the golden asse-第15部分

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although　I　might　perceive　that　he　was　well　nigh　dead；　yet　remembred　he　his　owne　faithfulnes　and　ours；　and　valiantly　resisted　the　gaping　and　ravenous　mouths　of　the　hell　hounds；　so　tooke　hee　in　gree　the　pagiant　which　willingly　he　tooke　in　hand　himself；　and　with　much　adoe　tumbled　at　length　out　of　the　house　：　but　when　hee　was　at　liberty　abroad　yet　could　he　not　save　himself；　for　all　the　dogs　of　the　Streete　joyned　themselves　to　the　greyhounds　and　mastifes　of　the　house；　and　came　upon　him。

Alas　what　a　pittifull　sight　it　was　to　see　our　poore　Thrasileon　thus　environed　and　compassed　with　so　many　dogs　that　tare　and　rent　him　miserably。　　Then　I　impatient　of　so　great　a　misery；　ranne　in　among　the　prease　of　people；　and　ayding　him　with　my　words　as　much　as　I　might；　exhorted　them　all　in　this　manner　：　O　great　and　extreame　mischance；　what　a　pretious　and　excellent　beast　have　we　lost。　　But　my　words　did　nothing　prevaile；　for　there　came　out　a　tall　man　with　a　speare　in　his　hand；　that　thrust　him　cleane　through；　and　afterwards　many　that　stood　by　drew　out　their　swords；　and　so　they　killed　him。　But　verily　our　good　Captaine　Thrasileon；　the　honour　of　our　comfort；　received　his　death　so　patiently；　that　he　would　not　bewray　the　league　betweene　us；　either　by　crying；　howling；　or　any　other　meanes；　but　being　torn　with　dogs　and　wounded　with　weapons；　did　yeeld　forth　a　dolefull　cry；　more　like　unto　a　beast　than　a　man。　　And　taking　his　present　fortune　in　good　part；　with　courage　and　glory　enough　did　finish　his　life；　with　such　a　terror　unto　the　assembly；　that　no　person　was　hardy　until　it　was　day；　as　to　touch　him；　though　hee　were　starke　dead　：　but　at　last　there　came　a　Butcher　more　valiant　than　the　rest；　who　opening　the　panch　of　the　beast；　slit　out　an　hardy　and　ventrous　theefe。

In　this　manner　we　lost　our　Captain　Thrasileon；　but　he　left　not　his　fame　and　honour。

When　this　was　done　wee　packed　up　our　treasure；　which　we　committed　to　the　sepulchre　to　keepe；　and　got　out　of　the　bounds　of　Platea；　thus　thinking　with　our　selves；　that　there　was　more　fidelity　amongst　the　dead　than　amongst　the　living；　by　reason　that　our　preyes　were　so　surely　kept　in　the　sepulchre。　　So　being　wearied　with　the　weight　of　our　burthens；　and　well　nigh　tyred　with　long　travell；　having　lost　three　of　our　soldiers；　we　are　come　home　with　these　present　cheats。

Thus　when　they　had　spoken　in　memory　of　their　slaine　companions；　they　tooke　cups　of　gold；　and　sung　hymns　unto　the　god　mars；　and　layd　them　downe　to　sleep。　　Then　the　old　woman　gave　us　fresh　barley　without　measure；　insomuch　that　my　horse　fed　so　abundantly　that　he　might　well　thinke　hee　was　at　some　banquet　that　day。　　But　I　that　was　accustomed　to　eat　bran　and　flower；　thought　that　but　a　sower　kinde　of　meate。　　Wherfore　espying　a　corner　where　lay　loaves　of　bread　for　all　the　house　I　got　me　thither　and　filled　my　hungry　guts　therewith。



THE　TWENTY…FIRST　CHAPTER


How　the　Theeves　stole　away　a　Gentlewoman；　and　brought　her　to　their　den。

When　night　was　come　the　Theeves　awaked　and　rose　up；　and　when　they　had　buckled　on　their　weapons；　and　disguised　their　faces　with　visards；　they　departed。　　And　yet　for　all　the　great　sleep　that　came　upon　me；　I　could　in　no　wise　leave　eating　：　and　whereas　when　I　was　a　man　I　could　be　contented　with　one　or　two　loaves　at　the　most；　now　my　huts　were　so　greedy　that　three　panniers　full　would　scantly　serve　me；　and　while　I　considered　these　things　the　morning　came；　and　being　led　to　a　river；　notwithstanding　my　Assie　shamefastnesse　I　quencht　my　thirst。　　And　suddenly　after；　the　Theeves　returned　home　carefull　and　heavy；　bringing　no　burthens　with　them；　no　not　so　much　as　traffe　or　baggage；　save　only　a　maiden；　that　seemed　by　her　habit　to　be　some　gentlewoman　borne；　and　the　daughter　of　some　worthy　matron　of　that　country；　who　was　so　fair　and　beautiful；　that　though　I　were　an　Asse；　yet　I　had　a　great　affection　for　her。　　The　virgin　lamented　and　tare　her　hair；　and　rent　her　garments；　for　the　great　sorrow　she　was　in；　but　the　theeves　brought　her　within　the　cave；　and　assisted　her　to　comfort　in　this　sort；　Weep　not　fair　gentlewoman　we　pray　you；　for　be　you　assured　we　wil　do　no　outrage　or　violence　to　your　person　：　but　take　patience　a　while　for　our　profit；　for　necessity　and　poore　estate　hath　compelled　us　to　do　this　enterprise　：　we　warrant　you　that　your　parents；　although　they　bee　covetous；　will　be　contented　to　give　us　a　great　　quantity　of　mony　to　redeeme　and　ransome　you　from　our　hands。

With　such　and　like　flattering　words　they　endeavoured　to　appease　the　gentlewoman；　howbeit　shee　would　in　no　case　be　comforted；　but　put　her　head　betwixt　her　knees；　and　cried　pittiously。　　Then　they　called　the　old　woman；　and　commaunded　her　to　sit　by　the　maiden；　and　pacify　her　dolor　as　much　as　shee　might。　And　they　departed　away　to　rob；　as　they　were　accustomed　to　doe；　but　the　virgin　would　not　asswage　her　griefes；　nor　mitigate　her　sorrow　by　any　entreaty　of　the　old　woman；　but　howled　and　sobbed　in　such　sort；　that　she　made　me　poore　Asse　likewise　to　weepe；　and　thus　she　said；　Alas　can　I　poore　wench　live　any　longer；　that　am　come　of　so　good　a　house；　forsaken　of　my　parents；　friends；　and　family；　made　a　rapine　and　prey；　closed　servilely　in　this　stony　prison；　deprived　of　all　pleasure；　wherein　I　have　been　brought　up；　thrown　in　danger；　ready　to　be　rent　in　pieces　among　so　many　sturdy　theeves　and　dreadful　robbers；　can　I　（I　say）　cease　from　weeping；　and　live　any　longer？　　Thus　she　cried　and　lamented；　and　after　she　had　wearied　herself　with　sorrow　and　blubbered　her　face　with　teares；　she　closed　the　windowes　of　her　hollow　eyes；　and　laid　her　downe　to　sleepe。　　And　after　that　she　had　slept；　she　rose　again　like　a　furious　and　mad　woman；　and　beat　her　breast　and　comely　face　more　that　she　did　before。

Then　the　old　woman　enquired　the　causes　of　her　new　and　sudden　lamentation。　　To　whom　sighing　in　pittifull　sort　she　answered；　Alas　now　I　am　utterly　undone；　now　am　I　out　of　all　hope；　　O　give　me　a　knife　to　kill　me；　or　a　halter　to　hang　me。　　Whereat　the　old　＇woman＇　was　more　angry；　and　severely　commanded　her　to　tell　her　the　cause　of　her　sorrow；　and　why　after　her　sleep；　she　　should　renew　her　dolour　and　miserable　weeping。　　What；　thinke　you　（quoth　she）　to　deprive　our　young　men　of　the　price　of　your　ransome？　　No；　no　therefore　cease　your　crying；　for　the　Theeves　doe　little　esteeme　your　howling；　and　if　you　do　not；　I　will　surely　burn　you　alive。　　Hereat　the　maiden　was　greatly　feared；　and　kissed　her　hand　and　said；　O　mother　take　pitty　upon　me　and　my　wretched　fortune；　and　give　me　license　a　while　to　speake；　for　I　think　I　shall　not　long　live；　let　there　be　mercy　ripe　and　franke　in　thy　venerable　hoare　head；　and　hear　the　sum　of　my　calamity。

There　was　a　comely　young　man；　who　for　his　bounty　and　grace　was　beloved　entirely　of　all　the　towne；　my　cousine　Germane；　and　but　three　years　older　than　I；　we　two　were　nourished　and　brought　up　in　one　house；　lay　under　one　roofe；　and　in　one　chamber；　and　at　length　by　promise　of　marriage；　and　by　consent　of　our　parents　we　were　contracted　together。　　The　marriage　day　was　come；　the　house　was　garnished　with　lawrel；　and　torches　were　set　in　every　place　in　the　honour　of　Hymeneus；　my　espouse　was　accompanied　by　his　parents；　kinsfolke；　and　friends；　and　made　sacrifices　in　the　temples　and　publique　places。　　And　when　my　unhappy　mother　pampered　me　in　her　lap；　and　decked　me　like　a　bride；　kissing　me　sweetly；　and　making　me　a　parent　for　Children；　behold　there　came　in　a　great　multitude　of　theeves　armed　like　men　of　warre；　with　naked　swords　in　their　hands；　who　went　not　about　to　doe　any　harme；　neither　to　take　any　thing　away；　but　brake　into　the　chamber　where　I　was；　and　violently　tooke　me　out　of　my　mothers　armes；　when　none　of　our　family　would　resist　for　feare。

In　this　sort　was　our　marriage　disturbed；　like　the　marriage　of　Hyppodame　and　Perithous。　　But　behold　my　good　mother；　now　my　unhappy　fortune　is　renewed　and　encreased　：　For　I　dreamed　in　my　sleepe；　that　I　was　pulled　out　of　our　house；　out　of　our　chamber；　and　out　of　my　bed；　and　that　I　removed　about　in　solitary　and　unknowne　places；　calling　upon　the　name　of　my　unfortunate　husband；　and　how　that　he；　as　soone　as　he　perceived　that　he　was　taken　away；　even　smelling　with　perfumes　and　crowned　with　garlands；　did　trace　me　by　the　steppes；　desiring　the　aid　of　the　people　to　assist　him；　in　that　his　wife　was　violently　stollen　away。　　and　as　he　went　crying　up　and　down；　one　of　the　theeves　mooved　with　indignation；　by　reason　of　his　pursuit；　took　up　a　stone　that　lay　at　his　feet；　and　threw　it　at　my　husband　and　killed　him。　　By　the　terror　of　which　sight；　and　the　feare　of　so　dreadfull　a　dreame；　I　awaked。

Then　the　old　woman　rendring　out　like　sighes；　began　to　speake　in　this　sort　：　My　daughter　take　a　good　heart　unto　you；　and　bee　not　afeared　at　feigned　and　strange　visions　and　dreams；　for　as　the　visions　of　the　day　are　accounted　false　and　untrue；　so　the　visions　of　the　night　doe　often　change　contrary。　　And　to　dream　of　weeping；　beating；　and　killing；　is　a　token　of　good　luck　and　prosperous　change。　Whereas　contrary　to　dreame　of　laughing；　carnal　dalliance；　and　good　cheere；　is　a　signe　of　sadnesse；　sicknesse；　loss　of　substance；　and　displeasure。　　But　I　will　tell　thee　a　pleasant　tale；　to　put　away　all　thy　sorrow；　and　to　revive　thy　spirits。　　And　so　shee　began　in　this　manner。




THE　MARRIAGE　OF　CUPID　AND　PSYCHES



THE　TWENTY…SECOND　CHAPTER


The　most　pleasant　and　delectable　tale　of　the　marriage　of　Cupid　and　Psyches。

There　was　sometimes　a　certaine　King；　inhabiting　in　the　West　parts；　who　had　to　wife　a　noble　Dame；　by　whom　he　had　three　daughters　exceeding　fair；　：　of　whom　the　two　elder　were　of　such　comly　shape　and　beauty；　as　they　did　excell　and　pass　all　other　women　living；　whereby　they　were　thought　worthily　to　deserve　the　praise　and　commendation　of　every　person；　and　deservedly　to　be　preferred　above　the　residue　of　the　common　sort。　　Yet　the　singular　passing　beauty　and　maidenly　majesty　of　the　youngest　daughter　did　so　farre　surmount　and　excell　then　two；　as　no　earthly　creature　could　by　any　meanes　sufficiently　expresse　or　set　out　the　same。

By　reason　wherof；　after　the　fame　of　this　excellent　maiden　was　spread　about　in　every　part　of　the　City；　the　Citisens　and　strangers　there　beeing　inwardly　pricked　by　the　zealous　affection　to　behold　her　famous　person；　came　daily　by　thousands；　hundreths；　and　scores；　to　her　fathers　palace；　who　was　astonied　wi