Chapter 67
There was once a man who had an ass and a beautiful Maltese lap dog. The ass was kept in a stable and had plenty of corn and hay to eat. Indeed, he was just a well off as any ass could be. The little dog stayed in the house and was a great favorite with the master. He was always playing and frisking about in an amusing way and was permitted to lie in his master’s lap. Meanwhile, the ass had plenty to do: he hauled wood all day long and had to take his turn at the mill during the night. He often complained about his misfortunes, and it galled him to see the lap dog living in such ease and luxury, while he had to work so hard. Gradually he convinced himself that if he acted the same way as the lap dog to his master, he would be treated the same way. So, one day he broke from his halter and galloped into the house, where he began to kick and prance about in the strangest fashion. Then, switching his tail and mimicking the antics of the pet lap dog, he knocked over the table where his master was dining. Moreover, he smashed all the dishes to tiny pieces and did not stop until he jumped upon his master, attempting to lick and paw him with his roughshod feet.
Seeing their master in grave danger, the servant thought it was now high time to intervene, and after releasing him from the ass’s caresses, they beat the foolish beast with sticks and clubs until he could not get up again. As he breathed his last gasp, he exclaimed, “Why couldn’t I have remained satisfied the way I was? Why did I try to imitate a creature the way I was? Why did I try to imitate an idle puppy after all!”
Always know your part and play it well.
