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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.
