l 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.

THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER

How Apuleius was cruelly beaten by the Mother of the boy that was
slaine.

In the meane season, while the Parents of the boy did lament and weepe
for the death of their sonne, the shepheard (according to his promise)
came with his instruments and tooles to geld me. Then one of them said,
Tush we little esteeme the mischiefe he did yesterday, but now we are
contented that to morrow his stones shall not onely be cut off, but also
his head. So was it brought to passe, that my death was delayed till the
next morrow, but what thanks did I give to that good boy, who (being so
slaine) was the cause of my pardon for one short day. Howbeit I had
no time then to rest my selfe, for the Mother of the boy, weeping and
lamenting for his death, attired in mourning vesture, tare her haire
and beat her breast, and came presently into the stable, saying, Is it
reason that this carelesse beast should do nothing all day but hold
his head in the manger, filling and belling his guts with meat without