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not agree thereto； to send an ill spirit into him； to dispossesse the spirit of her husband。 Then the witch with her abhominable science； began to conjure and to make her Ceremonies； to turne the heart of the Baker to his wife； but all was in vaine； wherefore considering on the one side that she could not bring her purpose to passe； and on the other side the losse of her gaine； she ran hastily to the Baker； threatning to send an evill spirit to kill him； by meane of her conjurations。 But peradventure some scrupulous reader may demand me a question； how I； being an Asse； and tyed alwayes in the mill house； could know the secrets of these women ： Verily I answer； notwithstanding my shape of an Asse； I had the sence and knowledge of a man； and curiously endeavoured to know out such injuries as were done to my master。 About noone there came a woman into the Milhouse； very sorrowfull； raggedly attired； with bare feete； meigre； ill…favoured； and her hayre scattering upon her face ： This woman tooke the Baker by the hand； and faining that she had some secret matter to tell him； went into a chamber； where they remained a good space； till all the corne was ground； when as the servants were compelled to call their master to give them more corne； but when they had called very often； and no person gave answer； they began to mistrust； insomuch that they brake open the doore ： when they were come in； they could not find the woman； hut onely their master hanging dead upon a rafter of the chamber； whereupon they cryed and lamented greatly； and according to the custome； when they had washed themselves； they tooke the body and buried it。 The next day morrow； the daughter of the Baker； which was married but a little before to one of the next Village； came crying and beating her breast； not because she heard of the death of her father by any man； but because his lamentable spirit； with a halter about his necke appeared to her in the night； declaring the whole circumstance of his death； and how by inchantment he was descended into hell； which caused her to thinke that her father was dead。 After that she had lamented a good space； and was somewhat comforted by the servants of the house； and when nine dayes were expired； as inheretrix to her father； she sold away all the substance of the house； whereby the goods chanced into divers mens hands。
THE FORTY…SECOND CHAPTER
How Apuleius after the Baker was hanged； was sold to a Gardener； and what dreadfull things happened。
There was a poore Gardener amongst the rest； which bought me for the summe of fifty pence； which seemed to him a great price； but he thought to gayne it againe by the continuall travell of my body。 The matter requireth to tell likewise； how I was handled in his service。 This Gardener accustomed to drive me； every morning laded with hearbes to the next Village； and when he had sold his hearbes； hee would mount upon my backe and returne to the Garden； and while he digged the ground and watered the hearbes； and went about other businesse； I did nothing but repose my selfe with great ease； but when Winter approached with sharpe haile； raine and frosts； and I standing under a hedge side； was welnigh killed up with cold； and my master was so poore that he had no lodging for himselfe； much lesse had he any littor or place to cover me withall； for he himselfe alwayes lay under a little roofe shadowed with boughes。 In the morning when I arose； I found my hoofes shriveled together with cold； and unable to passe upon the sharpe ice； and frosty mire； neither could I fill my belly with meate； as I accustomed to doe； for my master and I supped together； and had both one fare ： howbeit it was very slender since as wee had nothing else saving old and unsavoury sallets which were suffered to grow for seed； like long broomes； and that had lost all their sweet sappe and juice。
It fortuned on a day that an honest man of the next village was benighted and constrained by reason of the rain to lodge （very lagged and weary）。in our Garden； where although he was but meanely received； yet it served well enough considering time and necessity。 This honest man to recompence our entertainment； promised to give my master some corne； oyle； and two bottels of wine ： wherefore my master not delaying the matter； laded me with sackes and bottels； and rode to the Towne which was seaven miles off。
When we came to the honest mans house； he entertained and feasted my master exceedingly。 And it fortuned while they eate and dranke together as signe of great amity there chanced a strange and dreadfull case ： for there was a Hen which ran kackling about the yard； as though she would have layed an Egge。 The good man of the house perceiving her； said ： O good and profitable pullet that feedest us every day with thy fruit； thou seemest as though thou wouldest give us some pittance for our dinner ： Ho boy put the Pannier in the corner that the Hen may lay。 Then the boy did as his master commanded； but the Hen forsaking the Pannier； came toward her master and laid at his feet not an Egge； which every man knoweth； but a Chickin with feathers； clawes； and eyes； which incontinently ran peeping after his damme。 By and by happened a more strange thing； which would cause any man to abhorre： under the Table where they sate； the ground opened； and there appeared a great well and fountain of bloud； insomuch that the drops thereof sparckled about the Table。 At the same time while they wondred at this dreadfull sight one of the Servants came running out of the Seller； and told that all the wine was boyled out of the vessels； as though there had beene some great fire under。 By and by a Weasel was scene that drew into the house a dead Serpent； and out of the mouth of a Shepheards dog leaped a live frog； and immediately after one brought word that a Ram had strangled the same dog at one bit。 All these things that happened； astonied the good man of the house； and the residue that were present； insomuch that they could not tell what to doe； or with what sacrifice to appease the anger of the gods。 While every man was thus stroken in feare； behold； one brought word to the good man of the house； that his three sonnes who had been brought up in good literature； and endued with good manners were dead； for they three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man which was their neighbour； and dwelled hard by them： and next unto him dwelled another young man very rich both in lands and goods； but bending from the race of his progenies dissentions； and ruling himselfe in the towne according to his owne will。 This young royster did mortally hate this poore man； insomuch that he would kill his sheepe； steale his oxen； and spoyle his corne and other fruits before the time of ripenesse； yet was he not contented with this； but he would encroch upon the poore mans ground； and clayme all the heritage as his owne。 The poore man which was very simple and fearefull； seeing all his goods taken away by the avarice of the rich man； called together and assembled many of his friends to shew them all his land； to the end he might have but so much ground of his fathers heritage； as might bury him。 Amongst whom； he found these three