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ve but so much ground of his fathers heritage； as might bury him。 Amongst whom； he found these three brethren； as friends to helpe and ayd him in his adversity and tribulation。
Howbeit； the presence of these honest Citizens； could in no wise perswade him to leave his extort power； no nor yet to cause any temperance of his tongue； but the more they went about with gentle words to tell him his faults； the more would he fret and likewise fume； swearing all the oathes under God； that he little regarded the presence of the whole City； whereupon incontinently he commanded his servants to take the poore man by the eares； and carry him out of his ground； which greatly offended all the standers by。 Then one of the brethren spake unto him somewhat boldly； saying ： It is but a folly to have such affiance in your riches； whereby you should use your tyranny against the poore； when as the law is common for all men； and a redresse may be had to suppresse your insolency。 These words chafed him more then the burning oile； or flaming brimstone； or scourge of whipps； saying ： that they should be hanged and their law too； before he would be subject unto any person ： and therewithall he called out his bandogges and great masties； which accustomed to eate the carrion and carkases of dead beasts in the fields； and to set upon such as passed by the way： then he commanded they should be put upon all the assistance to teare them in peeces ： who as soone as they heard the hisse of their master； ran fiercely upon them invading them on every side； insomuch that the more they flied to escape away； the more cruell and terrible were the dogges。 It fortuned amongst all this fearefull company； that in running； the youngest of the three brethren stombled at a stone； and fell down to the ground ： Then the dogs came upon him and tare him in peeces with their teeth； whereby he was compelled to cry for succour ： His other two brethren hearing his lamentable voice ran towards him to helpe him； casting their cloakes about their left armes； tooke up stones to chase away the dogs； but all was in vaine； for they might see their brother dismembred in every part of his body ： Who lying at the very point of death； desired his brethren to revenge his death against that cruell tyrant ： And therewithall lie gave up the ghost。 The other two brethren perceiving so great a murther； and neglecting their owne lives； like desperate persons dressed themselves against the tyrant； and threw a great number of stones at him； but the bloudy theefe exercised in such and like mischiefes； tooke a speare and thrust it cleane through the body ： howbeit he fell not downe to the ground。 For the speare that came out at his backe ran into the earth； and sustained him up。 By and by carne one of these tyrants servants the most sturdiest of the rest to helpe his master； who at the first comming tooke up a stone and threw at the third brother； but by reason the stone ran along his arme it did not hurt him； which chanced otherwise then all mens expectation was ： by and by the young man feigning that his arme was greatly wounded； spake these words unto the cruell bloud sucker ： Now maist thou； thou wretch； triumph upon the destruction of all our family； now hast thou fed thy insatiable cruelty with the bloud of three brethren； now maist thou rejoyce at the fall of us Citizens； yet thinke not but that how farre thou dost remove and extend the bounds of thy land； thou shalt have some neighbor； but how greatly am I sorry in that I have lost mine arme wherewithall I minded to cut off thy head。 When he had spoken these words； the furious theefe drew out his dagger； and running upon the young man thought verily to have slaine him； but it chanced otherwise： For the young man resisted him stoutly； and in buckling together by violence wrested the dagger out of his hand ： which done； he killed the rich theefe with his owne weapon； and to the intent the young man would escape the hands of the servants which came running to assist their master； with the same dagger he cut his owne throat。 These things were signified by the strange and dreadfull wondres which fortuned in the house of the good man； who after he had heard these sorrowfull tydings could in no wise weepe； so farre was he stroken with dolour； but presently taking his knife wherewith he cut his cheese and other meate before； he cut his owne throat likewise； in such sort that he fell upon the bord and imbraced the table with the streames of his blond； in most miserable manner。 Hereby was my master the Gardener deprived of his hope； and paying for his dinner the watry teares of his eyes； mounted upon my backe and so we went homeward the same way as wee came。
THE FORTY…THIRD CHAPTER
How Apuleius was found by his shadow。
As wee passed by the way wee met with a tall souldier （for so his habite and countenance declared） who with proud and arrogant words spake to my master in this sort：
Quorsum vacuum ducis Asinum？
My master somewhat astonied at the strange sights which he saw before； and ignorant of the Latine tongue； roade on and spake never a word ： The souldier unable to refraine his insolence； and offended at his silence； strake him on the shoulders as he sate on my backe； then my master gently made answer that he understood not what he said； whereat the souldier angerly demanded againe； whither he roade with his Asse？ Marry （quoth he） to the next City ： But I （quoth the souldier） have need of his helpe； to carry the trusses of our Captaine from yonder Castle； and therewithall he tooke me by the halter and would violently have taken me away ： but my master wiping away the blood of the blow which he received of the souldier； desired him gently and civilly to take some pitty upon him； and to let him depart with his owne； swearing and affirming that his slow Asse； welnigh dead with sicknesse； could scarce carry a few handfuls of hearbs to the next towne； much lesse he was able to beare any greater trusses ： but when he saw the souldier would in no wise be intreated； but ready with his staffe to cleave my masters head； my master fell down at his feete； under colour to move him to some pitty； but when he saw his time； he tooke the souldier by the legs and cast him upon the ground： Then he buffetted him； thumped him； bit him； and tooke a stone and beat his face and his sides； that he could not turne and defend himselfe； but onely threaten that if ever he rose； he would choppe him in pieces。 The Gardener when he heard him say so； drew out his javelin which hee had by his side； and when he had throwne it away； he knockt and beate him more cruelly then he did before； insomuch that the souldier could not tell by what meanes to save himselfe； but by feining that he was dead； Then my master tooke the javelin and mounted upon my backe； riding in all hast to the next village； having no regard to goe to his Garden； and when he came thither； he turned into one of his friends house and declared all the whole matter； desiring him to save his life and to hide himselfe and his Asse in some secret place； untill such time as all danger were past。 Then his friends not forgetting the ancient amity betweene them； entertained him willingly and drew me