THE SEVENTH CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius


How Apuleius going to buy fish, met with his companion Pythias.

When this was done, and all my things brought into the Chamber, I
walked towards the Baines; but first I went to the market to buy
some victuals for my supper, whereas I saw great plenty of fish set
out to be sould : and so I cheapened part thereof, and that which
they at first held at an hundred pence, I bought at length for twenty.
Which when I had done, and was departing away, one of myne old
acquaintance, and fellow at Athens, named Pithias, fortuned to
passe by, and viewing me at a good space, in the end brought me to
his remembrance, and gently came and kissed mee, saying, O my
deare friend Lucius, it is a great while past since we two saw one
another, and moreover, from the time that wee departed from our
Master Vestius, I never heard any newes from you. I pray you
Lucius tell me the cause of your peregrination hither. Then I
answered and sayd, I will make relation thereof unto you tomorrow
: but I pray you tell me, what meaneth these servitors that follow
you, and these rods or verges which they beare, and this habit
which you wear like unto a magistrate, verily I thinke you have
obtained your own desire, whereof I am right glad. Then answered
Pithias, I beare the office of the Clerke of the market, and therfore
if you will have any pittance for your supper speake and I will
purvey it for you. Then I thanked him heartily and sayd I had
bought meat sufficient already. But Pithias when hee espied my
basket wherein my fish was, tooke it and shaked it, and demanded
of me what I had payd for all my Sprots. In faith (quoth I), I could
scarce inforce the fishmonger to sell them for twenty pence.
Which when I heard, he brought me backe again into the market,
and enquired of me of whom I bought them. I shewed him the old
man which sate in a corner, whome by and by, by reason of his
office, hee did greatly blame, and sayd, Is it thus you serve and
handle strangers, and specially our friends? Wherefore sell you this
fish so deare, which is not worth a halfepenny? Now perceive I
well, that you are an occasion to make this place, which is the
principall city of all Thessaly, to be forsaken of all men, and to
reduce it into an uninhabitable Desart, by reasone of your excessive
prices of victuals, but assure yourself that you shall not escape
without punishment, and you shall know what myne office is, and
how I ought to punish such as offend. Then he took my basket and
cast the fish on the ground, and commanded one of his Sergeants to
tread them under his feet. This done he perswaded me to depart,
and sayd that onely shame and reproach done unto the old Caitife
did suffice him, So I went away amazed and astonied, towards the
Baines, considering with myself and devising of the grace of my
companion Pythias. Where when I had well washed and refreshed
my body, I returned againe to Milos house, both without money and
meat, and so got into my chamber. Then came Fotis immediately
unto mee, and said that her master desired me to come to supper.
But I not ignorant of Milos abstinence, prayed that I might be
pardoned since as I thought best to ease my wearied bones rather
with sleepe and quietnesse, than with meat. When Fotis had told
this to Milo, he came himselfe and tooke mee by the hand, and
while I did modestly excuse my selfe, I will not (quoth he) depart
from this place, until such time as you shall goe with me : and to
confirm the same, hee bound his words with an oath, whereby he
enforced me to follow him, and so he brought me into his chamber,
where hee sate him downe upon the bed, and demaunded of mee
how his friend Demeas did, his wife, his children, and all his family :
and I made answer to him every question, specially hee enquired
the causes of my peregrination and travell, which when I had
declared, he yet busily demanded of the state of my Countrey, and
the chief magistrates there, and principally of our Lievtenant and
Viceroy; who when he perceived that I was not only wearied by
travell, but also with talke, and that I fell asleep in the midst of my
tale, and further that I spake nothing directly or advisedly, he
suffered me to depart to my chamber. So scaped I at length from
the prating and hungry supper of this rank old man, and being
compelled by sleepe and not by meat, and having supped only with
talke, I returned into my chamber, and there betooke me to my
quiet and long desired rest.