“Oh! man, man, you have a bad pair of trousers on, and they will get much worse, if you do not pass over people who pay you more than I.”
“That’s very true,” said the man; and the fox leapt ashore.
Then I was by the side of the river, and I learnt these three truths, and I have never forgotten them since.
The Ass and the Wolf.
Astoa Eta Otsoa.
Like many others in the world, there was an ass. He was going along a ravine, laden with Malaga wine. (You know that asses are very much afraid of wolves, because the wolves are very fond of the flesh of asses.) While he was journeying along in that fashion, he sees a wolf coming at some distance; he could not hide himself anywhere. The wolf comes up, and the ass says to him:
“Good morning, good morning, Mr. Wolf; in case you should be thirsty, I have some excellent Malaga to drink.”
“I am not thirsty; no!—but astoundingly hungry; yes! My dinner to-day shall be your head and ears.”