hen they called together all their
friends, and thus it was concluded: one said, that I should be closed
in a stable and never worke, but continually to be fedde and fatted
with fine and chosen barly and beanes and good littour, howbeit another
prevailed, who wishing my liberty, perswaded them that it was better
for me to runne in the fields amongst the lascivious horses and mares,
whereby I might engender some mules for my Mistresse: then he that had
in charge to keepe the horse, was called for, and I was delivered unto
him with great care, insomuch that I was right pleasant and joyous,
because I hoped that I should carry no more fardels nor burthens,
moreover I thought that when I should thus be at liberty, in the spring
time of the yeere when the meddows and fields were greene, I should
find some roses in some place, whereby I was fully perswaded that if my
Master and Mistresse did render to me so many thanks and honours being
an Asse, they would much more reward me being turned into a man: but
when he (to whom the charge of me was so straightly committed) had
brought me a good way distant from the City, I perceived no delicate
meates nor no liberty which I should have, but by and by his covetous
wife and most cursed queane made me a mill Asse, and (beating me with a
cudgill full of knots) would wring bread for her selfe and her husband
out of my skinne. Yet was she not contented to weary me and make me a
drudge with carriage and grinding of her owne corne, but I was hired of
her neighbours to beare their sackes likewise, howbeit shee would not
give me such meate as I should have, nor sufficient to sustaine my life
withall, for the barly which I ground for mine owne dinner she would
sell to the Inhabitants by. And after that I had laboured all day, she
would set before me at night a little filthy branne, nothing cleane
but full of stones. Being in this calamity, yet fortune worked me other
torments, for on a day I was let loose into the fields to pasture, by
the commandement of my master. O how I leaped for joy, how I neighed
to see my selfe in such liberty, but especially since I beheld so many
Mares, which I thought should be my wives and concubines; and I espied
out and chose the fairest before I came nigh them; but this my joyfull
hope turned into otter destruction, for incontinently all the stone
Horses which were well fedde and made strong by ease of pasture, and
thereby much more puissant then a poore Asse, were