The Golden Ass | Page 5

pleasant matter, with such excellency and variety of
flourishing tales, that nothing may be more sweet and delectable, whereby worthily they
may be intituled The Bookes of the 'Golden Asse', for the passing stile and matter therein.
For what can be more acceptable than this Asse of Gold indeed. Howbeit there be many
who would rather intitule it 'Metamorphosis', that is to say, a transfiguration or
transformation, by reason of the argument and matter within.

The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus And unto the Readers of this Book
THAT I to thee some joyous jests may show in gentle gloze, And frankly feed thy bended
eares with passing pleasant prose : So that thou daine in seemly sort this wanton booke to
view, That is set out and garnisht fine, with written phrases new. I will declare how one
by hap his humane figure lost, And how in brutish formed shape, his loathed life he tost.
And how he was in course of time from such a state unfold, Who eftsoone 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 soiles (as I pray you give credit
to the bookes of more everlasting fame) be places where myne antient progeny and linage
did sometime flourish : there I say, in Athens, when I was yong, I went first to schoole.
Soone 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 Latine tongue.
Behold, I first crave and beg your pardon, lest I should happen to displease or offend any
of you by the rude and rusticke utterance of this strange and forrein 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 jeast. Whereunto gentle Reader if
thou wilt give attendant eare, it will minister unto thee such delectable matter as thou
shalt be contented withall.

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 Witches.
As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certaine affaires which I had to doe
( for there myne auncestry by my mothers 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 travell and great paine I had passed over the high
mountaines and slipperie vallies, 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 my self (being weary with riding) I lighted off my horse, and
wiping the sweat from every part of his body, I unbrideled him, and walked him softly in
my hand, to the end he might pisse, and ease himself of his weariness and travell : and
while he went grazing freshly in the field (casting his head sometimes aside, as a token of
rejoycing and gladnesse) I perceived a little before me two companions riding, and so I
overtaking them made a third. And while I listened to heare 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 heare thee tell such absurd and incredible lies; which when I heard, I
desired to heare some newes, 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 passe this high hill before us, by merry and pleasant talke.
But he that laughed before at his fellow, said againe, Verily this tale is as true, as if a man
would say that by sorcery and inchantment the floods might be inforced to run against
their course, the seas to be immovable, the aire to lacke the blowing of windes, the Sunne
to be restrained from his naturall race, the Moone to purge his skimme upon herbes and
trees to serve for sorceries : the starres to be pulled from heaven, the day to be darkened
and the dark night to continue still. Then I being more desirous to heare his talke than his
companions, sayd, I pray you, that began to tell your tale even now, leave not off so, but
tell