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Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass), Volume II, Books 7-11 (Loeb Classical Library No. 453)

by Apuleius

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1206225,505 (4.7)None
In the Metamorphoses of Apuleius, also known as The Golden Ass, we have the only Latin novel which survives entire. It is truly enchanting: a delightful romance combining realism and magic. The hero, Lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to witchcraft but by an unfortunate pharmaceutical error finds himself transformed into an ass. He knows he can revert to his own body by eating rose-petals, but these prove singularly elusive; and the bulk of the work describes his adventures as an animal. He also retails many stories that he overheard, the most charming being that of Cupid and Psyche (beginning, in true fairy-tale fashion, 'Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina'). Some of the stories are as indecent as they are witty, and two in the ninth book were deemed by Boccaccio worthy of inclusion in the Decameron. At last the goddess Isis takes pity on Lucius. In a surprising denouement, he is restored to human shape and, now spiritually regenerated, is initiated into her mysteries. The author's baroque Latin style nicely matches his fantastic narrative and is guaranteed to hold a reader's attention from beginning to end. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Apuleius is in three volumes.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
“Senties, efficiam, misero dolori naturales vires adesse”

I will make you learn that bitter grief has inborn strength

Metamorphoses, Liber VII, Stanza 27

Inborn strength that turns to valor is the overcoming that leads to the holiness of Eleusian fields.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L/L.O.I.R.T.I.V

May the Great Goddess IO thrive eternally, for her eyes are the stars, and her robes the cosmic night that gathers all children upon the starry wondrous fields of eternity.

I have been consoled by the sight of her rainbow wings once, may She gather all of us.

I am thankful to master Apuleius, from ancient times into the modern, while reading the last Liber I was moved to tears, almost forgetful of my past gratitude and Divine occurences. Eoai! ( )
  Saturnin.Ksawery | Jan 12, 2024 |
“Senties, efficiam, misero dolori naturales vires adesse”

I will make you learn that bitter grief has inborn strength

Metamorphoses, Liber VII, Stanza 27

Inborn strength that turns to valor is the overcoming that leads to the holiness of Eleusian fields.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L/L.O.I.R.T.I.V

May the Great Goddess IO thrive eternally, for her eyes are the stars, and her robes the cosmic night that gathers all children upon the starry wondrous fields of eternity.

I have been consoled by the sight of her rainbow wings once, may She gather all of us.

I am thankful to master Apuleius, from ancient times into the modern, while reading the last Liber I was moved to tears, almost forgetful of my past gratitude and Divine occurences. Eoai! ( )
  SaturninCorax | Sep 27, 2021 |
“Senties, efficiam, misero dolori naturales vires adesse”

I will make you learn that bitter grief has inborn strength

Metamorphoses, Liber VII, Stanza 27

Inborn strength that turns to valor is the overcoming that leads to the holiness of Eleusian fields.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L/L.O.I.R.T.I.V

May the Great Goddess IO thrive eternally, for her eyes are the stars, and her robes the cosmic night that gathers all children upon the starry wondrous fields of eternity.

I have been consoled by the sight of her rainbow wings once, may She gather all of us.

I am thankful to master Apuleius, from ancient times into the modern, while reading the last Liber I was moved to tears, almost forgetful of my past gratitude and Divine occurences. Eoai! ( )
  vucjipastir | Jun 7, 2020 |
It was of great benefit to read Books 1-6 of Apuleius in the magnificent translation of J. Arthur Hanson. For a practicing neo-platonist, or a kin to ancient folk by heart and spirit this books conveys many trophies with plots that could easily be turned into stanzas of quotable wisdom-literature. I'm preparing myself to read the second volume alongside with Fletcher's 'Apuleius' Platonism' which is an extremely interesting support-mechanism for fully and duly understanding Master Apuleius' thought. ( )
  vucjipastir | Jun 7, 2020 |
It was of great benefit to read Books 1-6 of Apuleius in the magnificent translation of J. Arthur Hanson. For a practicing neo-platonist, or a kin to ancient folk by heart and spirit this books conveys many trophies with plots that could easily be turned into stanzas of quotable wisdom-literature. I'm preparing myself to read the second volume alongside with Fletcher's 'Apuleius' Platonism' which is an extremely interesting support-mechanism for fully and duly understanding Master Apuleius' thought. ( )
  vucjipastir | Jun 7, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Apuleiusprimary authorall editionscalculated
Hanson, J. ArthurTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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"Behold, LUCIUS, moved by your prayers I have come, I am Nature, the universal Mother, mistress of all the elements, primordial child of time, sovereign of all things spiritual, queen of the dead, queen also of the immortals, the single manifestation of all gods and goddesses that are, with my nod I rule the starry heights of heaven,the health-giving breezes of the sea, and the plaintive silences of the underworld, I am worshiped in many aspects, known by countless names, and propitiated with all manner of different rites, yet the whole round earth venerates me, the Phrygians, first born of men, call me Mother of the Gods, the aboriginal races of Attica call me Cecropian Minerva, the sea-washed Cyprians call me Paphian Venus, the arrow-bearing Cretans call me Dictynna Diana, the trilingual Sicilians call me Ortygian Proserpine, the Eleusinians call me the ancient goddess Ceres, some call me Juno, some call me Bellona, some call me Hecate, and still others Rhamnusia, but those who are enlightened by the earliest rays of that divinity the sun each day, the Ethiopians, the Nubians and the Egyptians, who excel in ancient learning and worship me with ceremonies proper to my godhead, call me by my true name, namely Queen Isis."
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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This is only books 7-11 of Apuleius' Metamorphoses. Please do not combine it with the entire work.
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Wikipedia in English (1)

In the Metamorphoses of Apuleius, also known as The Golden Ass, we have the only Latin novel which survives entire. It is truly enchanting: a delightful romance combining realism and magic. The hero, Lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to witchcraft but by an unfortunate pharmaceutical error finds himself transformed into an ass. He knows he can revert to his own body by eating rose-petals, but these prove singularly elusive; and the bulk of the work describes his adventures as an animal. He also retails many stories that he overheard, the most charming being that of Cupid and Psyche (beginning, in true fairy-tale fashion, 'Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina'). Some of the stories are as indecent as they are witty, and two in the ninth book were deemed by Boccaccio worthy of inclusion in the Decameron. At last the goddess Isis takes pity on Lucius. In a surprising denouement, he is restored to human shape and, now spiritually regenerated, is initiated into her mysteries. The author's baroque Latin style nicely matches his fantastic narrative and is guaranteed to hold a reader's attention from beginning to end. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Apuleius is in three volumes.

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A Book of Platonic philosophy that often reads like a really funny porn novel.
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