INTRODUCTION

deliberation Apuleius consented, though the lady was neither fair to view nor young.¹ She had been a widow for more than thirteen years² and was now over forty.³ Soon, however, he began to love Pudentilla for her own sake; her virtues and intelligence won his heart and overcame his desire for further travel. The marriage was duly solemnized in a country house belonging to the bride.⁴ But it brought Apuleius no peace. Sicinius Aemilianus, another brother of her first husband, and Herennius Rufinus, the disreputable father-in-law of Pontianus,⁵ were both up in arms. Rufinus had hoped, through his son-in-law, to reap a rich harvest from Pudentilla's fortune; Aemilianus resented the treatment of his brother, Sicinius Clarus. They sought, therefore, how they might have their revenge. Their first step was to win Pontianus and Pudens to their side.⁶ This they succeeded in doing in spite of the generous treatment accorded by Apuleius to his stepsons.⁷ Pontianus fell sick and died before they could carry out their designs. He had, moreover, repented of his baseness to his former friend, though death prevented him from showing what his repentance was worth.⁸ Pudens, however, a mere boy,

¹ Apol. 73.
² Apol. 68.
³ Apol. 89. The accusers asserted that she was 60, after which age women were forbidden to marry; see note ad loc.
⁴ Apol. 88. The accusers objected to the fact that she was not married at Oea. For the significance of this charge see note ad loc.
⁵ Apol. 74 sqq.
⁶ It was apparently only after Pontianus' marriage (which took place shortly before the marriage of Apuleius) that he broke with Apuleius. See c. 77. Pontianus is already married when Rufinus approaches him on the subject. Pudens only comes into prominence after Pontianus' death, when he fell fully under Rufinus' influence. See c. 98.
⁷ The terms of the marriage settlement were that if the wedding proved childless the whole dos dowry should go to Pontianus and Pudens; but if Pudentilla left one son or one daughter of the second marriage surviving her, half the property should go to that child, while Pontianus and Pudens received the remainder (cc. 91 sqq.). Further, at a later stage after Pontianus' death, Apuleius persuaded Pudentilla much against her inclination to draw up a will making Pudens her sole heir.
⁸ Apol. 94.