The Golden Ass

fifty pieces of gold, if she would fetch her a little of that same drink, to proceed and make an end of all her enterprise. The physician’s wife partly to win the further favour of this rich woman, and partly to gain the money, ran incontinently home, and brought her a whole root of poison, which when she saw, having now occasion to execute her further malice, and to finish the damnable plot, began to stretch out her bloody hands to murder. She had a daughter by her husband (that was poisoned) who according to order of law, was appointed heir of all the lands and goods of her father: but this woman knowing that the mothers succored their children, and received all their goods after their death, purposed to show herself a like parent to her child, as she was a wife to her husband, whereupon she prepared a dinner with her own hands, and empoisoned both the wife of the physician and her own daughter: the child being young and tender died incontinently by force of the drink, but the physician’s wife being stout and strong of complexion, feeling the poison to trill down into her body, doubted the matter, and thereupon knowing of certainty that she had received her bane, ran forthwith to the judge’s house, that what with her cries, and exclamations, she raised up the people of the town, and promising them to show diverse wicked and mischievous acts, caused that the doors and gates were opened. When she came in she declared from the beginning to the end the abomination of this woman: but she had scarce ended her tale, when opening her falling lips, and grinding her teeth together, she fell down dead before the face of the judge, who incontinently to try the truth of the matter, caused the cursed woman, and her servants to be pulled out of the house, and enforced by pain of torment to confess the verity, which being known, this mischievous woman far less than she deserved, but because there could be no more cruel a death invented for the quality of her offence, was condemned to be eaten with wild beasts. Behold with this woman was I appointed to have to do before the face of the people, but I being wrapped in great anguish, and envying the day of the triumph, when we two should so abandon ourselves together, devised rather to slay myself, than to pollute my body with this mischievous harlot, and so forever to remain defamed: but it was impossible for me so to do, considering that I lacked hands, and was not able to hold a knife in my hoofs: howbeit standing in a pretty cabin, I rejoiced in myself to see that springtime was come, and that all things flourished, and that I was in good hope to find some roses, to render me my human shape. When the day of triumph came, I was led with great pomp and benevolence to the appointed place, where when I was brought, I first saw the preamble of that triumph, dedicated with dancers and merry taunting jests, and in the mean season was placed before the gate of the theater, whereas on the one side I saw the green and fresh grass growing before the entry thereof, whereon I greatly desired to feed: on the other side I conceived a great delectation to see when the theater gates were opened, how all things was finely prepared and set forth: for there I might see young children and maidens in the flower of their youth of excellent beauty, and attired gorgeously, dancing and moved in comely order, according to the order of Grecia, for sometime they would dance in length, sometime round together, sometime divide themselves into four parts, and sometime loose hands on every side: but when the trumpet gave warning that every man should retire to his place, then began the triumph to appear. First there was a hill of wood, not much unlike that which the Poet Homer called Idea, for it was garnished about with all sort of green verdures and lively trees, from the top whereof ran down a clear and fresh fountain, nourishing the waters below, about which wood were many young and tender goats, plucking and feeding daintily on the budding trees, then came a young man a shepherd representing Paris, richly arrayed with vestments of Barbary, having a mitre of gold upon his head, and seeming as though he kept the goats. After him ensued another young man all naked, saving that his left shoulder was covered with a rich cloak, and his head shining with glistering hairs, and hanging down, through which you might perceive two little wings, whereby you might conjecture that he was Mercury, with his rod called Caduceus, he bare in his right hand an apple of gold, and with a seemly gait went towards him that represented Paris, and after he had delivered him the apple, he made a sign, signifying that Jupiter had commanded him so to do: when he had done his message he departed away. And by and by, there approached a fair and comely maiden, not much unlike to Juno, for she had a diadem of gold upon her head, and in her hand she bare a regal scepter: then followed another resembling Pallas, for she had on her head a shining sallet, whereon was bound a garland of olive branches, having in one hand a target or shield: and in the other a spear as though she would fight: then came another which passed the other in beauty, and presented the goddess Venus, with the colour of Ambrosia, when she was a maiden, and to the end she would show her perfect beauty, she appeared all naked, saving that her fine and dainty skin was covered with a thin smock, which the wind blew hither and thither to testify the youth and flower