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 declared, he yet busily demanded of the state
of my Countrey, and the chief magistrates there, and principally of our
Lievtenant and Viceroy; who when he perceived that I was not only
wearied by travell, but also with talke, and that I fell asleep in the
midst of my tale, and further that I spake nothing directly or
advisedly, he suffered me to depart to my chamber. So scaped I at
length from the prating and hungry supper of this rank old man, and
being compelled by sleepe and not by meat, and having supped only with
talke, I returned into my chamber, and there betooke me to my quiet and
long desired rest.