# XVII explained — The Golden Ass > Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### Lucius Transformed into an ass after using the wrong ointment; retains human consciousness. ### Fotis Mistakenly gives Lucius the wrong ointment; reveals the rose remedy. ### Milo His treasure is stolen by thieves. ### Pamphiles Referenced as the one who transformed into a bird, inspiring Lucius's attempt. ## Key lines > 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._ > And by and by a troupe of thieves entered in, and kept every part and corner of the house with weapons. And as men resorted to aid and help them which were within the doors, the thieves resisted and kept them back, for every man was armed with a sword and target in his hand, the glimpses whereof did yield out such light as if it had been day. Then they brake open a great chest with double locks and bolts, wherein was laid all the treasure of Milo, and ransacked the same: which when they had done they packed it up and gave every man a portion to carry: but when they had more than they could bear away, yet were they loath to leave any behind, but came into the stable, and took us two poor asses and my horse, and laded us with greater trusses than we were able to bear. A band of armed thieves broke into Milo's house, opened a locked chest containing his treasure, and loaded the loot onto Lucius, the other ass, and the horse, forcing them to carry heavy burdens. _Thieves ransack Milo's treasure and use the animals as pack beasts._ > And when we were out of the house, they followed us with great staves, and willed one of their fellows to tarry behind, and bring them tidings what was done concerning the robbery: and so they beat us forward over great hills out of the way. The thieves drove the animals over hills, beating them with sticks, leaving one man behind to report on the robbery. _The thieves force the animals on a difficult journey._ > But I, what with my heavy burden and long journey, did nothing differ from a dead ass: wherefore I determined with myself to seek some civil remedy, and by invocation of the name of the prince of the country to be delivered from so many miseries: and on a time I passed through a great fair, I came among a multitude of Greeks, and I thought to call upon the renowned name of the emperor and say, Oh Caesar, and cried out aloud Oh, but Caesar I could in nowise pronounce. Exhausted, Lucius tried to call out to the emperor for help but could only bray 'Oh,' unable to say 'Caesar.' _Lucius's failed attempt to invoke the emperor's name._ > Howbeit at last Jupiter administered to me an unhoped remedy. For when we had passed through many towns and villages, I fortuned to espy a pleasant garden, wherein beside many other flowers of delectable hue, were new and fresh roses: and being very joyful, and desirous to catch some as I passed by, I drew nearer and nearer: and while my lips watered upon them, I thought of a better advice more profitable for me, lest if from an ass I should become a man, I might fall into the hands of the thieves, and either by suspicion that I were some witch, or for fear that I should utter their theft, I should be slain, wherefore I abstained for that time from eating of roses, and enduring my present adversity, I did eat hay as other asses did. Lucius saw a garden with fresh roses and wanted to eat them, but decided against it, fearing that if he became human the thieves might kill him as a witch or to silence him. So he continued as an ass and ate hay. _Lucius chooses to remain an ass to avoid greater danger._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xvii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters