The first edition of this satirical fable dates back to 1517, as evidenced by a contemporary letter from the author to Ludovico Alamanni. It is a poem in terza rima that, in addition to the obvious reference to Apuleius, also draws inspiration from Dante, as the protagonist is accompanied on his journey by a "Duchess," the earthly alter ego of Dante's Beatrice. The poem reflects the bitterness and political disappointments following the difficult historical events of 1512 in which Machiavelli himself had been involved.