feature of your body, and by the maidenly shamefastnesse of your face
that you are a Gentleman borne, as my friend Demeas hath no lesse
declared the same in his letters. Wherfore I pray you take in good part
our poore lodging, and behold yonder chamber is at your commaundement,
use it as your owne, and if you be contented therewithall, you shall
resemble and follow the vertuous qualities of your good father Theseus,
who disdained not the slender and poore Cottage of Hecades.
And then he called his maid which was named Fotis, and said, Carry this
Gentlemans packet into the chamber, and lay it up safely, and bring
water quickly to wash him, and a towel to rub him, and other things
necessary, and then bring him to the next Baines, for I know that he is
very weary of travell.
These things when I heard, I partly perceived the manners of Milo, and
endeavouring to bring my selfe further into his favour, I sayd, Sir
there is no need of any of these things, for they have been everywhere
ministred unto mee by the way, howbeit I will go into the Baines, but
my chiefest care is that my horse be well looked to, for hee brought
mee hither roundly, and therefore I pray thee Fotis take this money and
buy some hay and oats for him.
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
How Apuleius going to buy fish, met with his companion Pythias.
When this was done, and all my things brought into the Chamber, I
walked towards the Baines; but first I went to the market to buy some
victuals for my supper, whereas I saw great plenty of fish set out to
be sould: and so I cheapened part thereof, and that which they at first
held at an hundred pence, I bought at length for twenty. Which when I
had done, and was departing away, one of myne old acquaintance, and
fellow at Athens, named Pithias, fortuned to passe by, and viewing me
at a good space, in the end brought me to his remembrance, and gently
came and kissed mee, saying, O my deare friend Lucius, it is a great
while past since we two saw one another, and moreover, from the time
that wee departed from our Master Vestius, I never heard any newes from
you. I pray you Lucius tell me the cause of your peregrination hither.
Then I answered and sayd, I will make relation thereof unto you
tomorrow: but I pray you tell me, what meaneth these servitors that
follow you, and these rods or verges which they beare, and this habit
which you wear like unto a magistrate, verily I thinke you have
obtained your own desire, whereof I am right glad. Then answered
Pithias, I beare the office of the Clerke of the market, and therfore
if you will have any pittance for your supper speake and I will purvey
it for you. Then I thanked him heartily and sayd I had bought meat
sufficient already. But Pithias when hee espied my basket wherein my
fish was, tooke it and shaked it, and demanded of me what I had payd
for all my Sprots. In faith (quoth I), I could scarce inforce the
fishmonger to sell them for twenty pence. Which when I heard, he
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