wer to him every question, specially hee
enquired the causes of my peregrination and travell, which when I had
declared, he yet busily demanded of the state of my Countrey, and the
chief magistrates there, and principally of our Lievtenant and Viceroy;
who when he perceived that I was not only wearied by travell, but also
with talke, and that I fell asleep in the midst of my tale, and further
that I spake nothing directly or advisedly, he suffered me to depart to
my chamber. So scaped I at length from the prating and hungry supper of
this rank old man, and being compelled by sleepe and not by meat, and
having supped only with talke, I returned into my chamber, and there
betooke me to my quiet and long desired rest.

THE SECOND BOOKE

THE EIGHTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius fortuned to meet with his Cousin Byrrhena.

As soone as night was past, and the day began to spring, I fortuned to
awake, and rose out of my bed as halfe amazed, and very desirous to know
and see some marvellous and strange things, remembring with my selfe
that I was in the middle part of all Thessaly, whereas by the common
report of all the World, the Sorceries and Inchauntments are most used,
I oftentimes repeated with my self the tale of my companion Aristomenus
touching the manner of this City, and being mooved by great desire, I
viewed the whole scituation thereof, neither was there any thing which
I saw there, but that I did beleeve to be the same which it was indeed,
but every thing seemed unto me to be transformed and altered into other
shapes, by the wicked power of Sorcerie and Inchantment, insomuch that I
thought that the stones which I found were indurate, and turned from
men into that figure, and that the birds which I heard chirping, and
the trees without the walls of the city, and the running waters, were
changed from men into such kinde of likenesses. And further I thought
that the Statues, Images and Walls could goe, and the Oxen and other
brute beasts could speake and tell strange newes, and that immediately
I should see and heare some Oracles from the heavens, and from the
gleed of the Sun. Thus being astonied or rather dismayed and vexed with
desire, knowing no certaine place whither I intended to go, I went from
street to street, and at length (as I curiously gazed on every thing)
I fortuned unwares to come into the market place, whereas I espied a
certaine woman, accompanied with a great many servants, towards whom I