The Metamorphosis, also known as The Golden Ass, is one of the very few novels of the Ancient World that survived to our days; one of the two novels of Roman Literature that we can still read; and the only one preserved in its entirety (the other one being the extremely fragmentary Satyricon).
The story of the Metamorphosis, the tale of a man turned into a donkey that goes through many adventures to become a man again, inspired many other similar ones later on. However, more than just the plot, the style of the Golden Ass also made it famous.
Considered one of the precursors of the picaresque novel, The Metamorphosis was written in a language that can be humorous and energetic, while telling the misadventures of the credulous and curious main character, but also powerfully poetic, in moments such as in the episode of Cupid and Psyche, one of the most famous parts of this book, and of Latin literature as a whole
re, and got upon a stone to see this
mysterie, and behold incontinently the dead body began to receive
spirit, his principall veines did moove, his life came again and he held
up his head and spake in this sort: Why doe you call mee backe againe to
this transitorie life, that have already tasted of the water of Lethe,
and likewise been in the deadly den of Styx? Leave off, I pray, leave
off, and let me lie in quiet rest. When these words were uttered by the
dead corps, the Prophet drew nigh unto the Biere and sayd, I charge
thee to tell before the face of all the people here the occasion of thy
death: What, dost thou thinke that I cannot by my conjurations call up
the dead, and by my puissance torment thy body? Then the corps moved
his head again, and made reverence to the people and sayd, Verily I was
poisoned by the meanes of my wicked wife, and so thereby yeelded my
bed unto an adulterer. Whereat his wife taking present audacity, and
reproving his sayings, with a cursed minde did deny it. The people were
bent against her sundry wayes, some thought best that shee should be
buried alive with her husband: but some said that there ought no credit
to be given to the dead body. Which opinion was cleane taken away, by
the words which the corps spoke againe and sayd, Behold I will give
you some evident token, which never yet any other man knew, whereby
you shall perceive that I declare the truth: and by and by he pointed
towards me that stood on the stone, and sayd, When this the good Gard of
my body watched me diligently in the night, and that the wicked Witches
and enchantresses came into the chamber to spoyle mee of my limbes, and
to bring such their purpose did transforme themselves into the shape
of beasts: and when as they could in no wise deceive or beguile his
vigilant eyes, they cast him into so dead and sound a sleepe, that by
their witchcraft he seemed without spirit or life. After this they did
call me by my name, and never did cea
