Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

SATYRIC DRAMA. PANTOMIME. BALLET

following manner. I was laid upon a great bed, made of Indian tortoiseshell and fastened with golden nails; the woman also was ordered to lie beside me. Then, as we were, we were placed upon a machine, carried down to the theatre, and set down in the midst of the theatre. When I appeared, loud shouts of applause and clapping of hands burst forth. Then a table was put before us, containing dishes with which those who fare sumptuously regale themselves. At our side beautiful boys stood as cupbearers, serving us with wine in golden cups. My master, standing up behind me, ordered me to eat; but I was ashamed at being in such a position in the theatre, and at the same time I was afraid that some bear or lion might suddenly jump out upon me.

“ At this moment, a man went by carrying flowers. I noticed that among them there were some leaves of freshly cut roses; at once, without hesitating a moment, I jumped off the bed. The audience thought that I was getting up to dance; but I, running over each bunch, chose the roses from among the rest, and devoured them. Then, to the great astonishment of the spectators, the apparition of the animal disappeared, and he who had formerly been an ass, Lucius himself, stood naked and upright in the theatre.”

Only gradually does the cheated public calm itself. But Lucius, pleased at becoming a man again, considers it a duty that etiquette requires to pay a farewell visit to the distinguished lady, who had loved him so as an ass. He is received by her in friendly fashion and invited to dine with her in the evening.

“ However, thinking it my duty to go and pay my respects to the lady who had been enamoured of me when I was an ass, I said to myself that she would think me more beautiful now that I was a man. In fact, she appeared delighted to see me, and was highly amused at the singular affair: she even

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