Manchester, Jan. 18. 1851.
_Translations of Apuleius_, &c. (Vol. ii., p. 464.).--In answer to your
correspondent, G.P.I., concerning a translation of the _Golden Ass of
Apuleius_, I beg you will insert the following particulars.
There is a copy in the British Museum (Press Mark, case 21. b.) of a
translation by Adlington. The title is as follows--_"The XI. Bookes of the
Golden Asse, conteining the Metamorphosie of Lucius Apuleius, enterlaced
with an excellent Narration of the Marriage of Cupido and Psiches, set out
in the iiii. v. and vi. Bookes. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by
William Adlington. Imprinted at London, in Fleet streate, and the sign of
the Oliphante, by Henry Wykes. Anno 1566."_ This work is of extreme rarity.
At the end of the Dedicatory Epistle there is a MS. note, which I
transcribe:--"_This translation and its author has escaped ye notice of the
Industrious Oxford Antiquary[14], for I find not his name in the Athen.
Oxon., nor is the book menconed _(mentioned)_ in Mr. Ames's Typographical
Antiquities, both which omissions add a singular rareness to this scarce
book. R.E.W."_ The pagination of the book is only on one side, and contains
127 folios, including the table of contents. Ritson (_vide_ note on
fly-leaf) does not notice this edition (1566), nor the second in 1571, but
quotes that of 1596.