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 Thirty-Fourth Chapter

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.