Haec identidem asseverans summa cum trepidatione irrepit cubiculum et pyxidem depromit arcula ; quam ego amplexus ac deosculatus prius , utque mihi prosperis faveret volatibus deprecatus , abiectis propere laciniis totis , avide manus immersi et haurite plusculo uncto corporis mei membra perfricui . Iamque alternis conatibus libratis brachiis in avem similem gestiebam : nec ullae plumulae nec usquam pinnulae , sed plane pili mei crassantur in saetas , sed , cutis tenella duratur in corium et in extimis palmulis [ p . 136 ] perdito numero toti digiti coguntur in singulas ungulas et de spinae meae termino grandis cauda procedit : iam facies enormis et os prolixum et nares hiantes et labiae pendulae , sic et aures immodicis horripilant auctibus ; nec ullum miserae reformationis video solacium nisi quod mihi iam nequeunti


tenere Fotidem natura crescebat . Ac dum salutis inopia cuncta corporis mei considera , non avem mel sed asinum video , querens de facto Fotidis , sed iam humano gestu simul et voce privatus , quod solum poteram , postrema deiecta labia humidis tamen oculis obliquum respiciens ad illam tacitus expostulabam . Quae ubi primum me talem aspexit , percussit faciem suam manibus infestis , et ‘Occisa sum misera’ clamavit : ‘Me trepidatio simul et festinatio fefellit et pyxidum similitudo decepit . Sed bene , quod facilior reformationis huius medela suppeditat ; nam rosis tantum demorsitatis exibis asinum statimque in meum Lucium postliminio redibis . Atque utinam vesperi de more nobis parassem corollas aliquas , ne moram talem patereris vel noctis unius : sed primo diluculo remedium festinabitur tibi . ’


Sic illa maerebat , ego vero quamquam perfectus asinus et pro Lucio iumentum sensum tamen retinebam humanum . Diu denique ac multum mecum ipse deliberavi an nequissimam facinerosissimamque feminam illam spissis calcibus feriens et mordicus [ p . 138 ] appetens necare deberem : sed ab incepto temerario melior me sententia revocavit , ne morte multata Fotide salutares mihi suppetias rursus extinguerem . Deiecto itaque et quassanti capite ac demussata temporali contumelia durissimo casui meo serviens ad equum illum vectorem meum probissimum in stabulum concedo , ubi alium etiam Milonis quondam hospitis mei asinum stabulantem inveni ; atque ego rebar , si quod inesset mutis animalibus tacitum ac naturale sacramentum , agnitione ac miseratione quadam inductum equum illum meum hospitium ac loca lautia mihi praebiturum : sed pro Iupiter hospitalis et Fidei secreta numina ! Praeclarus ille vector mens cum asino capita conferunt in meamque perniciem illico consentiunt et , verentes scilicet cibariis suis , vix me praesepio videre proximantem ; deiectis auribus iam furentes infestis calcibus insequuntur , et abigor quam procul ab hordeo quod apposueram vesperi meis manibus illi gratissimo famulo .

After repeating the formula several times , she crept nervously upstairs and brought me the box from the chest , which I first clasped and kissed praying it might bring me a fortunate flight . Then I threw off all my clothes , plunged my hand eagerly inside , took a large dollop and smeared my body all over . Then I spread out my arms and flapped them up and down one after the other , trying my best to become a bird , as Pamphile had . No plumage appeared , not a single feather ! Instead the hair on my body turned to bristles , and my soft skin hardened to hide , my fingers and toes merged with hands and feet , squeezing together into individual hooves , and a long tail shot from the tip of my spine . Now my face was enormous , my mouth immense , my nostrils gaped , and my lips hung down . My ears too were ludicrously long and hairy . The only consolation I found in my wretched transformation was that though I could no longer embrace Photis , at least my member had grown .

I examined every part of my body hopelessly , and saw I was no bird but an ass , and wanting to protest at what Photis had done , and finding myself without human voice or gesture , I did the only thing I could , hung my lower lip , looked sideways at her out of moist eyes , and expostulated with her in silence .

On first realising my state , she slapped her head violently with her hands and screamed : ‘I’m done for ! Nervousness and haste have misled me , and I’ve confused the boxes . Luckily there’s a ready cure for your transformation . A mouthful of roses to chew and , in a trice , you’ll be no ass but my own Lucius . I wish , as usual , I’d woven some garlands for us this evening , and then you’d not have to suffer all night like this . But at first light the remedy will be here . ’

So she grieved . But in truth , though I was a perfect ass , a beast of burden , no longer Lucius , I still retained my human reason . So I held long and earnest debate in my mind with regard to that utterly worthless and felonious woman , as to whether to kick her again and again with my hooves , bite her with my teeth , and destroy her . But that would have proved rash , and deeper thought brought wisdom , for by punishing Photis with death I’d also be killing the one who could help me regain my shape . So bowing and shaking my head , I swallowed my temporary humiliation , and adjusting to the harsh vicissitudes of fortune , I went off to join my fine thoroughbred in the stable , where I found another ass , the possession of my one time host , dear Milo . I thought that , given the unspoken bond of natural allegiance among dumb creatures , my horse on seeing me would show some marks of recognition , and be stirred by pity to offer friendship . But oh , Jove god of guests and you invisible powers of Loyalty ! That noble steed of mine and the other ass conferred , and at once agreed on my destruction . No doubt fearing for their rations , the moment they saw me near the manger they lowered their ears and kicking out savagely attacked me in blind fury . I was driven away from the feed that I’d put there with my very own hands for that ungrateful servant of mine that evening .

She repeated this several times , and then creeping into the chamber with the utmost trepidation , removed the box from the casket . I embraced and kissed her
first , and then praying her to bring me good luck in my airy flight , I cast off all my clothes , plunged my hands greedily into the box , and taking a good quantity of ointment I rubbed it all over my limbs . And now I began to poise my arms and wave them in the air , first one and then the other , after the manner of an owl . But
no feathers or wings appeared anywhere , but my hair grew coarse and bristly , my soft skin hardened into hide , at my hands ' tips were fingers five no more but all became fast bound in solitary hoofs , and a long tail began to grow from the extremity of my spine . My face grew huge , my mouth widened , my nostrils began to gape and my lips to droop ; my ears also extended to an immoderate length and were crowned with bristles . Lost and desperate , I surveyed my body over and perceived that I was not a bird but an ass . I would have protested
against what Fotis had done , but I was deprived of human gesture and voice alike , and could only reproach her in silence by drooping my lower lip and casting sidelong
glances from watery eyes , that yet had power to weep . When she saw what I was , she smote her face fiercely with her hands and cried

' Ah I am lost ! I am lost !
In my terror and hurry I took the wrong box ,
deceived by its likeness to the other . Still all is well , for the remedy that shall bring you back to human shape is simpler than the other . You have only to nibble some roses and you will step forth from the ass ' s skin and be my own sweet Lucius once again . Would I had made us some rose-wreaths last evening as I have been wont to do . Then you had not suffered the delay even of a night . But I ' ll be stirring at early dawn and you shall have your remedy without
delay . '
So she lamented , while I , although a perfect ass ,
Lucius turned beast of burden , still kept my human un-
derstanding . Ideliberatedthereforelongandearnestly
with myself whether I should kill the worthless wicked
wench by giving her a whole host of kicks and attack-
ing her with my teeth . However , better thoughts
recalled me from so desperate an enterprise . For if I
killed Fotis , I should once more cut myself off from all
chance of assistance and safety . So with drooping
quivering head I swallowed the affront of the moment
and went to the stable the submissive victim of my
cruel misfortune , to join my good horse who had borne
me so well . There I found another ass was stalled , the
property of Milo my former host . I thought that if
dumb animals had any secret sense of loyalty implanted
in them , my horse would recognize me and be moved
by something like pity to offer me hospitality and the best place in the stable . But oh ! Jupiter , god of
hospitality ! oh ! Loyalty , goddess most holy !
noble charger and the ass put their heads together and
without more ado conspired for my destruction . Afraid
for the safety of their mangers , they scarcely saw me approaching the stall when they laid back their ears and
pursued me with ferocious kicks . I was driven as far as possible from the barley which but last evening my
own hands had set before my beloved servant !