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arried another Wife。
This tale told Aristomenus； and his fellow which before obstinatly would give no credit unto him； began to say； Verily there was never so foolish a tale； nor a more absurd lie told than this。 And then he spake unto me saying； Ho sir； what you are I know not； but your habit and countenance declareth that you should be some honest Gentleman； （speaking to Apuleius） doe you beleeve this tale？ Yea verily （quoth I）； why not？ For whatsoever the fates have appointed to men； that I beleeve shall happen。 For may things chance unto me and unto you； and to divers others； which beeing declared unto the ignorant be accounted as lies。 But verily I give credit unto his tale； and render entire thankes unto him； in that by the pleasant relation thereof we have quickly passed and shortned our journey； and I thinke that my horse was also delighted with the same； and hath brought me to the gate of this city without any paine at all。 Thus ended both our talk and our journey； for they two turned on the left hand to the next villages； and I rode into the city。
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius came unto a city named Hipate； and was lodged in one Milos house； and brought him letters from one Demeas of Corinth。
After that those two Companions were departed I entred into the City ： where I espied an old woman； of whom I enquired whether that city was called Hipata； or no ： Who answered； Yes。 Then I demaunded； Whether she knew one Milo an Alderman of the city ： Whereat she laughed and said ： Verily it is not without cause that Milo is called an Elderman； and accounted as chiefe of those which dwel without the walls of the City。 To whom I sayd againe； I pray thee good mother do not mocke； but tell me what manner of man he is； and where he dwelleth。 Mary （quoth shee） do you see these Bay windowes； which on one side abut to the gates of the city； and on the other side to the next lane？ There Milo dwelleth； very rich both in mony and substance； but by reason of his great avarice and insatiable covetousnes； he is evill spoken of； and he is a man that liveth all by usurie； and lending his money upon pledges。 Moreover he dwelleth in a small house； and is ever counting his money； and hath a wife that is a companion of his extreame misery； neither keepeth he more in his house than onely one maid； who goeth apparelled like unto a beggar。 Which when I heard； I laughed in my self and thought； In faith my friend Demeas hath served me well； which hath sent me being a stranger； unto such a man； in whose house I shall not bee afeared either of smoke or of the sent of meat； and therewithall I rode to the doore； which was fast barred； and knocked aloud。 Then there came forth a maid which said； Ho sirrah that knocks so fast； in what kinde of sort will you borrow money？ Know you not that we use to take no gage； unless it be either plate or Jewels？ To whom I answered； I pray you maid speak more gently； and tel me whether thy master be within or no？ Yes （quoth shee） that he is； why doe you aske？ Mary （said I） I am come from Corinth； and have brought him letters from Demeas his friend。 Then sayd the Maid； I pray you tarry here till I tell him so； and therewithall she closed fast the doore； and went in； and after a while she returned againe and sayd； My master desireth you to alight and come in。 And so I did； whereas I found him sitting upon a little bed； going to supper； and his wife sate at his feet； but there was no meat upon the table； and so by appointment of the maid I came to him and saluted him； and delivered the letters which I had brought from Demeas。 Which when hee had read hee sayd； Verily； I thanke my friend Demeas much； in that hee hath sent mee so worthy a guest as you are。 And therewithall hee commanded his wife to sit away and bid mee sit in her place； which when I refused by reason of courtesie； hee pulled me by my garment and willed me to sit downe； for wee have （quoth he） no other stool here； nor no other great store of household stuffe； for fear of robbing。 Then I according to his commandement； sate down； and he fell in further communication with me and sayd； Verily I doe conjecture by the comly feature of your body； and by the maidenly shamefastnesse of your face that you are a Gentleman borne； as my friend Demeas hath no lesse declared the same in his letters。 Wherfore I pray you take in good part our poore lodging； and behold yonder chamber is at your commaundement； use it as your owne； and if you be contented therewithall； you shall resemble and follow the vertuous qualities of your good father Theseus； who disdained not the slender and poore Cottage of Hecades。
And then he called his maid which was named Fotis； and said； Carry this Gentlemans packet into the chamber； and lay it up safely； and bring water quickly to wash him； and a towel to rub him； and other things necessary； and then bring him to the next Baines； for I know that he is very weary of travell。
These things when I heard； I partly perceived the manners of Milo； and endeavouring to bring my selfe further into his favour； I sayd； Sir there is no need of any of these things； for they have been everywhere ministred unto mee by the way； howbeit I will go into the Baines； but my chiefest care is that my horse be well looked to； for hee brought mee hither roundly； and therefore I pray thee Fotis take this money and buy some hay and oats for him。
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius going to buy fish； met with his companion Pythias。
When this was done； and all my things brought into the Chamber； I walked towards the Baines； but first I went to the market to buy some victuals for my supper； whereas I saw great plenty of fish set out to be sould ： and so I cheapened part thereof； and that which they at first held at an hundred pence； I bought at length for twenty。 Which when I had done； and was departing away； one of myne old acquaintance； and fellow at Athens； named Pithias； fortuned to passe by； and viewing me at a good space； in the end brought me to his remembrance； and gently came and kissed mee； saying； O my deare friend Lucius； it is a great while past since we two saw one another； and moreover； from the time that wee departed from our Master Vestius； I never heard any newes from you。 I pray you Lucius tell me the cause of your peregrination hither。 Then I answered and sayd； I will make relation thereof unto you tomorrow ： but I pray you tell me； what meaneth these servitors that follow you； and these rods or verges which they beare； and this habit which you wear like unto a magistrate； verily I thinke you have obtained your own desire； whereof I am right glad。 Then answered Pithias； I beare the office of the Clerke of the market； and therfore if you will have any pittance for your supper speake and I will purvey it for you。 Then I thanked him heartily and sayd I had bought meat sufficient already。 But Pithias when hee espied my basket wherein my fish was； tooke it and shaked it； and demanded of me what I had payd for all my Sprots。 In faith （quoth I）； I could scarce inforce the fishmonger to sell them for twenty pence。 Which when I heard； he brought me backe again into the market； and enquired of me of whom I bought them。 I shewed him the old man which sate in a corner； whome by and by； by reason of his office； hee did greatly blame； and sayd； Is it thus you serve and handle strangers； and specially our friends？ Wherefore sell you this fish so deare； which is not worth a halfepenny？ Now perceive I well； that you are an occasion to make this place； which is the principall city of all Thessaly； to be forsaken of all men； and to reduce it into an uninhabitable Desart； by reasone of your excessive prices of victuals； but assure yourself that you shall not escape without punishment； and you shall know what myne office is； and how I ought to punish such as offend。 Then he took my basket and cast the fish on the ground； and commanded one of his Sergeants to tread them under his feet。 This done he perswaded me to depart； and sayd that onely shame and reproach done unto the old Caitife did suffice him； So I went away amazed and astonied； towards the Baines； considering with myself and devising of the grace of my companion Pythias。 Where when I had well washed and refreshed my body； I returned againe to Milos house； both without money and meat； and so got into my chamber。 Then came Fotis immediately unto mee； and said that her master desired me to come to supper。 But I not ignorant of Milos abstinence； prayed that I might be pardoned since as I thought best to ease my wearied bones rather with sleepe and quietnesse； than with meat。 When Fotis had told this to Milo； he came himselfe and tooke mee by the hand； and while I did modestly excuse my selfe； I will not （quoth he） depart from this place； until such time as you shall goe with me ： and to confirm the same； hee bound his words with an oath； whereby he enforced me to follow him； and so he brought me into his chamber； where hee sate him downe upon the bed； and demaunded of mee how his friend Demeas did； his wife； his children； and all his family ： and I made answer to him every question； specially hee enquired the causes of my peregrination and travell； which when I had