How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood.
While I devised with my selfe in what manner I might end my life, the
roperipe boy on the next morrow lead me to the same hill againe, and
tied me to a bow of a great Oke, and in the meane season he tooke his
hatchet and cut wood to load me withall, but behold there crept out of
a cave by, a marvailous great Beare, holding out his mighty head, whom
when I saw, I was sodainly stroken in feare, and (throwing all the
strength of my body into my hinder heeles) lifted up my strained head
and brake the halter, wherewith I was tied. Then there was no need to
bid me runne away, for I scoured not only on foot, but tumbled over the
stones and rocks with my body till I came into the open fields, to the
intent I would escape from the terrible Beare, but especially from the
boy that was worse than the Beare. Then a certaine stranger that passed
by the way (espying me alone as a stray Asse) tooke me up and roade
upon my backe, beating me with a staffe (which he bare in his hand)
through a wide and unknowne lane, whereat I was nothing displeased, but
willingly went forward to avoid the cruell paine of gelding, which the
shepherds had ordained for me, but as for the stripes I was nothing
moved, since I was accustomed to be beaten so every day. But evill
fortune would not suffer me to continue in so good estate long: For the
shepheards looking about for a Cow that they had lost (after they had
sought in divers places) fortuned to come upon us unwares, who when
they espied and knew me, they would have taken me by the halter, but he
that rode upon my backe resisted them saying, O Lord masters, what
intend you to do? Will you rob me? Then said the shepheards, What?
thinkest thou we handle thee otherwise then thou deservest, which hast
stollen away our Asse? Why dost thou not rather tell us where thou hast
hidden the boy whom thou hast slaine? And therewithall they pulled him
downe to the ground, beating him with their fists, and spurning him
with their feete. Then he answered unto them saying, that he saw no
manner of boy, but onely found the Asse loose and straying abroad,
which he tooke up to the intent to have some reward for the finding of
him and to restore him againe to his Master. And I would to God (quoth
he) that this Asse (which verely was never seene) could speake as a man
to give witnesse of mine innocency: Then would you be ashamed of the
injury which you have done to me. Thus (reasoning for Himselfe) he
nothing prevailed, for they tied the halter about my necke, and (maugre
his face) pulled me quite away, and lead me backe againe through the
woods of the hill to the place where the boy accustomed to resort. And
after they could find him in no place, at length they found his body
rent and torne in peeces, and his members dispersed in sundry places,
which I well knew was done by the cruell Beare: and verely I would have
told it if I might have spoken, but (which I could onely do) I greatly
rejoiced at his death, although it came too late. Then they gathered
together the peeces of his body and buried them. By and by they laid
the fault to my new Master, that tooke me up by the way, and (bringing
him home fast bound to their houses) purposed on the next morrow to
accuse him of murther, and to lead him before the Justices to have
judgement of death.