midnight
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER On a day Fotis came running to me in great feare , and said that her mistresse , to work her sorceries on such as shee loved , intended the night following to transforme her selfe into a bird , and to fly whither she pleased . Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare my selfe to see the same . And when midnight came she led me softly into a high chamber , and bid me look thorow the chink of a doore : where first I saw how shee put off all her garments , and took out of a certain coffer sundry kindes of Boxes , of the which she opened one , and tempered the ointment therein with her fingers , and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole of the foot to the crowne of the head , and when she had spoken privily with her selfe , having the candle in her hand , she shaked the parts of her body , and behold , I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen out , her nose waxed crooked and hard , her nailes turned into clawes , and so she became an Owle . Then she cried and screeched like a bird of that kinde , and willing to proove her force , mooved her selfe from the ground by little and little , til at last she flew quite away . Thus by her sorcery shee transformed her body into what shape she would . Which when I saw I was greatly astonied : and although I was inchanted by no kind of charme , yet I thought that I seemed not to have the likenesse of Lucius , for so was I banished from my sences , amazed in madnesse , and so I dreamed waking , that I felt myne eyes , whether I were asleepe or no .