# II explained — The Golden Ass

> Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

## What happens

Aristomenus recounts finding his friend Socrates in a wretched state in Hypata, covering him and taking him to an inn, where he begins to tell his tale. He also describes a juggler in Athens who swallowed a sword and spear, and explains his own journey to Thessaly for cheese trading.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fortune and Suffering

Socrates explicitly blames Fortune for his calamitous state, and Aristomenus reflects on the instability of fortune.

### Deception and Appearance

Socrates' ragged appearance hides his former identity, and the juggler's tricks deceive the eye.

## Character check-ins

### Aristomenus

Narrator of the tale within the chapter; finds and aids his friend Socrates.

### Socrates

Found in a miserable state by Aristomenus; covered in rags and ashamed.

### Lucius

Listener to Aristomenus' story; offers to pay for his tale.

## Key lines

> Let Fortune (quoth he) triumph yet more, let her have her sway, and finish that which she hath begun.

Socrates resigns himself to Fortune's continued domination over his life.

_Expresses the theme of fortune and suffering._

> I saw with these eyes a juggler that swallowed up a two-hand sword, with a very keen edge, and by and by for a little money that we who looked on gave him, he devoured a chasing spear with the point downward.

Lucius describes a performer who ingested a sharp sword and then a spear for coins.

_Highlights the theme of deception and appearance through a marvel._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters