owne profit than my utility, thought best to spare
my life, because I might carry home the goddesse. So they laded me
againe, driving me before them with their naked swords, till they came
to a noble City: where the principall Patrone bearing high reverence
unto the goddesse, Came in great devotion before us with Tympany,
Cymbals, and other instruments, and received her, and all our company
with much sacrifice and veneration. But there I remember, I thought my
selfe in most danger, for there was one that brought to the Master
of the house, a side of a fat Bucke for a present, which being hanged
behind the kitchin doore, not far from the ground, was cleane eaten
up by a gray hound, that came in. The Cooke when he saw the Venison
devoured, lamented and wept pitifully. And because supper time
approached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too much negligence,
he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife perceiving whereabout
he went, ran incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both her
hands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O husband, are you out of
your writs? pray husband follow my counsel, cary this strange Asse out
into some secret place and kill him, which done, cut off one of his
sides, and sawce it well like the side of the Bucke, and set it before
your Master. Then the Cooke hearing the counsell of his wife, was well
pleased to slay me to save himselfe: and so he went to the whetstone, to
sharpe his tooles accordingly.

THE NINTH BOOKE

THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER

How Apuleius saved himselfe from the Cooke, breaking his halter, and of
other things that happened.

In this manner the traiterous Cooke prepared himselfe to slay me: and
when he was ready with his knives to doe his feat, I devised with my
selfe how I might escape the present perill, and I did not long delay:
for incontinently I brake the halter wherewith I was tied, and flinging
my heeles hither and thither to save my selfe, at length I ran hastily
into a Parlour, where the Master of the house was feasting with the
Priests of the goddesse Syria, and disquieted all the company, throwing
downe their meats and drinks from the table. The Master of the house
dismayed at my great disorder, commanded one of his servants to take me
up, and locke me in some strong place, to the end I might disturb them
no more. But I little regarded my imprisonment, considering that I
was happily delivered from the hands of the traiterous Co