the golden asse-第6部分

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ning　teeth　in　such　sort　that　you　would　have　thought　they　had　bayed　and　barked。　　An　moreover　（which　was　a　greater　marvel　to　behold）　the　excellent　carver　and　deviser　of　this　worke　had　fashioned　the　dogs　to　stand　up　fiercely　with　their　former　feet；　and　their　hinder　feet　on　the　ground　ready　to　fight。　　Behinde　the　back　of　the　goddesse　was　carved　a　stone　in　manner　of　a　Caverne；　environed　with　mosse；　herbes；　leaves；　sprigs；　green　branches　and　bowes；　growing　in　and　about　the　same；　insomuch　that　within　the　stone　it　glistered　and　shone　marvellously；　under　the　brim　of　the　stone　hanged　apples　and　grapes　carved　finely；　wherein　Art　envying　Nature；　　shewed　her　great　cunning。　　For　they　were　so　lively　set　out；　that　you　would　have　thought　if　Summer　had　been　come；　they　might　have　bin　pulled　and　eaten；　and　while　I　beheld　the　running　water；　which　seemed　to　spring　and　leap　under　the　feet　of　the　goddesse；　I　marked　the　grapes　which　hanged　in　the　water；　which　were　like　in　every　point　to　the　grapes　of　the　vine；　and　seemed　to　move　and　stir　by　the　violence　of　the　streame。　Moreover；　amongst　the　branches　of　the　stone　appeared　the　image　of　Acteon　：　and　how　that　Diana　（which　was　carved　within　the　same　stone；　standing　in　the　water）　because　he　did　see　her　naked；　did　turne　him　into　an　hart；　and　so　he　was　torne　and　slaine　of　his　owne　hounds。　　And　while　I　was　greatly　delighted　with　the　view　of　these　things；　Byrrhena　spake　to　me　and　sayd；　Cousin　all　things　here　be　at　your　commandement。　　And　therewithall　shee　willed　secretly　the　residue　to　depart　：　who　being　gone　she　sayd；　My　most　deare　Cousin　Lucius；　I　do　sweare　by　the　goddesse　Diana；　that　I　doe　greatly　tender　your　safety；　and　am　as　carefull　for　you　as　if　you　were　myne　owne　naturall　childe；　beware　I　say；　beware　of　the　evil　arts　and　wicked　allurements　of　that　Pamphiles　who　is　the　wife　of　Milo；　whom　you　call　your　Host；　for　she　is　accounted　the　most　chief　and　principall　Magitian　and　Enchantresse　living；　who　by　breathing　out　certain　words　and　charmes　over　bowes；　stones　and　other　frivolous　things；　can　throw　down　all　the　powers　of　the　heavens　into　the　deep　bottome　of　hell；　and　reduce　all　the　whole　world　againe　to　the　old　Chaos。　　For　as　soone　as　she　espieth　any　comely　yong　man；　shee　is　forthwith　stricken　with　　his　love；　and　presently　setteth　her　whole　minde　and　affection　on　him。　　She　soweth　her　seed　of　flattery；　she　invades　his　spirit　and　intangleth　him　with　continuall　snares　of　unmeasurable　love。

And　then　if　any　accord　not　to　her　filthy　desire；　or　if　they　seeme　loathsome　in　her　eye；　by　and　by　in　the　moment　of　an　houre　she　turneth　them　into　stones；　sheep　or　some　other　beast；　as　her　selfe　pleaseth；　and　some　she　presently　slayeth　and　murthereth；　of　whom　I　would　you　should　earnestly　beware。　　For　she　burneth　continually；　and　you　by　reason　of　your　tender　age　and　comely　beauty　are　capable　of　her　fire　and　love。

Thus　with　great　care　Byrrhena　gave　me　in　charge；　but　I　（that　always　coveted　and　desired；　after　that　I　had　heard　talk　of　such　Sorceries　and　Witchcrafts；　to　be　experienced　in　the　same）　little　esteemed　to　beware　of　Pamphiles；　but　willingly　determined　to　bestow　my　money　in　learning　of　that　art；　and　now　wholly　to　become　a　Witch。　　And　so　I　waxed　joyful；　and　wringing　my　selfe　out　of　her　company；　　as　out　of　linkes　or　chaines；　I　bade　her　farewell；　and　departed　toward　the　house　of　myne　host　Milo；　by　the　way　reasoning　thus　with　my　selfe　：　O　Lucius　now　take　heed；　be　vigilant；　have　a　good　care；　for　now　thou　hast　time　and　place　to　satisfie　thy　desire；　now　shake　off　thy　childishnesse　and　shew　thy　selfe　a　man；　but　especially　temper　thy　selfe　from　the　love　of　thyne　hostesse；　and　abstain　from　violation　of　the　bed　of　Milo；　but　hardly　attempt　to　winne　the　maiden　Fotis；　for　she　is　beautifull；　wanton　and　pleasant　in　talke。　And　soone　when　thou　goest　to　sleepe；　and　when　shee　bringeth　you　gently　into　thy　chamber；　and　tenderly　layeth　thee　downe　in　thy　bed；　and　lovingly　covereth　thee；　and　kisseth　thee　sweetly；　and　departeth　unwillingly；　and　casteth　her　eyes　oftentimes　backe；　and　stands　still；　then　hast　thou　a　good　occasion　ministred　to　thee　to　prove　and　try　the　mind　of　Fotis。　　Thus　while　I　reasoned　to　myselfe　I　came　to　Milos　doore；　persevering　still　in　my　purpose；　but　I　found　neither　Milo　nor　his　wife　at　home。



THE　NINTH　CHAPTER


How　Apuleius　fell　in　love　with　Fotis。

When　I　was　within　the　house　I　found　my　deare　and　sweet　love　Fotis　mincing　of　meat　and　making　pottage　for　her　master　and　mistresse；　the　Cupboord　was　all　set　with　wines；　and　I　thought　I　smelled　the　savor　of　some　dainty　meats　：　she　had　about　her　middle　a　white　and　clean　apron；　and　shee　was　girded　about　her　body　under　the　paps　with　a　swathell　of　red　silke；　and　she　stirred　the　pot　and　turned　the　meat　with　her　fair　and　white　hands；　in　such　sort　that　with　stirring　and　turning　the　same；　her　loynes　and　hips　did　likewise　move　and　shake；　which　was　in　my　mind　a　comely　sight　to　see。

These　things　when　I　saw　I　was　halfe　amazed；　and　stood　musing　with　my　selfe；　and　my　courage　came　then　upon　mee；　which　before　was　scant。　　　And　I　spake　unto　Fotis　merrily　and　sayd；　O　Fotis　how　trimmely　you　can　stirre　the　pot；　and　how　finely；　with　shaking　your　buttockes；　you　can　make　pottage。　　The　shee　beeing　likewise　merrily　disposed；　made　answer；　Depart　I　say；　Miser　from　me；　depart　from　my　fire；　for　if　the　flame　thereof　doe　never　so　little　blaze　forth；　it　will　burne　thee　extreamely　and　none　can　extinguish　the　heat　thereof　but　I　alone；　who　in　stirring　the　pot　and　making　the　bed　can　so　finely　shake　my　selfe。　　When　she　had　sayd　these　words　shee　cast　her　eyes　upon　me　and　laughed；　but　I　did　not　depart　from　thence　until　such　time　as　I　had　viewed　her　in　every　point。　　But　what　should　I　speak　of　others；　when　as　I　doe　accustome　abroad　to　marke　the　face　and　haire　of　every　dame；　and　afterwards　delight　my　selfe　therewith　privately　at　home；　and　thereby　judge　the　residue　of　their　shape；　because　the　face　is　the　principall　part　of　all　the　body；　and　is　first　open　to　our　eyes。　　And　whatsoever　flourishing　and　gorgeous　apparell　doth　work　and　set　forth　in　the　corporal　parts　of　a　woman；　the　same　doth　the　naturall　and　comely　beauty　set　out　in　the　face。　Moreover　there　be　divers；　that　to　the　intent　to　shew　their　grace　and　feature；　wil　cast　off　their　partlets；　collars；　habiliments；　fronts；　cornets　and　krippins；　and　doe　more　delight　to　shew　the　fairnesse　of　their　skinne；　than　to　deck　themselves　up　in　gold　and　pretious　stones。　But　because　it　is　a　crime　unto　me　to　say　so；　and　to　give　no　example　thereof；　know　ye；　that　if　you　spoyle　and　cut　the　haire　of　any　woman　or　deprive　her　of　the　colour　of　her　face；　though　shee　were　never　so　excellent　in　beauty；　though　shee　were　throwne　downe　from　heaven；　sprung　of　the　Seas；　nourished　of　the　flouds；　though　shee　were　Venus　her　selfe；　though　shee　were　waited　upon　by　all　the　Court　of　Cupid；　though　were　girded　with　her　beautifull　skarfe　of　Love；　and　though　shee　smelled　of　perfumes　and　musks；　yet　if　shee　appeared　bald；　shee　could　in　no　wise　please；　no　not　her　owne　Vulcanus。

O　how　well　doth　a　faire　colour　and　a　shining　face　agree　with　glittering　hair！　　Behold；　it　encountreth　with　the　beams　of　the　Sunne；　and　pleaseth　the　eye　marvellously。　　Sometimes　the　beauty　of　the　haire　resembleth　the　colour　of　gold　and　honey；　sometimes　the　blew　plumes　and　azured　feathers　about　the　neckes　of　Doves；　especially　when　it　is　either　anointed　with　the　gumme　of　Arabia；　or　trimmely　tuft　out　with　the　teeth　of　a　fine　combe；　which　if　it　be　tyed　up　in　the　pole　of　the　necke；　it　seemeth　to　the　lover　that　beholdeth　the　same；　as　a　glasse　that　yeeldeth　forth　a　more　pleasant　and　gracious　comelinesse　than　if　it　should　be　sparsed　abroad　on　the　shoulders　of　the　woman；　or　hang　down　scattering　behind。　　Finally　there　is　such　a　dignity　in　the　haire；　that　whatsoever　shee　be；　though　she　be　never　to　bravely　attyred　with　gold；　silks；　pretious　stones；　and　other　rich　and　gorgeous　ornaments；　yet　if　her　hair　be　not　curiously　set　forth　shee　cannot　seeme　faire。　　But　in　my　Fotis；　her　garments　unbrast　and　unlaste　increased　her　beauty；　her　haire　hanged　about　her　shoulders；　and　was　dispersed　abroad　　upon　her　partlet；　and　in　every　part　of　her　necke；　howbeit　the　greater　part　was　trussed　upon　her　pole　with　a　lace。　　Then　I　unable　to　sustain　the　broiling　heat　that　I　was　in；　ran　upon　her　and　kissed　the　place　where　she　had　thus　laid　her　haire。　　Whereat　she　turned　her　face；　and　cast　her　rolling　eyes　upon　me；　saying；　O　Scholler；　thou　hast　tasted　now　both　hony　and　gall；　take　heed　that　thy　pleasure　do　not　turn　unto　repentance。　　Tush　（quoth　I）　my　sweet　heart；　I　am　contented　for　such　another　kiss　to　be　broiled　here　upon　this　fire；　wherwithall　I　embraced　and　kissed　her　more　often；　and　shee　embraced　and　kissed　me　likewise；　and　moreover　her　breath　smelled　like　Cinnamon；　and　the　liquor　of　her　tongue　was　like　unto　sweet　Nectar；　wherewith　when　my　mind　was　greatly　delighted　I　sayd；　Behold　Fotis　I　am　yours；　and　shall　presently　dye　unlesse　you　take　pitty　upon　me。　　Which　when　I　had　said　she　eftsoone　kissed　me；　and　bid　me　be　of　good　courage；　and　I　will　（quoth　shee）　satisfie　your　whole　desire；　and　it　shall　be　no　longer　delayed　than　until　night；　when　as　assure　your　selfe　I　will　come　and　lie　with　you；　wherfore　go　your　wayes　and　prepare　your　selfe；　for　I　intend　valiantly　and　couragiously　to　encounter　with　you　this　night。　Thus　when　we　had　lovingly　talked　and　reasoned　together；　we　departed　for　that　time。



THE　TENTH　CHAPTER


How　Byrrhena　sent　victuals　unto　Apuleius；　and　how　hee　talked　with　Milo　of　Diophanes；　and　how　he　lay　with　Fotis。

When　noone　was　come；　Byrrhena　sent　to　me　a　fat　Pigge；　five　hennes；　and　a　flagon　of　old　wine。　Then　I　called　Fotis　and　sayd；　Behold　how　Bacchus　the　egger　and　stirrer　of　Venery；　doth　offer　him　self　of　his　owne　accord；　let　us　therefore　drink　up　this　wine；　that　we　may　prepare　our　selves　and　get　us　courage　against　soone；　for　Venus　wanteth　no　other　provision　than　this；　that　the　Lamp　may　be　all　the　night　replenished　with　oyle；　and　the　cups　with　wine。　　The　residue　of　the　day　I　passed　away　at　the　Bains　and　in　banquetting；　and　towards　evening　I　went　to　supper；　for　I　was　bid　by　Milo；　and　so　I　sate　downe　at　the　table；　out　of　Pamphiles　sight　as　much　as　I　could；　being　mindfull　of　the　commandement　of　Byrrhena；　and　sometimes　I　would　cast　myne　eyes　upon　her　as　upon　the