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！
esent； which being hanged behind the kitchin doore； not far from the ground； was cleane eaten up by a gray hound； that came in。 The Cooke when he saw the Venison devoured； lamented and wept pitifully。 And because supper time approached nigh； when as he should be reproved of too much negligence； he tooke a halter to hang himselfe： but his wife perceiving whereabout he went； ran incontinently to him； and taking the halter in both her hands； stopped him of his purpose； saying； O husband； are you out of your writs？ pray husband follow my counsel； cary this strange Asse out into some secret place and kill him； which done； cut off one of his sides； and sawce it well like the side of the Bucke； and set it before your Master。 Then the Cooke hearing the counsell of his wife； was well pleased to slay me to save himselfe： and so he went to the whetstone； to sharpe his tooles accordingly。
THE NINTH BOOKE
THE THIRTY…SEVENTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke； breaking his halter； and of other things that happened。
In this manner the traiterous Cooke prepared himselfe to slay me ： and when he was ready with his knives to doe his feat； I devised with my selfe how I might escape the present perill； and I did not long delay ： for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was tied； and flinging my heeles hither and thither to save my selfe； at length I ran hastily into a Parlour； where the Master of the house was feasting with the Priests of the goddesse Syria； and disquieted all the company； throwing downe their meats and drinks from the table。 The Master of the house dismayed at my great disorder； commanded one of his servants to take me up； and locke me in some strong place； to the end I might disturb them no more。 But I little regarded my imprisonment； considering that I was happily delivered from the hands of the traiterous Cooke。 Howbeit fortune； or the fatall disposition of the divine providence； which neither can be avoided by wise counsell； neither yet by any wholesome remedie； invented a new torment； for by and by a young ladde came running into the Parlour all trembling； and declared to the Master of the house； that there was a madde Dog running about in the streetes； which had done much harme； for he had bitten many grey hounds and horses in the Inne by： And he spared neither man nor beast。 For there was one Mitilius a Mulettour； Epheseus； a Cooke； Hyppanius a chamberlaine； and Appolonius a Physition； who （thinking to chase away the madde Dogge） were cruelly wounded by him； insomuch that many Horses and other beasts infected with the venyme of his poysonous teeth became madde likewise。 Which thing caused them all at the table greatly to feare； and thinking that I had beene bitten in like sort； came out with speares； Clubs； and Pitchforks purposing to slay me； and I had undoubtedly beene slaine； had I not by and by crept into the Chamber； where my Master intended to lodge all night。 Then they closed and locked fast the doores about me； and kept the chamber round； till such time as they thought that the pestilent rage of madnesse had killed me。 When I was thus shutte in the chamber alone； I laid me downe upon the bed to sleepe； considering it was long time past； since I lay and tooke my rest as a man doth。 When morning was come； and that I was well reposed； I rose up lustily。 In the meane season； they which were appointed to watch about the chamber all night； reasoned with themselves in this sort； Verely （quoth one） I think that this rude Asse be dead。 So think I （quoth another） for the outragious poyson of madness hath killed him； but being thus in divers opinions of a poore Ass； they looked through a crevis； and espied me standing still； sober and quiet in the middle of the chamber； then they opened the doores； and came towards me； to prove whether I were gentle or no。 Amongst whom there was one； which in my opinion； was sent from Heaven to save my life； that willed the other to set a bason of faire water before me； and thereby they would know whether I were mad or no； for if I did drinke without feare as I accustomed to do； it was a signe that I was whole； and in mine Assie wits； where contrary if I did flie and abhorre the tast of the water； it was evident proofe of my madness； which thing he said that he had read in ancient and credible books； whereupon they tooke a bason of cleere water； and presented it before me： but I as soone as I perceived the wholesome water of my life； ran incontinently； thrusting my head into the bason； drank as though I had beene greatly athirst； then they stroked me with their hands； and bowed mine eares； and tooke me by the halter； to prove my patience； but I taking each thing in good part； disproved their mad presumption； by my meeke and gentle behaviour： when I was thus delivered from this double danger； the next day I was laded againe with the goddesse Siria； and other trumpery； and was brought into the way with Trumpets and Cymbals to beg in the villages which we passed by according to our custome。 And after that we had gone through a few towns and Castles； we fortuned to come to a certaine village； which was builded （as the inhabitants there affirme） upon the foundation of a famous ancient Citie。 And after that we had turned into the next Inne； we heard of a prettie jest committed in the towne there； which I would that you should know likewise。
THE THIRTY…EIGHTH CHAPTER
Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold。
There was a man dwelling in the towne very poore； that had nothing but that which he got by the labour and travell of his hands： his wife was a faire young woman； but very lascivious； and given to the appetite and desire of the flesh。 It fortuned on a day； that while this poore man was gone betimes in the morning to the field about his businesse； according as he accustomed to doe； his wives lover secretly came into his house to have his pleasure with her。 And so it chanced that during the time that shee and he were basking together； her husband suspecting no such matter； returned home praising the chast continency of his wife； in that hee found his doores fast closed； wherefore as his custome was； he whistled to declare his comming。 Then his crafty wife ready with shifts； caught her lover and covered him under a great tub standing in a corner； and therewithall she opened the doore； blaming her husband in this sort ： Commest thou home every day with empty hands； and bringest nothing to maintaine our house？ thou hast no regard for our profit； neither providest for any meate or drinke； whereas I poore wretch doe nothing day and night but occupie my selfe with spinning； and yet my travell will scarce find the Candels which we spend。 O how much more happy is my neighbour Daphne； that eateth and drinketh at her pleasure and passeth the time with her amorous lovers according to her desire。 What is the matter （quoth her husband） though Our Master hath made holiday at the fields； yet thinke not but I have made provision for our supper； doest thou not see this tub that keepeth a place here in our house in vaine； and doth us no service？ Behold I have sold it to a good fellow （that is here present） for five pence； wherefore I pray thee lend me thy hand； that I may deliver him the tub。 His wife （having invented a present shift） laughed on her husband； saying ： What marchant I pray you have you brought home hither； to fetch away my tub for five pence； for which I poore woman that sit all day alone in my house have beene proffered so often seaven ： her husband being well apayed of her words demanded what he was that had bought the tub ： Looke （quoth she） he is gone under； to see where it be sound or no ： then her lover which was under the tub； began to stirre and rustle himselfe； and because his words might agree to the words of the woman； he sayd ： Dame will you have me tell the truth； this tub is rotten and crackt as me seemeth on every side。 And then turning to her husband sayd ： I pray you honest man light a Candle； that I may make cleane the tub within； to see if it be for my purpose or no。 for I doe not mind to cast away my money wilfully ： he by and by （being made a very Oxe） lighted a candle； saying； I pray you good brother put not your selfe to so much paine； let me make the tub cleane and ready for you。 Whereupon he put off his coate； and crept under the tub to rub away the filth from the sides。 In the meane season this minion lover cast his wife on the bottome of the tub and had his pleasure with her over his head； and as he was in the middest of his pastime； hee turned his head on this side and that side； finding fault with this and with that； till as they had both ended their businesse； when as he delivered seaven pence for the tub； and caused the good man himselfe to carry it on his backe againe to his Inne。
THE THIRTY…NINTH CHAPTER
How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison； and how Apuleius was sold to a Baker。
After that we had tarried there a few dayes at the cost and charges of the whole Village； and had gotten much mony by our divination and prognostication of things to come： The priests of the goddesse Siria invented a new meanes to picke mens purses； for they had cert