e had
mingled in their cups some deadly poyson, for incontinently they all
fell downe asleepe on the ground one after an other, and lay as though
they had beene dead.

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER

How the Gentlewoman was carried home by her husband while the theeves
were asleepe, and how much Apuleius was made of.

When the theeves were all asleepe by their great and immoderate
drinking, the young man Lepolemus took the Maiden and set her upon my
backe, and went homeward. When we were come home, all the people of the
Citie, especially her Parents, friends, and family, came running forth
joyfully, and the children and Maidens of the towne gathered together to
see this virgin in great triumph sitting upon an Asse. Then I (willing
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. T