How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the theeves
were asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of.
When the theeves were all asleepe by their great and immoderate
drinking, the young man Lepolemus took the Maiden and set her upon my
backe, and went homeward. When we were come home, all the people of the
Citie, especially her Parents, friends, and family, came running forth
joyfully, and the children and Maidens of the towne gathered together
to see this virgin in great triumph sitting upon an Asse. Then I
(willing to shew as much joy as I might, as present occasion served) I
set and pricked up my long eares, ratled my nosethrils, and cryed
stoutly, nay rather I made the towne to ring againe with my shrilling
sound: when wee were come to her fathers house, shee was received in a
chamber honourably: as for me, Lepolemus (accompanied with a great
number of Citizens) did presently after drive me backe againe with
other horses to the cave of the theeves, where wee found them all
asleepe lying on the ground as wee left them; then they first brought
out all the gold, and silver, and other treasure of the house, and
laded us withall, which when they had done, they threw many of the
theeves downe into the bottome of deepe ditches, and the residue they
slew with their swords: after this wee returned home glad and merry of
so great vengeance upon them, and the riches which wee carried was
commited to the publike treasurie. This done, the Maid was married to
Lepolemus, according to the law, whom by so much travell he had
valiantly recovered: then my good Mistresse looked about for me, and
asking for me commanded the very same day of her marriage, that my
manger should be filled with barly, and that I should have hay and oats
aboundantly, and she would call me her little Camell. But how greatly
did I curse Fotis, in that shee transformed me into an Asse, and not
into a dogge, because I saw the dogges had filled their paunches with
the reliks and bones of so worthy a supper. The next day this new
wedded woman (my Mistresse) did greatly commend me before her Parents
and husband, for the kindnesse which I had shewed unto her, and never
leaved off untill such time as they promised to reward me with great
honours. Then they called together all their friends, and thus it was
concluded: one said, that I should be closed in a stable and never
worke, but continually to be fedde and fatted with fine and chosen
barly and beanes and good littour, howbeit another prevailed, who
wishing my liberty, perswaded them that it was better for me to runne
in the fields amongst the lascivious horses and mares, whereby I might
engender some mules for my Mistresse: then he that had in charge to
keepe the horse, was called for, and I was delivered unto him with
great care, insomuch that I was right pleasant and joyous, because I
hoped that I should carry no more fardels nor burthens, moreover I
thought that when I should thus be at liberty, in the spring time of
the yeere when the meddows and fields were greene, I should find some
roses in some place, whereby I was fully perswaded that if my Master
and Mistresse did render to me so many thanks and honours being an
Asse, they would much more reward me being turned into a man: but when
he (to whom the charge of me was so straightly committed) had brought
me a good way distant from the City, I perceived no delicate meates nor
no liberty which I should have, but by and by his covetous wife and
most cursed queane made me a mill Asse, and (beating me with a cudgill
full of knots) would wring bread for her selfe and her husband out of
my skinne. Yet was she not contented to weary me and make me a drudge
with carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired of her
neighbours to beare their sackes likewise, howbeit shee would not give
me such meate as I should have, nor sufficient to sustaine my life
withall, for the barly which I ground for mine owne dinner she would
sell to the Inhabitants by. And after that I had laboured all day, she
would set before me at night a little filthy branne, nothing cleane but
full of stones. Being in this calamity, yet fortune worked me other
torments, for on a day I was let loose into the fields to pasture, by
the commandement of my master. O how I leaped for joy, how I neighed to
see my selfe in such liberty, but especially since I beheld so many
Mares, which I thought should be my wives and concubines; and I espied
out and chose the fairest before I came nigh them; but this my joyfull
hope turned into otter destruction, for incontinently all the stone
Horses which were well fedde and made strong by ease of pasture, and
thereby much more puissant then a poore Asse, were jealous over me, and
(having no regard to the law and order of God Jupiter) ranne fiercely
and terribly against me; one lifted up his forefeete and kicked me
spitefully, another turned himselfe, and with his hinder heeles spurned
me cruelly, the third threatning with a malicious neighing, dressed his
eares and shewing his sharpe and white teeth bit me on every side. In
like sort have I read in Histories how the King of Thrace would throw
his miserable ghests to be torne in peeces and devoured of his wild
Horses, so niggish was that Tyrant of his provender, that he nourished
them with the bodies of men.