How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius, and how hee talked with Milo
of Diophanes, and how he lay with Fotis.
When noone was come, Byrrhena sent to me a fat Pigge, five hennes, and
a flagon of old wine. Then I called Fotis and sayd, Behold how Bacchus
the egger and stirrer of Venery, doth offer him self of his owne
accord, let us therefore drink up this wine, that we may prepare our
selves and get us courage against soone, for Venus wanteth no other
provision than this, that the Lamp may be all the night replenished
with oyle, and the cups with wine. The residue of the day I passed away
at the Bains and in banquetting, and towards evening I went to supper,
for I was bid by Milo, and so I sate downe at the table, out of
Pamphiles sight as much as I could, being mindfull of the commandement
of Byrrhena, and sometimes I would cast myne eyes upon her as upon the
furies of hell, but I eftsoones turning my face behinde me, and
beholding my Fotis ministring at the table, was again refreshed and
made merry. And behold when Pamphiles did see the candle standing on
the table, she said, Verily wee shall have much raine to morrow. Which
when her husband did heare, he demanded of her by what reason she knew
it? Mary (quoth shee) the light on the table sheweth the same. Then
Milo laughed and said, Verily we nourish a Sybel prophesier, which by
the view of a candle doth divine of Celestiall things, and of the Sunne
it selfe. Then I mused in my minde and said unto Milo, Of truth it is a
good experience and proof of divination. Neither is it any marvell, for
although this light is but a small light, and made by the hands of men,
yet hath it a remembrance of that great and heavenly light, as of his
parent, and doth shew unto us what will happen in the Skies above. For
I knew at Corinth a certain man of Assyria, who would give answers in
every part of the City, and for the gaine of money would tell every man
his fortune, to some he would tel the dayes of their marriages, to
others he would tell when they should build, that their edifices should
continue. To others, when they should best goe about their affaires. To
others, when they should goe by sea or land: to me, purposing to take
my journey hither, he declared many things strange and variable. For
sometimes hee sayd that I should win glory enough: sometimes he sayd I
should write a great Historie: sometimes againe hee sayd that I should
devise an incredible tale: and sometimes that I should make Bookes.
Whereat Milo laughed againe, and enquired of me, of what stature this
man of Assyria was, and what he was named. In faith (quoth I) he is a
tall man and somewhat blacke, and hee is called Diophanes. Then sayd
Milo, the same is he and no other, who semblably hath declared many
things here unto us, whereby hee got and obtained great substance and
Treasure.
But the poore miser fell at length into the hands of unpittifull and
cruell fortune: For beeing on a day amongst a great assembly of people,
to tell the simple sort their fortune, a certaine Cobler came unto him,
and desired him to tel when it should be best for him to take his
voyage, the which hee promised to do: the Cobler opened his purse and
told a hundred pence to him for his paines. Whereupon came a certaine
young gentleman and took Diophanes by the Garment. Then he turning
himselfe, embraced and kissed him, and desired the Gentleman, who was
one of his acquaintance, to sit downe by him: and Diophanes being
astonied with this sudden change, forgot what he was doing, and sayd, O
deare friend you are heartily welcome, I pray you when arrived you into
these parts? Then answered he, I will tell you soone, but brother I
pray you tell mee of your comming from the isle of Euboea, and how you
sped by the way? Whereunto Diophanes this notable Assyrian (not yet
come unto his minde, but halfe amased) soone answered and sayd, I would
to god that all our enemies and evil willers might fall into the like
dangerous peregrination and trouble. For the ship where we were in,
after it was by the waves of the seas and by the great tempests tossed
hither and thither, in great peril, and after that the mast and stern
brake likewise in pieces, could in no wise be brought to shore, but
sunk into the water, and so we did swim, and hardly escaped to land.
And after that, whatsoever was given unto us in recompense of our
losses, either by the pitty of strangers, or by the benevolence of our
friends, was taken away from us by theeves, whose violence when my
brother Arisuatus did assay to resist, hee was cruelly murthered by
them before my face. These things when he had sadly declared, the
Cobler tooke up his money againe which he had told out to pay for the
telling of his fortune, and ran away. The Diophanes comming to himselfe
perceived what he had done, and we all that stood by laughed greatly.
But that (quoth Milo) which Diophanes did tell unto you Lucius, that
you should be happy and have a prosperous journey, was only true. Thus
Milo reasoned with me. But I was not a little sorry that I had traind
him into such a vaine of talke, that I lost a good part of the night,
and the sweete pleasure thereof: but at length I boldly said to Milo,
Let Diophanes fare well with his evil fortune, and get againe that
which he lost by sea and land, for I verily do yet feel the wearinesse
of my travell, whereof I pray you pardon mee, and give me licence to
depart to bed: wherewithall I rose up and went unto my chamber, where I
found all things finely prepared and the childrens bed (because they
should not heare what we did in the night) was removed far off without
the chamber doore. The table was all covered with those meats that were
left at supper, the cups were filled halfe full with water, to temper
and delay the wines, the flagon stood ready prepared, and there lacked
nothing that was necessary for the preparation of Venus. And when I was
entring into the bed, behold my Fotis (who had brought her mistresse to
bed) came in and gave me roses and floures which she had in her apron,
and some she threw about the bed, and kissed mee sweetly, and tied a
garland about my head, and bespred the chamber with the residue. Which
when shee had done, shee tooke a cup of wine and delaied it with hot
water, and profered it me to drinke; and before I had drunk it all off
she pulled it from my mouth, and then gave it me againe, and in this
manner we emptied the pot twice or thrice together. Thus when I had
well replenished my self with wine, and was now ready unto Venery not
onely in minde but also in body, I removed my cloathes, and shewing to
Fotis my great impatiencie I sayd, O my sweet heart take pitty upon me
and helpe me, for as you see I am now prepared unto the battell, which
you your selfe did appoint: for after that I felt the first Arrow of
cruell Cupid within my breast, I bent my bow very strong, and now
feare, (because it is bended so hard) lest my string should breake: but
that thou mayst the better please me, undresse thy haire and come and
embrace me lovingly: whereupon shee made no long delay, but set aside
all the meat and wine, and then she unapparelled her selfe, and
unattyred her haire, presenting her amiable body unto me in manner of
faire Venus, when shee goeth under the waves of the sea. Now (quoth
shee) is come the houre of justing, now is come the time of warre,
wherefore shew thy selfe like unto a man, for I will not retyre, I will
not fly the field, see then thou bee valiant, see thou be couragious,
since there is no time appointed when our skirmish shall cease. In
saying these words shee came to me to bed, and embraced me sweetly, and
so wee passed all the night in pastime and pleasure, and never slept
until it was day: but we would eftsoones refresh our wearinesse, and
provoke our pleasure, and renew our venery by drinking of wine. In
which sort we pleasantly passed away many other nights following.