THE NINTH CHAPTER


How Apuleius fell in love with Fotis.

When I was within the house I found my deare and sweet love Fotis
mincing of meat and making pottage for her master and mistresse, the
Cupboord was all set with wines, and I thought I smelled the savor of
some dainty meats: she had about her middle a white and clean apron,
and shee was girded about her body under the paps with a swathell of
red silke, and she stirred the pot and turned the meat with her fair and
white hands, in such sort that with stirring and turning the same, her
loynes and hips did likewise move and shake, which was in my mind a
comely sight to see.

These things when I saw I was halfe amazed, and stood musing with my
selfe, and my courage came then upon mee, which before was scant. And I
spake unto Fotis merrily and sayd, O Fotis how trimmely you can stirre
the pot, and how finely, with shaking your buttockes, you can make
pottage. The shee beeing likewise merrily disposed, made answer, Depart
I say, Miser from me, depart from my fire, for if the flame thereof doe
never so little blaze forth, it will burne thee extreamely and none can
extinguish the heat thereof but I alone, who in stirring the pot and
making the bed can so finely shake my selfe. When she had sayd these
words shee cast her eyes upon me and laughed, but I did not depart from
thence until such time as I had viewed her in every point. But what
should I speak of others, when as I doe accustome abroad to marke the
face and haire of every dame, and afterwards delight my selfe therewith