 Chapter 8, Part 1 of the Metamorphosis, or Golden Ass. This is in LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Anna Simon. The Metamorphosis, or Golden Ass, by Apileus, translated by Thomas Taylor. Chapter 8, Part 1. At that time of the night in which the cocks growled, a certain young man came from the next city, who appeared to me to be one of the servants of that virgin, charity, who had endured equal sorrows with myself among the robbers. He, sitting near the fire, in the company of his fellow servants, related as follows the wonderful and executable particulars of her death, and the destruction of the whole of her house. Ye equaries, shepherds, and cowards, we have lost the miserable charity and by a most grievous casualty, yet she did not depart to the shades alone. But that all of you may know the particulars, I will narrate to you from the beginning what happened, and which deserves to be committed to writing in the form of a history by a more learned man, on whom fortune has conferred the ability of writing with facility and elegance. There was a young man in the next city, whose name was Thrasilus, of noble birth, an illustrious knight, and at the same time very rich. But he was a man addicted to the luxury of taverns and to harlots and potations by day. On this account he iniquitously associated with the factious bands of robbers, and his hands also had been occasionally dyed with human blood. Such was the man, and such was the report concerning him. But he, as soon as charity was marriageable, was among the number of her principal suitors, and most ardently a devout to obtain her in wedlock. And, though he surpassed an ability all the rest of her lovers, and solicited to her parents with splendid gifts, yet he was rejected by them, on account of his morals, and suffered that his graze of her pulse. When therefore charity, the daughter of my master, came into the hands of the worthy Tlipolimus, Thrasilus, though disappointed in his hopes, yet firmly cherishing his love, and mingling indignation with it, on account of his rejected suit, sought for an opportunity of perpetrating a bloody deed. At length, a seasonable occasion presenting itself, he attempted the wickedness which had for a long time been the subject of his thoughts. And, on the day in which the virgin had been liberated by the cunning and fortitude of her spouse, from the deadly swords of the robbers, he mingled himself with the crowds of those that congratulated her, exulting in a remarkable manner, and rejoicing in the present safety and future offspring of the new married pair. Hence, being received into our house among the principal guests, as an ability of his raise demanded, he falsely assumed the person of a most faithful friend, concealing his wicked design. And now, becoming more and more dear by assiduous narrations and frequent conversation, and sometimes also by eating and drinking with them, he unconsciously precipitated himself by degrees into a profound gulf of love. Nor is this wonderful, since the flame of love at first, indeed, being small, delights with a tepid heat, but afterwards becoming very fierce through the excitation of familiar conversation. At length, holy burns a man with immoderate heat. Hence, threstless for a long time deliberated with himself, how he might find an opportune place for clandestine conference, since he perceived that he was more and more excluded from the avenues to an adulterous intercourse by the multitude of observers, and that the most firm bond of a new and increasing affection could not be dissolved. And still further, at the ignorance of charity in the art of deceiving her husband would be an obstacle to her, even though she should be willing to gratify his passion. Notwithstanding, threstless perceived all this, yet he was impelled by a pernicious obstinacy to affect that which he could not accomplish as if he could. That however, which was now considered as difficult to be done, seemed easy to be affected when love was corroborated by time. Lastly, consider, but I beseech you attentively consider, with what violence the impetus of furious lust burst forth. On a certain day Tlepolimus went to hunting, together with Threstless, for the purpose of searching after wild beasts. If, however, there is any savageness in goats, for charity would not suffer her husband to hunt beasts that were armed with teeth or horns. And now, near a hill abound with leaves and embryos with a thick covering of branches, the passage to the plains being enclosed with nets through the care of the husbandmen, the dogs destined to the sagacious investigation of savage animals, were sent out to attack the wild beasts which happened to be there housed in their retreats. And immediately, being mindful of their crafty art, they divide among themselves and surround all the avenues. And, first softly murmuring, on a signal being suddenly given them, they fill every place with loud and dissonant barkings. Nor did any goat or timid deer nor a stag, which is milder than other beasts, rise from thence. But a large bore, and such as was never before seen, rushed out, having brawny and fat thighs covered with a callous skin, a hides, call it with rough hair, bristled with thorns rising from his spine, foaming at the mouth, grinding his teeth with a crashing noise, emitting fire from his eyes with a threatening aspect, and laying waste everything like thunder by the savage impetus of his raging mouth. And in the first place, indeed, he slew the most eager of the dogs who approached the nearest to him, lacerating them with his tusks, which he extended in all directions. Afterwards, having trampled on the nets, he ran through them, to wherever his first impetus directed him. And all of us, indeed, being seized by fear as we had been accustomed to harmless hunting, and were then also without arms, and without any means of defence, latently concealed ourselves under the taguments of leaves or behind trees. But Thrasilus, having found a fit opportunity of acting fraudulently, thus insidiously addressed to the Polymos. Why, being confused by stupor or by vain fear, like these object servants, or rejected by feminine terror, do we suffer so profitable a prey to escape our hands? Why do we not leap on our horses and swiftly pursue this wild beast? Do you take a hunting spear, and I will take a lance? And, without least a lay, they immediately leapt on their horses, following with the greatest ardour the beast. But the boar, not forgetting his genuine vigor, turned back, and, burning with the fire of ferocity, and grinding his teeth, considered doobiesly on whom he should first rush. Tlapelimus, however, first sent his spear into the back of the beast. But Thrasilus, sparing indeed the boar, struck with his lance, and cut off the hind legs of the horse on which Tlapelimus rode. The horse reclining to that part from which the blood flowed, and being entirely laid on his back, unwillingly threw his masses to the ground. Nor was it long before the furious boar attacked him as he was lying on the earth, and first lacerated his garments, but afterwards Tlapelimus himself, frequently biting him as he was rising from the ground. Nor did his good friend, Thrasilus, repent of his nefarious undertaking, nor could he be satiated, though he perceived that satisfaction was made to his cruelty by so great a danger. But while he, being astounded, covered his wounded legs, and miserably implored his assistance, Thrasilus drove his lance through his right thigh, and did it more confidently, because he thought that the wounds which he had made with his lance would resemble the scissors of teeth. Nevertheless, he easily also transfixed the beast. The young man, being thus slain, all of his servants were called from our retreats, and ran, soaring, obedient to his call. But he, though his wish was accomplished, and though he rejoiced in the death of his enemy, yet in his countenance he concealed his joy, assumed a severe aspect, and pretended to be grieved. Embracing also with avidity the body which he had made a corpse, he craftily dissembled all the offices of mourners. But tears alone were unwilling to be shed. Thus, conforming himself to the similitude of us who truly lamented, he fraudulently attributed to the bore the crime of his own hand. Scarcely, however, had this wicked deed been transacted when rumour divulged it, directed its first course to the house of Tlapulemus, and struck the ears of his unhappy wife. But she, indeed, as soon as she received this information, alike to which she had never heard, being deprived of reason and stimulated by madness, hurried through the popular streets and solitary fields, and ran like one of the furious Bacchee, pitifully bewailing the fate of her husband. A sorrowful multitude of the citizens assemble on the occasion, and those that meet follow her, mingling their grief with hers. The whole city likewise is deserted through the desire of seeing the melancholy event, and behold, charity runs to the dead body of her husband, and fainting through herself wholly upon it, so that she almost in that very place returned a life which he had devoted to him. But being with difficulty raised by the hands of her attendants, she unwillingly continued in existence. The remains of Tlapulemus, however, were brought to the funeral par, at all the people attending the mournful procession. In the meantime Thresolus began to forciverate excessively and to beat his breast, and now, his joy increasing, he poured forth tears which he could not do in the beginning of his feigned sorrow, and falsified truth itself by the many appellations of friendship which he used, for he sorrowfully called him his friend, his equal, his companion, and lastly his brother, at the same time also adding his name. Sometimes, likewise, he prevented the hands of charity from striking her breasts and devouring to appease her sorrow, to restrain her lamentations, to blunt the sharpness of her grief by alluring words, and to frame a web of solace from various examples of the instability of fortune. Nevertheless, he did not forget, amidst all his pretended offices of piety, his design of invagling the woman, and nourished his own odious love by nefarious blendishments. As soon, however, as the funeral rites were finished, the woman immediately hastened to descend to her husband, and tried all possible ways of affecting her purpose. She certainly attempted that placid and tranquil method which requires no hostile weapons, but resembles gentle sleep. For at length, having concealed herself in profound darkness, she wasted a way together with the light, through a miserable abstinence from food and squalid negligence, but Thrasolus, through pertinacious importunity, partly by himself and partly through the rest of her friends and necessary familiars, and also through the parents of charity, persuaded her at length to refresh her members with the bath and with food, as they were now almost in a decayed condition from paleness and filth. She, however, who in other respects revered her parents unwillingly indeed but yielding to a religious necessity, performed, as she was ordered, the offices of the living, not indeed with a joyful, but with a little more serene countenance, her mind, at the same time, being profoundly distracted with sorrow and grief. She likewise consumed whole days and nights in sorrowful desire, and worshipping with divine honours, and with a sitious reverence, the image of her dead husband, which she had formed so as to resemble the god Bacchus, she tormented herself by that solace of her woe. But Thrasolus, being precipitated and rash, before tears had satiated her grief, and the fury of a disturbed mind was mitigated, and before sorrow had vanished by the long duration of its vehemence, did not hesitate to speak to her about wedlock, while she was yet lamenting her husband, while she was yet lacerating her garments, and was yet tearing her hair, and thus impudently disclosed the silent secrets of his breast, and his ineffable stand. Charity, however, abhorred and detested his wicked suit, and she sunk down and lost all sense as if she had been struck by violent thunder, and by the influence of some baneful star, or by the lightning of Jupiter. But after a certain interval of time, gradually recovering her spirits, she reiterated her wild clamours, and when she saw the scene which the most iniquitous Thrasolus had prepared, she deferred the desire of the petitioner to the examination of council. Then, during the delay which this occasioned, the shade of the miserably slain Tlapulemus, lifting up his face, defiled with gore, and deformed by paleness, interrupted the chaste sleep of his wife, by thus addressing her. My dear wife, by which appellation it is not lawful for you to be called by any other person, if the memory of me still remains in your breast, or of the calamity of my bitter death dissolves the compact of our love, marry more felicitously some other person, only do not connect yourself with that sacrilegious Thrasolus, nor speak to, nor recline at the same table, nor repose in the same bed with him. Avoid the bloody right hand of my murderer, and do not commence your noopchills from parasite. Those wounds, the blood of which these tears of yours have washed away, are not wholly the wounds inflicted by the teeth of the bore, but the lans of the wicked Thrasolus has separated me from thee. He also erred the rest, and disclosed the whole of the wicked scene. But she, as soon as, still sorrowing, she began to close her eyes in sleep, impressing her face on the bed, moistened her beautiful cheeks with flowing tears, even in her sleep, and being excited by this vision as by some more like machine from her unquiet rest, she renewed her sorrow, and for a long time loudly lamented. And, tearing her undergarment, she beat her graceful arms with her cruel hands. Nevertheless, not communicating to any one her nocturnal visions, but entirely disembling the indication of the wicked deed, she determined with herself to punish the most iniquitous murderer, and silently withdraw herself from a miserable life. Again, then, behold, the detestable suitor of improvident pleasure was present assailing ears that were close to nuptial petitions. But she, mildly rejecting the request of Thrasolus, and disembling her design with admirable cunning, replied as follows, to him urging and supplyantly requesting her consent. That beautiful face of your brother, that is, of him whom you call brother, and of my most dear husband, is yet familiarly present to my eyes, as yet the fragrant odor of a sweet body runs through my nostrils, as yet the beautiful Tlapulemus lives in my breast. You will do well, therefore, if you grant to a most miserable woman an interval of time necessary to legitimate grief, till the remaining space of the year is completed by the residual months. And this is a thing indeed which both regards my modesty and your solitary advantage, lest, by acting otherwise, we should happen to excite by immature nuptials the shade of my husband, rendered severe through a just indignation to the destruction of your safety. Thrasolus, however, not being recalled to prudence and moderation by this speech, nor being at least renovated by the seasonable promise, did not seize frequently to urge charity with the base murmurs of his bestiferous tongue, till at length she, pretending that she was vanquished, said, however, my Thrasolus, it is necessary that you should earnestly comply with this my request, that we may in the interim be secretly and silently connected with each other, and that no one of the domestics may perceive it till the expiration of the remaining days of the year. Thrasolus yielded to the promise of the fallacious woman most willingly consented to the proposal of a clandestine connection, and besides this, ardently wished for the obscurity of night, making everything else a secondary consideration to the desire of enjoying charity. But charity said to him, be careful that you come well disguised and without any attendance, and at the beginning of the night approach to my door, being satisfied with signifying by one whistle that you are there, waiting for my nurse, who shall watch for you at the bars of the gate, and having opened it, shall receive you and bring you to my bed-chamber without the testimony of any light. The apparatus of the deadly noobchills pleased Thrasolus, and not suspecting anything sinister but being disturbed by expectation, he only complained of the extent of the day and the prolongation of the night. When, however, the sun had given place to the night, Thrasolus being disguised conformably to the mandate of charity and deceived by the fraudulent vigilance of the nurse, crept into the bed-chamber with precipitant hope. Then the old woman, the nurse of charity, receiving him with blandishment by the command of her mistress, secretly bringing forth cups and a vessel filled with wine mingled with a soporiferous poison, and pretending that the delay of her mistress was owing to her attendance on her father, who was ill, she easily buried him in sleep by the frequent cups of wine which she gave him, and which he fearlessly drank. And now he, being in a condition in which he was exposed to all injuries and lying supine, charity being called, entered, and raging, attacked him with a masculine mind and dire impetus, and stood over the homicide. Behold, said she, the faithful companion of my husband, behold the egregious hunter, behold my dear spouse. This is that right hand which shed my blood. This is the breast which contrived fraudulent stratagems to my destruction. These are the eyes which I have unfortunately pleased, which nevertheless, now after certain manner entering on future darkness, will intercede the impending punishment. Sleep securely, enjoy delightful dreams. I shall not attack you with a sword, nor with any other weapon. Far be it from me that I should wish to equal you with my husband by a similar kind of death. Your eyes shall die, you being alive, nor shall you seem to be anything except in sleep. I will take care to make you feel that the death of your enemy is more felicitous than your life. Certainly you shall not see the light, you shall be in want of the hand of a guide, you shall not embrace charity, you shall not enjoy your expected nuptials, nor shall you be recreated with the repose of death, nor delighted with the pleasure of life, but you shall wander between the infernal regions and the sun, like some ambiguous image. You shall for a long time explore the hand which deprived you of sight, and what is the most miserable of all things in calamity, you shall be ignorant of whom you ought to complain. I will pour out the blood of your eyes as a sacrifice at the sepulchre of my Tlipolimas, and I will send those eyes as a funeral offering to his sacred shade. But why, by my delay, do you derive any gain from the punishment which you deserve? And perhaps you now imagine to yourself that you are enjoying my embraces which will be to you pestiferous, leaving therefore the darkness of sleep awake to another pinot obscurity. Lift up your face, deprived of eyes, recognize my revenge, understand your misfortune, and compute your miseries. It is thus that your eyes are pleasing to a chaste woman, it is thus that nutchill torches have illuminated your bedchamber. You'll have the furies for your bright maids, and blindness, and the perpetual stimulus of an accusing conscience for your companions. Charity having thus prophesied, and taken from her head a needle by which she separated her hairs, she pierced with it wholly the eyes of Thrasolus, and leaving him entirely sightless, while the cause of his pain being unknown he shakes off a variety together with sleep. She, seizing a drawn salt which Tlipolimas was accustomed to wear by his sight, ran furiously through the middle of the city, and longing to accomplish I know not what wicked deed directly went to the tomb of her husband. But we, and all the people abandoning our houses, anxiously pursued her, mutually exhorting each other to rest the salt from her insane hands. Charity, however, standing near to the coven of Tlipolimas, and driving every one away with her glittering salt, when she beheld the abundant tears and various lamentations of all the crowd, said, Seize this important weeping, and lay aside this grief which is foreign to my fortitude. I have taken vengeance on the cruel destroyer of my husband. I have punished the deadly robber of my nutshells, and it is now time that, with this sword, I should seek the downward path to my Tlipolimas. And having narrated in order everything which her husband had told her in a dream, and by what craft she had attacked the deceived Thrasolus, having buried the sword in her right breast, she fell down, and rolling herself in her own blood, and in the last place, stammering words of an uncertain meaning, she breathed out her virile soul. Then immediately the friends of the miserable Charity, having washed her body, restored her to her husband as a perpetual wife, by burying her with him in the same Sepulchre. Thrasolus, however, becoming acquainted with all these particulars, and not being able to repay a death adapted to the present tragical event, and also knowing that his sword was not sufficient to expiate so great a weakness, was voluntarily brought to the same Sepulchre. There, too, frequently exclaiming, O ye shades, hostile to me, behold your spontaneous victim is present. And, having diligently clothed the doors of the Sepulchre upon himself, he determined by fasting to emit his spirit now condemned by his own decision. The servant of Charity, profoundly sighing, and sometimes weeping, told all these particulars to the rustics, who were very much affected by his narration. Then they, fearing their novelty occasion by changing their master, and more deeply lamenting the calamity of the house of their lord, prepared themselves for flight. But the keeper of the horses, to whose care I had been committed, with great commendation, brought out of the cottage whatever was very valuable, and which he had kept concealed in it, and having laden me and the other laboring beasts with it, he left his pristine habitation. We carried little infants and women, we carried bullets, geese, kits and welps, and, in the last place, whatever retarded our flight by its infirm step, that also walked with our feet, that is, was carried by us. Nor did the weight of the burden, though it was enormous, oppress me, because I left with a joyful flight that detestable amputator of my virility. When we descended to the arduous summit of a woody mountain, and had from thence descended into the plains beneath, the evening now darkening our path, we came to a certain populous and opulent castle, the inhabitants of which dissuaded us from our nocturnal, or even a mourning aggression from thence. For they told us that numerous wolves, large, burdened with a great mass of flesh, and raging with excessive ferocity, were accustomed to prowl about everywhere, and infest by the repine the whole of that region. They added that they also now lay in wait in those very roads, and attack, like robbers, those that pass through them. And, moreover, that, being rabid through insane hunger, they assaulted the neighbouring virges, and that, in consequence of this, the death which is alone adapted to the most inert cattle, now impended over the heads of men. And lastly, that the half-eaten bodies of men lay in the very road through which we must pass, that everything was white with bones denudated of their flesh. That, on this account, we also ought to proceed in that road with the greatest caution, and to observe especially that, in order to avoid the everywhere-latent snares, we should pass through those dangerous places in a troop not dispersed into small parties, but compacted into one wedge. And this, when it is perfectly light, when the day is advanced, and the sun is bright, and the impetus of dire beasts is repressed by the light. But those most iniquitous fugitives are leaders despising the salutary admonition through the temerity of a blind fascination, and the fear of an uncertain pursuit, without waiting for the approaching light of day, forced us laden on our journey, nearly about the third watch of the night, that is, about midnight. Then I, not being ignorant of the before mentioned danger, was careful to defend my back from the attacks of those wild beasts, by proceeding, as much as I was able, in the middle of the troop, and concealing myself among the laboring beasts which surrounded me. And now all the rustics wandered at my surpassing in velocity the other horses. That swiftness, however, was not an indication of my elecrity, but of my fear. At length I thought myself that the celebrated Pegasus was more swift through fear, and on this account was deservedly said to be winged, while he leapt upward, and rebounded as far as to the heavens, in consequence of dreading the bite of the ignphemous Chimera. For those shepherds who led us had armed their hands as if they were going to fight. This man bore a lance, that a hunting spear, another a dart, and another a staff. And they also carried stones, with which, from the rough road, they were largely supplied. Some likewise carried, in an elevated position, very sharp hatch-stakes, but most of them terrified the wild beasts by burning torches, and nothing but a trumpet was wanting to make our troop an army prepared for battle. Though, however, we in vain sustained that sufficiently empty fear, yet we fell into far worse dangers. For no wolves came against us, either, perhaps, through being terrified of the compact multitude of young men, or certainly by the excessive light of the torches, or because they went elsewhere in search of prey. And not even at a great distance from us were any wolves to be seen. But the rustics of the village, near which we happened to be then passing, thinking that our troop was a band of robbers, and being sufficiently attentive to our their own concerns, and fearful in the extreme, excited against us, with their usual clemmas, and every kind of ossiferation. Furious and large dogs which were more cruel than any wolves and bears, and which they had very diligently nourished, with a view to their own safety. These dogs, besides their own genuine ferocity, being exasperated by the tumult of their masters, rushed against us, and pouring round us on all sides, leapt everywhere upon us, and without making any distinction lesserated at once both the laboring beasts and the men. And after having for a long time assaulted us, they threw many of us to the ground. You might have seen as spectacle not by Hercules so memorable as miserable, that is, a great number of dogs, some of which furiously seized on them that were flying, others attacked those that were standing still, and others leaped on those that were prostrate, and bit the whole of our troop as they passed through it. Behold, too, a greater evil followed our extreme danger. For those rustics suddenly rolled upon us stones from the tops of their houses, and from a neighbouring hill, so that we could by no means judge whether we should principally avoid the dogs who attacked us near at hand or the stones which were thrown at us from afar, one of which indeed suddenly struck the head of the woman who sat on my back. But she, being moved by the pain produced by the blow, immediately weeping and forciferating, implored the assistants of the shepherd, her husband. He, however, invoking the faith of the gods and wiping away the blood of his wife, exclaimed in a louder voice, Why do you so savagely attack and oppress us, miserable men, and laborious travellers? Of what thefts are you afraid? What losses are you avenging? But you do not dwell in the caves of wild beasts or in the rocks of barbarians that you should rejoice in shedding human blood? Scarcely had he thus said, when immediately the thick shower of stones seized and the storm of the ferocious dogs was appeased on their being recalled. At length one of those rustics said from the summit of a cypress tree, We do not act in this manner as if we were robbers through the desire of attaining your spoils, but we repel from ourselves the slaughter which we fear from your hands. Now therefore you may depart secure and entranquil peace. Thus he, we, however, proceeded on the rest of our journey, being wounded in various parts of our bodies, one with stones, another with the bites of dogs, and all of us were violently hurt. Chapter 8 Part 1 Chapter 8 Part 2 of The Metamorphosis or Golden Ass This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Anna Simon. The Metamorphosis or Golden Ass by Apileus. Translated by Thomas Taylor. Chapter 8 Part 2 After we had travelled to some distance we arrived at a certain grove planted with lofty trees and delightfully pleasant with open grass-plats. Here our leaders thought fit to rest a little and refresh themselves with food and also diligently attend to the cure of their bodies which were wounded in various parts. Reclining themselves, therefore, everywhere on the ground, they first began to restore their various spirits, and afterwards they hastened to apply different remedies to their wounds. This man repressed his tumours with wet sponges, but another bound his gaping wounds with bandages, and after this manner each of them paid attention to his own welfare. In the meantime a certain old man was seen from the top of a hill, whom the goats that were feeding about him evidently proclaimed to be a shepherd. Him, one of our company asked, whether he had any milk to sell, either liquid or coagulated into new cheese. But he, shaking his head for a long time, said, Do you now think of meat or drink, or in short of any refreshment? Are you perfectly ignorant of the place into which you are come? Having thus said, he turned away and departed far from us, driving along his sheep. These words, however, and his flight, produced no small fear in our shepherds, and while they, being terrified, longed to inquire into the nature of the place, and do not find anyone who can give them this information. Another old man, who was tall indeed, but oppressed with age, wholly leaning on a staff and drawing along his varied steps, approached us in our journey, weeping abundantly. On perceiving us also, he embraced the knees of each of those young men, and thus addressed them, the tears copiously folding as he spoke. I beseech you, by your fortunes and your geni, and so, by granting my request, may you arrive at the space of my old age, strong and joyful. Assist a debil old man, and restorm to me, from the realms beneath, my little one, who has snatched from me at this advanced period of my life. For my nephew, and the sweet companion of this my journey, while accidentally endeavouring to catch a sparrow that was singing in a little hedge, fell into a ditch which was near him, and which was concealed by the shrubs that covered it, and his life is now in extreme danger. For I know by his weeping, and by the voice of him, often calling on the bird, that he is still living, but I am unable to assist him, on account, as you may see, of the infirm condition of my body. To you, however, it will be easy, through the possession of youth and strength, to succour a most miserable old man, and to preserve from me that boy, my last successor, and my only offspring. All that hurt him, indeed, commiserated him, thus supplicating and tearing his hoary ass. But one who is more courageous than the rest, and also younger, and stronger in body, and who alone had escaped unheard by the preceding battle, promptly arose, and inquiring in what place the boy fell, he, without delay, followed the old man, who pointed out to him, with his finger, a thicket of brambles, rough with thorns. And while we, quadrupeds, were refreshed by food, but the men by the attention they had paid to their wounds, every one taking his bundle, we resumed our journey. And, in the first place, they frequently and loudly called to the young man, by his own proper name. But afterwards, being alarmed by his long stay, they sent one of their company to call him, who might search for and admonish him, that it was time to depart, and might bring this their companion back with him. But he, having stayed for a short time, returned, and, trembling and pale, like the wood of the box-tree, related marvellous things of his associate. For he said that he saw an enormous dragon lying upon and eating their companion, who was prostrate, and which had now devoured the greatest part of his body, and that the miserable old man was not anywhere to be seen. On hearing this, and comparing it with the words of the shepherd, whom we had seen on the top of a hill, and who, doubtless by his threats, admonished our people of that inhabitant of this region, and of no other, they fled most rapidly from that most noxious place, and drove us along, by frequently beating us with their staves. At length, having, with great celerity, finished a long journey, we came to a certain village, and there we rested through the whole of the night. And I am desirous of narrating an atrocious deed of a very memorable nature which I there heard. A certain servant to whom his master had committed the whole protection of his family, and who was the bailiff of that most ample village at which we stopped, though he had a wife, who was a fellow servant with him, pertaining to the same master, yet burned with the desire of enjoying a certain woman, who was free, and a foreigner, through which adulterous love, his wife, being stimulated by jealousy, burned all her husband's account books, and whatever was contained concealed in his storehouse. Nor was she content with having avenged the injury of her bed by this damage, but now, raging against her own bowels, she made a hold of herself, and bound with the same rope the little child which she had not long before brought forth from the same husband, and precipitated herself into a very deep well, drawing along with her the appendent infant. The master, however, of this woman and of her husband, being very much concerned for her death, seized the servant who had been the cause of his wife perpetrating so dire a deed, and firmly bound him, naked, and wholly bedopped with honey, to a fig tree, in the putrid stock of which a multitude of ants had settled, and poured themselves forth from the earth in different directions. These, as soon as they perceived the sweet and honeyed odor of his body, entirely adhered to it by small indeed, but numerous and continued bites, and so denudedated his members by long torment from their eating his flesh and viscera, and thus consuming the whole man, that at length his bones were left bare and exceedingly white, and still remained fixed to the deadly tree. Abandoning also this detestable mention we again proceed on our journey, leaving the rustics in the greatest sorrow, and having travelled during the whole day through level ground, we at length arrived wary at a certain populace and noble city. In this place those shepherds determined to dwell, and there to fix their perpetual habitation, because the city appeared to them to be a safe retreat from those who might search for them from a remote region, and they were also invited to settle there by the blessed abundance of provisions with which it was supplied. Lastly, having refreshed the bodies of us quadruplets for three days, in order that we might appear to be more saleable, we were brought to the market, and the crier having proclaimed the prize of each of us with a loud voice, the other horses and asses were bought by opulent merchants, but I, being the only one that remained, was passed over by most of the merchants with contempt. And now, through the weariness arising from being handled by those who computed my age for my teeth, I seized with my teeth, and shattered the filthy hand of a certain person who frequently rubbed my gums with his putrid fingers, which thing deterred the bystanders from buying me as being most ferocious. Then the crier, when he had in vain spent his breath and made himself halls in proclaiming me, began to compose ridiculous jests on my fortune. To what end, said he, do we in vain expose to sale this vile and old ass, the bile with worn-out hoofs, deformed in collars, ferocious in a stupid sluggishness, and who is nothing else than a bolter, or sieve, to separate meal from bran, through the numerous and wide apertures of his hide? Wherefore, let us give him to someone, if there is anyone who will not be grieved to lose his hay. After this manner, the crier excited the laughter of those by whom I was surrounded. But that most cruel fortune of mine, which, though I had fled through so many regions, I could not avoid, nor appease, by the evils which I had already endured, again turned upon me her blind eyes, and brought a buyer of me, found in a wonderful manner, and most adapted to my severe calamities. Here, therefore, what sort of a person he was, an old catamide, bold indeed, but having long-depending hair, curled and half-grey, one of those vile dregs of the people who compelled the Syrian goddess to beg, carrying her about through streets and towns, and playing on cymbals, and crottola, or rattles. This man, desiring exceedingly to buy me, asked the crier from what country I came. But he announced me to be a Cappadocian, and sufficiently strong. Again, he asked what was my age. But the crier jesting, as if he had been speaking of a man, said, that a certain mathematician, that is, astrologer, who had made a scheme of his nativity, had declared him to be in his fifth year, but that he himself knew this better from his own profession. For though I know that I should incur the penalty of the Cornelian law, if I should sell to you a Roman citizen for a slave, nevertheless, what should hinder you from buying a good and profitable servant who may assist you both abroad and at home? That odious buyer, however, did not cease to ask one question after another, and in the last place anxiously inquired about my mildness. But the quieter this replied, you see, not an ass, but a castrated ram, quietly disposed to all employments, not apt to bite or kick, but such a oneness would induce you to think that a modest man dwelled in the height of an ass. And this is a thing which it is not difficult to ascertain, for you may easily make trial of it by thrusting your face between his thighs, as you will then see how very patient he will show himself to be. In this ludicrous way the choir treated that heluoh. But he, understanding the jest, said indignantly, May the all-powerful and all-parent Syrian goddess, and may the holy Sabaesius, that is, Bacchus, Bologna, and the Idean mother, Sabil, and also the sovereign Venus with her adonis, cause you, or delirious crier, to be blind and to become a deaf and dumb dead body, who for some time past have been employing against me scurllous jests. Do you think, oh stupid man, that I can commit a goddess to a ferocious ass, which, being disturbed, may suddenly throw off his back the divine image, and compel me, miserable man, to run with the shoveled hair, and search for someone who may raise my goddess from the ground, or repair the injury she may have sustained? On hearing this, it suddenly occurred to me to leap as if I was furiously insane, in order that he, perceiving me exasperated by ferocity, might desist from buying me. But the buyer, who was anxious to possess me, prevented this, my intention, by immediately paying the sum of seventeen denarii, which my master rejoicing readily received, though to my abhorrence, and directly delivered me, tied with a cord of bullrushes, to Philibus, for this was the name of my new master. And he, taking me as a new slave, brought me to his house, and immediately exclaimed from the very threshold of it, Hello and behold, girls, I have bought for you a beautiful servant, and have let him hither. Those girls, however, were nothing more than a company of wanton dancers, who, immediately exulting for joy, raised dissonant clamours with a broken, hoarse, and effeminate voice, thinking that some man-servant had been in reality procured to wait on them. But when they saw it was not a stag that succeeded in the place of a virgin, but that an ass was substituted for a man, they, with turned-up nose, revolved their master in different ways, and told him that he had not brought a servant for them, but a husband for himself. They added, Mind that you do not keep this little ass solely for your own enjoyment, but make us also, sometimes, a partaker of the object of your regard. Thus, mutually babbling, they fasted me to the next manger. There was a certain young man, very corpulent, and very skillful in playing on the flute for contributions of money which were made by those that heard him, and who, abroad, preceded those that carried about the goddess, playing at the same time on his flute, but was a common catamide at home. This young man, as soon as he saw me in the house, willingly placed before me food in great abundance, and thus joyfully addressed me. At length thou hast come as my substitute in the endurance of miserable labour, and may you live long, and please our masters, and prevent any further exertion of my debilitated powers. On hearing this I revolved my future new miseries in my mind, but on the following day they went out, clothed with garments of various colors, each of them having a deformed appearance, their faces being bedopped with dirty pigment, but their eyes elegantly painted, and having small mitres on their heads, and wearing saffron-colored linen and silken vestments. Some of them also had white tunics painted with purple, diffused through all the parts like small lances, and girded underneath with a zone, and their shoes were of a saffron color. They likewise placed the goddess, covered with a silken veil, on my back in order that I might carry her, and having their arms bare as far as to their shoulders, and holding up very large soles and axes, they proceeded leaping like those possessed with Bacchic fury, and exciting insane dancing by the sound of the pipe. And when they had passed by not a few small cottages, they came to a certain village, the owner of which was an opulent man, and at their first entrance, vociferating with dissonant clemmas, they phonetically rushed into it, having their heads likewise for a long time in an inclined position, bending their necks, wantonly tossing their penniless hair with a circle of emotion, and sometimes biting their muscles, they, in the last place, cut their arms with a two-edged sword which they carried. In the meantime, one of these was more largely seized with Bacchanalian fury, and fetching frequent and profound size, as if he had been filled with the divine afflators of the goddess, he pretended that he was seized with insanity. Just as men are accustomed through the presence of the gods not to become better than they were before, so far as pertain to the body, but to be rendered debile or diseased. In the last place, consider what reward he received through divine providence. He began under false pretense to blame and accuse himself with a clamorous prediction, as if he had perpetrated something contrary to the laws of sacred religion, and, besides this, he also required that a just punishment for his wicked deed might be immediately inflicted on him by his own hands. Seizing, therefore, a whip which it is usual for those half-men to care with them, and which consists of twisted woolen fillets hanging down in long fringes, and is checkered with many pasteurant bones of sheep, he gave himself with it many lashes which were severe on account of the numerous knots of the whip. Being fortified with a wonderful firmness against the pain of the blows, you might perceive that the ground was moistened with the filthiness of the effeminate blood which flowed from the cuts of the swords and the lashes of the whips, which circumstance produced in me no small solicitude on my perceiving the blood copiously streaming from so many wounds, lest the stomach of a foreign goddess should happen to desire asinine blood, just that the stomach of some men wishes to have asinine milk. When, however, being at length wearied, or at least satiated, with the laceration of himself, he gave a respite to his torments. They received in their open bosoms brass and also silver coin, which many offered them, contending with each other who should give the most. Besides this, likewise, they received from some a cask of wine, and milk, and cheese, and a quantity of wheat and barley. But others gave barley to me, the bearer of the goddess. After this, they greedily collected everything, and in closing what they had collected in sacks prepared for this species of gain, they placed it on my back, so that, being oppressed to the weight of a twofold burden, I was at one, and the same time, a walking barn and temple. Wondering after this manner, they plundered all that region. But being exhilarated by the abundance of more than usual gain, they prepared a genial feast in a certain castle. For this purpose, through the fraud of a fictitious divination, they earnestly requested a very fat ram of a certain husbandman, in order that they might satisfy by sacrificing it the hunger of the Syrian goddess. And the supper being properly arranged, they betake themselves to the bath. And after they had washed themselves, they brought with them to the supper a certain very robust rustic, who was well prepared for their purpose but a strength of his sides. And having tasted of a very few small herbs, those most filthy catamides were excited before the table itself, to the extreme wickedness of illicit lust. And everywhere, spreading themselves round the naked and supine young man, they importune him with their extracurable purancy. My eyes, however, not being able any longer to endure such wickedness, I endeavoured to exclaim, O, currides! But, O, alone proceeded from my lips, destitute of the other syllables and letters, clear indeed and strong, and adapted to the pronunciation of an ass, but perfectly inopportune as to time. For many young men from the next village, who had been inquiring for an ass that had been stolen from them by night, and who had explored all the stables with a vehement desire of finding it, on hearing me pray within the house, thinking the ass which they had lost was concealed in a secret part of that dwelling, burst into it, unexpectedly with hasty steps in order to seize openly their own property, and clearly detected them in the perpetration of their extracurable filthiness. Now also immediately calling the neighbours together on all sides, they disclosed that most filthy scene. And besides this, they, in the way of ridicule, praised the most purest chastity of the priests. They, however, being very much troubled on account of the infamy, which easily spreading through the mouth of the people, would deservedly render them odious and extracurable to all men, collected all their property, and secretly departed from the castle about midnight. Having also accomplished a good part of their journey before the rising of the sun, when it was now clear day, they came into impervious deserts, and having first conferred much with each other, they prepared themselves to put me to death. Taking the goddess their foe from my back, and placing on the ground, they stripped me of all my harness, bound me to a certain oak, and lashing me with that whip which was furnished with the pastern bones of sheep, after the manner of a chain, they almost brought me to extreme death. There was likewise one who threatened to cut the nerves of my hams with a cruel axe, because I had triumphed over his pure modesty, through revealing by my brain his extracurable lust. But the rest thought that my life should be spared in consequence of looking not to my safety, but to that of the image which was lying on the ground. Again, therefore, driving me along, laden with bundles, by striking me with the flat part of their swords, they came to a certain noble city. There, a man of the first consequence, who was also religious, and in a remarkable degree revered the gods, ran to meet us, being excited by the tickling of the cymbals, the sound of the drums, and the sweet modulations of the friggin harmony. Receiving likewise the goddess in his hospitable dwelling which was devoted to religious purposes, he placed all of us within the enclosure of his most ample house, and endeavored to propitiate the goddess by the greatest veneration and fat victims. Here, too, I remember I was especially in danger of losing my life. For a certain rustic sent as a gift to this religious man, who was his master, a very fat hodge of a large stag which was a part of his hunting. This, being carelessly suspended behind the kitchen door, at no very great height from the floor, a certain dog, which was also of the hunting kind, latently seized it, and rejoicing in his prey, rapidly fled from the view of those to whose care the hodge was committed. But the cook, when this loss was known, condemning his own negligence, and having for a long time lamented with inefficacious tears, and dreading the consequence, because his master would in a short time want his supper, closely embraced his infant son, and, seizing a rope, attempted to hang himself. The extreme misfortune, however, of the husband was not concealed from his faithful wife, but violently seizing with both her hands the deadly rope. Are you, said she, so terrified by the present evil as to be out of your mind? And do you not perceive the fortuitous remedy which the providence of the gods administers to you? For if you are at all capable of reflecting in this extreme tempest of fortune, listen to me attentively. Lead that foreign ass into some remote place, there slay him, and cut off his thigh in the form of the hodge which you have lost, and set it before your master in the place of the stag, diligently cooked, and highly seasoned with minced meat. The most iniquitous knave was pleased with the idea of saving his own life by my death, and having very much praised the sagacity of his wife, he also sharpened his knives in order to effect my destined slaughter. After this manner, that most iniquitous executioner armed his impious hands against me. Bhattai determined in consequence of counsel being precipitated by the presence of so great a danger, without waiting the delay of long deliberation to avoid by flight the impending slaughter of my body. And immediately bursting the cord by which I was tied, I hurried along with all the force of my feet, skirmishing by frequently employing my heels in defense of my safety, and rapidly running through the first porch I violently entered without delay into a dining-room, in which the master of the house was at supper, with the priests of the goddess feasting on the flesh of the victims which he had immolated, and by thus rushing in I broke and overturned many of the dishes, and also the tables, and other things of the like kind, by which foul destruction the master of the house being dismayed, he delivered me to a certain servant, and ordered him to keep me very diligently shut up, as important and wanton, in a place where I might not again disturb by a like petulance the tranquil banquet. There, being craftily defended by my sagacious counsel, and snatched from the midst of the hands of the executioner, I rejoiced in the custody of my salutary prism. But, indeed, it is not possible that anything prosperous can happen to one who is born a man without the concurrence of fortune, nor can the fatal order of things as established by divine providence be subverted or renewed by any prudent counsel or sagacious remedy. Lastly, that crafty device itself by which I seemed to have found a momentary safety reduced for me another great danger, but rather present death. For a certain menial lad, as I afterwards heard the domestics tell each other at low voice, burst into the dining room with a countenance agitated by terror, and announced to his master that a mad dog had a little before run from the next street with a wonderful celerity through the back door, and it attacked the hunting dogs with a perfectly vehement fury. And afterwards had proceeded into the next stable and rushed on the greater part of the laboring beasts in a similar rage, and in the last place that he had not spared even the men themselves. For he said that myrtilus, the mule-tier, Hephaestian, the cook, Hepatius, the chamberlain, Apollonius, the physician, and many others of the family, while they endeavored to avoid the dog, were all of them lacerated by it with various bites, and that some of the laboring beasts, which had been wounded by its venomous bites, were now seized with a similar fury. This narration immediately agitated the minds of all that heard it, and thinking that I also was affected with the same disease, they took up arms of every description and pursued me, exhorting each other to repel the common mischief, though at the same time they, rather than I, labored under the same disease of raging madness, and without doubt they would have torn me in pieces with those lances, hunting spears and axes with which they were easily supplied by the servants, if I, considering the storm which was likely to burst upon me suddenly, had not immediately rushed into the bed chamber into which my masters had retired. Then the doors being closed and locked upon me, they surrounded the place, till I, without any danger to their entrance, should be consumed, in consequence of being possessed and devoured by the pervocatious fury of that deadly pestilence. In this situation, having at length gained my liberty and embracing the gift of solitude, with which fortune had presented me, I threw myself on the bed which was there laid, and enjoyed human sleep, which for some time before I had not been able to obtain. And now, it being clear day, I rose in good health, liberated from lassitude, through the soft bed on which I had slept. Then I heard those who had passed a sleepless night in watching about my prison, thus disputing with each other concerning my destiny. Shall we believe that this miserable ass will be agitated with perpetual fury? But indeed, it is rather probable that the poison has become extinct, the rage being quiescent. Thus, difference of opinion led them at length to explore my condition. And looking through a certain fissure, they saw me standing at my ease in a sane and sober state. And now, having of their own accord opened the doors, they made trial whether I was become mild in a more ample manner. But one of them, who was sent from heaven to be my saviour, pointed out to the rest the following method of exploring my sanity, to wit that they should offer me a vessel full of water, recently drawn, and that if I drank of it intrepidly, and after my accustomed manner, they might depend upon it that I was sane and liberated from all disease. But, that on the contrary, if I avoided the sight and contact of the water, and was terrified at the view of it, it would be evident that the noxious fury still pertinaciously remained. For this, which is asserted in ancient books, is also verified by experience. This council being approved, they, still doubting the event, immediately offered me a large vessel full of transparent water drawn from a neighbouring fountain. But I, immediately proceeding to meet them, as I was very thirsty, drank, indeed, those truly salutary waters inclining myself and merging into the vessel the whole of my head. And now I placidly suffered them to pat me with their hands, to stroke my ears, and lead me by the halter, and to do whatever else they pleased in the way of making trial of my sanity. Till, contrary to their insane presumption, I clearly proved my mildness to all of them. After this manner, having escaped too full danger, on the following day I was again led forth to the journey, a circumferenious mendicant, burdened with divine spoils, accompanied by quotala and symbols. And when we had passed by not a few little cottages and castles, we came to a certain village, built among the halfru investiges of a city which was once opulent, as the inhabitants relate. Here, taking up our abode at the first inn that we found, we heard a pleasant narration about a poor man being cuckolded by his wife, which I also wish the reader to know. This man, labouring under great poverty, procured the means of subsistence by the small wages which he received from working as a carpenter. Nevertheless, he had a wife who was herself poor, but famous, or rather infamous, for extreme lasciviousness. But, on a certain day, while he went in the morning to the work which he had undertaken to perform, an audacious adulterer immediately entered latently into his house. And while they fearlessly employ themselves in the colectations of Venus, the husband unexpectedly returned home, ignorant of what was transacting, and at that time suspecting no such thing. And now, praising the continence of his wife, because he perceived that the doors were shut and bolted, he knocked at the gate, announcing also by whistling that he was present. Then, a crafty woman who was most sagacious in the perpetration of crimes of this kind, having freed the man from her restrictive braces, dissemblingly concealed him under a tub which was half buried in the earth in a corner of the house, but was nevertheless empty. And, having opened the street door, she received her husband as he was entering with severe language. And do you thus, said she, come home to me, empty and idle, with your hands in your bosom, nor apply yourself to your accustomed work, in order that you may provide for our subsistence, and procure for us something to eat? But I, unhappy woman, exercise my fingers by night and by day in spinning wool, that at least a lamp may shine within our little abode. How much more happy than I am as our neighbour Daphne, who filling herself early in the morning with wine and meat, wallows with her adulterers! The husband, being thus reproved, said, What do you mean? For though the master of our workshop being attentive to his forensic employment has given us a holiday, nevertheless I have provided for our supper tonight. Do you see that tub which, being superfluous, in vain occupies so much space and in reality affords nothing further than an impediment to our cavitation? This I have sold for five pence to a certain person who is here present, that having paid the price of it, he may take it as his own property with him. Make yourself ready therefore and lend me a hand for a little while that, having scraped it clean, it may be immediately delivered to the buyer. The fallacious woman immediately bursting into an audacious laugh said, The husband which I have married is certainly a great man, and a strenuous negotiator who, while I, an only woman and confined at home, have already sold a thing for seven pence, has sold it for a less sum. The husband, being joyful at the addition of the price of the tub, said, Who is he? Who has bought it at so great a price? To which he replied, He has long ago, stupid man, descended into the tub, in order that he might diligently explore its solidity. Nor was the adulterer deficient in confirming what the woman said, but promptly rising from the tub said, Do you wish, mistress, to know the truth? This tub of yours is too old, and injured in many places by gaping fishers, and turning himself disemblingly to her husband. But do you, said he, my friend, whoever you are, bring me immediately a lamb, that having scraped off the filth which is in the inside of the tub, I may be able to know accurately whether it is fit for use, unless you think that we obtain money in an improper manner. The sagacious and egregious husband, without any delay, and not suspecting anything. Having lit a lamp, said, Dipard, brother, and keep yourself quiet, till I shall have brought this tub into a fit condition for you to receive. And having thus said, he stripped himself, and taking the lamp with him, began to scrape off the indurated feces which adhered to the rotten tub. She, however, putting her head into the tub, diluted her husband with meretricious craft. She poured it out with her finger, this place, and that, and another, and again another, which required to be purified. Till both works being accomplished, the miserable carpenter was compelled, having received seven pens, to carry the tub on his back to the house of the adulterer. Those most pious priests, having remained there for a few days, and been fattened by the public munificence, and laden with many rewards of their divination, devised for themselves a new kind of gain. Having fabricated one oracle, adapted to many cases, they diluted many who consulted them about various particulars. But the oracle was as follows. Together yoked the oxen, till the ground, that stalks abundant, may from thence arise. Then, if any who wished to engage in matrimony from the admonition of the oracle consulted them, they said it answered the very thing which they wished to know, to wit that they should be conjoined in wedlock, in order that they might produce stalks of children. If anyone who was about to buy land interrogated them, they said that the oracle very properly spoke of oxen, as also of the yoke, and of fields flourishing with crops of corn. If someone being solicitous about traveling consulted the divine oracle, they said that the mildest of all quadrupeds were to be now yoked together, and prepared for the journey, and that gain was promised them, through the germ of the glee. And if someone who intended to engage in battle, or to pursue a band of robbers, asked them whether the event of his undertaking would be prosperous or not, they asserted that victory was promised by the predication of the oracle which signified that the necks of the enemies should be brought under the yoke, and a most abundant and fruitful spoil be obtained by rapin. And after this manner, by the fraudulent crafted divination, they collected no inconsiderable sum of money. Being, however, at length exhausted by perpetual interrogations, and by always giving the same answer, they again began to travel through a road much worse than that which we had passed through during the night. For it was interrupted by profound ditches and whirlpools, which were partly filled with stagnant water, and in other places was slippery with myery filth. Lastly, I was scarcely able to arrive at length much-retigued at level paths, my legs being bruised by continual falls. And behold, on a sudden, a troop of armed horsemen came upon us from behind, and having with difficulty restrained the impetus of the running horses, they eagerly flew upon Philebus, and the rest of his associates, and tying them by the neck, and calling them sacrilegious and pure, they sometimes struck them with their fists, bound them fast with manacles, and urged them to produce quickly the golden bowl, and thus bring forth that pledge of their crime, which they had privately stolen from the bed of the mother of the gods under the pretext of solemn rites, which they should secretly perform, and afterwards silently departed at the dawn of day, beyond the boundaries of the city, as if they could escape the punishment of so great a crime. Nor was there wanting one who, putting his hand on my back and searching in the very bosom of the goddess, whom I carried, found the golden bowl and drew it out in the sight of all that were present. But those most impure men could not either be convinced or terrified by the disclosure of a deed which was at least so nefarious, but, jesting, accompanied with a fictitious laugh, they said, behold the unluckiness of an unworthy circumstance, how many innocent men are in danger on account of one bowl only, which the mother of the gods presented as a hospitable gift to her sister, the Syrian goddess. They, having stupidly uttered these and other trifles of the same kind, the rustics led them back and immediately bound and cast them into prison, and the bowl and the image of the goddess, which I carried, being restored and consecrated in that part of the temple where gifts were deposited. On the following day they brought me forth, and again, by the voice of the crier, exposed me to be sold. But a certain baker from the next little town bought me for seven pieces of money more than Philippus had before given for me, and he, having immediately laden me with corn, which he had bought, led me through a road difficult from the little sharp stones with which it abounded, and encumbered with roots of every kind to the mill where he ground his corn. There many laboring beasts turned mills in their different circuits by proceeding through various gyrations. Nor was it by day alone, but also being vigilant through the whole of the night they made flour by the light of a lamp, and the continual rotation of the mills. But my new master afforded me the best accommodation, lest I should be terrified at the rudiments by servitude. For he gave me a holiday the first day, and abundantly furnished my manger with food. That bad attitude, however, of leisure and exuberant food, did not endure any longer than a day. But on the following morning I was bound to that mill which appeared to be the largest, and immediately my eyes being covered to prevent my being giddy from the gyrations, I was impelled into the curved spaces of a circular path, excavated like a canal, so that I might wander with a sure winding in the orb of a circumfluent boundary, with a reciprocal pace, treading my footsteps over again. Nevertheless, not entirely forgetting my sagacity and prudence, I did not show myself an apt Tyro of this discipline. But, though I had frequently seen machines similarly circumvalled when I lived among men, nevertheless I stood still, feigning that I was seized with a stupor as one ignorant of and unskilled in that kind of work, for I thought indeed that I should be employed in some other easier work as being but little adapted and sufficiently useless for labour of that kind, or at least that I should be fed in idleness. I exercised however in vain a pernicious sagacity, for many furnished with staves immediately surrounded me, and as I was even then without fear in consequence of my eyes being covered, on a sudden a signal was given, and with repeated clamours they heaped blows upon me, and so disturbed me with the noise that laying aside all my crafty designs I immediately ran briskly, and strenuously thrust forward with my breast, and with great sagacity, the rope by which through my circuitous course the mill was turned. By this sudden change of counsel, I excited the laughter of all the company, and now the greatest part of the day passed over, they liberated me, that was otherwise much fatigued from the machine, taking off the rope by which I was tied to the mill, and led me to the manger. But I, though excessively fatigued and very much in want of renovation of strength, and almost perishing with hunger, nevertheless being impelled by my usual curiosity and sufficiently anxious, I observed with a certain delight the discipline of that disagreeable workshop, neglecting the food which was placed before me in great abundance. Good gods, what abject fellows were the men that were there? The whole of their skin was marked with livid spots, and their scarred backs were rather shaded and covered with torn garments composed of shreds. Some had only their private parts concealed by a small covering, and all of them were so clothed that their skin might be seen through the intervals of the patches. Their foreheads were marked with letters, their hair was half-shaved off, and their feet were bound with fetters. They were also deformed through paleness, and their eyelids were corroded with the smoky darkness of black vapor, and on this account they had bad eyes. They were likewise filthily white through the flour of the meal, like those pugilists who fight sprinkle with fine dust. But what and after what manner shall I speak of the laboring beasts my associates? What of those old mules and infirm horses? With their heads inclined downward about the manger they diminished the heaps of chaff. Their necks were putrid with wounds, their nostrils, which labored in breathing, were languid, and wide through the continual pulsation of coughing. Their breasts were ulcerated through the constant friction of the ropes by which they were tied. Their sides were bared even to their bones by perpetual castigation. Their hoofs were extended to an enormous size by manifold circumduction, and the hole of their hide was rough with inveterate and scabby leanness. Fearing that the same baneful misery with which this family was affected would happen to me, recollecting also the fortune of the pristine Lucius, and perceiving myself thrust down to the last goal of safety, I lamented my condition with a dependent head. Nor was any solace of a painful life anywhere present, except that I was recreated through my innate curiosity. While making no account of my presence, all of them freely said and did before me whatever they pleased. Nor was it without reason that the divine author of ancient poetry among the Greeks, desiring to exhibit a man of consummate prudence, sings of Ulysses in the Odyssey, that he acquired the greatest virtue through wandering over many cities and through the knowledge of different nations. For I confess that I owe great thanks to my asinine form, because concealing me by its covering and exercising me through various fortunes, it certainly rendered me, if not more wise, yet knowing in many things. Lastly, I have determined to narrate to you an excellent tale which I have found to be delightful in the extreme, and behold, I begin as follows. The baker who had made me his own for a sum of money, and who was otherwise a good man and very moderate, sustained the greatest punishment of the marriage bed and his family, in consequence of being a lot of the wife who was the worst and most wicked of women, so that by Hercules I also frequently lamented his condition in silence. For there was no vice that was not present with that most iniquitous woman, but there was entirely a conflux of all crimes in her mind, as in some myry privy. She was inauspicious, cruel, addicted to men and to wine, pervocatious and pertinacious, greedy in base-wrapping, profuse in filthy expenditure, inimical to fidelity, and hostile to chastity. Then, despising and trampling on the divine powers instead of the true religion, counterfeiting an afarious opinion of God, whom she asserted to be the only deity to the exclusion of other gods who proceed from and are rooted in the first god, devising also vain observances and deceiving all men, and likewise her miserable husband, she enslaved her body to mourning draughts of pure wine, and to continual adultery. This woman, being thus ill-disposed, persecuted me with a wonderful hatred, for while she was yet lying in bed before the break of day, she commanded with a loud voice that the ass which had been recently purchased should be tied to the mill, and as soon as she had left her bed-chamber, she ordered that many blows should be given to me in her presence, she herself standing by those who beat me. When also the other laboring beasts were liberated from their toil at dinner time, I was led to the manger through her mandate much later than the rest, by which cruelty she greatly increased my native curiosity in observing the manners. For I perceived a certain young man very frequently going into her bed-chamber, whose face also I very much desired to behold if the covering of my head would have afforded that liberty to my eyes, for I was not in want of sagacity sufficient to detect in some way or other the crimes of a most iniquitous woman. A certain old woman, however, who was a medium and a messenger between her and her adulterer, was daily present with her as an inseparable companion, with whom first breakfasting and afterwards contending with her in drinking alternately pure wine, she devised insidious machinations by fraudulently circuitous means to the destruction of her miserable husband. But I, though I was very much enraged at the error of photos who had made me an ass, while she wished to change me into a bird, nevertheless I was gratified in having this one solace of my lamentable deformity, that being furnished with very long ears I easily heard everything, even though at a great distance. At length, on a certain day, the following words of that timid old woman came to my ears. My mistress, consider with yourself what you mean to do with that sluggish and false-hearted friend, with whom you became familiar without my advice, and who in a cowardly manner dredged the severe countenance of your unpleasant and odious husband, and through this slothfuless of his languid love torments you by deferring your willing embraces. How much superior to him is Feliciteris, a young man beautiful, liberal, and strenuous, and most steadfast in eluding the inefficacious vigilance of husbands. By Hercules, he alone is worthy to enjoy the embraces of all mistresses of families. He alone deserves to wear a golden crown on his head, on account of this one thing which he lately devised with wonderful cunning against a certain married man who was jealous, here therefore, and compare together the different disposition of both these lovers. You know a certain person of the name of Barbarus, a senator of our city, whom the vulgar calls Scorpion, on account of the asperity of his manners? This man very cautiously kept close in his house a noble wife of surpassing beauty, defending her with our wonderful guard. To this, that abandoned wife of the baker replying, said, Why should I not? I know her very well. You speak of Eret in my school, fellow. You know, therefore, said the old woman, the whole history of Feliciteris. By no means, replied the baker's wife, but I very much desire to know it, and beseech you, mother, to narrate every particular to me in order. And without delay, that old woman who was an excessive talker thus began. That Barbarus, when he was about to undertake a necessary journey and was desirous, most carefully of preserving the chastity of his beloved wife, secretly admonished his servant Mermax, whom he knew to be in the highest degree faithful to him, and committed to his fidelity the entire custody of his mistress. At the same time, threatening him with imprisonment, perpetual bonds, and lastly a violent death and famine, if any man, even in passing by, did but touch her with his finger. And this he confirmed through swearing by all the divine powers. Leaving, therefore, Mermax, who was struck with the greatest terror as a most vigilant and inseparable attendant on his wife, he commenced his journey without any solicitude. Then Mermax, with her mind firmly resolved and vehemently anxious, would not suffer his mistress to go anywhere, and keeping her at home occupied in spinning wool was constantly with her, only suffering her as a thing that was necessary to go to the bath in the evening, and then adhering, and as it were agglutinated to her, and holding with his hand the fringe of her garment, he faithfully performed the office committed to him with wonderful sagacity. But the beauty of this noble matron could not be concealed from the ardent vigilance of Veleseteris, and being captivated and flamed by this celebrated chastity and extreme vigilance of her remarkable tutelage, he prepared himself with all his might to vanquish the tenacious discipline of that house, being also certain of the fragility of human fidelity, and that all difficulties are pervious to money, and that it is usual for even adamanty doors to be broke open by gold, having opportunally found Mermax alone, he unfolded to him his love, and suppliently implored him to administer a remedy to his torment, for he said that he had determined and decreed to die in a short time if he did not very soon obtain the object of his wish. He also further observed to Mermax that he ought not to fear anything in an affair which might be easily accomplished, since he could penetrate into the house in the evening unattended by anyone, covered and concealed by the fidelity of darkness, and in a moment of time after leave it. To these and similar persuasions, he added a powerful wedge for the purpose of cleaving the perfectly rigid tenacity of a servant. For opening his hand he showed him glittering pieces of solid gold, which was to Mermax a spectacle entirely new, twenty of which he said he had destined to the woman, but that he willingly offered to him ten. Mermax was horribly terrified at the mention of a wickedness which he had never heard of before, and immediately fled with closed ears. Nevertheless, the flaming splendor of the gold could not depart from his eyes, but though he was far removed from Feliciterus, and had arrived with rapid steps at home, yet he seemed to himself still to behold those beautiful splendors of the money, and already possessed in his mind an opulent spoil. The miserable man also was plucked and torn asunder into different opinions, with a wonderful fluctuation of mind. Their fidelity, he again urged him. Their torment dissuaded, here pleasure invited. Nevertheless, at last, gold vanquished the fear of death. Nor could his desire of the beautiful money be at least mitigated by time, but pestilent avarice invaded him also with solicitude by night, so that the threats of his master retained him at home, yet gold called him abroad. Then, having devoured shame and removed delay, he immediately conveyed to the ears of his mistress the message of Feliciterus. Nor did the woman revolt from her genuine levity, but immediately sold her modesty for execrable metal. Thus Mermax, overflowing with joy at the precipice of his fidelity, and wishing not only to receive, but also to handle, the money which he had seen to his destruction, gladly told Feliciterus that he had at length with great labour accomplished what he desired, and immediately demanded the promised reward, and thus the hands of Mermax now held golden, which had never before touched even copper money. And now, the night being advanced, he brought that strenuous lover unattended by anyone to the house, and introduced him with his head well covered so as to conceal his face into the bed-chamber of his mistress. Scarcely, however, had they sacrificed to recent love with new embraces, scarcely had the new and naked soldiers received the first stipends in the warfare of Venus, when the husband, availing himself of the opportunity afforded by night, was suddenly present, contrary to the expectation of everyone. And now he knocks at the gate of his own house. Now he calls and strikes the door with a stone, and, becoming more and more suspicious by the delay, he threatens to inflict dire punishments on Mermax. But he, being greatly agitated by the sudden evil, and brought to a want of counsel through his miserable trepidation, said, as the only thing which he could say, that the darkness of the night prevented him from finding the key which he had carefully concealed. In the meantime, Phylicitarus, on hearing the clamour, having hastily put on his garment, but his feet, through trepidation being uncovered, ran out of the bed-chamber. Then Mermax, having at length put the key into the lock, opened the gate, and received his master, loudly calling on the faith of the gods. And while he hastily goes into the bed-chamber, Mermax let out Phylicitarus, who hurried away with a clandestine flight. But Mermax, as soon as Phylicitarus had left the house, considering himself as now secure, after he had fastened the door, again composed himself to sleep. Barbarus, however, on going out of the bed-chamber at break of day, saw, under the bed, shoes, unknown to him, which Phylicitarus had on when he entered into the chamber, and, suspecting from this circumstance what had been transacted, but not divulging either to his wife or, any of his domestics, the grief which he endured, he took the shoes and privately concealed them in his bosom. And only ordering that Mermax should be led bound by his fellow servants towards the forum, he rapidly went, thither himself, silently groaning, conceiving that he should certainly find who was the adulterer by the indication of the shoes. But behold, while Barbarus proceeded to the street, enraged with a turgid face and contracted eyebrows, and Mermax behind him oppressed with chains, not indeed detected in a manifest crime, but convicted by his own most evil conscience, and exciting inefficacious pity by his abundant tears and extreme lamentations, while this took place, Phylicitarus, opportunally passing that way, though he was previously engaged in business of a different kind, yet being moved, though not terrified, by the sudden spectacle, and recollecting the fault occasioned by his haste, he suspected what was likely to follow. Immediately, therefore, having sagaciously assumed his usual audacity, and dispersing the servants, who led Mermax along in chains, he rushed on Mermax with extreme clamour, and gently striking him with his fist on the face. May this, your master, said he, and all the celestial gods whom you have invoked by rashly swearing, destroy you as you deserve, O most iniquitous and purgent man, who yesterday stole my shoes from the bath. You deserve, by Hercules you deserve, to wear out those chains, and besides this, also to endure the darkness of a prison, barbarous being deceived, or rather mocked by this opportune fallacy of the vigorous young man, and unsuspectingly believing in what he said, again returned home. And, having called Mermax and showed him the shoes, voluntarily pardoned him, and persuaded him to restore the shoes to the master from whom he had stolen. End of chapter 9 part 1, recording by Thomas Copeland.