The Golden Asse
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a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas by great industry, and
without instruction of any schoolmaster, I attained to the full
perfection of the Latine tongue. Behold, I first crave and beg your
pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of you by
the rude and rusticke utterance of this strange and forrein
language. And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond
to the enterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat, I will set
forth unto you a pleasant Grecian jeast. Whereunto gentle Reader
if thou wilt give attendant eare, it will minister unto thee such
delectable matter as thou shalt be contented withall.
THE FIRST BOOKE
THE FIRST CHAPTER
How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with
two strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of
Witches.
As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certaine
affaires which I had to doe ( for there myne auncestry by my
mothers side inhabiteth, descended of the line of that most excellent
person Plutarch, and of Sextus the Philosopher his Nephew, which
is to us a great honour) and after that by much travell and great
paine I had passed over the high mountaines and slipperie vallies,
and had ridden through the cloggy fallowed fields; perceiving that
my horse did wax somewhat slow, and to the intent likewise that I
might repose and strengthen my self (being weary with riding) I
lighted off my horse, and wiping the sweat from every part of his
body, I unbrideled him, and walked him softly in my hand, to the
end he might pisse, and ease himself of his weariness and travell :
and while he went grazing freshly in the field (casting his head
sometimes aside, as a token of rejoycing and gladnesse) I
perceived a little before me two companions riding, and so I
overtaking them made a third. And while I listened to heare their
communication, the one of them laughed and mocked his fellow,
saying, Leave off I pray thee and speak no more, for I cannot abide
to heare thee tell such absurd and incredible lies; which when I
heard, I desired to heare some newes, and said, I pray you masters
make me partaker of your talk, that am not so curious as desirous
to know all your communication : so shall we shorten our journey,
and easily passe this high hill before us, by merry and pleasant
talke.
But he that laughed before at his fellow, said againe, Verily this tale
is as true, as if a man would say that by sorcery and inchantment
the floods might be inforced to run against their course, the seas to
be immovable, the aire to lacke the blowing of windes, the Sunne to
be restrained from his naturall race, the Moone to purge his skimme
upon herbes and trees to serve for sorceries : the starres to be
pulled from heaven, the day to be darkened and the dark night to
continue still. Then I being more desirous to heare his talke than
his companions, sayd, I pray you, that began to tell your tale even
now, leave not off so, but tell the residue. And turning to the other
I sayd, You perhappes that are of an obstinate minde and grosse
eares, mocke and contemme those things which are reported for
truth, know you not that it is accounted untrue by the depraved
opinion of men, which either is rarely seene, seldome heard, or
passeth the capacitie of mans reason, which if it be more narrowly
scanned, you shall not onely finde it evident and plaine, but also
very easy to be brought to passe.
THE SECOND CHAPTER
How Apuleius told to the strangers, what he saw a jugler do in
Athens.
The other night being at supper with a sort of hungry fellowes,
while I did greedily put a great morsel of meate in my mouth, that
was fried with the flower of cheese and barley, it cleaved so fast in
the passage of my throat and stopped my winde in such sort that I
was well nigh choked. And yet at Athens before the porch there
called Peale, I saw with these eyes a jugler that swallowed up a
two hand sword, with a very keene edge, and by and by for a little
money that we who looked on gave him, hee devoured a chasing
speare with the point downeward. And after that hee had
conveyed the whole speare within the closure of his body, and
brought it out againe behind, there appeared on the top thereof
(which caused us all to marvell) a faire boy pleasant and nimble,
winding and turning himself in such sort, that you would suppose he
had neither bone nor gristle, and verily thinke that he were the
naturall Serpent, creeping and sliding on the knotted staffe, which
the god of Medicine is feigned to beare. But turning me to him that
began his tale, I pray you (quoth I) follow your purpose, and I alone
will give credit unto you, and for your paynes will pay your charges
at the next Inne we come unto. To whom he answered Certes sir I
thank you for your gentle offer, and at your request I wil proceed in
my tale, but first I will sweare unto you by the light of this Sunne
that shineth here, that those things shall be true, least when you
come to the next city called Thessaly, you should doubt any thing of
that which is rife in the mouthes
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