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cording to her accustomed practise； shee gathered together all substance for fumigations； she brought forth plates of mettal carved with strange characters； she prepared the bones of such as were drowned by tempest in the seas； she made ready the members of dead men； as the nosethrils and fingers； shee set out the lumps of flesh of such as were hanged； the blood which she had reserved of such as were slaine and the jaw bones and teeth of willed beasts； then she said certaine charmes over the haire； and dipped it in divers waters； as in Wel water； Cow milk； mountain honey； and other liquor。 Which when she had done； she tied and lapped it up together； and with many perfumes and smells threw it into an hot fire to burn。 Then by the great force of this sorcerie； and the violence of so many confections； those bodies whose haire was burning in the fire； received humane shape； and felt； heard and walked ： And smelling the sent of their owne haire； came and rapped at our doores in stead of Boetius。 Then you being well tipled； and deceived by the obscurity of the night； drew out your sword courageously like furious Ajax； and kild not as he did； whole heard of beastes； but three blowne skinnes； to the intent that I； after the slaughter of so many enemies； without effusion of bloud might embrace and kisse； not an homicide but an Utricide。
Thus when I was pleasantly mocked and taunted by Fotis； I sayd unto her； verily now may I for this atcheived enterprise be numbered as Hercules； who by his valiant prowesse performed the twelve notable Labors； as Gerion with three bodies； and as Cerberus with three heads； for I have slaine three blown goat skinnes。 But to the end that I may pardon thee of that thing which though hast committed； perform； the thing which I most earnestly desire of thee； that is； bring me that I may see and behold when thy mistresse goeth about any Sorcery or enchantment； and when she prayeth unto the gods ： for I am very desirous to learne that art； and as it seemeth unto mee； thou thy selfe hath some experience in the same。 For this I know and plainly feele； That whereas I have always yrked and loathed the embrace of Matrones； I am so stricken and subdued with thy shining eyes； ruddy cheekes； glittering haire； sweet cosses； and lilly white paps； that I have neither minde to goe home； nor to depart hence； but esteeme the pleasure which I shall have with thee this night； above all the joyes of the world。 Then （quoth she） O my Lucius； how willing would I be to fulfil your desire； but by reason shee is so hated； she getteth her selfe into solitary places； and out of the presence of every person； when she mindeth to work her enchantments。 Howbeit I regarde more to gratify your request； than I doe esteeme the danger of my life ： and when I see opportunitie and time I will assuredly bring you word； so that you shal see all her enchantments； but always upon this condition； that you secretly keepe close such things as are done。
Thus as we reasoned together the courage of Venus assailed； as well our desires as our members； and so she unrayed herself and came to bed； and we passed the night in pastime and dalliance； till as by drowsie and unlusty sleep I was constrained to lie still。
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER
How Fotis brought Apuleius to see her Mistresse enchant。
On a day Fotis came running to me in great feare； and said that her mistresse； to work her sorceries on such as shee loved； intended the night following to transforme her selfe into a bird； and to fly whither she pleased。 Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare my selfe to see the same。 And when midnight came she led me softly into a high chamber； and bid me look thorow the chink of a doore ： where first I saw how shee put off all her garments； and took out of a certain coffer sundry kindes of Boxes； of the which she opened one； and tempered the ointment therein with her fingers； and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole of the foot to the crowne of the head； and when she had spoken privily with her selfe； having the candle in her hand； she shaked the parts of her body； and behold； I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen out； her nose waxed crooked and hard； her nailes turned into clawes； and so she became an Owle。 Then she cried and screeched like a bird of that kinde； and willing to proove her force； mooved her selfe from the ground by little and little； til at last she flew quite away。
Thus by her sorcery shee transformed her body into what shape she would。 Which when I saw I was greatly astonied ： and although I was inchanted by no kind of charme； yet I thought that I seemed not to have the likenesse of Lucius； for so was I banished from my sences； amazed in madnesse； and so I dreamed waking； that I felt myne eyes； whether I were asleepe or no。 But when I was come againe to my selfe； I tooke Fotis by the hand； and moved it to my face and said； I pray thee while occasion doth serve； that I may have the fruition of the fruits of my desire； and grant me some of this oyntment。 O Fotis I pray thee by thy sweet paps； to make that in the great flames of my love I may be turned into a bird； so I will ever hereafter be bound unto you； and obedient to your commandement。 Then said Fotis； Wil you go about to deceive me now； and inforce me to work my own sorrow？ Are you in the mind that you will not tarry in Thessaly？ If you be a bird； where shall I seek you； and when shall I see you？ Then answered I； God forbid that I should commit such a crime； for though I could fly in the aire as an Eagle or though I were the messenger of Jupiter； yet would I have recourse to nest with thee ： and I swear by the knot of thy amiable hair； that since the time I first loved thee； I never fancied any other person ： moreover； this commeth to my minde； that if by the vertue of the oyntment I shall become an Owle； I will take heed I will come nigh no mans house ： for I am not to learn； how these matrons would handle their lovers； if they knew that they were transformed into Owles ： Moreover； when they are taken in any place they are nayled upon posts； and so they are worthily rewarded； because it is thought that they bring evill fortune to the house。 But I pray you （which I had almost forgotten） to tell me by what meanes when I am an Owle； I shall return to my pristine shape； and become Lucius againe。 Feare not （quoth she） for my mistres hath taught me the way to bring that to passe； neither thinke you that she did it for any good will and favour； but to the end that I might help her； and minister some remedy when she returneth home。
Consider I pray you with your selfe； with what frivolous trifles so marvellous a thing is wrought ： for by Hercules I swear I give her nothing else save a little Dill and Lawrell leaves； in Well water； the which she drinketh and washeth her selfe withall。 Which when she had spoken she went into the chamber and took a box out of the coffer； which I first kissed and embraced； and prayed that I might ＇have＇ good successe in my purpose。 And then I put off all my garments； and greedily thrust my hand into the box； and took out a good deale of oyntment and rubbed my selfe withall。
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER
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