The metamorphosis, or golden ass, and philosophical works, of Apuleius [A. on the God of Socrates; A. on the habitude of the doctrines of Plato] / Translated from the original Latin, by Thomas Taylor.

  • Apuleius
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The metamorphosis, or golden ass, and philosophical works, of Apuleius [A. on the God of Socrates; A. on the habitude of the doctrines of Plato] / Translated from the original Latin, by Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    you, that made such haste at midnight, and now lie snoring, rolled in the bed-clothes? At these words, Socrates rose first, whether awakened by my falling, or by the discordant vociferation of the porter, I know not; and said, It is not without reason that all these hostlers are execrated. For this impertinently curious fellow', by his unseasonable intrusion, with an intention, I have no doubt, of stealing something, has roused me, though very weary, from a profound sleep, by his outrageous noise. [On hearing him say this,] I rose up, cheerful and glad ; and replete with unhoped for joy, I said. Behold, O most faithful porter, my companion, my father, and my brother, whom you, being intoxicated, falsely accused me of having; slain. And immediately after I embraced Socrates, and kissed him for joy; but he, being filled with the scent of the most filthy liquor with which those witches had infected me, vehemently spurned me from him. Take yourself from hence, said he, for you stink like the bottom of a privy; and he began mildly to inquire the cause of this fetid smell. But I, miserable man, having immediately devised an absurd tale, turned his attention to something else, and, taking him by the right hand, said. Let us go, and enjoy the pleasure of a morning walk. So I took my bundle, and having paid the innkeeper for our night’s lodging, wre departed. We had not proceeded far, before every thing wTas refulgent through the rising of the sun; and I curiously and diligently observed the neck of my companion, in that part in which I had seen the sw7ord plunged, and said to myself, O foolish man, you certainly have had a most absurd dream, because you have been overwhelmed with intoxication through wine. Behold, Socrates is entire, sound, and safe. W here is the wround? where the sponge ? and, in the last place, where is the scar, so deep, and so recent? Addressing myself also to him, I said, Skilful physicians are justly of opinion, that horrible and troublesome dreams are the consequence of
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