slave, buy a Gods name this faire beast to ride home on, and about in
the countrey: But this curious buier did never stint to question of my
qualities, and at length he demanded whether I were gentle or no: Gentle
(quoth the crier) as gentle as a Lambe, tractable to all use, he will
never bite, he will never kicke, but you would rather thinke that under
the shape of an Asse there were some well advised man, which verely you
may easily conject, for if you would thrust your nose in his taile you
shall perceive how patient he is: Thus the cryer mocked the old man, but
he perceiving his taunts and jests, waxed very angry saying, Away doting
cryer, I pray the omnipotent and omniparent goddesse Syria, Saint Sabod,
Bellona, with her mother Idea, and Venus, with Adonis, to strike out
both thine eies, that with taunting mocks hast scoffed me in this sort:
Dost thou thinke that I will put a goddesse upon the backe of any fierce
beast, whereby her divine Image should be throwne downe on the ground,
and so I poore miser should be compelled (tearing my haire) to looke
for some Physition to helpe her? When I heard him speake thus, I thought
with my selfe sodainly to leap upon him like a mad Asse, to the intent
he should not buy me, but incontinently there came another Marchant that
prevented my thought, and offered 17 Pence for me, then my Master was
glad and received the money, and delivered me to my new Master who was
called Phelibus, and he caried his new servant home, and before he came
to his house, he called out his daughters saying, Behold my daughters,
what a gentle servant I have bought for you: then they were marvailous
glad, and comming out pratling and shouting for joy, thought verely that
he had brought home a fit and conveniable servant for their purpose,
but when they perceived that it was an Asse, they began to provoke him,
saying that he had not bought a servant for his Maidens, but rather an
Asse for himselfe. Howbeit (quoth they) keepe him not wholly for your
owne riding, but let us likewise have him at commandement. Therewithall
they led me into the stable, and tied me to the manger: there was