Lucius may be delighted with the pleasantnes of the tale. To whom he
answered, Madam in the office of your bounty shall prevaile herein, but
the insolencie of some is not to be supported. This hee spake very
angerly: But Byrrhena was earnest upon him, and assured him hee should
have no wrong at any mans hand. Whereby he was inforced to declare the
same, and so lapping up the end of the Table cloath and carpet
together, hee leaned with his elbow thereon, and held out three
forefingers of his right hand in manner of an orator, and sayd, When I
was a young man I went unto a certaine city called Milet, to see the
games and triumphs there named Olympia, and being desirous to come into
this famous province, after that I had travelled over all Thessaly, I
fortuned in an evil hour to come to the City Larissa, where while I
went up and down to view the streets to seeke some reliefe for my poore
estate (for I had spent all my money) I espied an old man standing on a
stone in the middest of the market place, crying with a loud voice and
saying, that if any man would watch a dead corps that night hee should
be reasonably rewarded for this paines. Which when I heard, I sayd to
one who passed by, What is here to doe? Do dead men use to run away in
this Countrey? Then answered he, Hold your peace, for you are but a
Babe and a stranger here, and not without cause you are ignorant how
you are in Thessaly, where the women Witches bite off by morsels the
flesh and faces of dead men, and thereby work their sorceries and
inchantments. Then quoth I, In good fellowship tell me the order of
this custody and how it is. Marry (quoth he) first you must watch all
the night, with your eyes bent continually upon the Corps, never
looking off, nor moving aside. For these Witches do turn themselves
into sundry kindes of beasts, whereby they deceive the eyes of all men,
sometimes they are transformed into birds, sometimes into Dogs and
Mice, and sometimes into flies. Moreover they will charme the keepers
of the corps asleepe, neither can it be declared what meanes and shifts
these wicked women do use, to bring their purpose to passe: and the
reward for such dangerous watching is no more than foure or sixe
shillings. But hearken further (for I had well nigh forgotten) if the
keeper of the dead body doe not render on the morning following, the
corps whole and sound as he received the same, he shall be punished in
this sort: That is, if the corps be diminished or spoyled in any part
of his face, hands or toes, the same shall be diminished and spoyled in
the keeper. Which when I heard him I tooke a good heart, and went unto
the Crier and bid him cease, for I would take the matter in hand, and
so I demanded what I should have. Marry (quoth he) a thousand pence,
but beware I say you young man, that you do wel defend the dead corps
from the wicked witches, for hee was the son of one of the chiefest of
the city. Tush (sayd I) you speak you cannot tell what, behold I am a
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