But I was divided between shame at being exposed in the theatre and fear lest, perchance, a
bear or a lion should leap in.
At this moment some one passed by carrying
flowers, and among the others I saw the leaves
of freshly-gathered roses. Without an instant's
hesitation I sprang up and jumped from the
couch. The spectators thought I was getting up
to dance, but I fell upon the flowers, tore one
from another, selected the roses, and swallowed
them. And while the audience were still wondering at me, that beast's form fell from me and
vanished, the whilom ass disappeared, and to my
joy Loukios himself stood there naked. At this
incredible and most unexpected sight the company broke into great uproar in their terror, and
two opposing parties formed in the theatre. For
some thought I ought to be burned on the spot as
a master of unholy potions and a devil of many
shapes, but others said it was only fair to wait for
my account of myself and to hear the case first,
and then decide on it. For my part, I ran to the
governor of the province, who happened to be
present at the exhibition, and told him from below that the Thessalian serving-maid of a Thessalian woman had made an ass of me by anointing me with magic ointment, and I prayed him to
put me under guard until I should persuade him.
that I had told him my true history.


 

 
"Tell us your name," said the governor, “and
the names of your parents and relatives, if you
have any, and your city."

"Sire," said I, my name is Loukios, and my
brother's name is Gaios. As to our family names,
we have the same. I am a writer of histories
and other works, and my brother is an elegiac
poet and a skilful diviner. Our birthplace is
Patrai, in Achaia."
When the magistrate heard this he cried, "You
are the son of a family who are very dear to me,
and my guest-friends. They have entertained me
in their house and given me presents, and I know
you tell the truth, since you are a child of theirs."
And he sprang from his seat, embraced me,
kissed me again and again, and conducted me to
his home. At this juncture my brother also
arrived, bringing me money and many other
things. Thereupon the governor declared me
free officially in the presence of the people, and
we went down to the sea, looked out a ship, and
put our luggage aboard.

 
Then we sailed away
from the city with a favorable wind, and a few
days later I arrived in my native land. There I
offered a sacrifice to the gods, my saviors, and
set up a votive offering, since I had been brought
home, and after long wanderings, and with great
difficulty, saved—not out of the lion's jaws, by
Heaven, but out of the curiosity of the ass.