Finally, the Metamorphosie of Lucius Apuleius may be resembled to youth without discretion, and his reduction to age possessed with wisdom and virtue.
Now since this book of Lucius is a figure of man’s life, and toucheth the nature and manners of mortal men, egging them forward from their asinall form, to their human and perfect shape, beside the pleasant and delectable jests therein contained, I trust if my simple translation be nothing accepted, yet the matter itself shall be esteemed by such as not only delight to please their fancies in reading the same, but also take a pattern thereby to regenerate their minds from brutish and beastly custom. Howbeit I have not so exactly passed through the author, as to point every sentence according as it is in Latin, or so absolutely translated every word as it lieth in the prose, (for so the French and Spanish translators have not done) considering the same in our vulgar tongue would have appeared very obscure and dark, and thereby consequently loathsome to the reader, but nothing erring as I trust from the true and natural meaning of the author, have used more common and familiar words, yet not so much as I might do, for the plainer setting forth of the same. But howsoever it be, gentle reader, I pray thee take it in good part, considering that for thee I have taken this pain, to the intent that thou mayst read the same with pleasure.
The Preface of the Author
to His Son, Faustinus
And Unto the Readers of This Book
That I to thee some joyous jests
may show in gentle glose,
And frankly feed thy bended ears
with passing pleasant prose:
So that thou deign in seemly sort
this wanton book to view,
That is set out and garnished fine,
with written phrases new.
I will declare how one by hap
his human figure lost,
And how in brutish formed shape
his loathed life he tossed.
And how he was in course of time
from such a state unfold,
Who eftsoons turn’d to pristine shape,
his lot unlucky told.
What and who he was attend a while, and you shall understand that it was even I, the writer of mine own Metamorphosie and strange alteration of figure. Hymettus, Athens, Isthmia, Ephire, Tenaros, and Sparta, being fat and fertile soils (as I pray you give credit to the books of more everlasting fame) be places where mine ancient progeny and lineage did sometime flourish: there I say, in Athens, when I was young, I went first to school. Soon after (as a stranger) I arrived at Rome, whereas by great industry, and without instruction of any schoolmaster, I attained to the full perfection of the Latin tongue. Behold, I first crave and beg your pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any of you by the rude and rustic utterance of this strange and foreign language. And verily this new alteration of speech doth correspond to the enterprised matter whereof I purpose to entreat, I will set forth unto you a pleasant Grecian feast. Whereunto gentle reader if thou wilt give attendant ear, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou shalt be contented withal.
The Golden Ass
Book I
I
How Apuleius riding in Thessaly, fortuned to fall into company with two strangers, that reasoned together of the mighty power of witches.
As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certain affairs which I had to do (for there mine ancestry by my mother’s side inhabiteth, descended of the line of that most excellent person Plutarch, and of Sextus the philosopher his nephew, which is to us a great honour) and after that by much travel and great pain I had passed over the high mountains and slippery valleys, and had ridden through the cloggy fallowed fields; perceiving that my horse did wax somewhat slow, and to the intent likewise that I might repose and strengthen myself (being weary with riding) I lighted off my horse, and wiping the sweat from every part of his body, I unbridled him, and walked him softly in my hand, to the end he might piss, and ease himself of his weariness and travel: and while he went grazing freshly in the field (casting his head sometimes aside, as a token of rejoicing and gladness) I perceived a little before me two companions riding, and so I overtaking them made a third. And while I listened to hear their communication, the one of them laughed and mocked his fellow, saying, Leave off I pray thee and speak no more, for I cannot abide to hear thee tell such absurd and incredible lies; which when I heard, I desired to hear some news, and said, I pray you masters make me partaker of your talk, that am not so curious as desirous to know all your communication: so shall we shorten our journey, and easily pass this high hill before us, by merry and pleasant talk.
But he that laughed before at his fellow, said again, Verily this tale is as true, as if a man would say that by sorcery and enchantment the floods might be enforced to run against their course, the seas to be immovable, the air to lack the blowing of winds, the sun to be restrained from his natural race,
