at you secretly keepe close such things as are
done.

Thus as we reasoned together the courage of Venus assailed, as well our
desires as our members, and so she unrayed herself and came to bed, and
we passed the night in pastime and dalliance, till as by drowsie and
unlusty sleep I was constrained to lie still.

THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER

How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant.

On a day Fotis came running to me in great feare, and said that her
mistresse, to work her sorceries on such as shee loved, intended the
night following to transforme her selfe into a bird, and to fly whither
she pleased. Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare my selfe to see
the same. And when midnight came she led me softly into a high chamber,
and bid me look thorow the chink of a doore: where first I saw how shee
put off all her garments, and took out of a certain coffer sundry kindes
of Boxes, of the which she opened one, and tempered the ointment therein
with her fingers, and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole of
the foot to the crowne of the head, and when she had spoken privily with
her selfe, having the candle in her hand, she shaked the parts of her
body, and behold, I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen out, her
nose waxed crooked and hard, her nailes turned into clawes, and so she
became an Owle. Then she cried and screeched like a bird of that kinde,
and willing to proove her force, mooved her selfe from the ground by
little and little, til at last she flew quite away.

Thus by her sorcery shee transformed her body into what shape she would.
Which when I saw I was greatly astonied: and although I was inchanted by
no kind of charme, yet I thought that I seemed not to have the likenesse
of Lucius, for so was I banished from my sences, amazed in madnesse, and
so I dreamed waking, that I felt myne eyes, whether I were asleepe or
no. But when I was come againe to my selfe, I tooke Fotis by the hand,
and moved it to my face and said, I pray thee while occasion doth serve,
that I may have the fruition of the fruits of my desire, and grant me
some of this oyntment. O Fotis I pray thee by thy sweet paps, to make
that in the great flames of my love I may be turned into a bird, so
I will ever hereafter be bound unto you, and obedient to your
commandement. Then said Fotis, Wil you go about to deceive me now, and
inforce me to work my own sorrow? Are you in the mind that you will not
tarry in Thessaly