presently with this sword to finish my life. And therewithall after she
had made relation of the whole matter, declared the vision which she
saw and told by what meane she deceived Thrasillus, thrusting her sword
under her right brest, and wallowing in her owne bloud, at length with
manly courage yeelded up the Ghost. Then immediately the friends
of miserable Charites did bury her body within the same Sepulchre.
Thrasillus hearing all the matter, and knowing not by what meanes he
might end his life, for he thought his sword was not sufficient to
revenge so great a crime, at length went to the same Sepulchre, and
cryed with a lowd voice, saying: o yee dead spirites whom I have so
highly and greatly offended, vouchsafe to receive me, behold I make
Sacrifice unto you with my whole body: which said, hee closed the
Sepulchre, purposing to famish himselfe, and to finish his life there
in sorrow. These things the young man with pitifull sighes and teares,
declared unto the Cowheards and Shepheards, which caused them all to
weepe: but they fearing to become subject unto new masters, prepared
themselves to depart away.
THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER
How Apuleius was lead away by the Horsekeeper: and what danger he was
in.
By and by the Horsekeeper, to whom the charge of me was committed,
brought forth all his substance, and laded me and other Horses withall,
and so departed thence: we bare women, children, pullets, sparrowes,
kiddes, whelpes, and other things which were not able to keepe pace
with us, and that which I bare upon my backe, although it was a mighty
burthen, yet seemed it very light because I was driven away from him
that most terribly had appointed to kill me. When we had passed over
a great mountaine full of trees, and were come againe into the open
fields, behold we approached nigh to a faire and rich Castell, where
it was told unto us that we were not able to passe in our journey that
night, by reason of the great number of terrible Wolves which were
in the Country about, so fierce and cruell that they put every man
in feare, in such sort that they would invade and set upon such
which passed by like theeves, and devoure both them and their beasts.
Moreover, we were advertised that there lay in the way where we should
passe, many dead bodies eaten and torne with wolves. Wherefore we were
willed to stay there all night, and on the next morning, to goe close
and round together, whereby we might passe and e
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