How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was spoyled and
robbed, and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a Witch.
Alas poore miser that I am, that for the onely desire to see a game of
triall of weapons, am fallen into these miseries and wretched snares of
misfortune. For in my returne from Macedonie, wheras I sould all my
wares, and played the Merchant by the space of ten months, a little
before that I came to Larissa, I turned out of the way, to view the
scituation of the countrey there, and behold in the bottom of a deep
valley I was suddenly environed with a company of theeves, who robbed
and spoiled me of such things as I had, and yet would hardly suffer me
to escape. But I beeing in such extremity, in the end was happily
delivered from their hands, and so I fortuned to come to the house of
an old woman that sold wine, called Meroe, who had her tongue
sufficiently instructed to flattery: unto whom I opened the causes of
my long peregrination and careful travell, and of myne unlucky
adventure: and after that I had declared to her such things as then
presently came to my remembrance, shee gently entertained mee and made
mee good cheere; and by and by being pricked with carnall desire, shee
brought me to her own bed chamber; whereas I poore miser the very first
night of our lying together did purchase to my selfe this miserable
face, and for her lodging I gave to her such apparel as the theeves
left to cover me withall.
Then I understanding the cause of his miserable estate, sayd unto him,
In faith thou art worthy to sustaine the most extreame misery and
calamity, which hast defiled and maculated thyne owne body, forsaken
thy wife traitorously, and dishonoured thy children, parents, and
friends, for the love of a vile harlot and old strumpet. When Socrates
heard mee raile against Meroe in such sort, he held up his finger to
mee, and as halfe abashed sayd, Peace peace I pray you, and looking
about lest any body should heare, I pray you (quoth he) I pray you take
heed what you say against so venerable a woman as shee is, lest by your
intemperate tongue you catch some harm. Then with resemblance of
admiration, What (quoth I) is she so excellent a person as you name her
to be? I pray you tell me. Then answered hee, Verily shee is a
Magitian, which hath power to rule the heavens, to bringe downe the
sky, to beare up the earth, to turne the waters into hills and the
hills into running waters, to lift up the terrestrial spirits into the
aire, and to pull the gods out of the heavens, to extinguish the
planets, and to lighten the deepe darknesse of hell. Then sayd I unto
Socrates, Leave off this high and mysticall kinde of talke, and tell
the matter in a more plaine and simple fashion. Then answered he, Will
you hear one or two, or more of her facts which she hath done, for
whereas she enforceth not onely the inhabitants of the countrey here,
but also the Indians and the Ethiopians the one and the other, and also
the Antictons, to love her in most raging sort, such as are but trifles
and chips of her occupation, but I pray you give eare, and I will
declare of more greater matters, which shee hath done openly and before
the face of all men.