The Golden Ass of Apuleius/Chapter 26
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
How all the Theeves were brought asleepe by their new companion.
HEN the young man spake againe, saying, Masters, why goe wee not about
to make our prayers unto Mars, touching this selling of the Maiden, and
to seeke for other companions. But as farre as I see, here is no other
manner of beast to make sacrifice withall, nor wine sufficient for us to
drinke. Let me have (quoth hee) tenne more with me, and wee will goe to
the next Castle, to provide for meat
and other things necessary. So
he and tenne more with him, went their way: In the meane season, the
residue made a great fire and an Alter with greene turfes in the honour
of Mars. By and by after they came againe, bringing with them bottles
of wine, and a great number of beasts, amongst which there was a big Ram
Goat, fat, old, and hairy, which they killed and offered unto Mars. Then
supper was prepared sumptuously, and the new companion said unto the
other, You ought to accompt me not onely your Captaine in robbery
and fight, but also in pleasures and jolity, whereupon by and by with
pleasant cheere he prepared meat, and trimming up the house he set all
things in order, and brought the pottage and dainty dishes to the
Table: but above all he plyed them wel with great pots and jugs of wine.
Sometimes (seeming to fetch somewhat) hee would goe to the Maiden and
give her pieces of meate, which he privily tooke away, and would drinke
unto her, which she willingly tooke in good part. Moreover, hee kissed
her twice or thrice whereof she was well pleased but I (not well
contented thereat) thought in my selfe: O wretched Maid, thou hast
forgotten thy marriage, and doest esteeme this stranger and bloudy
theefe above thy husband which thy Parents ordained for thee, now
perceive I well thou hast no remorse of conscience, but more delight to
tarry and play the harlot heere amongst so many swords. What? knowest
thou not how the other theeves if they knew thy demeanour would put
thee to death as they had once appointed, and so worke my destruction
likewise? Well now I perceive thou hast a pleasure in the dammage
and hurt of other. While I did angerly devise with my selfe all these
things, I perceived by certaine signes and tokens (not ignorant to
so wise an Asse) that he was not the notable theefe Hemus, but rather
Lepolemus her husband, for after much communication he beganne to speake
more franckly, not fearing at all my presence, and said, Be of good
cheere my sweete friend Charites, for thou shalt have by and by all
these thy enemies captive unto thee. Then hee filled wine to the theeves
more and more, and never ceased, till as they were all overcome with
abundance of meat and drinke, when as hee himselfe abstained and bridled
his owne appetite. And truely I did greatly suspect, least hee had
mingled in their cups some deadly poyson, for incontinently they all
fell downe asleepe on the ground one after an other, and lay as though
they had beene dead.