the golden asse-第13部分

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Thus　as　we　reasoned　together　the　courage　of　Venus　assailed；　as　well　our　desires　as　our　members；　and　so　she　unrayed　herself　and　came　to　bed；　and　we　passed　the　night　in　pastime　and　dalliance；　till　as　by　drowsie　and　unlusty　sleep　I　was　constrained　to　lie　still。



THE　SIXTEENTH　CHAPTER


How　Fotis　brought　Apuleius　to　see　her　Mistresse　enchant。

On　a　day　Fotis　came　running　to　me　in　great　feare；　and　said　that　her　mistresse；　to　work　her　sorceries　on　such　as　shee　loved；　intended　the　night　following　to　transforme　her　selfe　into　a　bird；　and　to　fly　whither　she　pleased。　　Wherefore　she　willed　me　privily　to　prepare　my　selfe　to　see　the　same。　　And　when　midnight　came　she　led　me　softly　into　a　high　chamber；　and　bid　me　look　thorow　the　chink　of　a　doore　：　where　first　I　saw　how　shee　put　off　all　her　garments；　and　took　out　of　a　certain　coffer　sundry　kindes　of　Boxes；　of　the　which　she　opened　one；　and　tempered　the　ointment　therein　with　her　fingers；　and　then　rubbed　her　body　therewith　from　the　sole　of　the　foot　to　the　crowne　of　the　head；　and　when　she　had　spoken　privily　with　her　selfe；　having　the　candle　in　her　hand；　she　shaked　the　parts　of　her　body；　and　behold；　I　perceived　a　plume　of　feathers　did　burgen　out；　her　　nose　waxed　crooked　and　hard；　her　nailes　turned　into　clawes；　and　so　she　became　an　Owle。　　Then　she　cried　and　screeched　like　a　bird　of　that　kinde；　and　willing　to　proove　her　force；　mooved　her　selfe　from　the　ground　by　little　and　little；　til　at　last　she　flew　quite　away。

Thus　by　her　sorcery　shee　transformed　her　body　into　what　shape　she　would。　　Which　when　I　saw　I　was　greatly　astonied　：　and　although　I　was　inchanted　by　no　kind　of　charme；　yet　I　thought　that　I　seemed　not　to　have　the　likenesse　of　Lucius；　for　so　was　I　banished　from　my　sences；　amazed　in　madnesse；　and　so　I　dreamed　waking；　that　I　felt　myne　eyes；　whether　I　were　asleepe　or　no。　　But　when　I　was　come　againe　to　my　selfe；　I　tooke　Fotis　by　the　hand；　and　moved　it　to　my　face　and　said；　I　pray　thee　while　occasion　doth　serve；　that　I　may　have　the　fruition　of　the　fruits　of　my　desire；　and　grant　me　some　of　this　oyntment。　　O　Fotis　I　pray　thee　by　thy　sweet　paps；　to　make　that　in　the　great　flames　of　my　love　I　may　be　turned　into　a　bird；　so　I　will　ever　hereafter　be　bound　unto　you；　and　obedient　to　your　commandement。　　Then　said　Fotis；　Wil　you　go　about　to　deceive　me　now；　and　inforce　me　to　work　my　own　sorrow？　　Are　you　in　the　mind　that　you　will　not　tarry　in　Thessaly？　　If　you　be　a　bird；　where　shall　I　seek　you；　and　when　shall　I　see　you？　Then　answered　I；　God　forbid　that　I　should　commit　such　a　crime；　for　though　I　could　fly　in　the　aire　as　an　Eagle　or　though　I　were　the　messenger　of　Jupiter；　yet　would　I　have　recourse　to　nest　with　thee　：　and　I　swear　by　the　knot　of　thy　amiable　hair；　that　since　the　time　I　first　loved　thee；　I　never　fancied　any　other　person　：　moreover；　this　commeth　to　my　minde；　that　if　by　the　vertue　of　the　oyntment　I　shall　become　an　Owle；　　I　will　take　heed　I　will　come　nigh　no　mans　house　：　for　I　am　not　to　learn；　how　these　matrons　would　handle　their　lovers；　if　they　knew　that　they　were　transformed　into　Owles　：　Moreover；　when　they　are　taken　in　any　place　they　are　nayled　upon　posts；　　and　so　they　are　worthily　rewarded；　because　it　is　thought　that　they　bring　evill　fortune　to　the　house。　　　But　I　pray　you　（which　I　had　almost　forgotten）　to　tell　me　by　what　meanes　when　I　am　an　Owle；　I　shall　return　to　my　pristine　shape；　and　become　Lucius　againe。　　Feare　not　（quoth　she）　for　my　mistres　hath　taught　me　the　way　to　bring　that　to　passe；　neither　thinke　you　that　she　did　it　for　any　good　will　and　favour；　but　to　the　end　that　I　might　help　her；　and　minister　some　remedy　when　she　returneth　home。

Consider　I　pray　you　with　your　selfe；　with　what　frivolous　trifles　so　marvellous　a　thing　is　wrought　：　for　by　Hercules　I　swear　I　give　her　nothing　else　save　a　little　Dill　and　Lawrell　leaves；　in　Well　water；　　the　which　she　drinketh　and　washeth　her　selfe　withall。　　Which　when　she　had　spoken　she　went　into　the　chamber　and　took　a　box　out　of　the　coffer；　which　I　first　kissed　and　embraced；　and　prayed　that　I　might　＇have＇　good　successe　in　my　purpose。　　And　then　I　put　off　all　my　garments；　and　greedily　thrust　my　hand　into　the　box；　and　took　out　a　good　deale　of　oyntment　and　rubbed　my　selfe　withall。



THE　SEVENTEENTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　thinking　to　be　turned　into　a　Bird；　was　turned　into　an　Asse；　and　how　he　was　led　away　by　Theves。

After　that　I　had　well　rubbed　every　part　and　member　of　my　body；　I　hovered　with　myne　armes；　and　moved　my　selfe；　looking　still　when　I　should　bee　changed　into　a　Bird　as　Pamphiles　was；　　and　behold　neither　feathers　nor　appearance　of　feathers　did　burgen　out；　but　verily　my　haire　did　turne　in　ruggednesse；　and　my　tender　skin　waxed　tough　and　hard；　my　fingers　and　toes　losing　the　number　of　five；　changed　into　hoofes；　and　out　of　myne　arse　grew　a　great　taile；　now　my　face　became　monstrous；　my　nosthrils　wide；　my　lips　hanging　downe；　and　myne　eares　rugged　with　haire　：　neither　could　I　see　any　comfort　of　my　transformation；　for　my　members　encreased　likewise；　and　so　without　all　helpe　（viewing　every　part　of　my　poore　body）　I　perceived　that　I　was　no　bird；　but　a　plaine　Asse。

The　I　though　to　blame　Fotis；　but　being　deprived　as　wel　of　language　as　of　humane　shape；　I　looked　upon　her　with　my　hanging　lips　and　watery　eyes。　　　Who　as　soon　as　shee　espied　me　in　such　sort；　cried　out；　Alas　poore　wretch　that　I　am；　I　am　utterly　cast　away。　　The　feare　I　was　in；　and　my　haste　hath　beguiled　me；　but　especially　the　mistaking　of　the　box；　hath　deceived　me。　　But　it　forceth　not　much；　in　regard　a　sooner　medicine　may　be　gotten　for　this　than　for　any　other　thing。　　For　if　thou　couldst　get　a　rose　and　eat　it；　thou　shouldst　be　delivered　from　the　shape　of　an　Asse；　and　become　my　Lucius　againe。　　And　would　to　God　I　had　gathered　some　garlands　this　evening　past；　according　to　my　custome；　　then　thou　shouldst　not　continue　an　Asse　one　nights　space；　but　in　the　morning　I　shall　seek　some　remedy。　　Thus　Fotis　lamented　in　pittifull　sort；　but　I　that　was　now　a　perfect　asse；　and　for　Lucius　a　brute　beast；　did　yet　retaine　the　sence　and　understanding　of　a　man。　　And　did　devise　a　good　space　with　my　selfe；　whether　it　were　best　for　me　to　teare　this　mischievous　and　wicked　harlot　with　my　mouth；　or　to　kicke　and　kill　her　with　my　heels。　　But　a　better　thought　reduced　me　from　so　rash　a　purpose　：　for　I　feared　lest　by　the　death　of　Fotis　I　should　be　deprived　of　all　remedy　and　help。　　Then　shaking　myne　head；　and　dissembling　myne　ire；　and　taking　my　adversity　in　good　part；　I　went　into　the　stable　to　my　owne　horse；　where　I　found　another　asse　of　Milos；　somtime　my　host；　and　I　did　verily　think　that　mine　owne　horse　（if　there　were　any　natural　conscience　or　knowledge　in　brute　beasts）　would　take　pitty　on　me；　and　profer　me　lodging　for　that　night　：　but　it　chanced　far　otherwise。　　For　see；　my　horse　and　the　asse　as　it　were　consented　together　to　work　my　harm；　and　fearing　lest　I　should　eat　up　their　provender；　would　in　no　wise　suffer　me　to　come　nigh　the　manger；　but　kicked　me　with　their　heels　from　their　meat；　which　I　my　self　gave　them　the　night　before。　　Then　I　being　thus　handled　by　them；　and　driven　away；　got　me　into　a　corner　of　the　stable；　where　while　I　remembred　their　uncurtesie；　and　how　on　the　morrow　I　should　return　to　Lucius　by　the　help　of　a　Rose；　when　as　I　thought　to　revenge　my　selfe　of　myne　owne　horse；　I　fortuned　to　espy　in　the　middle　of　a　pillar　sustaining　the　rafters　of　the　stable　the　image　of　the　goddesse　Hippone；　which　was　garnished　and　decked　round　about　with　faire　and　fresh　roses　：　then　in　hope　of　present　remedy；　I　leaped　up　with　my　fore　feet　as　high　as　I　could；　stretching　out　my　neck；　and　with　my　lips　coveting　to　snatch　some　roses。　　But　in　an　evill　houre　I　did　go　about　that　enterprise；　for　behold　the　boy　to　whom　I　gave　charge　of　my　horse；　came　presently　in；　and　finding　me　climbing　upon　the　pillar；　ranne　fretting　towards　me　and　said；　How　long　shall　wee　suffer　this　wild　Asse；　that　doth　not　onely　eat　up　his　fellowes　meat；　but　also　would　spoyl　the　images　of　the　gods？　Why　doe　I　not　kill　this　lame　theefe　and　weake　wretch。　And　therewithall　looking　about　for　some　cudgel；　hee　espied　where　lay　a　fagot　of　wood；　and　chusing　out　a　crabbed　truncheon　of　the　biggest　hee　could　finde；　did　never　cease　beating　of　mee　poore　wretch；　until　such　time　as　by　great　noyse　and　rumbling；　hee　heard　the　doores　of　the　house　burst　open；　and　the　neighbours　crying　in　most　lamentable　sort；　which　enforced　him　being　stricken　in　feare；　to　fly　his　way。　And　by　and　by　a　troupe　of　theeves　entred　in；　and　kept　every　part　and　corner　of　the　house　with　weapons。　　And　as　men　resorted　to　aid　and　help　them　which　were　within　the　doores；　the　theeves　resisted　and　kept　them　back；　for　every　man　was　armed　with　a　sword　and　target　in　his　hand；　the　glimpses　whereof　did　yeeld　out　such　light　as　if　it　had　bin　day。　　Then　they　brake　open　a　great　chest　with　double　locks　and　bolts；　wherein　was　layd　all　the　treasure　of　Milo；　and　ransackt　the　same　：　which　when　they　had　done　they　packed　it　up　and　gave　every　man　a　portion　to　carry　：　but　when　they　had　more　than　they　could　beare　away；　yet　were　they　loth　to　leave　any　behind；　but　came　into　the　stable；　and　took　us　two　poore　asses　and　my　horse；　and　laded　us　with　greater　trusses　than　wee　were　able　to　beare。　　And　when　we　were　out　of　the　house；　they　followed　us　with　great　s