to shew as much joy as I might, as present occasion
served) I set and pricked up my long eares, ratled
my nosethrils, and cryed stoutly, nay rather I made
the towne to ring againe with my shrilling sound:
when wee were come to her fathers house, shee was
received in a chamber honourably: as for me,
Lepolemus (accompanied with a great number of Citizens)
did presently after drive me backe againe with other
horses to the cave of the theeves, where wee found
them all asleepe lying on the ground as wee left them;
then they first brought out all the gold, and silver,
and other treasure of the house, and laded us withall,
which when they had done, they threw many of the theeves
downe into the bottome of deepe ditches, and the residue
they slew with their swords: after this wee returned
home glad and merry of so great vengeance upon them,
and the riches which wee carried was commited to the
publike treasurie. This done, the Maid was married
to Lepolemus, according to the law, whom by so much
travell he had valiantly recovered: then my good
Mistresse looked about for me, and asking for me commanded
the very same day of her marriage, that my manger
should be filled with barly, and that I should have
hay and oats aboundantly, and she would call me her
little Camell. But how greatly did I curse Fotis,
in that shee transformed me into an Asse, and not
into a dogge, because I saw the dogges had filled
their paunches with the reliks and bones of so worthy
a supper. The next day this new wedded woman (my
Mistresse) did greatly commend me before her Parents
and husband, for the kindnesse which I had shewed
unto her, and never leaved off untill such time as
they promised to reward me with great honours.
Then 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