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 Seventh Chapter

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.