The Golden Asse

 Table of Contents

 The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described

 The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus And unto the Readers of this Book

 The First Booke

 The First Chapter How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with two strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of Wit

 The Second Chapter How Apuleius told to the strangers, what he saw a jugler do in Athens.

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

 The Fourth Chapter How Meroe the Witch turned divers persons into miserable beasts.

 The Fifth Chapter How Socrates and Aristomenus slept together in one Chamber, and how they were handled by Witches.

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

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

 The Second Booke

 The Eighth Chapter How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena.

 The Ninth Chapter How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis.

 The Tenth Chapter How Byrrhena sent victuals unto Apuleius, and how hee talked with Milo of Diophanes, and how he lay with Fotis.

 The Eleventh Chapter How Apuleius supped with Byrrhena, and what a strange tale Bellephoron told at the table.

 The Third Booke

 The Twelfth Chapter How Apuleius was taken and put in prison for murther.

 The Thirteenth Chapter How Apuleius was accused by an old man, and how he answered for himselfe.

 The Fourteenth Chapter How Apuleius was accused by two women, and how the slaine bodies were found blowne bladders.

 The Fifteenth Chapter How Fotis told to Apuleius, what witchcraft her mistresse did use.

 The Sixteenth Chapter How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant.

 The Seventeenth Chapter How Apuleius thinking to be turned into a Bird, was turned into an Asse, and how he was led away by Theves.

 The Fourth Booke

 The Eighteenth Chapter How Apuleius thinking to eat Roses, was cruelly beaten by a Gardener, and chased by dogs.

 The Nineteenth Chapter How Apuleius was prevented of his purpose, and how the Theeves came to their den.

 The Twentieth Chapter How Thrasileon was disguised in a Beares skin, and how he was handled.

 The Twenty-First Chapter How the Theeves stole away a Gentlewoman, and brought her to their den.

 The Marriage of Cupid and Psyches

 The Twenty-Second Chapter The most pleasant and delectable tale of the marriage of Cupid and Psyches.

 The Sixth Booke

 The Twenty-Third Chapter How Apuleius carried away the Gentlewoman, and how they were taken againe by the theeves, and what a kind of death was invent

 The Seventh Booke

 The Twenty-Fourth Chapter How hee that was left behinde at Hippata did bring newes concerning the robbery of Miloes house, came home and declared to h

 The Twenty-Fifth Chapter How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed.

 The Twenty-Sixth Chapter How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new companion.

 The Twenty-Seventh Chapter How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the theeves were asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of.

 The Twenty-Eighth Chapter How Apuleius was made a common Asse to fetch home wood, and how he was handled by a boy.

 The Twenty-Ninth Chapter How Apuleius was accused of Lechery by the boy.

 The Thirtieth Chapter How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood.

 The Thirty-First Chapter How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that was slaine.

 The Eighth Booke

 The Thirty-Second Chapter How a young man came and declared the miserable death of Lepolemus and his wife Charites.

 The Thirty-Third Chapter How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper: and what danger he was in.

 The Thirty-Fourth Chapter How the shepheards determined to abide in a certaine wood to cure their wounds.

 The Thirty-Fifth Chapter How a woman killed her selfe and her child, because her husband haunted harlots.

 The Thirty-Sixth Chapter How Apuleius was cheapned by divers persons, and how they looked in his mouth to know his age.

 The Ninth Booke

 The Thirty-Seventh Chapter How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of other things that happened.

 The Thirty-Eighth Chapter Of the deceipt of a Woman which made her husband Cuckold.

 The Thirty-Ninth Chapter How the Priests of the goddesse Siria were taken and put in prison, and how Apuleius was sold to a Baker.

 The Fortieth Chapter How Apuleius was handled by the Bakers wife, which was a harlot.

 The Forty-First Chapter How Barbarus being jealous over his wife, commanded that shee should be kept close in his house, and what happened.

 The Forty-Second Chapter How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged, was sold to a Gardener, and what dreadfull things happened.

 The Forty-Third Chapter How Apuleius was found by his shadow.

 The Tenth Booke

 The Forty-Fourth Chapter How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a Captaines house, and what happened there.

 The Forty-Fifth Chapter How Apuleius was sold to two brethren, whereof one was a Baker, and the other a Cooke, and how finely and daintily he fared.

 The Forty-Sixth Chapter How a certaine Matron fell in love with Apuleius, how hee had his pleasure with her, and what other things happened.

 The Eleventh Booke

 The Forty-Seventh Chapter How Apuleius by Roses and prayer returned to his humane shape.

 The Forty-Eighth Chapter How the parents and friends of Apuleius heard news that he was alive and in health.

The Twenty-Fifth Chapter

How the death of the Asse, and the Gentlewoman was stayed.

After supper they began to talke, and declare unto him the going away of the Gentlewoman, and how I bare her upon my backe, and what death was ordained for us two. Then he desired to see her, whereupon the Gentlewoman was brought forth fast bound, whom as soone as he beheld, he turned himselfe wringing his nose, and blamed them saying: I am not so much a beast, or so rash a fellow to drive you quite from your purpose, but my conscience will not suffer me to conceale any thing that toucheth your profit, since I am as carefull for you, howbeit if my counsell doe displease you, you may at your liberty proceed in your enterprise. I doubt not but all theeves, and such as have a good judgement, will preferre their owne lucre and gain above all things in the world, and above their vengeance, which purchaseth damage to divers persons. Therefore if you put this virgin in the Asses belly, you shall but execute your indignation against her, without all manner of profit; But I would advise you to carry the virgin to some towne and to sell her: and such a brave girle as she is, may be sold for a great quantity of money. And I my selfe know certaine bawdy Marchants, amongst whom peradventure one will give us summes of gold for her. This is my opinion touching this affaire: but advise you what you intend to do, for you may rule me in this case. In this manner the good theefe pleaded and defended our cause, being a good Patron to the silly virgin, and to me poore Asse. But they staied hereupon a good space, with long deliberation, which made my heart (God wot) and spirit greatly to quaile. Howbeit in the end they consented to his opinion, and by and by the Maiden was unloosed of her bonds, who seeing the young man, and hearing the name of brothels and bawdy Merchants, began to wax joyfull, and smiled with herself. Then began I to deeme evill of the generation of women, when as I saw the Maiden (who was appointed to be married to a young Gentleman, and who so greatly desired the same) was now delighted with the talke of a wicked brothel house, and other things dishonest. In this sort the consent and manners of women depended in the judgement of an Asse.