按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t night； by reason of the great number of terrible Wolves which were in the Country about； so fierce and cruell that they put every man in feare； in such sort that they would invade and set upon such which passed by like theeves； and devoure both them and their beasts。 Moreover； we were advertised that there lay in the way where we should passe； many dead bodies eaten and torne with wolves。 Wherefore we were willed to stay there all night； and on the next morning； to goe close and round together； whereby we might passe and escape all dangers。 But （notwithstanding this good counsell） our caitife drivers were so covetous to goe forward； and so fearefull of pursuite； that they never stayed till the morning ： But being welnigh midnight； they made us trudge in our way apace。 Then I fearing the great danger which might happen； ran amongst the middle of the other Horses； to the end I might defend and save my poore buttocks from the Wolves； whereat every man much marvelled to see； that I scowred away swifter then the other Horses。 But such was my agility； not to get me any prayse； but rather for feare： at that time I remembered with my selfe； that the valiant Horse Pegasus did fly in the ayre more to avoyd the danger of dreadful Chimera； then for any thing else。 The shepheards which drave us before them were well armed like warriours： one had a speare； another had a sheepehooke； some had darts； some clubbes； some gathered up great stones； some held up their sharp Javelings； and some feared away the Woolves with light firebrands。 Finally wee lacked nothing to make up an Army； but onely Drummes and Trumpets。 But when we had passed these dangers； not without small feare； wee fortuned to fall into worse； for the Woolves came not upon us； either because of the great multitude of our company； or else because ＇of＇ our firebrands； or peradventure they were gone to some other place； for wee could see none； but the Inhabitants of the next villages （supposing that wee were Theeves by reason of the great multitude） for the defence of their owne substance； and for the feare that they were in； set great and mighty masties upon us； which they had kept and nourished for the safety of their houses； who compassing us round about leaped on every side； tearing us with their teeth； in such sort that they pulled many of us to the ground： verily it was a pittifull sight to see so many Dogs； some following such as flyed； some invading such as stood still； some tearing those which lay prostrate； but generally there were none which escaped cleare： Behold upon this another danger ensued； the Inhabitants of the Towne stood in their garrets and windowes； throwing great stones upon our heads； that wee could not tell whether it were best for us to avoyd the gaping mouthes of the Dogges at hand or the perill of the stones afarre； amongst whome there was one that hurled a great flint upon a woman； which sate upon my backe； who cryed out pitiously； desiring her husband to helpe her。 Then he （comming to succour and ayd his wife） beganne to speake in this sort： Alas masters； what mean you to trouble us poore labouring men so cruelly？ What meane you to revenge your selves upon us； that doe you no harme？ What thinke you to gaine by us？ You dwell not in Caves or Dennes： you are no people barbarous； that you should delight in effusion of humane blood。 At these words the tempest of stones did cease； and the storme of the Dogges vanished away。 Then one （standing on the toppe of a great Cypresse tree） spake unto us saying ： Thinke you not masters that we doe this to the intent to rifle or take away any of your goods； but for the safeguard of our selves and family ： now a Gods name you may depart away。 So we went forward； some wounded with stones； some bitten with Dogs； but generally there was none which escaped free。
THE THIRTY…FOURTH CHAPTER
How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to cure their wounds。
When we had gone a good part of our way； we came to a certaine wood invironed with great trees and compassed about with pleasant meddowes； whereas the Shepheards appointed to continue a certaine space to cure their wounds and sores； then they sate downe on the ground to refresh their wearie minds； and afterwards they sought for medicines； to heale their bodies： some washed away their blood with the water of the running River： some stopped their wounds with Spunges and cloutes； in this manner every one provided for his owne safety。 In the meane season wee perceived an old man； who seemed to be a Shepheard； by reason of the Goates and Sheep that fed round about him。 Then one of our company demanded whether he had any milke； butter； or cheese to sell。 To whom he made answere saying ： Doe you looke for any meate or drinke； or any other refection here？ Know you not in what place you be？
And therewithall he tooke his sheepe and drave them away as fast as he might possible。 This answere made our shepheards greatly to feare； that they thought of nothing else； but to enquire what Country they were in ： Howbeit they saw no manner of person of whom they might demand。 At length as they were thus in doubt； they perceived another old man with a staffe in his hand very weary with travell； who approaching nigh to our company； began to weepe and complaine saying ： Alas masters I pray you succour me miserable caitife； and restore my nephew to me againe； that by following a sparrow that flew before him； is fallen into a ditch hereby； and verily I thinke he is in danger of death。 As for me； I am not able to helpe him out by reason of mine old age； but you that are so valiant and lusty may easily helpe me herein； and deliver me my boy； my heire and guide of my life。 These words made us all to pity him。 And then the youngest and stoutest of our company； who alone escaped best the late skirmish of Dogges and stones； rose up and demanded in what ditch the boy was fallen ： Mary （quod he） yonder； and pointed with his finger； and brought him to a great thicket of bushes and thornes where they both entred in。 In the meane season； after we cured our wounds； we tooke up our packs； purposing to depart away。 And because we would not goe away without the young man our fellow ： The shepheards whistled and called for him； but when he gave no answer； they sent one out of their company to seeke him out； who after a while returned againe with a pale face and sorrowfull newes； saying that he saw a terrible Dragon eating and devouring their companion ： and as for the old man； hee could see him in no place。 When they heard this； （remembring likewise the words of the first old man that shaked his head； and drave away his sheep） they ran away beating us before them； to fly from this desart and pestilent Country。
THE THIRTY…FIFTH CHAPTER
How a woman killed her selfe and her child； because her husband haunted harlots。
After that we had passed a great part of our journey； we came to a village where we lay all night； but harken； and I will tell you what mischiefe happened there ： you shall understand there was a servant to whom his Master had committed the whole government of his house； and was Master of the lodging where we lay ： this servant had married a Maiden of the same house； howbeit he was greatly in love with a harlot of the towne； and accustomed to resort unto her； wherewith his wife was so highly displeased and became so jealous； that she gathered together all her husbands substance； with his tales and books of account； and threw them into a light fire ： she was not contented with this； but she tooke a cord and bound her child which she had by her husband； about her middle and cast her selfe headlong into a deepe pit。 The Master taking in evill part the death of these twaine； tooke his servant which was the cause of this murther by his luxurie； and first after that he had put off all his apparell； he annointed his body with honey； and then bound him sure to a fig…tree； where in a rotten stocke a great number of Pismares had builded their neasts； the Pismares after they had felt the sweetnesse of the honey came upon his body； and by little and little （in continuance of time） devoured all his flesh； in such sort； that there remained on the tree but his bare bones ： this was declared unto us by the inhabitants of the village there； who greatly sorrowed for the death of this servant ： then we avoiding likewise from this dreadfull lodging incontinently departed away。
THE THIRTY…SIXTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons； and how they looked in his mouth to know his age。
After this we came to a faire Citie very populous； where our shepheards determined to continue； by reason that it seemed a place where they might live unknowne； far from such as should pursue them； and because it was a countrey very plentifull of corne and other victuals； where when we had remained the space of three dayes； and that I poore Asse and the other horses were fed and kept in the stable to the intent we might seeme more saleable； we were brought out at length to the market； and by and by a crier sounded with his horne to notifie that we were to be sold ： all my companion horses were bought up by Gentlemen； but as for me I stood still forsaken of all m