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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    these my hands. And why should I not ? For I not only participated with your mother of the same blood, but also of the same education ; since we both originated from the lineage of Plutarch, have both of us sucked the milk of the same nurse, and have grown up together in the bonds of consanguinity ; and there is no difference between us, except that which arises from dignity. For the marriage of your mother was illustrious, but mine was obscure. I am that Byrrhsena, whose name you may perhaps recollect, because it was frequently celebrated among those by whom you were educated. Betake yourself therefore confidently to our place of abode, or rather to your own proper house. To this I replied, my bashfulness having been dissipated by the time which she consumed in speaking, Far be it from me, O mother, that I should desert my host Milo, without any just cause of complaint. But I will sedulously take care to do what- ever can be done by me without violating the rites of hospitality. And as often as I have occasion to come this way, I will call upon you. While wTe were engaged in this friendly altercation, [consisting of refusal on my part, and invitation on hers,] after we had proceeded a little farther, we came to the house of Byrrhsena. The court-yard was most beautiful, which supported statues of the goddess of Victory, raised on pillars, which were quadripartite in the several angles: [i. e. were extended into four parts.] The wings of the statues being stretched on each side without any motion of the rolling sphere, and decorating the unstable step of the dewy feet, made the images seem as if they were not fixed, but were really flying. Behold, too, Parian marble fashioned into a statue of Diana, was erected in the middle of the whole place. This image was perfectly splendid ; for the garment of the goddess appeared as if it was blown back by the wind, and she seemed as it were to run, and to oppose those that were entering into the house. It was also venerable on account of the majesty of the divinity which it represented. Dogs
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