The. xi. bookes of the Golden asse conteininge the Metamorphosie of Lucius Apuleius, enterlaced with sondrie pleasaunt and delectable tales, with an excellent narration of the mariage of Cupide and Psiches, set out in the. iiii. v. and vj. bookes. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by VVilliam Adlington.

¶How the death of the Asse, and the Gentel woman was staide,

Cap. 25.

AFter supper they beganne to talke, and declared vnto him the goinge away of the gentlewoman, and how I bare her vpō my backe, & what death was ordeyned for vs twoo. Then he desired to sée her▪ whereupon the Gentlewoman was brought foorth fast bounde, whom assone as he beheld, he turned him selfe wringinge his nose & blamed them, saying: I am not so much a beast or so rashe a fellow, y^• I would driue you quight from your purpose, but my conscience will not suffer me to conceale any thinge that toucheth your profite, since as I am carefull for you, how be it if my counsell doo displease you, you may at your owne li∣bertie procéede in your enterprise. I doubte not but all Théeues, and suche as haue a good iudgement, will preferre their owne lucre & gaine aboue all thinges in the worlde, & aboue their vengeance, which purchaseth

damage to diuers persons. Therefore if you put this Virgin in the Asses belly, you shal but execute your in∣dignation against hir without all maner of profite: but I woulde aduise you to carie the Virgin to some towne & to sel her. And such a braue girle as she is, may be solde for a great quantitie of money: And I my selfe know certaine bawde Marchaūtes, amongest whome, peraduenture some one will giue-vs great summes of golde for her. This is my opinion touchinge this af∣faire: But aduise you what you intende to doo, for you may rule me in this case. In this maner the good thefe pleaded and defended our cause, being a good patron to the séely Virgin, and to me poore Asse. But they staide hereupon a good space with longe deliberation, whiche made my harte (God wote) and spirit greatly to quale. Howebeit, in the ende they consented to his opinion, and by and by, the mayden was vnlosed of hir bondes, who seinge the yonge man, and hearinge the name of brothels and bawde Marchauntes, began to waxe ioy∣full, and smiled with her selfe. Then began I to déeme euill of the generation of women, when as I sawe the maiden (who was appointed to be maried to a yonge gentleman, and who so greatly desired the same) was nowe delighted with the talke of a wicked and filthy brothel house, and other thinges dishonest. In this sort the consent and maners of wemen depēded in the iud∣gement of an Asse.

Notes

• Apuleius spea∣keth.
• A prety wyle to saue his wife.