How Apuleius was accused by an old man, and how he answered for
himselfe.
O most reverend and just Judges, the thing which I propose to declare
to you is no small matter, but toucheth the estate and tranquillity of
this whole City, and the punishment thereof may be a right good example
to others. Wherefore I pray you most venerable Fathers, to whom and
every one of whom it doth appertain, to provide for the dignity and
safety of the Commonweale, that you would in no wise suffer this wicked
Homicide, embrued with the bloud of so many murthered citisens, to
escape unpunished. And thinke you not that I am moved thereunto by envy
or hatred, but by reason of my office, in that I am captain of the
night Watch, and because no man alive should accuse mee to bee remisse
in the same I wil declare all the whole matter, orderly as it was done
last night.
This night past, when as at our accustomed houre I diligently searched
every part of the City, behold I fortuned to espy this cruell young man
drawing out his sword against three Citisens, and after a long combat
foughten between them, he murthered one after another miserably: which
when hee had done, moved in his conscience at so great a crime hee ran
away, and aided by the reason of darknes, slipt into a house, and there
lay hidden all night, but by the providence of the Gods, which
suffereth no heynous offence to pass unpunished, hee was taken by us
this morning before he escaped any further, and so brought hither to
your honourable presence to receive his desert accordingly.
So have you here a guilty person, a culpable homicide, and an accused
stranger, wherefore pronounce you judgement against this man beeing an
alien, when as you would most severely and sharply revenge such an
offence found in a known Citisen. In this sort the cruell accuser
finished and ended his terrible tale. Then the Crier commanded me to
speake, if I had any thing to say for my selfe, but I could in no wise
utter any word at all for weeping. And on the other side I esteemed not
so much his rigorous accusation, as I did consider myne owne miserable
conscience. Howbeit, beeing inspired by divine Audacity, at length I
gan say, Verily I know that it is an hard thing for him that is accused
to have slaine three persons, to perswade you that he is innocent,
although he should declare the whole truth, and confesse the matter how
it was indeed, but if your honours will vouchsafe to give me audience,
I will shew you, that if I am condemned to die, I have not deserved it
as myne owne desert, but that I was mooved by fortune and reasonable
cause to doe that fact. For returning somewhat late from supper yester
night (beeing well tippled with wine, which I will not deny) and
approaching nigh to my common lodging, which was in the house of one
Milo a Citisen of this city, I fortuned to espy three great theeves
attempting to break down his walls and gates, and to open the locks to
enter in. And when they had removed the dores out of the hookes, they
consulted amongst themselves, how they would handle such as they found
in the house. And one of them being of more courage, and of greater
stature than the rest, spake unto his fellows and sayd, Tush you are
but boyes, take mens hearts unto you, and let us enter into every part
of the house, and such as we find asleep let us kill, and so by that
meanes we shall escape without danger. Verily ye three Judges, I
confess that I drew out my sword against those three Citizens, but I
thought it was the office and duty of one that beareth good will to
this weale publique, so to doe, especially since they put me in great
fear, and assayed to rob and spoyl my friend Milo. But when those
cruell and terrible men would in no case run away, nor feare my naked
sword, but boldly resist against me, I ran upon them and fought
valiantly. One of them which was the captain invaded me strongly, and
drew me by the haire with both his hands, and began to beat me with a
great stone: but in the end I proved the hardier man, and threw him
downe at my feet and killed him. I tooke likewise the second that
clasped me about the legs and bit me, and slew him also. And the third
that came running violently against me, after that I had strucken him
under the stomacke fell downe dead. Thus when I had delivered my selfe,
the house, Myne host, and all his family from this present danger, I
thought that I should not onely escape unpunished, but also have some
great reward of the city for my paines.
Moreover, I that have always been clear and unspotted of crime, and
that have esteemed myne innocency above all the treasure of the world,
can finde no reasonable cause why upon myne accusation I should be
condemned to die, since first I was mooved to set upon the theeves by
just occasion. Secondly, because there is none that can affirm, that
there hath been at any time either grudge or hatred between us.
Thirdly, we were men meere strangers and of no acquaintance. Last of
all, no man can prove that I committed that fact for lucre or gaine.
When I had ended my words in this sort, behold, I weeped againe
pitteously, and holding up my hands I prayed all the people by the
mercy of the Commonweale and for the love of my poore infants and
children, to shew me some pitty and favour. And when their hearts were
somewhat relented and mooved by my lamentable teares, I called all the
gods to witnesse that I was unguilty of the crime, and so to their
divine providence, I committed my present estate, but turning my selfe
againe, I perceived that all the people laughed exceedingly, and
especially my good friend and host Milo. Then thought I with my selfe,
Alasse where is faith? Where is remorse of conscience? Behold I am
condemned to die as a murtherer, for the safeguard of myne Host Milo
and his family. Yet is he not contented with that, but likewise
laugheth me to scorne, when otherwise he should comfort and help mee.