Asinus

The effect on me was that by living this pleasant and luxurious life I grew handsome again in body from having my natural food, and my hide shone with a fresh growth of hair. But my most worthy masters, when they saw me growing fat and sleek, although my barley was not consumed, but remained of the same amount, began to suspect my audacity. So they went out as if going to the bath, closed the doors, and applied their eyes to a crack and watched what went on within. Innocent of the fraud, I forthwith advanced and took my dinner. They first burst out laughing at sight of the incredible meal. Then they called the other slaves to see me, and there was a general laugh, so that the master himself heard it, because it made such an uproar outside, and asked what the joke was out there. When he heard he rose up from his wine, peeped in, and saw me swallowing a bit of wild-boar. With a shout of laughter he entered the room. I was greatly disturbed at being discovered by the master

He perceived, as you may suppose, that I was a remarkable creature, and ordered one of his stewards to pay my price to the man who had bought me, and as much again, and he handed me over to a young freedman of his establishment, bidding him instruct me in whatever would make me most diverting him. The young man found the task easy, for I obeyed instantly every instruction. First he made me recline on a couch, leaning on my elbow like a man. Then he taught me to wrestle with him, and actually to dance, standing upright on my hind-feet, and to nod my head or shake it in answer to questions, and a number of other things-all of which I

As I have said, Menekles, our master, was from Thessalonika, and had come to this place to make arrangements for a spectacle he had promised his countrymen of men skilled to fight with weapons in single combat. The gladiators were by this time secured, and the party set out. We started at early morning, and I carried my master whenever a stretch of road was rough and hard for the carriages to traverse. When we arrived in Thessalonika every one was eager for the exhibition and for a sight of me, for my renown had preceded me from afar, and the report of my versatility and manlike gifts of dancing and

But the man in charge of me made an income of a good many dollars out of me. He used to lock me up in a room, and when people wished to see me and my incredible performances he would open the door on payment of a fee. They used to bring in all sorts of eatables, particularly such as were considered revolting to an ass's stomach, but I ate them all, so that in a few days, by dining with my master and the townsfolk, I had already grown large and terribly fat.

Finally that day arrived which was to bring such distinction to my master. They decided to exhibit me in the theatre, and this was the manner of my appearance. A large couch was prepared, wrought of Indian tortoise-shell fastened with bolts of gold. I was laid on it, and in this posture placed on a machine of some sort, transported to the theatre, and deposited in the middle amid shouts of applause and a universal clapping of hands. A table was spread for me, and many dishes were set on it such as human epicures have for dinner. Slave boys stood in attendance, handsome cup-bearers who served me with wine in a golden cup. The man in charge of me, who was standing behind, bade me eat my dinner,

But I was divided between shame at being exposed in the theatre and fear lest, perchance, a bear or a lion should leap in. At this moment some one passed by carrying flowers, and among the others I saw the leaves of freshly-gathered roses. Without an instant's hesitation I sprang up and jumped from the couch. The spectators thought I was getting up to dance, but I fell upon the flowers, tore one from another, selected the roses, and swallowed them. And while the audience were still wondering at me, that beast's form fell from me and vanished, the whilom ass disappeared, and to my joy Loukios himself stood there naked. At this incredible and most unexpected sight the company broke into great uproar in their terror, and two opposing parties formed in the theatre. For some thought I ought to be burned on the spot as a master of unholy potions and a devil of many shapes, but others said it was only fair to wait for my account of myself and to hear the case first, and then decide on it. For my part, I ran to the governor of the province, who happened to be present at the exhibition, and told him from below that the Thessalian serving-maid of a Thessalian woman had made an ass of me by anointing me with magic ointment, and I prayed him to put me under guard until I should persuade him. that I had told him my true history.

"Tell us your name," said the governor, “and the names of your parents and relatives, if you have any, and your city." "Sire," said I, my name is Loukios, and my brother's name is Gaios. As to our family names, we have the same. I am a writer of histories and other works, and my brother is an elegiac poet and a skilful diviner. Our birthplace is Patrai, in Achaia." When the magistrate heard this he cried, "You are the son of a family who are very dear to me, and my guest-friends. They have entertained me in their house and given me presents, and I know you tell the truth, since you are a child of theirs." And he sprang from his seat, embraced me, kissed me again and again, and conducted me to his home. At this juncture my brother also arrived, bringing me money and many other things. Thereupon the governor declared me free officially in the presence of the people, and we went down to the sea, looked out a ship, and put our luggage aboard.

Then we sailed away from the city with a favorable wind, and a few days later I arrived in my native land. There I offered a sacrifice to the gods, my saviors, and set up a votive offering, since I had been brought home, and after long wanderings, and with great difficulty, saved—not out of the lion's jaws, by Heaven, but out of the curiosity of the ass.