string.byte
           + lpeg.R("\194\223") * cont / f2
           + lpeg.R("\224\239") * cont * cont / f3
           + lpeg.R("\240\244") * cont * cont * cont / f4

local decode_pattern = lpeg.Ct(utf8^0) * -1
</pre>


<h3>Lua's long strings</h3>
<p>
A long string in Lua starts with the pattern <code>[=*[</code>
and ends at the first occurrence of <code>]=*]</code> with
exactly the same number of equal signs.
If the opening brackets are followed by a newline,
this newline is discharged
(that is, it is not p