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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    tude of men resembling those of Rome; but the unam- bitious stranger will here find rural quiet. Lastly, the whole province comes to this place, for the sake of soli- tary pleasure. To this I replied, What you say is true, nor have I thought myself to be any where more free than I am here. But I am very much afraid of the dark and inevitable retreats of the magic discipline. For it is said, that not even the sepulchres of the dead are secure, but that certain relics and fragments of dead bodies are snatched from the burning pyres, for the purpose of being subservient to the destruction of the living. And old witches, at the very moment of the preparation for a funeral, outstrip by the rapidity of their speed the burial of strangers. In addition to what I thus said, another person observed ; Here, indeed, they do not even spare any of the living. And one whom I know not, having suffered something of this kind, was mutilated in his face, which was every where deformed. In the meantime unrestrained laughter diffused itself through the whole banquet; and the eyes of all the guests were turned towards a certain person who sat in a corner apart from the rest of the company. This man being confused by the pervicaciousness of all those who were looking at him, and indignantly muttering to himself, was preparing to rise [and go away]. But Bvrrhsena said to him. Do net go, my Telephron, but stop a little while, and, with your usual urbanity, resume your narration from the beginning, that this my son Lucius also may partake of the pleasure produced by your facetious tale. To this, he said, You indeed, madam, always preserve an inviolable probity ; but the insolence of certain persons is not to be borne. Thus he, being moved with indignation. The urgent entreaties, howrever, of Byrrhsena, who conjured him by her own life to give the narration, forced him at length to comply. Telephron therefore, having made a pile of the coverlets, leaning on his elbow, and raising himself a little on the bed, extended his right hand and composed the articulation of his fingers after the manner of orators.
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