometimes againe hee sayd that I should devise an incredible tale ： and sometimes that I should make Bookes。 Whereat Milo laughed againe； and enquired of me； of what stature this man of Assyria was； and what he was named。 In faith （quoth I） he is a tall man and somewhat blacke； and hee is called Diophanes。 Then sayd Milo； the same is he and no other； who semblably hath declared many things here unto us； whereby hee got and obtained great substance and Treasure。
But the poore miser fell at length into the hands of unpittifull and cruell fortune ： For beeing on a day amongst a great assembly of people； to tell the simple sort their fortune； a certaine Cobler came unto him； and desired him to tel when it should be best for him to take his voyage； the which hee promised to do ： the Cobler opened his purse and told a hundred pence to him for his paines。 Whereupon came a certaine young gentleman and took Diophanes by the Garment。 Then he turning himselfe； embraced and kissed him； and desired the Gentleman； who was one of his acquaintance； to sit downe by him ： and Diophanes being astonied with this sudden change； forgot what he was doing； and sayd； O deare friend you are heartily welcome； I pray you when arrived you into these parts？ Then answered he； I will tell you soone； but brother I pray you tell mee of your comming from the isle of Euboea； and how you sped by the way？ Whereunto Diophanes this notable Assyrian （not yet come unto his minde； but halfe amased） soone answered and sayd； I would to god that all our enemies and evil willers might fall into the like dangerous peregrination and trouble。 For the ship where we were in； after it was by the waves of the seas and by the great tempests tossed hither and thither； in great peril； and after that the mast and stern brake likewise in pieces； could in no wise be brought to shore； but sunk into the water； and so we did swim； and hardly escaped to land。 And after that； whatsoever was given unto us in recompense of our losses； either by the pitty of strangers； or by the benevolence of our friends； was taken away from us by theeves； whose violence when my brother Arisuatus did assay to resist； hee was cruelly murthered by them before my face。 These things when he had sadly declared； the Cobler tooke up his money againe which he had told out to pay for the telling of his fortune； and ran away。 The Diophanes comming to himselfe perceived what he had done； and we all that stood by laughed greatly。 But that （quoth Milo） which Diophanes did tell unto you Lucius； that you should be happy and have a prosperous journey； was only true。 Thus Milo reasoned with me。 But I was not a little sorry that I had traind him into such a vaine of talke； that I lost a good part of the night； and the sweete pleasure thereof ： but at length I boldly said to Milo； Let Diophanes fare well with his evil fortune； and get againe that which he lost by sea and land； for I verily do yet feel the wearinesse of my travell； whereof I pray you pardon mee； and give me licence to depart to bed ： wherewithall I rose up and went unto my chamber； where I found all things finely prepared and the childrens bed （because they should not heare what we did in the night） was removed far off without the chamber doore。 The table was all covered with those meats that were left at supper； the cups were filled halfe full with water； to temper and delay the wines； the flagon stood ready prepared； and there lacked nothing that was necessary for the preparation of Venus。 And when I was entring into the bed； behold my Fotis （who had brought her mistresse to bed） came in and gave me roses and floures which she had in her apron； and some she threw about the bed； and kissed mee sweetly； and tied a garland about my head； and bespred the chamber with the residue。 Which when shee had done； shee tooke a cup of wine and delaied it with hot water； and profered it me to drinke； and before I had drunk it all off she pulled it from my mouth； and then gave it me againe； and in this manner we emptied the pot twice or thrice together。 Thus when I had well replenished my self with wine； and was now ready unto Venery not onely in minde but also in body； I removed my cloathes； and shewing to Fotis my great impatiencie I sayd； O my sweet heart take pitty upon me and helpe me； for as you see I am now prepared unto the battell； which you your selfe did appoint ： for after that I felt the first Arrow of cruell Cupid within my breast； I bent my bow very strong； and now feare； （because it is bended so hard） lest my string should breake ： but that thou mayst th
