THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER

The Golden Ass

by Lucius Apuleius

THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER, THE GOLDEN ASS by Lucius Apuleius


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

While I devised with my selfe in what manner I might end my life,
the roperipe boy on the next morrow lead me to the same hill
againe, and tied me to a bow of a great Oke, and in the meane
season he tooke his hatchet and cut wood to load me withall, but
behold there crept out of a cave by, a marvailous great Beare,
holding out his mighty head, whom when I saw, I was sodainly
stroken in feare, and (throwing all the strength of my body into my
hinder heeles) lifted up my strained head and brake the halter,
wherewith I was tied. Then there was no need to bid me runne
away, for I scoured not only on foot, but tumbled over the stones
and rocks with my body till I carne into the open fields, to the intent
I would escape from the terrible Beare, but especially from the boy
that was worse than the Beare. Then a certaine stranger that
passed by the way (espying me alone as a stray Asse) tooke me up
and roade upon my backe, beating me with a staffe (which he bare
in his hand) through a wide and unknowne lane, whereat I was
nothing displeased, but willingly went forward to avoid the cruell
paine of gelding, which the shepherds had ordained for me, but as
for the stripes I was nothing moved, since I was accustomed to be
beaten so every day. But evill fortune would not suffer me to
continue in so good estate long : For the shepheards looking about
for a Cow that they had lost (after they had sought in divers places)
fortuned to come upon us unwares, who when they espied and
knew me, they would have taken me by the halter, but he that rode
upon my backe resisted them saying, O Lord masters, what intend
you to do? Will you rob me? Then said the shepheards, What?
thinkest thou we handle thee otherwise then thou deservest, which
hast stollen away our Asse? Why dost thou not rather tell us
where thou hast hidden the boy whom thou hast slaine? And
therewithall they pulled him downe to the ground, beating him with
their fists, and spurning him with their feete. Then he answered
unto them saying, titathat he saw no manner of boy, but onely found
the Asse loose and straying abroad, which he tooke up to the intent
to have some reward for the finding of him and to restore him
againe to his Master. And I would to God (quoth he) that this Asse
(which verely was never seene) could speake as a man to give
witnesse of mine innocency : Then would you be ashamed of the
injury which you have done to me. Thus (reasoning for Himselfe)
he nothing prevailed, for they tied the halter about my necke, and
(maugre his face) pulled me quite away, and lead me backe againe
through the woods of the hill to the place where the boy
accustomed to resort. And after they could find him in no place, at
length they found his body rent and torne in peeces, and his
members dispersed in sundry places, which I well knew was done
by the cruell Beare : and verely 1 would have told it if I might have
spoken, but (which I could onely do) I greatly rejoiced at his death,
although it came too late. Then they gathered together the peeces
of his body and buried them. By and by they laid the fault to my
new Master, that tooke me up by the way, and (bringing him home
fast bound to their houses) purposed on the next morrow to accuse
him of murther, and to lead him before the Justices to have
judgement of death.