Howbeit the ways were unknown to me, and thereupon I took up my packet, unlocked and unbarred the doors, but those good and faithful doors which in the night did open of their own accord, could then scantly be opened with their keys. And when I was out I cried, Oh sirrah hostler where art thou? Open the stable door for I will ride away by and by. The hostler lying behind the stable door upon a pallet, and half-asleep, What (quoth he) do you not know that the ways be very dangerous? What mean you to rise at this time of night? If you perhaps guilty of some heinous crime, be weary of your life, yet think you not that we are such sots that we will die for you. Then said I, It is well-nigh day, and moreover, what can thieves take from him that hath nothing? Doest thou not know (fool as thou art) if thou be naked, if ten giants should assail thee, they could not spoil or rob thee? Whereunto the drowsy hostler half-asleep, and turning on the other side, answered, What know I whether you have murdered your companion whom you brought in yesternight, or no, and now seek the means to escape away? Oh Lord, at that time I remember the earth seemed ready to open, and me thought I saw at hell gate the dog Cerberus ready to devour me, and then I verily believed, that Meroe did not spare my throat, moved with pity, but rather cruelly pardoned me to bring me to the gallows. Wherefore I returned to my chamber, and there devised with myself in what sort I should finish my life. But when I saw that Fortune should minister unto me no other instrument than that which my bed proffered me, I said, Oh bed, oh bed, most dear to me at this present, which hast abode and suffered with me so many miseries, judge and arbiter of such things as were done here this night, whom only I may call to witness for my innocence, render (I say) unto me some wholesome weapon to end my life, that am most willing to die. And therewithal I pulled out a piece of the rope wherewith the bed was corded, and tied one end thereof about a rafter by the window, and with the other end I made a sliding knot, and stood upon my bed, and so put my neck into it, and leaped from the bed, thinking to strangle myself and so die, behold the rope being old and rotten burst in the middle, and I fell down tumbling upon Socrates that lay under: And even at that same very time the hostler came in crying with a loud voice, and said, Where are you that made such haste at midnight, and now lies wallowing abed? Whereupon (I know not whether it was by my fall, or by the great cry of the hostler) Socrates as waking out of sleep, did rise up first and said, It is not without cause that strangers do speak evil of all such hostlers, for this caitiff in his coming in, and with his crying out, I think under a colour to steal away something, hath waked me out of a sound sleep. Then I rose up joyful with a merry countenance, saying, Behold good hostler, my friend, my companion and my brother, whom thou didst falsely affirm to be slain by me this might. And therewithal I embraced my friend Socrates and kissed him: but he smelling the stink of the piss wherewith those hags had embrued me, thrust me away and said, Cleanse thyself from this filthy odour, and then he began gently to inquire, how that noisome scent happened unto me. But I finely feigning and colouring the matter for the time, did break off his talk, and took him by the hand and said, Why tarry we? Why lose we the pleasure of this fair morning? Let us go, and so I took up my packet, and paid the charges of the house and departed: and we had not gone a mile out of the town but it was broad day, and then I diligently looked upon Socrates throat, to see if I could espy the place where Meroe thrust in her sword: but when I could not perceive any such thing, I thought with myself, What a mad man am I, that being overcome with wine yesternight, have dreamed such terrible things? Behold I see Socrates is sound, safe and in health. Where is his wound? Where is the
