The Golden Asse
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the philosopher Plutarch, and Sextus his nephew. His wife called
Prudentila was endowed with as much vertue and riches as any
woman might be. Hee himselfe was of an high and comely stature,
gray eyed, his haire yellow, and a beautiful personage. He
flourished in Carthage in the time of Iolianus Avitus and Cl.
Maximus Proconsuls, where he spent his youth in learning the
liberall sciences, and much profited under his masters there,
whereby not without cause hee calleth himself the Nource of
Carthage, and the celestial Muse and venerable mistresse of
Africke. Soone after, at Athens (where in times past the well of all
doctrine flourished) he tasted many of the cups of the muses, he
learned the Poetry, Geometry, musicke, Logicke, and the universall
knowledge of philosophy, and studied not in vaine the nine Muses,
that is to say, the nine noble and royal disciplines.
Immediately after he went to Rome, and studied there the Latine
tongue, with such labour and continuall study, that he achieved to
great eloquence, and was known and approved to be excellently
learned, whereby he might worthily be called Polyhistor, that is to
say, one that knoweth much or many things.
And being thus no lesse endued with eloquence, than with singular
learning, he wrote many books for them that should come after :
whereof part by negligence of times be now intercepted and part
now extant, doe sufficiently declare, with how much wisdome and
doctrine hee flourished, and with how much vertue hee excelled
amongst the rude and barbarous people. The like was Anacharsis
amongst the most luskish Scythes. But amongst the Bookes of
Lucius Apuleius, which are perished and prevented, howbeit greatly
desired as now adayes, one was intituled Banquetting questions,
another entreating of the nature of fish, another of the generation of
beasts, another containing his Epigrams, another called
'Hermagoras' : but such as are now extant are the foure books
named 'Floridorum', wherein is contained a flourishing stile, and a
savory kind of learning, which delighteth, holdeth, and rejoiceth the
reader marvellously; wherein you shall find a great variety of
things, as leaping one from another : One excellent and copious
Oration, containing all the grace and vertue of the art Oratory,
where he cleareth himself of the crime of art Magick, which was
slanderously objected against him by his Adversaries, wherein is
contained such force of eloquence and doctrine, as he seemeth to
passe and excell himselfe. There is another booke of the god of the
spirit of Socrates, whereof St. Augustine maketh mention in his
booke of the definition of spirits, and description of men. Two
other books of the opinion of Plato, wherein is briefly contained that
which before was largely expressed. One booke of Cosmography,
comprising many things of Aristotles Meteors. The Dialogue of
Trismegistus, translated by him out of Greeke into Latine, so fine,
that it rather seemeth with more eloquence turned into Latine, than
it was before written in Greeke. But principally these eleven
Bookes of the 'Golden Asse', are enriched with such pleasant
matter, with such excellency and variety of flourishing tales, that
nothing may be more sweet and delectable, whereby worthily they
may be intituled The Bookes of the 'Golden Asse', for the passing
stile and matter therein. For what can be more acceptable than this
Asse of Gold indeed. Howbeit there be many who would rather
intitule it 'Metamorphosis', that is to say, a transfiguration or
transformation, by reason of the argument and matter within.
The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus And unto the
Readers of this Book
THAT I to thee some joyous jests
may show in gentle gloze,
And frankly feed thy bended eares
with passing pleasant prose :
So that thou daine in seemly sort
this wanton booke to view,
That is set out and garnisht fine,
with written phrases new.
I will declare how one by hap
his humane figure lost,
And how in brutish formed shape,
his loathed life he tost.
And how he was in course of time
from such a state unfold,
Who eftsoone turn'd to pristine shape
his lot unlucky told.
What and who he was attend a while, and you shall understand that
it was even I, the writer of mine own Metamorphosie and strange
alteration of figure. Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephire Tenaros,
and Sparta, being fat and fertile soiles (as I pray you give credit to
the bookes of more everlasting fame) be places where myne
antient progeny and linage did sometime flourish : there I say, in
Athens, when I was yong, I went first to schoole. Soone after
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