The Ass And The Lap Dog

by Aesop

　　There was once an Ass whose Master also owned a Lap Dog. This Dogwas a favorite and received many a pat and kind word from hisMaster, as well as choice bits from his plate. Every day the Dogwould run to meet the Master, frisking playfully about andleaping up to lick his hands and face.

　　All this the Ass saw with much discontent. Though he was wellfed, he had much work to do; besides, the Master hardly ever tookany notice of him.

　　Now the jealous Ass got it into his silly head that all he had todo to win his Master's favor was to act like the Dog. So one dayhe left his stable and clattered eagerly into the house.

　　Finding his Master seated at the dinner table, he kicked up hisheels and, with a loud bray, pranced giddily around the table,upsetting it as he did so. Then he planted his forefeet on hisMaster's knees and rolled out his tongue to lick the Master'sface, as he had seen the Dog do. But his weight upset the chair,and Ass and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishesfrom the table.

　　The Master was much alarmed at the strange behavior of the Ass,and calling for help, soon attracted the attention of theservants. When they saw the danger the Master was in from theclumsy beast, they set upon the Ass and drove him with kicks andblows back to the stable. There they left him to mourn thefoolishness that had brought him nothing but a sound beating.

　　Behavior that is regarded as agreeable in one is very rude andimpertinent in another.

　　Do not try to gain favor by acting in a way that is contrary toyour own nature and character.