THE SIXTH CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE SIXTH CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius

How Apuleius came unto a city named Hipate, and was lodged in
one Milos house, and brought him letters from one Demeas of
Corinth.

After that those two Companions were departed I entred into the
City : where I espied an old woman, of whom I enquired whether
that city was called Hipata, or no : Who answered, Yes. Then I
demaunded, Whether she knew one Milo an Alderman of the city :
Whereat she laughed and said : Verily it is not without cause that
Milo is called an Elderman, and accounted as chiefe of those which
dwel without the walls of the City. To whom I sayd againe, I pray
thee good mother do not mocke, but tell me what manner of man
he is, and where he dwelleth. Mary (quoth shee) do you see these
Bay windowes, which on one side abut to the gates of the city, and
on the other side to the next lane? There Milo dwelleth, very rich
both in mony and substance, but by reason of his great avarice and
insatiable covetousnes, he is evill spoken of, and he is a man that
liveth all by usurie, and lending his money upon pledges. Moreover
he dwelleth in a small house, and is ever counting his money, and
hath a wife that is a companion of his extreame misery, neither
keepeth he more in his house than onely one maid, who goeth
apparelled like unto a beggar. Which when I heard, I laughed in
my self and thought, In faith my friend Demeas hath served me
well, which hath sent me being a stranger, unto such a man, in
whose house I shall not bee afeared either of smoke or of the sent
of meat; and therewithall I rode to the doore, which was fast
barred, and knocked aloud. Then there came forth a maid which
said, Ho sirrah that knocks so fast, in what kinde of sort will you
borrow money? Know you not that we use to take no gage, unless
it be either plate or Jewels? To whom I answered, I pray you maid
speak more gently, and tel me whether thy master be within or no?
Yes (quoth shee) that he is, why doe you aske? Mary (said I) I am
come from Corinth, and have brought him letters from Demeas his
friend. Then sayd the Maid, I pray you tarry here till I tell him so,
and therewithall she closed fast the doore, and went in, and after a
while she returned againe and sayd, My master desireth you to
alight and come in. And so I did, whereas I found him sitting upon
a little bed, going to supper, and his wife sate at his feet, but there
was no meat upon the table, and so by appointment of the maid I
came to him and saluted him, and delivered the letters which I had
brought from Demeas. Which when hee had read hee sayd,
Verily, I thanke my friend Demeas much, in that hee hath sent mee
so worthy a guest as you are. And therewithall hee commanded
his wife to sit away and bid mee sit in her place; which when I
refused by reason of courtesie, hee pulled me by my garment and
willed me to sit downe; for wee have (quoth he) no other stool
here, nor no other great store of household stuffe, for fear of
robbing. Then I according to his commandement, sate down, and
he fell in further communication with me and sayd, Verily I doe
conjecture by the comly feature of your body, and by the maidenly
shamefastnesse of your face that you are a Gentleman borne, as
my friend Demeas hath no lesse declared the same in his letters.
Wherfore I pray you take in good part our poore lodging, and
behold yonder chamber is at your commaundement, use it as your
owne, and if you be contented therewithall, you shall resemble and
follow the vertuous qualities of your good father Theseus, who
disdained not the slender and poore Cottage of Hecades.

And then he called his maid which was named Fotis, and said,
Carry this Gentlemans packet into the chamber, and lay it up safely,
and bring water quickly to wash him, and a towel to rub him, and
other things necessary, and then bring him to the next Baines, for I
know that he is very weary of travell.

These things when I heard, I partly perceived the manners of Milo,
and endeavouring to bring my selfe further into his favour, I sayd,
Sir there is no need of any of these things, for they have been
everywhere ministred unto mee by the way, howbeit I will go into
the Baines, but my chiefest care is that my horse be well looked to,
for hee brought mee hither roundly, and therefore I pray thee Fotis
take this money and buy some hay and oats for him.