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 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.

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.