THE TENTH BOOKE




THE FORTY-FOURTH CHAPTER


How the souldier drave Apuleius away, and how he came to a Captaines
house, and what happened there.

The next day how my master the Gardener sped, I knew not, but the gentle
souldier, who was well beaten for his cowardise, lead me to his lodging
without the contradiction of any man: Where hee laded me well, and
garnished my body (as seemed to me) like an Asse of armes. For on the
one side I bare an helmet that shined exceedingly: On the other side
a Target that glistered more a thousand folde. And on the top of my
burthen he put a long speare, which things he placed thus gallantly, not
because he was so expert in warre (for the Gardener proved the contrary)
but to the end he might feare those which passed by, when they saw such
a similitude of warre. When we had gone a good part of our journey,
over the plaine and easie fields, we fortuned to come to a little towne,
where we lodged at a certaine Captaines house. And there the souldier
tooke me to one of the servants, while he himselfe went towards his
captaine; who had the charge of a thousand men. And when we had remained
there a few dayes, I understood of a wicked and mischievous fact
committed there, which I have put in writing to the end you may know the
same. The master of the house had a sonne instructed in good literature,
and endued with vertuous manners, such a one as you would desire to have
the like. Long time before his mother dyed, and when his father married