the golden asse-第9部分

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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　answer；　I　pray　you　madam　esteeme　me　as　one　of　your　servants；　and　if　you　want　my　service　at　any　time；　I　am　at　your　commandement。　　I　had　not　fully　declared　these　words；　when　as　behold　all　the　servants　of　the　house　were　assembled　with　weapons　to　drive　me　away；　one　buffeted　me　about　the　face；　another　about　the　shoulders；　some　strook　me　in　the　sides；　some　kicked　me；　and　some　tare　my　garments；　and　so　I　was　handled　amongst　them　and　driven　from　the　house；　as　the　proud　young　man　Adonis　who　was　torn　by　a　Bore。　　And　when　I　was　come　into　the　next　street；　I　mused　with　my　selfe；　and　remembred　myne　unwise　and　unadvised　words　which　I　had　spoken；　whereby　I　considered　that　I　had　deserved　much　more　punishment；　and　that　I　was　worthily　beaten　for　my　folly。　　And　by　and　by　the　corps　came　forth；　which　because　it　was　the　body　of　one　of　the　chiefe　of　the　city；　was　carried　in　funeral　pompe　round　about　the　market　place；　according　to　the　right　of　the　countrey　there。　　And　forthwith　stepped　out　an　old　man　weeping　and　lamenting；　and　ranne　unto　the　Biere　and　embraced　it；　and　with　deepe　sighes　and　sobs　cried　out　in　this　sort；　O　masters；　I　pray　you　　by　the　faith　which　you　professe；　and　by　the　duty　which　you　owe　unto　the　weale　publique；　take　pitty　and　mercy　upon　this　dead　corps；　who　is　miserably　murdered；　and　doe　vengeance　on　this　wicked　and　cursed　woman　his　wife　which　hath　committed　this　fact　：　for　it　is　shee　and　no　other　which　hath　poysoned　her　husband　my　sisters　sonne；　to　the　intent　to　maintaine　her　whoredome；　and　to　get　his　heritage。　　In　this　sort　the　old　man　complained　before　the　face　of　all　people。　　Then　they　（astonied　at　these　sayings；　and　because　the　thing　seemed　to　be　true）　cried　out；　Burne　her；　burne　her；　and　they　sought　for　stones　to　throw　at　her；　and　willed　the　boys　in　the　street　to　doe　the　same。　　But　shee　weeping　in　lamentable　wise；　did　swear　by　all　the　gods；　that　shee　was　not　culpable　of　this　crime。　　No　quoth　the　old　man；　here　is　one　sent　by　the　providence　of　God　to　try　out　the　matter；　even　Zachlas　an　Egypptian；　who　is　the　most　principall　Prophecier　in　all　this　countrey；　and　who　was　hired　of　me　for　money　to　reduce　the　soule　of　this　man　from　hell；　and　to　revive　his　body　for　the　triall　hereof。　　And　therewithall　he　brought　forth　a　certaine　young　man　cloathed　in　linnen　rayment；　having　on　his　feet　a　paire　of　pantofiles；　and　his　crowne　shaven；　who　kissed　his　hands　and　knees；　saying；　O　priest　have　mercy；　have　mercy　I　pray　thee　by　the　Celestiall　Planets；　by　the　Powers　infernall；　by　the　vertue　of　the　naturall　elements；　by　the　silences　of　the　night；　by　the　building　of　Swallows　nigh　unto　the　towne　Copton；　by　the　increase　of　the　floud　Nilus；　by　the　secret　mysteries　of　Memphis；　and　by　the　instruments　and　trumpets　of　the　Isle　Pharos；　have　mercy　I　say；　and　call　to　life　this　dead　body；　and　make　that　his　eyes　which　he　closed　and　shut；　may　be　open　and　see。　　Howbeit　we　meane　not　to　strive　against　the　law　of　death；　neither　intend　we　to　deprive　the　earth　of　his　right；　but　to　the　end　this　fact　may　be　knowne；　we　crave　but　a　small　time　and　space　of　life。　　Whereat　this　Prophet　was　mooved；　and　took　a　certaine　herb　and　layd　it　three　times　against　the　mouth　of　the　dead；　and　he　took　another　and　laid　upon　his　breast　in　like　sort。　　Thus　when　hee　had　done　hee　turned　himself　into　the　East；　and　made　certaine　orisons　unto　the　Sunne；　which　caused　all　the　people　to　marvell　greatly；　and　to　looke　for　this　strange　miracle　that　should　happen。　　Then　I　pressed　in　amongst　them　nigh　unto　the　biere；　and　got　upon　a　stone　to　see　this　mysterie；　and　behold　incontinently　the　dead　body　began　to　receive　spirit；　his　principall　veines　did　moove；　his　life　came　again　and　he　held　up　his　head　and　spake　in　this　sort　：　Why　doe　you　call　mee　backe　againe　to　this　transitorie　life；　that　have　already　tasted　of　the　water　of　Lethe；　and　likewise　been　in　the　deadly　den　of　Styx？　　Leave　off；　I　pray；　leave　off；　and　let　me　lie　in　quiet　rest。　　When　these　words　were　uttered　by　the　dead　corps；　the　Prophet　drew　nigh　unto　the　Biere　and　sayd；　I　charge　thee　to　tell　before　the　face　of　all　the　people　here　the　occasion　of　thy　d