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
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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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    the body, which he severally touched for that purpose. Behold, said she, his nose is entire, his eyes are in a sound condition, his ears are safe, his lips have not been violated, and his chin is whole. You, worthy citizens, be witnesses of this. And having said this, she sealed the tables and departed. But I said to her, [Be so good] madam, as to order that all things may be procured forme which are necessary to this undertaking. What are these ? said she. I replied, A large lamp, sufficient oil to supply it with, till it is daylight; warm water, with wine vessels and a cup, and a tray furnished with the remains of the supper. Then she, shaking her head, said, Begone, foolish man, who dost expect supper, and the relics of feasting, in a house full of sorrow, and in which for so many days no smoke has been seen. Do you think that you have come hither to feast? Bather assume, as adapted to this place, sorrow and tears. And at the same time turning to her maid-servant, she said, Myrr- hina, immediately give him a lamp and oil, and shutting me in the bedchamber, she departed. “ I, therefore, being thus left alone to the solace of the dead body, having rubbed my eyes, and armed myself to vigilance, sooth my mind by singing. When lo, the twilight commenced, the night advanced, still deeper and deeper night, and at length midnight; and my fear became greatly increased. But then a weasel, suddenly creeping into the bedchamber, stood opposite to me, and looked very sharply at me, so that the little animal disturbed my mind by its great audacit)^. At length, however, I thus spoke to it: Depart, impure beast, and hide yourself with little mice that resemble you, before you experience our powerful blows. Why do you not go awray ? The animal fled, and immediately left the chamber. But directly after,a profound sleep suddenly merged me into its unfathomable depths ; so that not even the Delphic god himself could easily distinguish which of us two that were prostrate, wras more dead. I, thus inanimate, and requiring another keeper, was nearly not there.
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