How hee that was left behinde at Hippata did bring newes concerning the
robbery of Miloes house, came home and declared to his Company, that
all the fault was laid to one Apuleius his charge.
A soone as night was past, and the cleare Chariot of the Sunne had
spred his bright beames on every coast, came one of the company of the
theeves, (for so his and their greeting together did declare) who at
the first entry into the Cave (after hee had breathed himselfe, and was
able to speake) told these tydings unto his companions in this sort.
Sirs, as touching the house of Milo of Hippata, which we forcibly
entred and ransackt the last day, we may put away all feare and doubt
nothing at all. For after that ye by force of armes, had spoyled and
taken away all things in the house, and returned hither into our Cave;
I (thrusting my selfe amongst the presse of the people, and shewing my
selfe as though I were sad and sorrowful for the mischance) consulted
with them for the boulting out of the matter, and devising what meanes
might be wrought for the apprehension of the theeves, to the intent I
might learne and see all that was done to make relation thereof unto
you as you willed me, insomuch that the whole fact at length by
manifest and evident proofes as also by the common opinion and
judgement of the people, was laid to one Lucius Apuleius charge as
manifest author of this common robbery, who a few dayse before by false
and forged letters and colored honesty, fell so farre in favour with
this Milo, that he entertained him into his house, and received him as
a chiefe of his familiar friends, which Lucius after that he had
sojourned there a good space, and won the heart of Miloes Maid, by
fained love, did thoroughly learne the waies and doores of all the
house, and curiously viewed the cofers and chests, wherein was laid the
whole substance of Milo: neither was there small cause given to judge
him culpable, since as the very same night that this robbery was done
he fled away, and could not be found in no place: and to the intent hee
might cleane escape, and better prevent such as made hew and crie after
him, he tooke his white horse and galloped away, and after this, his
servant was found in the house, who (accused as accessary to the
fellony and escape of his Master) was committed to the common gaole,
and the next day following was cruelly scourged and tormented till hee
was welnigh dead, to the intent hee should confesse the matter, but
when they could wreast or learne no such thing of him, yet sent they
many persons after, towardes Lucius Countrey to enquire him out, and so
to take him prisoner. As he declared these things, I did greatly lament
with my selfe, to thinke of mine old and pristine estate, and what
felicity I was sometimes in, in comparison to the misery that I
presently susteined, being changed into a miserable Asse, then had I no
small occasion to remember, how the old and ancient Writers did
affirme, that fortune was starke blind without eies, because she
alwaies bestoweth her riches upon evil persons, and fooles, and
chooseth or favoureth no mortall person by judgement, but is alwaies
conversent, especially with much as if she could see, she should most
shunne, and forsake, yea and that which is more worse, she sheweth such
evill or contrary opinions in men, that the wicked doe glory with the
name of good, and contrary the good and innocent be detracted and
slandred as evill. Furthermore I, who by her great cruelty, was turned
into a foure footed Asse, in most vile and abject manner: yea, and
whose estate seemed worthily to be lamented and pittied of the most
hard and stonie hearts, was accused of theft and robbing of my deare
host Milo, which villany might rather be called parricide then theft,
yet might not I defend mine owne cause or denie the fact any way, by
reason I could not speake; howbeit least my conscience should seeme to
accuse me by reason of silence, and againe being enforced by impatience
I endevored to speake, and faine would have said, Never did I that
fact, and verely the first word, never, I cried out once or twise,
somewhat handsome, but the residue I could in no wise pronounce, but
still remaining in one voice, cried, Never, never, never, howbeit I
settled my hanging lips as round as I could to speake the residue: but
why should I further complaine of the crueltie of my fortune, since as
I was not much ashamed, by reason that my servant and my horse, was
likewise accused with me of the robbery.
While I pondered with my selfe all these things, a great care [came] to
my remembrance, touching the death, which the theeves provised for me
and the maiden, and still as I looked downe to my belly, I thought of
my poore gentlewoman that should be closed within me. And the theefe
which a little before had brought the false newes against me, drew out
of the skirt of his coate, a thousand crowns, which he had rifled from
such as hee met, and brought it into the common treasury. Then hee
carefully enquired how the residue of his companions did. To whom it
was declared that the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers
manners, whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a
certaine season, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places,
that by the exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band
might be reduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were
unwilling, might be compelled by menaces and threatnings, and such as
were willing might be incouraged forward with reward. Further he said,
that there were some, which (seeing the profite which they had) would
forsake their base and servile estate, and rather bee contented to live
like tyrants amongst them. Moreover he declared, that for his part he
had spoken with a certaine tall man, a valiant companion, but of young
age, stout in body, and couragious in fight, whom he had fully
perswaded to exercise his idle hands, dull with slothfullnesse, to his
greater profit, and (while he might) to receive the blisse of better
Fortune, and not to hold out his sturdy arme to begge for a penny, but
rather to take as much gold and silver as hee would. Then everyone
consented, that hee that seemed so worthy to be their companion, should
be one of their company, and that they would search for others to make
up the residue of the number, whereupon he went out, and by and by
(returning againe) brought in a tall young man (as he promised) to whom
none of the residue might bee compared, for hee was higher then they by
the head, and of more bignesse in body, his beard began to burgen, but
hee was poorely apparelled, insomuch that you might see all his belly
naked. As soone as he was entred in he said, God speed yee souldiers of
Mars and my faithfull companions, I pray you make me one of your band,
and I will ensure you, that you shall have a man of singular courage
and lively audacity: for I had rather receive stripes upon my backe,
then money or gold in my hands. And as for death (which every man doth
feare) I passe nothing at all, yet thinke you not that I am an abject
or a begger, neither judge you my vertue and prowesse by ragged
clothes, for I have beene a Captaine of a great company, and subdued
all the countrey of Macedonia. I am the renowned theefe Hemes the
Thracian, whose name all countreys and nations do so greatly feare: I
am the sonne of Theron the noble theefe, nourished with humane bloud,
entertained amongst the stoutest; finally I am inheritour and follower
of all my fathers vertues, yet I lost in a short time all my company
and all my riches, by one assault, which I made upon a Factor of the
Prince, which sometime had beene Captaine of two hundred men, for
fortune was cleane against me; harken and I will tell you the whole
matter. There was a certaine man in the court of the Emperour, which
had many offices, and in great favour, who at last by the envy of
divers persons, was banished away and compelled to forsake the court:
his wife Platina, a woman of rare faith and singular shamefastnes
having borne ten children to her husband, despised all worldly Pompe
and delicacy, and determined to follow her husband, and to be partaker
of his perils and danger, wherefore shee cut off her haire, disguised
her selfe like a man, and tooke with her all her treasure, passing
through the hands of the souldiers, and the naked swords without any
feare, whereby she endured many miseries, and was partaker of much
affliction, to save the life of her husband, such was her love which
she bare unto him. And when they had escaped many perillous dangers, as
well by land as by sea, they went together towards Zacynthe, to
continue there according as fortune had appointed. But when they were
arived on the sea coast of Actium (where we in our returne from
Macedony were roving about) when night came, they returned into a house
not far distant from their ship, where they lay all night. Then we
entred in and tooke away all their substance, but verely we were in
great danger: for the good matron perceiving us incontinently by the
noise of the gate, went into the chamber, and called up every man by
his name, and likewise the neighbors that dwelled round about, insomuch
that by reason of the feare that every one was in, we hardly escaped
away, but this most holy woman, faithfull and true to her husband (as
the truth must be declared) returned to Caesar, desiring his aid and
puissance, and demanding vengeance of the injury done to her husband,
who granted all her desire: then went my company to wracke, insomuch
that every man was slaine, so great was the authority and word of the
Prince. Howbeit, when all my band was lost, and taken by search of the
Emperours army, I onely stole away and delivered my selfe from the
violence of the souldiers, for I clothed my selfe in a womans attire,
and mounted upon an Asse, that carryed barly sheafes, and (passing
through the middle of them all) I escaped away, because every one
deemed that I was a woman by reason I lacked a beard. Howbeit I left
not off for all this, nor did degenerate from the glory of my father,
or mine own vertue, but freshly comming from the bloody skirmish, and
disguised like a woman, I invaded townes and castles alone to get some
pray. And therewithall he pulled out two thousand crownes, which he had
under his coate, saying: Hold here the dowry which I present unto you,
hold eke my person, which you shall alwayes find trusty and faithfull,
if you willingly receive me: and I will ensure you that in so doing,
within short space I wilt make and turne this stony house of yours into
gold. Then by and by every one consented to make him their Captaine,
and so they gave him better garments, and threw away his old. When they
had changed his attire, hee imbraced them one after another, then
placed they him in the highest roome of the table, and drunk unto him
in token of good lucke.