and
frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his
master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed
all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and
jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving
the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass
to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to
his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: "I have brought it all
on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions,
and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!"
The
Ass and the Lapdog
A
Man had an Ass and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The
Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat,
just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was
a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom
went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat.
The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the
corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from
the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it
with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day
he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master's
house, kicking up his heels without measure,
