The Golden Ass of Apuleius/Chapter 30
THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER
How the boy that lead Apuleius to the field, was slaine in the wood.
HILE 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 came 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 I 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.