THE THIRD CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE THIRD CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius


How Socrates in his returne from Macedony to Larissa was
spoyled and robbed, and how he fell acquainted with one Meroe a
Witch.

Alas poore miser that I am, that for the onely desire to see a game
of triall of weapons, am fallen into these miseries and wretched
snares of misfortune. For in my returne from Macedonie, wheras I
sould all my wares, and played the Merchant by the space of ten
months, a little before that I came to Larissa, I turned out of the
way, to view the scituation of the countrey there, and behold in the
bottom of a deep valley I was suddenly environed with a company
of theeves, who robbed and spoiled me of such things as I had, and
yet would hardly suffer me to escape. But I beeing in such
extremity, in the end was happily delivered from their hands, and so
I fortuned to come to the house of an old woman that sold wine,
called Meroe, who had her tongue sufficiently instructed to flattery
: unto whom I opened the causes of my long peregrination and
careful travell, and of myne unlucky adventure : and after that I had
declared to her such things as then presently came to my
remembrance, shee gently entertained mee and made mee good
cheere; and by and by being pricked with carnall desire, shee
brought me to her own bed chamber; whereas I poore miser the
very first night of our lying together did purchase to my selfe this
miserable face, and for her lodging I gave to her such apparel as
the theeves left to cover me withall.

The I understanding the cause of his miserable estate, sayd unto
him, In faith thou art worthy to sustaine the most extreame misery
and calamity, which hast defiled and maculated thyne owne body,
forsaken thy wife traitorously, and dishonoured thy children,
parents, and friends, for the love of a vile harlot and old strumpet.
When Socrates heard mee raile against Meroe in such sort, he held
up his finger to mee, and as halfe abashed sayd, Peace peace I
pray you, and looking about lest any body should heare, I pray you
(quoth he) I pray you take heed what you say against so venerable
a woman as shee is, lest by your intemperate tongue you catch
some harm. Then with resemblance of admiration, What (quoth I)
is she so excellent a person as you name her to be? I pray you tell
me. Then answered hee, Verily shee is a Magitian, which hath
power to rule the heavens, to bringe downe the sky, to beare up the
earth, to turne the waters into hills and the hills into running waters,
to lift up the terrestrial spirits into the aire, and to pull the gods out
of the heavens, to extinguish the planets, and to lighten the deepe
darknesse of hell. Then sayd I unto Socrates, Leave off this high
and mysticall kinde of talke, and tell the matter in a more plaine and
simple fashion. Then answered he, Will you hear one or two, or
more of her facts which she hath done, for whereas she enforceth
not onely the inhabitants of the countrey here, but also the Indians
and the Ethiopians the one and the other, and also the Antictons, to
love her in most raging sort, such as are but trifles and chips of her
occupation, but I pray you give eare, and I will declare of more
greater matters, which shee hath done openly and before the face
of all men.