A soldier, throughout the war, had fed his horse on barley, the companion of his labours and his dangers. But when the war was over, the horse was put to menial tasks and the carrying of heavy loads, and was fed on nothing but straw. However, another war was announced, and at the call of the trumpet the master bridled his horse, armed himself, and mounted. But the horse, without strength, fell at every step. It said to its master, "Go now and take your place among the foot soldiers; for from a horse you have turned me into an ass. How can you expect to make a horse of an ass again?"
In times of safety and ease, remember that hardship may return.Moral
Nº 241The Ant and the BeetleIn the summer season, an ant roaming the countryside was gathering grains of wheat and barley, and laying them by to feed on in winter. A dung-beetle…Read the fable →
Nº 336The Ants and the CicadaIt was winter, and the ants were drying out their grain, which had got wet. A hungry cicada asked them for something to eat. The ants said, "Why…Read the fable →
Nº 268The Ass Praising the Horse's LotThe ass thought the horse lucky to be fed in abundance and well looked after, while he himself had not even straw enough, though he was put to so…Read the fable →One fable, every Sunday, in your inbox.