An ass was in the service of a gardener. As he ate little while working a great deal, he begged Zeus to deliver him from the gardener and have him sold to another master. Zeus granted his prayer and had him sold to a potter. But he was again discontented, because he was loaded more heavily and made to carry clay and pottery. So he asked once more to change masters, and he was sold to a tanner. He thus fell to a master worse than the others. Seeing what trade this master plied, he said with a sigh, "Alas, wretched me! I would have done better to stay with my first masters; for this one, as far as I can see, will tan my hide as well."
Servants never regret their first masters so much as when they have had experience of those who come after.
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