48
He perceived, as you may suppose, that I was a remarkable creature, and ordered one of his stewards to pay my price to the man who had bought me, and as much again, and he handed me over to a young freedman of his establishment, bidding him instruct me in whatever would make me most diverting him. The young man found the task easy, for I obeyed instantly every instruction. First he made me recline on a couch, leaning on my elbow like a man. Then he taught me to wrestle with him, and actually to dance, standing upright on my hind-feet, and to nod my head or shake it in answer to questions, and a number of other things-all of which I could have done even without teaching. And the report spread far and wide that my master had an ass who drank wine, wrestled, danced— most surprising of all, nodded and shook his head appropriately when spoken to, and, when he was thirsty, summoned the butler by a movement of his eyes. The spectators wondered at the thing as a marvel, not knowing that a man was shut up in the ass, and I made a fat living out of their ignorance. I learned to amble and carry my master on my back, galloping with a pace so gentle that the rider hardly perceived the motion. My harness was superb. I wore a purple saddlecloth, my bit was inlaid with gold and silver, and I was hung with bells which made the sweetest music.
