The Golden Ass (Metamorphoses) — Apuleius
You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : The Golden Asse Author : Apuleius Translator : active 1566 William Adlington Release date : February 22, 2006 [eBook #1666] Most recently updated: September 17, 2022 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1666 Credits : Donal O’Danachair and David Widger *** START OF The original spelling, capitalisation and punctuation have been retained. Contents Dedication The Life of Lucius Apuleius Briefly Described The Preface of the Author To His Sonne, Faustinus THE FIRST BOOKE THE FIRST CHAPTER THE SECOND CHAPTER THE THIRD CHAPTER THE FOURTH CHAPTER THE FIFTH CHAPTER THE SIXTH CHAPTER THE SEVENTH CHAPTER THE SECOND BOOKE THE EIGHTH CHAPTER THE NINTH CHAPTER THE TENTH CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER THE THIRD BOOKE THE TWELFTH CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER THE FOURTH BOOKE THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHES THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER THE SIXTH BOOKE THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER THE SEVENTH BOOKE THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER THE EIGHTH BOOKE THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER THE THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FOURTH CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIFTH CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SIXTH CHAPTER THE NINTH BOOKE THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER THE THIRTY-NINTH CHAPTER THE FORTIETH CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIRST CHAPTER THE FORTY-SECOND CHAPTER THE FORTY-THIRD CHAPTER THE TENTH BOOKE THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIFTH CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH BOOKE THE FORTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER THE FORTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER After that I had taken upon me (right Honourable) in manner of that unlearned and foolish Poet, Cherillus, who rashly and unadvisedly wrought a big volume in verses, of the valiant prowesse of Alexander the Great, to translate this present booke, contayning the Metamorphosis of Lucius Apuleius; being mooved thereunto by the right pleasant pastime and delectable matter therein; I eftsoones consulted with myself, to whom I might best offer so pleasant and worthy a work, devised by the author, it being now barbarously and simply framed in our English tongue. And after long deliberation had, your honourable lordship came to my remembrance, a man much more worthy, than to whom so homely and rude a translation should be presented. But when I again remembred the jesting and sportfull matter of the booke, unfit to be offered to any man of gravity and wisdome, I was wholly determined to make no Epistle Dedicatory at all; till as now of late perswaded thereunto by my friends, I have boldly enterprised to offer the same to your Lordship, who as I trust wil accept the same, than if it did entreat of some serious and lofty matter, light and merry, yet the effect thereof tendeth to a good and vertuous moral, as in the following Epistle to the reader may be declared. For so have all writers in times past employed their travell and labours, that their posterity might receive some fruitfull profit by the same. And therfore the poets feined not their fables in vain, considering that children in time of their first studies, are very much allured thereby to proceed to more grave and deepe studies and disciplines, whereas their mindes would quickly loath the wise and prudent workes of learned men, wherein in such unripe years they take no spark of delectation at all. And not only that profit ariseth to children by such feined fables, but also the vertues of men are covertly thereby commended, and their vices discommended and abhorred. For by the fable of Actaeon, where it is feigned that he saw Diana washing her selfe in a well, hee was immediately turned into an Hart, and so was slain of his own Dogs; may bee meant, That when a man casteth his eyes on the vain and soone fading beauty of the world, consenting thereto in his minde, hee seemeth to bee turned into a brute beast, and so to be slain by the inordinate desire of his owne affects. By Tantalus that stands in the midst of the floud Eridan, having before him a tree laden with pleasant apples, he being neverthelesse always thirsty and hungry, betokeneth the insatiable desires of covetous persons. The fables of Atreus, Thiestes, Tereus and Progne signifieth the wicked and abhominable facts wrought and attempted by mortall men. The fall of Icarus is an example to proud and arrogant persons, that weeneth to climb up to the heavens. By Mydas, who obtained of Bacchus, that all things which he touched might be gold, is carped the foul sin of avarice. By Phaeton, that unskilfully took in hand to rule the chariot of the Sunne, are represented those persons which attempt things passing their power and capacity. By Castor and Pollux, turned into a signe in heaven called Gemini, is signified, that vertuous and godly persons shall be rewarded after life with perpetuall blisse. And in this feined jest of Lucius Apuleius is comprehended a figure of mans life, ministring most sweet and delectable matter, to such as shall be desirous to reade the same. The which if your honourable lordship shall accept and take in good part, I shall not onely thinke my small travell and labour well employed, but also receive a further comfort to attempt some more serious matter, which may be more acceptable to your Lordship: desiring the same to excuse my rash and bold enterprise at this time, as I nothing doubt of your Lordships goodnesse. To whome I beseech Almighty God to impart long life, with encrease of much honour. Fr