The Golden Ass · Chapter
XVII explained
Lucius, attempting to transform into a bird using Pamphiles' ointment, is mistakenly turned into an ass.
What happens
Lucius, attempting to transform into a bird using Pamphiles' ointment, is mistakenly turned into an ass. Fotis reveals that eating a rose will restore him. He is beaten by a stable boy, then captured by thieves who loot Milo's house and load Lucius, another ass, and a horse with treasure. Lucius considers eating roses but refrains for fear of being killed by the thieves.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Identity
Lucius's failed transformation into a bird and subsequent ass form highlights the theme of physical and identity change.
Folly and Wisdom
Lucius's rash decision to use the ointment without caution leads to his predicament, yet he wisely refrains from eating roses to avoid danger.
Fortune and Suffering
Lucius endures beatings, theft, and heavy labor, illustrating the capricious nature of fortune and human suffering.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“After that I had well rubbed every part and member of my body, I hovered with mine arms, and moved myself, looking still when I should be changed into a bird as Pamphiles was, and behold neither feathers nor appearance of feathers did burgeon out, but verily my hair did turn in ruggedness, and my tender skin waxed tough and hard, my fingers and toes losing the number of five, changed into hoofs, and out of mine arse grew a great tail, now my face became monstrous, my nostrils wide, my lips hanging down, and mine ears rugged with hair: neither could I see any comfort of my transformation, for my members increased likewise, and so without all help (viewing every part of my poor body) I perceived that I was no bird, but a plain ass.”
After rubbing the ointment all over, Lucius flapped his arms expecting to become a bird like Pamphiles, but instead his hair turned coarse, his skin hardened, his fingers and toes became hoofs, a tail grew from his rear, and his face became monstrous with wide nostrils, hanging lips, and hairy ears. He realized he had become a donkey, not a bird.
Describes Lucius's grotesque transformation into an ass.
“Then I thought to blame Fotis, but being deprived as well of language as of human shape, I looked upon her with my hanging lips and watery eyes. Who as soon as she espied me in such sort, cried out, Alas poor wretch that I am, I am utterly cast away. The fear I was in, and my haste hath beguiled me, but especially the mistaking of the box, hath deceived me. But it forceth not much, in regard a sooner medicine may be gotten for this than for any other thing. For if thou couldst get a rose and eat it, thou shouldst be delivered from the shape of an ass, and become my Lucius again.”
Lucius wanted to blame Fotis but could not speak. Fotis saw him and lamented her mistake, explaining that in her haste she used the wrong box. She told him that eating a rose would restore him to human form.
Fotis reveals the rose remedy for Lucius's transformation.
“But I that was now a perfect ass, and for Lucius a brute beast, did yet retain the sense and understanding of a man. And did devise a good space with myself, whether it were best for me to tear this mischievous and wicked harlot with my mouth, or to kick and kill her with my heels. But a better thought reduced me from so rash a purpose: for I feared lest by the death of Fotis I should be deprived of all remedy and help.”
Though now a donkey, Lucius kept his human mind and considered attacking Fotis but decided against it, fearing he would lose the only chance for a cure.
Lucius's rational restraint despite his anger.
“Then shaking mine head, and dissembling mine ire, and taking my adversity in good part, I went into the stable to my own horse, where I found another ass of Milo's, sometime my host, and I did verily think that mine own horse (if there were any natural conscience or knowledge in brute beasts) would take pity on me, and proffer me lodging for that night: but it chanced far otherwise.”
Lucius went to the stable hoping his horse would show compassion, but the horse and Milo's ass drove him away from the manger.
Lucius's expectation of animal kindness is disappointed.
“I fortuned to espy in the middle of a pillar sustaining the rafters of the stable the image of the goddess Hipponoe, which was garnished and decked round about with fair and fresh roses: then in hope of present remedy, I leaped up with my forefeet as high as I could, stretching out my neck, and with my lips coveting to snatch some roses.”
Lucius saw a statue of the goddess Hipponoe adorned with fresh roses and tried to eat them for a cure.
Lucius's attempt to eat roses is thwarted by the stable boy.
“But in an evil hour I did go about that enterprise, for behold the boy to whom I gave charge of my horse, came presently in, and finding me climbing upon the pillar, ran fretting towards me and said, How long shall we suffer this wild ass, that doth not only eat up his fellows' meat, but also would spoil the images of the gods? Why do I not kill this lame thief and weak wretch? And therewithal looking about for some cudgel, he espied where lay a fagot of wood, and choosing out a crabbed truncheon of the biggest he could find, did never cease beating of me poor wretch, until such time as by great noise and rumbling, he heard the doors of the house burst open, and the neighbours crying in most lamentable sort, which enforced him being stricken in fear, to fly his way.”
The stable boy caught Lucius trying to eat the roses, called him a wild ass, and beat him with a large wooden stick until the noise of thieves breaking into the house scared him away.
The beating is interrupted by the arrival of thieves.
