the rafters of the
stable the image of the goddesse Hippone, which was garnished and decked
round about with faire and fresh roses: then in hope of present remedy,
I leaped up with my fore feet as high as I could, stretching out my
neck, and with my lips coveting to snatch some roses. But in an evill
houre I did go about that enterprise, for behold the boy to whom I gave
charge of my horse, came presently in, and finding me climbing upon the
pillar, ranne fretting towards me and said, How long shall wee suffer
this wild Asse, that doth not onely eat up his fellowes meat, but also
would spoyl the images of the gods? Why doe I not kill this lame theefe
and weake wretch. And therewithall looking about for some cudgel, hee
espied where lay a fagot of wood, and chusing out a crabbed truncheon
of the biggest hee could finde, did never cease beating of mee poore
wretch, until such time as by great noyse and rumbling, hee heard
the doores of the house burst open, and the neighbours crying in most
lamentable sort, which enforced him being stricken in feare, to fly his
way. And by and by a troupe of theeves entred in, and kept every part
and corner of the house with weapons. And as men resorted to aid and
help them which were within the doores, the theeves resisted and kept
them back, for every man was armed with a sword and target in his hand,
the glimpses whereof did yeeld out such light as if it had bin day. Then
they brake open a great chest with double locks and bolts, wherein was
layd all the treasure of Milo, and ransackt the same: which when they
had done they packed it up and gave every man a portion to carry: but
when they had more than they could beare away, yet were they loth to
leave any behind, but came into the stable, and took us two poore asses
and my horse, and laded us with greater trusses than wee were able to
beare. And when we were out of the house, they followed us with great
staves, and willed one of their fellows to tarry behind, and bring
them tydings what was done concerning the robbery: and so they beat us
forward over great hils out of the way. But I, what with my heavy
burden and long journy, did nothing differ from a dead asse: wherfore I
determined with my self to seek some civil remedy, and by invocation
of the name of the prince of the country to be delivered from so many
miseries: and on a time I passed through a great faire, I came among a
multitude of Greeks, and I thought to call upon the reno