# XLV explained — The Golden Ass

> Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

## What happens

Lucius, now an ass, is sold to a baker and a cook who feed him well. He secretly eats their fine foods, growing sleek. They discover his theft through a hole, laugh, and their master joins in amusement. The master buys Lucius for four times the price and gives him to a freedman, Thiasus, who teaches him tricks like sitting at table, dancing, and nodding. Lucius's fame spreads, and Thiasus prepares for public games in Corinth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Lucius the ass hides his true nature by pretending to be a simple beast while secretly feasting on human food, and later performs tricks to appear as a marvel.

### Folly and Wisdom

The baker and cook's foolish suspicion of each other contrasts with Lucius's cunning; the master's laughter at the ass's gluttony reflects human folly.

## Character check-ins

### Lucius

Narrates his experiences as an ass, enjoying stolen delicacies and learning tricks from his new master Thiasus.

### Thrasileon

Not directly present; the baker and cook are unnamed servants, but Thrasileon is not in this chapter.

## Key lines

> I was received by these two, as a third brother, and companion, and I thought I was never better placed, than with them

The baker and cook treated me like a fellow household member, and I felt I had found the best situation yet.

_Lucius enjoys his new role as a well-fed ass among the servants._

> Their laughing was so immoderate that the master of the house heard them, and demanded the cause of their laughter

Their laughter was so loud that their master came to ask what was so funny.

_The discovery of Lucius's theft leads to widespread amusement._

> I could have done all these things without his teaching, but I feared greatly lest in showing myself cunning without a master, I should pretend some great and strange wonder, and thereby be thrown out to wild beasts.

I already knew how to perform those tricks, but I was afraid that if I revealed my intelligence without a trainer, people would think I was a monster and have me killed.

_Lucius deliberately conceals his human intelligence to avoid danger._

## Links

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