THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius


How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to
cure their wounds.

When we had gone a good part of our way, we came to a certaine
wood invironed with great trees and compassed about with pleasant
meddowes, whereas the Shepheards appointed to continue a
certaine space to cure their wounds and sores; then they sate
downe on the ground to refresh their wearie minds, and afterwards
they sought for medicines, to heale their bodies: some washed
away their blood with the water of the running River: some stopped
their wounds with Spunges and cloutes, in this manner every one
provided for his owne safety. In the meane season wee perceived
an old man, who seemed to be a Shepheard, by reason of the
Goates and Sheep that fed round about him. Then one of our
company demanded whether he had any milke, butter, or cheese to
sell. To whom he made answere saying : Doe you looke for any
meate or drinke, or any other refection here? Know you not in
what place you be?

And therewithall he tooke his sheepe and drave them away as fast
as he might possible. This answere made our shepheards greatly to
feare, that they thought of nothing else, but to enquire what Country
they were in : Howbeit they saw no manner of person of whom
they might demand. At length as they were thus in doubt, they
perceived another old man with a staffe in his hand very weary
with travell, who approaching nigh to our company, began to weepe
and complaine saying : Alas masters I pray you succour me
miserable caitife, and restore my nephew to me againe, that by
following a sparrow that flew before him, is fallen into a ditch
hereby, and verily I thinke he is in danger of death. As for me, I
am not able to helpe him out by reason of mine old age, but you that
are so valiant and lusty may easily helpe me herein, and deliver me
my boy, my heire and guide of my life. These words made us all to
pity him. And then the youngest and stoutest of our company, who
alone escaped best the late skirmish of Dogges and stones, rose up
and demanded in what ditch the boy was fallen : Mary (quod he)
yonder, and pointed with his finger, and brought him to a great
thicket of bushes and thornes where they both entred in. In the
meane season, after we cured our wounds, we tooke up our packs,
purposing to depart away. And because we would not goe away
without the young man our fellow : The shepheards whistled and
called for him, but when he gave no answer, they sent one out of
their company to seeke him out, who after a while returned againe
with a pale face and sorrowfull newes, saying that he saw a terrible
Dragon eating and devouring their companion : and as for the old
man, hee could see him in no place. When they heard this,
(remembring likewise the words of the first old man that shaked his
head, and drave away his sheep) they ran away beating us before
them, to fly from this desart and pestilent Country.