The Works of Apuleius Author:Apuleius Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: J . " We are not ignorant, Master Lucius, of your high position, or of your lineage; for the noble name of your illustrious fondly extends through the whole o... more »f this province. Nor was it for the sake of contumely that you were made to suffer that which you take so sorely to heart. Dismiss, therefore, all your present sorrow and anguish of mind. For this festival, which we solemnly celebrate in public as each year returns, in honor of the most jocund God of Laughter, is always graced with soma new invention. This God will every where propitiously and lovingly attend you as his promoter, nor will he ever suffer your mind to be oppressed with grief, but will perpetually exhilarate your brow with a serene cheerfulness. All this city, likewise, has presented you with the highest honors, for the favour which you have conferred on it. For it has enrolled you as its patron, and has passed a vote that your statue shall be erected in brass." In reply to this address, I said, " To you, and to your most splendid and singularly excellentf city of Thessaly, I return commensurate thanks for such honors. But I would recommend you to keep your statues and images for those who are more worthy and of more advanced years than myself." Having spoken thus modestly, and for a moment smiling with a cheerful countenance, and pretending as much as I possibly could to be more joyful, I courteously saluted the magistrates at their departure. Just then, a servant came running into the house, and said to me, " Your relation, Byrrhaena, repeats her invitation, and begs to remind you that the hour of the banquet is close at hand, at which you promised last evening to be present." Full of horror at these words, and shuddering at the very mention of her house, " Tell your mistress," said I, " that I wou...« less