the golden asse-第7章

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　and　now　feare；　（because　it　is　bended　so　hard）　lest　my　string　should　breake　：　but　that　thou　mayst　the　better　please　me；　undresse　thy　haire　and　come　and　embrace　me　lovingly　：　whereupon　shee　made　no　long　delay；　but　set　aside　all　the　meat　and　wine；　and　then　she　unapparelled　her　selfe；　and　unattyred　her　haire；　presenting　her　amiable　body　unto　me　in　manner　of　faire　Venus；　when　shee　goeth　under　the　waves　of　the　sea。　　Now　（quoth　shee）　is　come　the　houre　of　justing；　now　is　come　the　time　of　warre；　wherefore　shew　thy　selfe　like　unto　a　man；　for　I　will　not　retyre；　I　will　not　fly　the　field；　see　then　thou　bee　valiant；　see　thou　be　couragious；　since　there　is　no　time　appointed　when　our　skirmish　shall　cease。　　In　saying　these　words　shee　came　to　me　to　bed；　and　embraced　me　sweetly；　and　so　wee　passed　all　the　night　in　pastime　and　pleasure；　and　never　slept　until　it　was　day　：　but　we　would　eftsoones　refresh　our　wearinesse；　and　provoke　our　pleasure；　and　renew　our　venery　by　drinking　of　wine。　　In　which　sort　we　pleasantly　passed　away　many　other　nights　following。



THE　ELEVENTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　supped　with　Byrrhena；　and　what　a　strange　tale　Bellephoron　told　at　the　table

It　fortuned　on　a　day；　that　Byrrhena　desired　me　earnestly　to　suppe　with　her；　and　shee　would　in　no　wise　take　any　excusation。　Whereupon　I　went　to　Fotis；　to　aske　counsell　of　her　as　of　some　Divine；　who　although　she　was　unwilling　that　I　should　depart　one　foot　from　her　company；　　yet　at　length　shee　gave　me　license　to　bee　absent　for　a　while；　saying　；　Beware　that　you　tarry　not　long　at　supper　there；　for　there　is　a　rabblement　of　common　Barrettors　and　disturbers　of　the　publique　peace；　that　rove　about　in　the　streets　and　murther　all　such　as　they　may　take；　neither　can　law　nor　justice　redress　them　in　any　case。　　And　they　will　the　sooner　set　upon　you；　by　reason　of　your　comelinesse　and　audacity；　in　that　you　are　not　afeared　at　any　time　to　walke　in　the　streets。

Then　I　answered　and　sayd；　Have　no　care　of　me　Fotis；　for　I　esteeme　the　pleasure　which　I　have　with　thee；　above　the　dainty　meats　that　I　eat　abroad；　and　therefore　I　will　returne　againe　quickly。　Neverthelesse　I　minde　not　to　come　without　company；　for　I　have　here　my　sword；　wherby　I　hope　to　defend　my　selfe。

And　so　in　this　sort　I　went　to　supper；　and　behold　I　found　in　Byrrhena's　house　a　great　company　of　strangers；　and　the　chiefe　and　principall　of　the　city　：　the　beds　made　of　Citron　and　Ivory；　were　richly　adorned　and　spread　with　cloath　of　gold；　the　Cups　were　garnished　pretiously；　and　there　were　divers　other　things　of　sundry　fashion；　but　of　like　estimation　and　price　：　here　stood　a　glasse　gorgeously　wrought；　there　stood　another　of　Christall　finely　painted。　There　stood　a　cup　of　glittering　silver；　and　there　stood　another　of　shining　gold；　and　here　was　another　of　amber　artificially　carved　and　made　with　pretious　stones。　　Finally；　there　was　all　things　that　might　be　desired　：　the　Servitors　waited　orderly　at　the　table　in　rich　apparell；　the　pages　arrayed　in　silke　robes；　did　fill　great　gemmes　and　pearles　made　in　the　forme　of　cups；　with　excellent　wine。　　Then　one　brought　in　Candles　and　Torches；　and　when　we　were　set　down　and　placed　in　order；　we　began　to　talke；　to　laugh；　and　to　be　merry。　　And　Byrrhena　spake　unto　mee　and　sayd；　I　pray　you　Cousine　how　like　you　our　countrey？　　Verily　I　think　there　is　no　other　City　which　hath　the　like　Temples；　Baynes；　and　other　commodities　which　we　have　here。　Further　we　have　abundance　of　household　stuffe；　we　have　pleasure；　we　have　ease；　and　when　the　Roman　merchants　arrive　in　this　City　they　are　gently　and　quietly　entertained；　and　all　that　dwell　within　this　province　（when　they　purpose　to　solace　and　repose　themselves）　do　come　to　this　city。　　Whereunto　I　answered；　Verily　（quoth　I）　you　tell　truth；　for　I　can　finde　no　place　in　all　the　world　which　I　like　better　than　this；　but　I　greatly　feare　the　blind　inevitable　trenches　of　witches；　for　they　say　that　the　dead　bodies　are　digged　out　of　their　graves；　and　the　bones　of　them　that　are　burnt　be　stollen　away；　and　the　toes　and　fingers　of　such　as　are　slaine　are　cut　off；　and　afflict　and　torment　such　as　live。　　And　the　old　Witches　as　soone　as　they　heare　of　the　death　of　any　person；　do　forthwith　goe　and　uncover　the　hearse　and　spoyle　the　corpse；　to　work　their　inchantments。　　Then　another　sitting　at　the　table　spake　and　sayd；　In　faith　you　say　true；　neither　yet　do　they　spare　or　favor　the　living。　　For　I　know　one　not　farre　hence　that　was　cruelly　handled　by　them；　who　being　not　contented　with　cutting　off　his　nose；　did　likewise　cut　off　his　eares；　whereat　all　the　people　laughed　heartily；　and　looked　at　one　that　sate　at　the　boords　end；　who　being　amased　at　their　gazing；　and　somewhat　angry　withall；　would　have　risen　from　the　table；　had　not　Byrrhena　spake　unto　him　and　sayd；　I　pray　thee　friend　Bellerophon　sit　still　and　according　to　thy　accustomed　curtesie　declare　unto　us　the　losse　of　thy　nose　and　eares；　to　the　end　that　my　cousin　Lucius　may　be　delighted　with　the　pleasantnes　of　the　tale。　　　To　whom　he　answered；　Madam　in　the　office　of　your　bounty　shall　prevaile　herein；　but　the　insolencie　of　some　is　not　to　be　supported。　This　hee　spake　very　angerly　：　But　Byrrhena　was　earnest　upon　him；　and　assured　him　hee　should　have　no　wrong　at　any　mans　hand。　　Whereby　he　was　inforced　to　declare　the　same；　and　so　lapping　up　the　end　of　the　Table　cloath　and　carpet　together；　　hee　leaned　with　his　elbow　thereon；　and　held　out　three　forefingers　of　his　right　hand　in　manner　of　an　orator；　and　sayd；　When　I　was　a　young　man　I　went　unto　a　certaine　city　called　Milet；　to　see　the　games　and　triumphs　there　named　Olympia；　and　being　desirous　to　come　into　this　famous　province；　after　that　I　had　travelled　over　all　Thessaly；　I　fortuned　in　an　evil　hour　to　come　to　the　City　Larissa；　where　while　I　went　up　and　down　to　view　the　streets　to　seeke　some　reliefe　for　my　poore　estate　（for　I　had　spent　all　my　money）　I　espied　an　old　man　standing　on　a　stone　in　the　middest　of　the　market　place；　crying　with　a　loud　voice　and　saying；　that　if　any　man　would　watch　a　dead　corps　that　night　hee　should　be　reasonably　rewarded　for　this　paines。　　Which　when　I　heard；　I　sayd　to　one　who　passed　by；　What　is　here　to　doe？　　Do　dead　men　use　to　run　away　in　this　Countrey？　　Then　answered　he；　Hold　your　peace；　for　you　are　but　a　Babe　and　a　stranger　here；　and　not　without　cause　you　are　ignorant　how　you　are　in　Thessaly；　where　the　women　Witches　bite　off　by　morsels　the　flesh　and　faces　of　dead　men；　and　thereby　work　their　sorceries　and　inchantments。　　Then　quoth　I；　In　good　fellowship　tell　me　the　order　of　this　custody　and　how　it　is。　　Marry　（quoth　he）　first　you　must　watch　all　the　night；　with　your　eyes　bent　continually　upon　the　Corps；　　never　looking　off；　nor　moving　aside。　　For　these　Witches　do　turn　themselves　into　sundry　kindes　of　beasts；　whereby　they　deceive　the　eyes　of　all　men；　sometimes　they　are　transformed　into　birds；　sometimes　into　Dogs　and　Mice；　and　sometimes　into　flies。　　Moreover　they　will　charme　the　keepers　of　the　corps　asleepe；　neither　can　it　be　declared　what　meanes　and　shifts　these　wicked　women　do　use；　to　bring　their　purpose　to　passe　：　and　the　reward　for　such　dangerous　watching　is　no　more　than　foure　or　sixe　shillings。　But　hearken　further　（for　I　had　well　nigh　forgotten）　if　the　keeper　of　the　dead　body　doe　not　render　on　the　morning　following；　the　corps　whole　and　sound　as　he　received　the　same；　he　shall　be　punished　in　this　sort　：　That　is；　if　the　corps　be　diminished　or　spoyled　in　any　part　of　his　face；　hands　or　toes；　the　same　shall　be　diminished　and　spoyled　in　the　keeper。　　Which　when　I　heard　him　I　tooke　a　good　heart；　and　went　unto　the　Crier　and　bid　him　cease；　for　I　would　take　the　matter　in　hand；　and　so　I　demanded　what　I　should　have。　　Marry　（quoth　he）　a　thousand　pence；　but　beware　I　say　you　young　man；　that　you　do　wel　defend　the　dead　corps　from　the　wicked　witches；　for　hee　was　the　son　of　one　of　the　chiefest　of　the　city。　　Tush　（sayd　I）　you　speak　you　cannot　tell　what；　behold　I　am　a　man　made　all　of　iron；　and　have　never　desire　to　sleepe；　and　am　more　quicke　of　sight　than　Lynx　or　Argus。　　I　had　scarse　spoken　these　words；　when　he　tooke　me　by　the　hand　and　brought　mee　to　a　certaine　house；　the　gate　whereof　was　closed　fast；　so　that　I　went　through　the　wicket；　then　he　brought　me　into　a　chamber　somewhat　darke；　and　shewed　me　a　Matron　cloathed　in　mourning　vesture；　and　weeping　in　lamentable　wise。　And　he　spake　unto　her　and　said；　Behold　here　is　one　that　will　enterprise　to　watch　the　corpes　of　your　husband　this　night。　　Which　when　she　heard　she　turned　her　blubbered　face　covered　with　haire　unto　me　saying；　I　pray　you　good　man　take　good　heed；　and　see　well　to　your　office。　　Have　no　care　（quoth　I）　so　you　will　give　mee　any　thing　above　that　which　is　due　to　be　given。　　Wherewith　shee　was　contented；　and　then　she　arose　and　brought　me　into　a　chamber　whereas　the　corps　lay　covered　with　white　sheets；　and　shee　called　seven　witnesses；　before　whom　she　shewed　the　dead　body；　and　every　part　and　parcell　thereof；　and　with　weeping　eyes　desired　them　all　to　testifie　the　matter。　　Which　done；　she　sayd　these　words　of　course　as　follow　：　Behold；　his　nose　is　whole；　his　eyes　safe；　his　eares　without　scarre；　his　lips　untouched；　and　his　chin　sound　：　all　which　was　written　and　noted　in　tables；　and　subscribed　with　the　hands　of　witnesses　to　confirme　the　same。　　Which　done　I　sayd　unto　the　matron；　Madam　I　pray　you　that　I　may　have　all　things　here　necessary。　　What　is　that？　（quoth　she）。　　Marry　（quoth　I）　a　great　lampe　with　oyle；　pots　of　wine；　and　water　to　delay　the　same；　and　some　other　drinke　and　dainty　dish　that　was　left　at　supper。　　Then　she　shaked　her　head　and　sayd；　Away　fool　as　thou　art；　thinkest　thou　to　play　the　glutton　here　and　to　looke　for　dainty　meats　where　so　long　time　hath　not　been　seene　any　smoke　at　all？　　Commest　thou　hither　to　eat；　where　we　should　weepe　and　lament？　　And　therewithall　she　turned　backe；　and　commanded　her　maiden　Myrrhena　to　deliver　me　a　lampe　with　oyle；　which　when　shee　had　done　they　closed　the　chamber　doore　and　departed。　　　Now　when　I　was　alone；　I　rubbed　myne　eyes；　and　armed　my　selfe　to　keep　the　corpes；　and　to　the　intent　I　would　not　sleepe；　I　began　to　sing；　and　so　I　passed　the　time　until　it　was　midnight；　when　as　behold　there　crept　in　a　Wesel　into　the　chamber；　and　she　came　against　me　and　put　me　in　very　great　feare；　insomuch　that　I　marvelled　greatly　at　the　audacity　of　so　little　a　beast。　To　whom　I　said；　get　thou　hence　thou　whore　and　hie　thee　to　thy　fellowes；　lest　thou　feele　my　fingers。　　Why　wilt　thou　not　goe？　　Then　incontinently　she　ranne　away；　and　when　she　was　gon；　I　fell　on　the　ground　so　fast　asleepe；　that　Apollo　himself　could　not　discern　which　of　us　two　was　the　dead　corps；　for　I　lay　prostrat　as　one　without　life；　and　needed　a　keeper　likewise。　　At　length　the　cockes　began　to　crow；　declaring　that　it　was　day　：　wherewithall　I　awaked；　and　being　greatly　afeard　ran　to　the　dead　body　with　the　lamp　in　my　hand；　and　I　viewed　him　round　about　：　and　immediately　came　in　the　matron　weeping　with　her　Witnesses；　and　ran　to　the　corps；　and　eftsoons　kissing　him；　　she　turned　his　body　and　found　no　part　diminished。　Then　she　willed　Philodespotus　her　steward　to　pay　me　my　wages　forthwith。　　Which　when　he　had　done　he　sayd；　We　thanke　you　gentle　young　man　for　your　paines　and　verily　for　your　diligence　herein　we　will　account　you　as　one　of　the　family。　　Whereunto　I　（being　joyous　of　by　unhoped　gaine；　and　ratling　my　money　in　my　hand）　　did　ans