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.

The seconde Booke of Lucius Apuleius of the Golden Asse. (Book 2)

¶How Apuleius fortuned to meete with his cosin Byr∣rhena.

Cap. 8.

AS soone as night was passed, and the day began to springe, I fortuned to awake and rose out of my bedde as halfe amased, and (very desirous to knowe and sée some meruelous and strange thinges, remembringe with my selfe that I was in the middest part of all Thessalie, whereas, by the common reporte of all the world, the sorceries and enchauntmentes are most vsed) I oftentimes repeted with my selfe the tale of my compaignion Aristomenus touchinge the man∣ner of this Citie, and (beinge moued by great desire) I viewed the whole situation thereof, neither was there any thinge which I sawe there, that I did beléeue to be the same whiche it was in déede, but euery thinge séemed vnto me to be transformed and altered into other shapes by the wicked power of sorcerie and inchaunt∣ment, in so much that I thought that the stones which I founde, were indurate & turned from men into that figure, and that the birdes whiche I harde chirpinge, and the trées without the walles of the Citie, and the runninge waters were chaunged from men into suche kinde of likenesses: And further I thought that the sta∣tues, images, and walles could goe, and the oxen and other brute beastes could speake & tel straunge newes, and that immediatly I should sée and here some Oracle

from the Heauen, and from the gléede of the Sunne. Thus beinge astonied or rather dismaide & vexed with desire, knowinge no certaine place whither I enten∣ded to goe, I wente from streate to streate, & at length (as I curiously gas••d on euery thinge) I fortuned vn∣wares to come into the market place, where as I espied a certaine woman accompaignted with a great many seruantes, towardes whome I drewe nie and vlewed her garmentes ••esette with golde and pretious stone, in suche sorte that she séemed to be some noble Matron: And there was an olde man whiche followed her: who (as sone as he had espied me) said to him selfe, verely this is Lucius, and then he came and embrased me, and by and by he went vnto his mistres, and whispered in her eare, & came to me againe, saiynge: How is it Lu∣cius, that you will not salute your déere cosin and sin∣guler fréende? To whome I answered: Sir I dare not be so bolde as to take acquaintance of an vnknowen woman: how be it as halfe ashamed I drewe towardes her, and she turned her selfe and said: Beholde how he resembleth the very same grace as his mother Saluia doth, beholde his countenaunce and stature agreyng thereto in eche point, beholde his comely state, his fine selendernes, his vermilion colour, his heare yellow by nature, his graye and quicke eies like vnto the Egle, and his trimme and comely gate which doo sufficiently proue him to be y^e naturall childe of Saluia: And more∣ouer she saide: O Lucius I haue nourished thée with mine owne proper handes, and why not? For I am not onely of kinr••de vnto thy mother by bloude, but also by nourice, for we both descended of the ligne of Plutarche, lay in one belly, sucked the same pappes, & brought vp together in one house: And further there is

no other difference betwene vs twoo, but that she is married more honorably then I: I am the same Byr∣rhena whome you haue often harde named, emongest your freendes at home. Wherefore I pray you to take the paines as to come with me to my house, and vse it as your owne, at whose woordes I was partely aba∣shed, and said: God forbid cosin that I shoulde forsake mine hoest Mylo without any iuste & reasonable cause, but verely I will (as often as I haue occasion to passe by your house) come and sée how you doo: And while we went talkinge thus together, by litle & litle, we came to her house, and beholde the gate of the same very beautiful set with pillors quadrāglewise, on the toppe whereof weare placed carued statues and images, but principallie the goddesse of Victorie was so liuely and with such excellencie portraide and set foorth, that you would verely haue thought that she had flied, and ho∣••ered with her winges hither and thither. On the con∣trary parte, y^• image of y^• goddesse Diana was wrought in white marble, whiche was a meruelous sight to sée, for she séemed as though the winde did blowe vp her garmentes, and that she did encounter with them that came into the house: on eche side of her, were Dogges made of stone, that séemed to menace with their firie eies, their pricked eares, their bended nosethrilles, and their grinning téeth, in such sorte that you would haue thought they had bayed and barked: And moreouer (which was a greater meruell to beholde) the excellent caruer & deuiser of this worke had fashioned y^• dogges to stande vp fiersly with their former féete, and their hinder féete on the ground readie to fight. Behinde the backe of the Goddesse was carued a stone in manner of a cauerne, enuironed with mosse, hearbes, leaues,

Sprigges, gréene braunches, and bowes, growingi•• and aboute the same, in so muche that within the stone it glistened and shone meruelously, vnder the brimme of the stone hanged appels and grapes carued finely, wherein arte (enulynge nature) showed his great cun∣ninge: For they were so liuelie set out, that you would haue thought (if Sommer had bene come) they might haue bene pulled and eaten, and while I behelde the runninge water, whiche séemed to springe and leape vnder the féete of the Goddesse, I marked the grapes whiche hanged in the water, whiche were like in eue∣rie point to the grapes of the vine, and séemed to moue and stirre by violéce of the streame, moreouer emongst the braunches of the stone appeared the image of Ac∣teon, And how that Diana (whiche was carued with∣in the same stone standinge in the water because he did sée her naked) did tourne him into a harte, and so he was torne and slayne of his owne houndes. And while I was greatly delighted with the view of these thinges, Birrhena spake to me and saide: Cosin, all thinges here be at your commaundement. And there, withall she willed secretely the residewe to departe, who being gone she said: My most déere cosin Lucius I sweare by this goddesse Diana that I doo greatly ten∣der your safetie, and am as carefull for you, as if you were mine owne natural childe, beware I say, beware of the euill artes & wicked allurementes of that Pam∣philes that is the wife of Milo, whome you call your hoste, for she is accompted the moste chiefe and princi∣pall Magicien and enchanteresse liuing, who by brea∣thinge out certaine woordes and charmes ouer bowes, stones, and other friuolous things, can throwe down all the powers of the Heauens into the déepe bottome

of Hell, and reduce all the whole worlde againe to the olde Chaos: For as soone as she espieth any comely yonge man, she is foorthwith stroken with his loue, and presently setteth her whole minde and affection on him: She soweth her séede of flatterie,* 1.1 she inuades his sprite, and entangleth him with continuall snares of vnmeasurable loue. And then, if any accorde not to her filthie desire, or if they séeme lothesome in her eye, by and by in the moment of an hower she either turneth them into stones, shéepe, or some other beaste as she her selfe pleaseth, and some she presentely s••eaeth and murdreth, of whome I woulde you should earnestly beware. For she burneth continually, and you, by reason of your tender age and comely beawtie are capable of her fire and loue: This with great care Birrhena gaue me in charge, but I (that alwaies co∣ueted and desired, after that I harde talke of suche Sorcerye and Witchecrafte, to be experienced in the same) litle estéemed to beware of Pamphiles, but willingely determined to bestowe my money in lear∣ninge of that arte, and nowe whollie to become a Witche: And so I wared ioyefull and wringinge my selfe out of her companie, as out of linkes or chaines, I badde her farewell, and departed towardes the house of mine hoste Milo, by the waye I reasoned thus with my selfe: O Lucius, nowe take héede, be vigilant, haue a good care, for nowe thou haste time and place to satiffie thy desire, nowe shake of thy shil∣dishnesse and showe thy selfe a man, but specially temper thy selfe from the loue of thine Ostesse, and abstayne from violation of the bedde of Milo, but hardely attempte to winne the maiden Fotis for she is beautifull, wanton, and pleasant in talke. And son••

when thou goest to sleape,* 1.2 and when she bringeth thée gently into thy chamber, & tenderly layeth the downe in thy bedde, and louingly couereth thée, and kisseth thée sweetly, and departeth vnwillingly, and casteth her eies oftentimes backe and standes still, then haste thou a good occasion ministred vnto thée, to proue and trie the minde of Fotis. Thus while I reasoned with my selfe, I came to Milos doore perseueringe still in my purpose, but I founde nether Milo nor his wife at home.

¶How Apuleius fell in loue with Fotis.

Cap. 9.

WHen I was within the house I foūd my déere and swéete loue Fotis minsing of meate, and makinge potage for her Master and Mistris, the cupborde was all set with wines, and I thought I smelled the sauer of some deintie meates, she had about her middle a white and cleane apron, and she was gir∣ded about her bodie vnder her pappes with a swathell of redde silke, and she stirred the potte and turned the meate with her fayre and white handes, in such sorte that with stirringe and turninge the same, her loines, and hippes did likewise moue and shake, whiche was in my minde a comely sight to sée. These thinges when I sawe, I was halfe amased, and stoode musinge with my selfe, and my courage came then vpon me, whiche before was skant. And I spake vnto Fotis merely, and said: O Futis, how trimly you can stirre the potte, and how finelie (with shakinge your buttockes) you can make potage. O happy and twise happy is he to whom you giue leaue & licence but to touche you there: Then she being likewise merely disposed gan answeare: De∣part

I say miser from me, departe from my fire,* 1.3 for if the ••••ame thereof doo neuer so litle blase foorth, it will burne thée e••tremely: and none can extinguishe the heate therof, but I alone who in stirring the potte, and makinge the bedde can so finely shake my selfe: when she had saied these woordes, she cast her eies vpon me and laughed, but I did not departe from thence vntill such time as I had viewed her in euery point: but what should I speake of others? when as I doo accustome a∣broade to marke and viewe the face and heare of euery dame, and afterwardes delight my selfe therwith pri∣uately at home, and thereby iudge the residew of their shape, because the face is the principall parte of all the bodie, and is firste open to our eies: And whatsoeuer flourishyng and gorgeous apparell doth worke and set foorth in the corporal partes of a woman, the same doth the naturall and comely beautie set out in the face. Moreouer there be diuers, that (to the intent to showe their grace and feature) will cast of their partlettes, collars, habillimentes, frontes, cornettes & krippins, and doo more delight to showe the fairenes of their skinne, then to decke them selues vp in golde and pre∣tious stone. But because it is a crime vnto me to say, so and to giue no example thereof, know ye: that if you spoile and cut of the heare of any womā or depriue her of the colour of her face, though she weare neuer so ex∣cellent in beautie, though she weare throwen downe from heauen, spronge of the seas, nourished of the floudes, though she weare Venus her selfe, though she weare accōpanied with the Graces, though she weare wayted vpon of all the courte of C••pide, though she weare grided with her beautifull skarfe of loue, and though she smelled of perfumes and muskes, yet if she

appered balde: she coulde in no wise please, ••o, not her owne Vulcanus. O how well doth a fayre colour, and a shininge face agrée with glitteringe heare? Beholde it encoūtereth with the beames of the sunne, and plea∣seth the eie meruelously. Sometimes the beautie of the heare resembleth the colour of Golde and honie, some∣times the blewe plume and asured feathers about the neckes of dooues, especially when it is either annoin••∣ted with the gumme of Arabia, or trimlie tufte out with the téeth of a fine combe, whiche if it be tied vp in the pole of the necke, it séemeth to the louer (that behol∣deth the same) as a glasse that yeldeth foorth a more pleasant and gratious comelines then if it shoulde be sparsed abroade on the shoulders of the woman or hāge downe scatteringe behinde. Finally, there is suche a dignitie in the heare, that what so euer she be, though she neuer be so brauely attired with golde, silkes, pre∣tious stones, and other riche & gorgeous ornamentes, yet if her heare be not curiously set foorth, she cannot séeme faire. But in my Fotis, her garmentes vnbraste and vnlaste, did encrease her beautie, her heare hanged aboute her shoulders, and was disparsed abroade vpon her partlette, and in euery parte of her necke, howbeit the greater parte was trussed vp in her pole with a lace: Then I vnable to sustaine the broylinge heate, whiche I was in, ranne vpon her and kissed the place, where she had thus layd her heare, whereat she turned her face, and cast her rollinge eies vpon me, saying: O schollar thou hast tasted now both hony and galle, take héede that thy pleasure doo not turne into repentance: tushe ({quod} I) my swéete harte, I am contented for such an other kisse to be broyled here vpō this fier, wherwithal I embrased & kissed her more often, and she embrased

and kissed me likewise, and moreouer her breath smel∣led like sinnamome, and the licour of her tongue was like vnto swéete Nectar, wherewith when my minde was greatly delighted, I saide: beholde Fotis I am yours, & shall presently die, vnlesse you take pitie vpon me, which when I had said, she eftsoones kissed me and bidde me be of good courage, and I will ({quod} she) satisfie your whole desire, and it shalbe no lenger delaied then vntill night, when as (assure your selfe) I will come and lie with you, wherefore goe your waies & prepare your selfe, for I entende valiantly, and couragiously to encounter with you this night: Thus when we had lo∣uingly talked and reasoned together, we departed for that time.

¶How Birrhena sente victuales vnto Apuleius, and how he talked with Milo, of Diophanes, and how be laye With Folis.

Cap. 10.

WHen noone was come Birrhena sent vnto me a fatte pigge, fiue hennes, and a flagon of old wine. Then I called Fotis and saide,* 1.4 beholde how Bacchus the egger and stirrer of venerie doth of fer him selfe of his owne accorde, let vs therfore drinke vp this wine, that we may prepare our selues, and get vs courage against soone, for Uenus wanteth no other prouision then this, that the lampe may be al the night replemshed with oyle, & the cuppes filled with wine: The residewe of the day I passed away at the baines, and in banquettinge, and towardes eueninge I went to supper, for I was bidde by Milo, and so I sat downe at the table, out of Pāphiles sight as much as I could, beinge mindefull of the commaundement of Birrhena

and sometimes I wonlde caste mine eies vpon her, as if I shoulde loke vpon the furies of Hell, but I (es••∣sones turninge my face behinde me, and beholding my Fotis ministringe at the table) was againe refreshed and made merie. And beholde when Pamphiles did see the candell standinge on the table, she saide, verely we shall haue muche raine to morrow, whiche when her husbande did here, he demaunded of her, by what reason she knew it: Marry (•• she) the light on the table doth showe the fame:then Milo laughed and saide, vs∣rely we neurishe and bringe vp a Sibelle prophecier, whiche by the viewe of a candell doth diuine of Cele∣stiall thinges, and of the Sunne it selfe: Then I mu∣sed in my minde and saide vnto Milo: Of truth it is a good experience and proufe of diuination, neither is it any maruell, for although this light is but a small light and made by the handes of man, yet hath it a re∣membrance of that great and heauenly light, as of his parent, and dothe showe vnto vs, what will happen in the skies aboue: For I knewe at Corinthe a cer∣taine man of Assiria, who woulde giue answeares in euery parte of the Citie, and for the gaine of money woulde tell euery man his fortune, to some he would tell the daies of their marriages, to other he woulde tell when they should builde, that their edifices should continue: to other, when they should best goe about their assayres: to other when they should trauell by lande: to other when they should goe by seas: and to me (purposinge to take my iourney hither) he decla∣red many thinges straunge and variable. For some∣times he saide that I should winne glory ••nough, som∣times he saide, I shoulde write a great Historie, some∣times againe he saide, that I should deuise an incredi∣ble

tale, and sometimes, that I should make B••okes. Whereat Milo laughed againe, and enquired of me of what stature this man of Assiria was, and what he was named: In faith ({quod} I) he is a talle man, and some∣what blacke and he is called Diophanes. Then sayde Milo the same is he and no other, who semblablie hath declared many thinges here vnto vs, whereby he gotte and obtained great substance and treasure. But the poore miser fell at length into the handes of vnpi∣tifull and cruell fortune. For beinge on a day emongst a great assemblie of people, to tell the simple sorte their fortune, a certayne Cobler came vnto him,* 1.5 and desired him to tell when it shoulde be best for him to take his voiage, the which he promised to doo: the Cob∣ler opened his purse, and tolde a hundred pence to pay him for his paines, whereupon came a certaine yonge Gentleman, & toke Diophanes by the garment: Then he turninge him selfe embrased and kissed him, and de∣••ired the Gentelman (who was one of his acquain∣tance) to sitte downe by him. And Diophanes beinge astonied with this sodaine chaunce forgatte what he was doyng, & said: O déere fréend you are hartely wel∣come, I pray you when arriued you into these partes: then answeared he I will tell you soone, but brother I pray you to tell me of your comminge from the Isle of Euboea, and how you spedde by the way, whereunto Diophanes (this notable Assirian, not yet come vnto his minde but halfe amased) gaue answeare and saide, I would to God that all our enemies and euill willers mighte fall into the like daungerous peregrination and trouble, for the shippe where we were in, (after that it was by the waues of the seas, and by the great tempestes t••ssed hither and thither, in great perill,

and after that the maste and sterne brake likewise in pieces) coulde in no wise be brought vnto the shore, but sonke into the water, and so we did swimme and hard∣ly escape to lande: and after that, what so euer was geuen vnto vs, in recompence of our losses, either by the pitie of straungers or by the beneuolence of our fréendes, was taken away from vs by théeues,* 1.6 whose violence when my brother Arisuatus did assay to re∣siste, he was cruelly murdered by them before my face. These thinges when he had sadly declared, the cobler toke vp his money againe, whiche he had tolde out to paye for the tellinge of his fortune and ranne away: Then Diophanes cōming to him selfe, perceaued what he had done, and we all that stoode by laughed greatly. But that, ({quod} Milo) which Diophanes did tell vnto you Lucius, that you should be happy, and haue a prospe∣rous iourney, was onely true: Thus Milo reasoned with me, but I was not a litle sorie in that I had trai∣ned him in such a vaine of talke, that I lost a good parte of the night, and the sweete pleasure thereof, but at length I boldely saide vnto Milo. Let Diophanes fare∣well with his euill fortune, & gette againe that whiche he lost by sea and lande, for I verely doo yet féele the werines of my trauell, wherefore I pray you perdon me, and giue me licēce to departe to hedde, wherwith∣all I rose vp & went vnto my chamber, where I found al thinges finely prepared, and the childrens bedde (be∣cause they should not here, what we did in the night) was remoued farre of without the chamber doore. The table was all couered with suche meates as was leste at supper, the cuppes were filled halfe full with water to temper & delay the wines, the flaggon stoode readdy prepared, and there did nothinge lacke which was ne∣cessarie

for the preparatiō of Venus: And when I was enteringe into the bedde, beholde my Fotis (who had brought her mistris to sléepe) came in & gaue me roses and flowers, whiche she had in her apron, and some she threwe about the bedde, and she kissed me swéetely, & tied a garlande aboute my head, and bespred the cham∣ber with the residewe. Whiche when she had done, she toke vp a cuppe of wine, and delaide it with whote wa∣ter, and proffred it me to drinke, & before I had drunke vp all, she pulled it from my mouth, and then gaue it me againe, and in this manner we emptied the potte twise or thrise together. Thus when I had well reple∣nished my selfe with wine, and was now readie vnto Venerie not onely in minde but also in bodie, I remo∣ued my clothes, and (showinge to Fotis my great im∣paciencie) I said, O my swéete harte take pitie vpon me and helpe me: for as you sée, I am now prepared vnto the battaile whiche you your selfe did appointe, for af∣ter that I felte the first arrow of cruell Cupide within my brest, I bent my howe very stronge, and now feare (because it is bended so harde) least the stringe should breake, but that thou maist the better please me, vn∣dresse thy heare and come and embrase me louingly, wherewithall (she made no longe delaye) but set aside all the meate and wine, and then she vnapparelled her selfe, and vnatired her heare, presentinge her amiable bodie vnto me, in manner of fayre Venus, when she goeth vnder the waues of the sea. Now ({quod} she) is come the howre of iustinge, now is come the time of warre, wherefore showe thy selfe like vnto a man, for I will not retire, I will not flie the fielde, sée then thou be va∣liant, sée thou be couragious since, there is no time ap∣pointed when our skirmishe shal cease: In saying these

woordes she came to me to bedde, and embrased me swéetely, and so we passed all the night in pastime and pleasure, and neuer slept till it was day: but we would eftsoones refreshe our werines, and prouoke our plea∣sure, and renewe our Venerie by drinkinge of wine. In whiche sorte we pleasauntly passed away many other nightes followinge.

¶How Apuleius supped with Birrhena, and what a straunge tale Bellephoron tolde at the table.

Cap. 11.

IT fortuned on a daie that Birrhena desired me ear∣nestly to suppe with her, and she woulde in no wise take any excusation. Whereupon I went vnto Fo∣tis to aske counsell of her as of some diuine, who (al∣though she was vnwilling y^• I should departe one foote from her companie) yet at length she gaue me licence to be absent for a while, saying: beware that you ••acry not longe at supper there, for there is a rabblement of commō barrators and disturbers of the publique peace that roueth about in the streates, and murdreth al such as they may take, neither can lawe nor iustice redresse them in any case. And they will the sooner sette vpon you, by reason of your comelines and audacitie, in that you are not affeard at any time to walke in y^e stréetes. Then I answeared and saide, haue no care of me Fo∣tis, for I estéeme the pleasure whiche I haue with thée, aboue the deintie meates that I eate abroade, & there∣fore I will returne againe quickely. Neuerthelesse I minde not to come without companie, for I haue here my swoorde, whereby I hope to defende my selfe. And so in this sorte I went to supper, and beholde I founde at Birrhenas house a great companie of straungers,

and of the chiefe and principall of the Citie, the beddes (made of Citorne and Yuorie) were richly adornde and spredde with clothe of Golde, the cuppes were garni∣shed pretiously, and there was diuers other thinges of sondrie fashion, but of like estimation and price: here stoode a glasse gorgeously wrought, there stoode an o∣ther of Cristall finely painted, there stoode a cuppe of glitteringe Siluer, and here stoode a nother of shinyng Golde, and here was an other of Ambre artificially carued, and made with pretious stones: Finally there was all thinges that might be desired, the Seruiters waited orderly at the table in riche apparell, the pages arrayed in silke robes did fill great gemmes, & pearles made in forme of cuppes with excellent wine, then one brought in candelles and torches: and when we weare sette downe and placed in order, we began to talke, to laugh and be merie. And Birrhena spake vnto me, and saide: I pray you Cosin how like you our countrey? Verely I thinke there is no other Citie which hath the like Temples, Baynes, and other commodities as we haue here: Further we haue aboundance of household-stuffe, we haue pleasure, we haue ease, and when the Romaine marchantes doo arriue in this Citie, they are gentely and quietly entertained, and all that dwell within this prouince (when they purpose to solace and repose them selues) doo come to this Citie. Whereunto I answeared: Verely ({quod} I) you tell truthe, for I can finde no place in all the worlde, whiche I like better then this, but I greatly feare, the blinde and incuita∣ble trenches of Witchcrafte, for they say that the dead bodies ar digged out of their graues, & the bones of thē that are burned be stolen away, & the toes & fingers of such as are slaine, be cut of to afflicte and torment such

as li••e: And the olde Witches assone as they heare of the death of any person, doo foorthwith goe & vncouer the hearse, & spoile the corpse, to worke their enchaunt∣mentes: Then an other sittinge at the table spake and saide, in faith you say true, neither yet doo they spare or fauour the liuinge. For I know one not farre hense that was cruelly handled by them, who (being not con∣tented with cuttinge of his nose) did likewise cut of his eares, whereat all the companie laughed hartely, and looked vpon one that satte at y^e boordes ende, who being amased at their ga••inge, and somewhat angry withal, would haue rysen from the table, had not Birrhena spake vnto him & saide: I pray the fréende Telepheron sitte still, and accordinge to thy accustomed curtesie, declare vnto vs the losse of thy nose and eares, to the ende that my cosin Lucius may be delighted with the pleasauntnes of the tale: To whome he answeared, a dame you in the office of your bountie shall preuaile herein, but the insolencie of some is not to be suppor∣ted. This he spake very angerly, but Birrhena was earnest vpon him & assured him that he should haue no wronge at no mans hande, whereby he was enforced to declare the same: And so (lappinge vp the ende of the table cloth and carpette together) he leaned with his elbow thereon, and helde out the thrée forefingers of his right hande in manner of an Oratour, and saide: When I was a yonge man I wente vnto a certayne Citie called Milet,* 1.7 to sée the games and triūphes there called Olympia, and beinge desirous to come into this famous prouince, after that I had traueled ouer all Thessalie, I fortuned in an euell houre to come to the Citie Larissa, where (while I went vp and downe to ••••ewe the stréetes, to séeke some reliefe for my poore

estate, (for I had spent al my money) I espied a talle old man standing vpon a stone, in the middest of the mar∣kette place, cryinge with a loude voice, and sayinge: that if any mā would watche a dead corpse that night, he should be resonably rewarded for his paines: which when I harde, I said to one that passed by: what is here to doo, doo dead men vse to runne away in this coun∣trie. Then answeared he: holde your peace for you are but a babe and a straunger here, and not without cause you are ignorant how you are in Thessalie, where the women Witches doo bite of by morselles the fl••she of the faces of dead men, and thereby woorke their Sorce∣ries and enchauntmentes. Then ({quod} I) in good fellow∣shippe tell me the order of this custodie and how it is: Marry ({quod} he) first you must watche all the night, with your eies bent continuallie vpon the corpse, neuer loo∣kinge of nor mouinge aside: For these Witches doo turne them selues into sundry kinde of beastes, wher∣by they deceaue the eies of all men, sometimes they are transformed into birdes, sometimes into dogges, and myce, & somtimes into flies, moreouer they wil charme the keapers of the corpse a sleape, neither cā it be decla∣red what meanes and shiftes these wicked women doo vse to bring their purpose to passe: and the rewarde for such daungerous watchinge is no more then fower or fire shillinges: but herken further, which I had welny forgotten, if the keper of the dead bodie doo not render (on the morninge following) the corps whole & sounde as he receaued y^• same, he shalbe punished in this sorte. That is: if the corpse be diminished or spoyled in any parte of his face handes or toes, the same shalbe dimi∣nished and spoyled in the keper. Whiche when I harde I toke a good harte and went vnto the crier, and bidde

him ceasse, for I would take the matter in hande, and so I demaunded what I should haue: Marry ({quod} he) a thousand pence, but beware I say yonge man that you doo well defende the dead corps from the wicked Wit∣ches, for he was the sonne of one of the chiefest of the Citie: Tu••he (said I) you speake you can not tell what, beholde I am a man made all of yron, and haue neuer desire to sleape, and am more quicke of sight then Lynx or Argus. I had skarse spoken these woordes, when he toke me by the hande, and brought me to a certaine house, the gate whereof was closed faste, so that I went thorough the wicket, then he brought me into a chamber somewhat darke, and showed me a matron clothed in mourninge vesture and wepinge in lamen∣table wise: And he spake vnto her and saide: Beholde, here is one that will enterprise to watche the corpse of your husbande this night, whiche when she harde, she turned her bloubered face couered with her heare vnto me, saiyng: I pray you yonge mā take good héede, and sée well to your office: haue no care ({quod} I) so that you will giue me any thinge aboue that which is dewe to be giuen, wherewith she was contented: And then she rose and brought me into a chamber whereas the corpse lay couered with white shéetes, and she called seuen witnesses, before whome she showed the dead bodie, and euery parte and parcell thereof, and (with wéepinge eies) desired them all to testifie the matter, whiche done she saide these woordes of course as fol∣lowe: Beholde his nose is whole, his eies salue, his eares without scarre, his lippes vntoucht, & his chinne sounde: All whiche was written and noted in tables, & subscribed with the hādes of the witnesses to confirme the same: which done, I said vnto the matron: Madame

I pray you that I may haue all thinges here necessa∣rie: what is that? ({quod} she) marry saide I a great lampe replenished with oyle, pottes of wine, and water to delaye the same, and some other drinke and deintie dishe that was lefte at supper, then she shaked her head, and saide: Away foole as thou arte, thinkest thou to playe the glutton here, and to looke for deintie meates, where so longe time hath not bene séene any smoke at all? comest thou hither to eate, where we should wéepe and lament? and there withall she turned backe and commaunded her mayden Mirrhena to de∣liuer me a lampe with oyle, which when she had done, they closed the chamber doore and departed. Nowe when I was alone I rubbed mine eies, and armed my selfe to kéepe the corpse, and to the intent I would not sleape, I beganne to singe, and so I passed the time till it was midnight, when as beholde there crepte in a Weasell into the chamber, and she came against me & put me in very great feare, in so muche that I marue∣led greatly of the audacitie of so little a beaste. To whome I saide, gette thée hence thou whore, and hie thée to thy fellowes, least thou féele my fingers? why wilt not thou goe? Then incontinently she ranne a∣way, and when she was gonne, I fell on the grounde so faste a sléepe, that Apollo him selfe could not discerne whether of vs twoo was the dead corpse, for I lay pro∣strate, as one without lyfe, and néeded a keper like∣wise. At length the cockes beganne to crowe declaring that it was daye, wherewithall I waked and (beynge greatly affeard) ran vnto the dead bodie with the lāpe in my hande, and I viewed him roūde about: And im∣mediatly came in the Matron wéepinge with her wit∣nesses, & ranne vnto the corpse & eftsones kissinge him,

turned his body and found no parte diminished: Then she commaunded one Philodespotus her stewarde to pay me my wages foorthwith, which whē he had done, he saide: we thanke you gentle yonge man for your paines, and verely for your diligence herein, we will accompte you as one of the familie. Whereunto I (be∣inge ioyeous of my vnhoped gaine, and ratlinge my money in my hande) did answeare: I pray you ma∣dame estéeme me as one of your seruitours, and if you néede my seruice at any time I am at your commaūde∣ment. I had not fully declared these woordes, when as beholde all the seruauntes of the house were assembled with weapōs to driue me away, one buffeted me about the face, an other about the shoulders, some stroke me in the sides, some kicked me, and some tare my gar∣mentes, and so I was handled emongest them and dri∣uen from the house (as the proude yonge man Adonis who was torne by a Bore). And when I was come in∣to the next streate, I mused with my selfe and remem∣bred mine vnwise and vnaduised woordes which I had spoken, whereby I cōsidered that I had deserued much more punishmēt, and that I was woorthely beaten for my follie: And by and by the corpse came foorth, whiche (because it was the bodie of one of the chiefe of the Ci∣tie) was carried in funerall pompe rounde aboute the markette place, accordinge to the rite of the countrie there. And foorthwith stepped out an olde man weping and lamentinge and ranne vnto the biere and embra∣sed it, and with déepe sighes & sobbes cried out in this sorte: O maisters I pray you by the faith whiche you professe, and by the dutie whiche you owe vnto the weale publique, take pitie and mercie vpon this dead corps, who is miserablie murdred, and doo vengeaunce

on this wicked and cursed woman his wife, whiche hath committed this facte. For it is she and no other, that hath poysoned her husbande, my sisters sonne, to the intent to maintaine her whoredome and to get his heritage. In this sorte the olde man complained before the face of all the people. Then they (astonied at these sayinges and because the thing séemed to be true) cried out, burne her, burne her, and thei sought for stones to throwe at her, and willed the boies in the streate to doo the same: but she (wepinge in lamentable wise) did sweare by all the goddes that she was not culpable of this crime. No ({quod} the olde man)? Beholde here is one sente by the prouidence of God to trie out the matter, euen Zachlas an Egiptian, who is the most principall Prophecier in all this countrie, and who was hired of me for money to reduce the soule of this mā from Hell, and to reuiue his bodie for the triall hereof. And there∣withal he brought foorth a certaine yonge man clothed in linnen rayment, hauing on his féete a payre of pan∣toffles, and his crowne shauen, who kissed his handes and knées, saying: O Priest haue mercie, haue mercie, I pray thée by y^• celestiall Planetes, by the powers in∣fernall, by the vertue of the naturall Elementes, by the silences of the night, by the buildinges of swal∣lowes nigh vnto the towne of Copton, by the increase of the floode Nilus, by the secreate misteries of Mem∣phis, and by the instrumentes and trumpettes of the Isle Pharos, haue mercie I say, and call againe to life this dead bodie, and make that his eyes whiche be clo∣sed and shutte, may be opened & sée, howbeit we meane not to striue against the lawe of death, neither entend we to depriue the yearth of his right, but (to the ende this facte may he knowen) we craue but a small time

and space of life, whereat this Prophete was moued, and toke a certaine hearbe, & laide it thrée times vpon the mouth of the dead, and he toke an other, and laide it vpon his brest in like sorte: Thus when he had done, he turned him selfe int•• the East, and made certaine Oraisons vnto the Sunne, which caused all the people to maruell greatly, & to loke for this straunge miracle that should happen: Then I pressed in emongest them nigh vnto the biere, and gotte vpon a stone to sée this misterie, and beholde incontinently the dead bodie be∣gan to receaue spirite, his principall vaines did moue, his life came againe and he helde vp his head, & spake in this sorte. Why doo you call me backe againe to this transitorie life, that haue already tasted of the water of Leche, and likewise bene in the deadlie denne of Stir? leaue of I pray, leaue of, and lette me lie in quiet teste: when these woordes were vttered by the dead corpse, the Prophete drewe nighe vnto the biere, and saide: I charge thée to tell (before the face of all the peo∣ple here) y^• occasion of thy death, what doest thou thinke that I cannot by my comurations cal vp the dead? and by my puissance tormēt thy bodie? Then che corps mo∣ued vp his head againe, and made reuerence vnto the people, & said: Verely I was poisoned by the meanes of my wicked wife, & so thereby yelded my bedde vnto an adulterer. Whereat his wife taking present audacitie, & reprouing his sayings with a cursed minde, did denie it: the people were bēt against her sondry waies, some thought best y^• she should be buried aliue w^t her husbād, but some said y^• there ought no credite to be giuen vnto the dead bodie, which opinion was cleane taken away by the woordes that the corpse spake againe, & said: Be∣holde I will giue you some euident token, which neuer

yet any other man knew, wherby you shall perceaue y^• I declare the truth, & by and by he pointed towardes me that stoode on the stone, & saide: when this, the good gardian of my bodie watched me diligently in y^e night, & that the wicked Witches & enchanteresses came into the chamber to spoile me of my limmes, & to bryng such their purpose to passe, did trāsforme them selues into y^e shape of beastes: And when as thei could in no wise de∣ceaue or beguile his vigilant eies, they cast him into so dead & sounde a sleape that by their Wicthcrafte he sée∣med without spirite or life. After this thei called me by my name, & did neuer cease till as the colde members of my bodie began by litle & litle to reuiue: then he (being of more liuely soule, howbeit buried in sleape, in y^• he & I weare named by one name, and because he knew not that they called me) rose vp first, & as one without sence or persenerāce passed by the doore fast closed vnto a cer∣taine hole, whereas the Witches cut of first his nose, & then his eares, & so that was done to him, whiche was appointed to be done to me. And that such their subtil∣tie might not be perceaued, they made him a like payre of eares and nose of waxe, wherefore you may sée that the poore miser for lucre of a litle money, sustayned losse of his membres. Whiche when he had saide, I was greatly astonied, and (mindinge to proue whether his woordes were true or no) put my hande to my nose, & my nose fell of, and put my hande to mine eares, and mine eares fel of. Whereat al y^• people wondred great∣ly, and laughed me to skorne? but I (beinge stroken in a colde sweate) crept betwéene their legges for shame, & escaped away. So I disfigured returned home again, & couered the losse of mine eares, with my longe heare, and glewed this cloute to my face to hide my shame.

Assone as Telephoron had tolde his tale, they whiche satte at the table, (replenished with wine) laughed har∣telie. And while they drāke one to an other, Birrhena spake to me, and saide: From the first foūdation of this Citie, we haue had a custome to celebrate the festiuall day of the God Kisus, & to morrow is the feast, when as I pray you to be present to sette out the same more honorably, and I would with all my harte that you could finde or deuise somwhat of your selfe, that might be in honor of so great a God: to whome I answeared: Verely Cosin I will doo as you commaunde me, & right gladde would I be if I might inuent any laughinge or mery matter to please or satisfie Kisus withall:* 1.8 Then I rose from the table, and toke leaue of Birchena and departed, and when I came into the firste streate my torche went out, that with great paine I coulde skarse gette home, by reason it was so darke, and for feare of stomblinge. And when I was welny come vnto the doore, beholde I saw thrée men of great stature heuinge and liftinge at Milos gates to gette in. And when they sawe me, they weare nothing affeard, but assaide with more force to breake downe the doores, whereby they gaue me occasion and not without cause to thinke that thei weare stronge théeues. Wherupon I, by and by, drew out my swoorde which I carried for that pur∣pose vnder my cloke, and ranne in emongst them, and wounded them in such sorte that they fell downe dead before my face. Thus when I had slaine them all, I knocked, sweating and breathyng at the doore, till Fo∣tis lette me in. And then full weary with the slaugh∣ter of these théeues, like Hercules when he fought a∣gainst the King Gerion, I wente to my chamber and laide me downe to ••leape.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Yonge men are prone to fall in∣to the daunger of loue.
• * 1.2

  Time, place, and occasion tēpteth a man muche.
• * 1.3

  The like saying hath Terence.
• * 1.4

  Such meate f••••∣reth vp 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excidingh.
• * 1.5

  A pretie tale.
• * 1.6

  D••ophanes tolde the fortune of others, but his owne he coulde not tell.
• * 1.7

  A pl••asant tale.
• * 1.8

  Kisus the God if sporte.