THE TENTH CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE TENTH CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius


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 furies of
hell, but I eftsoones turning my face behinde me, and beholding my
Fotis ministring at the table, was again refreshed and made merry.
And behold when Pamphiles did see the candle standing on the
table, she said, Verily wee shall have much raine to morrow.
Which when her husband did heare, he demanded of her by what
reason she knew it? Mary (quoth shee) the light on the table
sheweth the same. Then Milo laughed and said, Verily we nourish
a Sybel prophesier, which by the view of a candle doth divine of
Celestiall things, and of the Sunne it selfe. Then I mused in my
minde and said unto Milo, Of truth it is a good experience and proof
of divination. Neither is it any marvell, for although this light is but
a small light, and made by the hands of men, yet hath it a
remembrance of that great and heavenly light, as of his parent, and
doth shew unto us what will happen in the Skies above. For I knew
at Corinth a certain man of Assyria, who would give answers in
every part of the City, and for the gaine of money would tell every
man his fortune, to some he would tel the dayes of their marriages,
to others he would tell when they should build, that their edifices
should continue. To others, when they should best go e about their
affaires. To others, when they should goe by sea or land : to me,
purposing to take my journey hither, he declared many things
strange and variable. For sometimes hee sayd that I should win
glory enough : sometimes he sayd I should write a great Historie :
sometimes againe hee sayd that I should devise an incredible tale :
and sometimes that I should make Bookes. Whereat Milo laughed
againe, and enquired of me, of what stature this man of Assyria
was, and what he was named. In faith (quoth I) he is a tall man
and somewhat blacke, and hee is called Diophanes. Then sayd
Milo, the same is he and no other, who semblably hath declared
many things here unto us, whereby hee got and obtained great
substance and Treasure.

But the poore miser fell at length into the hands of unpittifull and
cruell fortune : For beeing on a day amongst a great assembly of
people, to tell the simple sort their fortune, a certaine Cobler came
unto him, and desired him to tel when it should be best for him to
take his voyage, the which hee promised to do : the Cobler opened
his purse and told a hundred pence to him for his paines.
Whereupon came a certaine young gentleman and took Diophanes
by the Garment. Then he turning himselfe, embraced and kissed
him, and desired the Gentleman, who was one of his acquaintance,
to sit downe by him : and Diophanes being astonied with this
sudden change, forgot what he was doing, and sayd, O deare friend
you are heartily welcome, I pray you when arrived you into these
parts? Then answered he, I will tell you soone, but brother I pray
you tell mee of your comming from the isle of Euboea, and how
you sped by the way? Whereunto Diophanes this notable Assyrian
(not yet come unto his minde, but halfe amased) soone answered
and sayd, I would to god that all our enemies and evil willers might
fall into the like dangerous peregrination and trouble. For the ship
where we were in, after it was by the waves of the seas and by the
great tempests tossed hither and thither, in great peril, and after that
the mast and stern brake likewise in pieces, could in no wise be
brought to shore, but sunk into the water, and so we did swim, and
hardly escaped to land. And after that, whatsoever was given unto
us in recompense of our losses, either by the pitty of strangers, or
by the benevolence of our friends, was taken away from us by
theeves, whose violence when my brother Arisuatus did assay to
resist, hee was cruelly murthered by them before my face. These
things when he had sadly declared, the Cobler tooke up his money
againe which he had told out to pay for the telling of his fortune,
and ran away. The Diophanes comming to himselfe perceived
what he had done, and we all that stood by laughed greatly. But
that (quoth Milo) which Diophanes did tell unto you Lucius, that you
should be happy and have a prosperous journey, was only true.
Thus Milo reasoned with me. But I was not a little sorry that I had
traind him into such a vaine of talke, that I lost a good part of the
night, and the sweete pleasure thereof : but at length I boldly said to
Milo, Let Diophanes fare well with his evil fortune, and get againe
that which he lost by sea and land, for I verily do yet feel the
wearinesse of my travell, whereof I pray you pardon mee, and give
me licence to depart to bed : wherewithall I rose up and went unto
my chamber, where I found all things finely prepared and the
childrens bed (because they should not heare what we did in the
night) was removed far off without the chamber doore. The table
was all covered with those meats that were left at supper, the cups
were filled halfe full with water, to temper and delay the wines, the
flagon stood ready prepared, and there lacked nothing that was
necessary for the preparation of Venus. And when I was entring
into the bed, behold my Fotis (who had brought her mistresse to
bed) came in and gave me roses and floures which she had in her
apron, and some she threw about the bed, and kissed mee sweetly,
and tied a garland about my head, and bespred the chamber with
the residue. Which when shee had done, shee tooke a cup of wine
and delaied it with hot water, and profered it me to drinke; and
before I had drunk it all off she pulled it from my mouth, and then
gave it me againe, and in this manner we emptied the pot twice or
thrice together. Thus when I had well replenished my self with
wine, and was now ready unto Venery not onely in minde but also
in body, I removed my cloathes, and shewing to Fotis my great
impatiencie I sayd, O my sweet heart take pitty upon me and helpe
me, for as you see I am now prepared unto the battell, which you
your selfe did appoint : for after that I felt the first Arrow of cruell
Cupid within my breast, I bent my bow very strong, and now feare,
(because it is bended so hard) lest my string should breake : but
that thou mayst the better please me, undresse thy haire and come
and embrace me lovingly : whereupon shee made no long delay, but
set aside all the meat and wine, and then she unapparelled her
selfe, and unattyred her haire, presenting her amiable body unto me
in manner of faire Venus, when shee goeth under the waves of the
sea. Now (quoth shee) is come the houre of justing, now is come
the time of warre, wherefore shew thy selfe like unto a man, for I
will not retyre, I will not fly the field, see then thou bee valiant, see
thou be couragious, since there is no time appointed when our
skirmish shall cease. In saying these words shee came to me to
bed, and embraced me sweetly, and so wee passed all the night in
pastime and pleasure, and never slept until it was day : but we
would eftsoones refresh our wearinesse, and provoke our pleasure,
and renew our venery by drinking of wine. In which sort we
pleasantly passed away many other nights following.