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Article THE " GOLDEN ASS" OF APULEIUS. ← Page 3 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The " Golden Ass" Of Apuleius.
is not forgotten , as a seasonable lesson against vicious curiosity . And to keep him to herself , she promises to make him heir of all her fortunes . Then taking him aside , she warns him to beivare of the mischievous practices of his hostess . But our young gentleman acts after the general manner of young gentleman Avho have , for the first time in their lives , the
Avorld before them . He indulges in a course of pleasures which the author of the " Tale of a Tub" has described as the avocations of youth of a later date ; and haA'ing at length Avorried his favourite into obtaining the secret for him , she makes a mistake in the box containing the charm , —Lucius SAvallows the Avrong oneand is changed into an ass ! " This contrivance of
, the introductory part is artful ; ancl finely insinuates the great moral of the piece , that brutality attends vice as its punishment .-ancl punishment by actual transformation was keeping up the popular opinion . His making a passion for magic contribute to this dreadful change is no less ingenious , as it cleared both himself and the mysteries from that imputation ; for it appeared
that magic xvas so far from being innocent , that in his opinion it Avas attended AA'ith the severest punishment ; so far from being encouraged by the mysteries , that they only could relieve men from the distresses Avhich this A'icious curiosity brought upon its votaries ; as is shoxvn in the catastrophe of the piece . " * With the same learned authorityI think we may reasonably
, take the general scope of the fable to be a recommendation of the mysteries as " the certain cure for all the disorders of the will . " But it AA'ould neither be proper , nor is it necessary , to go through a detailed account of the horrid degradation he undergoes , or of the scenes of vice ancl uncleanness of AA'hich he is made a Avitness ancl a partaker , while in his brutalized state .
And noxv mark xvhat Avas the remedy for all this . Lucius AA'as to be restored to his own form by eating a rose . That the rose Avas an emblem of silence , and , as such , the occasion of a popular proA'erb , is Avell known ; f but hoxv was Lucius to obtain the Avishcd-for gift . Baffled in all attempts to obtain a rose , and on one occasion
nearly getting poisoned by a spmious kind of rose , the mysteries are the only medium of hope held out to him . Let us noxv enter into the details Avhich close the history . The moon is shining in her full splendour , and the deep silence of the night inspires the Avorn-out Avanderer , just aAvakened from his slumber , xvith a confidence in a higher poAver , and a xvilling-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The " Golden Ass" Of Apuleius.
is not forgotten , as a seasonable lesson against vicious curiosity . And to keep him to herself , she promises to make him heir of all her fortunes . Then taking him aside , she warns him to beivare of the mischievous practices of his hostess . But our young gentleman acts after the general manner of young gentleman Avho have , for the first time in their lives , the
Avorld before them . He indulges in a course of pleasures which the author of the " Tale of a Tub" has described as the avocations of youth of a later date ; and haA'ing at length Avorried his favourite into obtaining the secret for him , she makes a mistake in the box containing the charm , —Lucius SAvallows the Avrong oneand is changed into an ass ! " This contrivance of
, the introductory part is artful ; ancl finely insinuates the great moral of the piece , that brutality attends vice as its punishment .-ancl punishment by actual transformation was keeping up the popular opinion . His making a passion for magic contribute to this dreadful change is no less ingenious , as it cleared both himself and the mysteries from that imputation ; for it appeared
that magic xvas so far from being innocent , that in his opinion it Avas attended AA'ith the severest punishment ; so far from being encouraged by the mysteries , that they only could relieve men from the distresses Avhich this A'icious curiosity brought upon its votaries ; as is shoxvn in the catastrophe of the piece . " * With the same learned authorityI think we may reasonably
, take the general scope of the fable to be a recommendation of the mysteries as " the certain cure for all the disorders of the will . " But it AA'ould neither be proper , nor is it necessary , to go through a detailed account of the horrid degradation he undergoes , or of the scenes of vice ancl uncleanness of AA'hich he is made a Avitness ancl a partaker , while in his brutalized state .
And noxv mark xvhat Avas the remedy for all this . Lucius AA'as to be restored to his own form by eating a rose . That the rose Avas an emblem of silence , and , as such , the occasion of a popular proA'erb , is Avell known ; f but hoxv was Lucius to obtain the Avishcd-for gift . Baffled in all attempts to obtain a rose , and on one occasion
nearly getting poisoned by a spmious kind of rose , the mysteries are the only medium of hope held out to him . Let us noxv enter into the details Avhich close the history . The moon is shining in her full splendour , and the deep silence of the night inspires the Avorn-out Avanderer , just aAvakened from his slumber , xvith a confidence in a higher poAver , and a xvilling-