LIFE OF APULEIUS

was completely under the thumb of Aemilianus and Rufinus,¹ and a number of more or less serious charges were brought against Apuleius in his name.

The proconsul, Claudius Maximus (circa around A. D. 156–8),² was holding his assize at Sabrata, the modern Sabratta, lying on the coast some forty miles west of Oea. Apuleius had proceeded thither to defend an action brought by the brothers Granius against his wife Pudentilla.³ Suddenly, without warning, Aemilianus unmasked his batteries, and, with his own lips and through his advocates⁴, accused Apuleius not only of using magic to win the heart of Pudentilla, but of having murdered his stepson Pontianus and appropriated the fortune of Pudentilla. Under what circumstances these charges were brought forward is not clear. Aemilianus may have been directly concerned in the suit brought by the brothers Granius, and the charges may have been first produced to damage Apuleius as his wife's advocate.⁵ Be this as it may, within four or five days⁶ Apuleius was indicted for the practice of the black art, and was incidentally accused of being a fop⁷ and a debauchee,⁸ who had married his elderly wife solely for the sake of her money.

The charge of murder was dropped,⁹ and Aemilianus sheltered himself behind the youthful Pudens, who was too young to plead in person. Aemilianus therefore appeared as his representative.¹⁰ Apuleius represents himself as wholly unprepared for such an indictment.¹¹ But he shows singularly little embarrassment in dealing with the charges brought against

¹ Apol. 98. After Pontianus' death he betook himself to the house of Aemilianus, who, according to Apuleius, did everything to deprave him, while Rufinus designed to marry him to his daughter, the widow of Pontianus, c. 97.
² See note on Cl. Maximus, c. 1.           ³ Apol. 1.
⁴ and ⁵ patroni eius his advocates (c. 1) suggests the possibility that the Granii were the advocates in question. See note ad loc.
⁶ dies quintus an sextus est it is the fifth or sixth day (c. 1).
⁷ Apol. 4 sqq., 13.           ⁸ Apol. 9 sqq.           ⁹ Apol. 2.
¹⁰ Apol. 2. Cp. also c. 85 et nondum poenae, iam iniuriae sufficit and it is not yet enough for punishment, it is already enough for injury.
¹¹ He had, however, already been attacked by Pontianus and Rufinus on this ground; cp. c. 82.