# XLIV explained — The Golden Ass

> Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

## What happens

The soldier takes Lucius to a captain's house, where a tragic tale unfolds of a stepmother's illicit love for her stepson, her failed attempt to poison him, the accidental death of her own son, and the subsequent trial that reveals the truth through a physician's testimony about a sleeping draught.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

The stepmother feigns illness to hide her lust, and later falsely accuses her stepson of poisoning his brother, while the physician's sleeping draught creates the appearance of death.

### Lust and Sensuality

The stepmother's uncontrollable desire for her stepson drives the entire tragic plot, described as a 'raging flame' that consumes her.

### Folly and Wisdom

The stepmother's reckless passion leads to the death of her own son, while the young man wisely seeks counsel from a sage old man and the physician's clever use of mandragora reveals the truth.

## Character check-ins

### Lucius

Narrates the events while in the form of an ass, observing the tragic story of the stepmother and her stepson.

### Cupid

Referenced as the force behind the stepmother's burning desire, described as 'the raging flame of Cupid'.

### Venus

Mentioned in the phrase 'a scholar of Venus’ court' to describe someone who would recognize the signs of love.

## Key lines

> For on the one side I bare an helmet that shined exceedingly: on the other side a target that glistered more a thousandfold. And on the top of my burden he put a long spear, which things he placed thus gallantly, not because he was so expert in war (for the gardener proved the contrary) but to the end he might fear those which passed by, when they saw such a similitude of war.

The soldier loaded me with a shiny helmet and a gleaming shield, and placed a long spear on top, not because he was skilled in battle (the gardener had shown he wasn't), but to frighten passersby with the appearance of a war-ready beast.

_Lucius describes being burdened with military gear to intimidate others._

> Thou, thou, art the original cause of all my dolour: thou art my comfort and only health, for those thy comely eyes are so enfastened within my breast, that unless they succor me, I shall certainly die: have pity therefore upon me, be not the occasion of my destruction, neither let my conscience reclaim to offend thy father, when as thou shalt save the life of thy mother.

You are the sole cause of my suffering and my only cure; your beautiful eyes are so fixed in my heart that if you don't help me, I will die. Have pity on me, don't let my guilt about wronging your father stop you, since you would be saving your mother's life.

_The stepmother confesses her love to her stepson, blaming him for her torment._

> I gave him no poison, but a doling drink of mandragora, which is of such force, that it will cause any man to sleep as though he were dead.

I didn't give him poison, but a sleeping potion made from mandrake, so powerful that it makes anyone sleep as if they were dead.

_The physician reveals he substituted a sleeping draught for poison._

## Links

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