The Golden Asse
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did suffice him, So I went away amazed and astonied, towards the
Baines, considering with myself and devising of the grace of my
companion Pythias. Where when I had well washed and refreshed
my body, I returned againe to Milos house, both without money and
meat, and so got into my chamber. Then came Fotis immediately
unto mee, and said that her master desired me to come to supper.
But I not ignorant of Milos abstinence, prayed that I might be
pardoned since as I thought best to ease my wearied bones rather
with sleepe and quietnesse, than with meat. When Fotis had told
this to Milo, he came himselfe and tooke mee by the hand, and
while I did modestly excuse my selfe, I will not (quoth he) depart
from this place, until such time as you shall goe with me : and to
confirm the same, hee bound his words with an oath, whereby he
enforced me to follow him, and so he brought me into his chamber,
where hee sate him downe upon the bed, and demaunded of mee
how his friend Demeas did, his wife, his children, and all his family :
and I made answer to him every question, specially hee enquired
the causes of my peregrination and travell, which when I had
declared, he yet busily demanded of the state of my Countrey, and
the chief magistrates there, and principally of our Lievtenant and
Viceroy; who when he perceived that I was not only wearied by
travell, but also with talke, and that I fell asleep in the midst of my
tale, and further that I spake nothing directly or advisedly, he
suffered me to depart to my chamber. So scaped I at length from
the prating and hungry supper of this rank old man, and being
compelled by sleepe and not by meat, and having supped only with
talke, I returned into my chamber, and there betooke me to my
quiet and long desired rest.
THE SECOND BOOKE
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena.
As soone as night was past, and the day began to spring, I fortuned
to awake, and rose out of my bed as halfe amazed, and very
desirous to know and see some marvellous and strange things,
remembring with my selfe that I was in the middle part of all
Thessaly, whereas by the common report of all the World, the
Sorceries and Inchauntments are most used, I oftentimes repeated
with my self the tale of my companion Aristomenus touching the
manner of this City, and being mooved by great desire, I viewed the
whole scituation thereof, neither was there any thing which I saw
there, but that I did beleeve to be the same which it was indeed, but
every thing seemed unto me to be transformed and altered into
other shapes, by the wicked power of Sorcerie and Inchantment,
insomuch that I thought that the stones which I found were
indurate, and turned from men into that figure, and that the birds
which I heard chirping, and the trees without the walls of the city,
and the running waters, were changed from men into such kinde of
likenesses. And further I thought that the Statues, Images and
Walls could goe, and the Oxen and other brute beasts could speake
and tell strange newes, and that immediately I should see and heare
some Oracles from the heavens, and from the gleed of the Sun.
Thus being astonied or rather dismayed and vexed with desire,
knowing no certaine place whither I intended to go, I went from
street to street, and at length (as I curiously gazed on every thing) I
fortuned unwares to come into the market place, whereas I espied
a certaine woman, accompanied with a great many servants,
towards whom I drew nigh, and viewed her garments beset with
gold and pretious stone, in such sort that she seemed to be some
noble matron. And there was an old man which followed her, who
as soon as he espied me, said to himself, Verily this is Lucius, and
then he came and embraced me, by and by he went unto his
mistresse and whispered in her eare, and came to mee againe
saying, How is it Lucius that you will not salute your deere Cousin
and singular friend? To whom I answered, Sir I dare not be so bold
as to take acquaintance of an unknown woman. Howbeit as halfe
ashamed I drew towards her, and shee turned her selfe and sayd,
Behold how he resembleth the very same grace as his mother
Salvia doth, behold his countenance and stature, agreeing thereto in
each poynt, behold his comely state, his fine slendernesse, his
Vermilion colour, his haire yellow by nature, his gray and quicke
eye, like to the Eagle, and his trim and comely gate, which do
sufficiently prove him to be the naturall childe of Salvia. And
moreover she sayd, O Lucius, I have nourished thee with myne
owne proper hand : and why not? For I am not onely of kindred to
thy mother by blood, but also by nourice, for wee both descended
of the line of Plutarch, lay in one belly, sucked the same paps, and
were brought up together in one house. And further there is no
other difference betweene us two, but that she is married more
honourably than I : I am the same Byrrhena whom you have often
heard named among your friends at Home : wherfore I pray you to
take so much pains as to&
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