Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
64. A LADEN ASS AND A HORSE (Perry
181)
As a Horse and an Ass were upon the Way together, the Ass cry’d out to
his Companion, to ease him of his Burden, tho’ never so little, he should
fall down dead else. The Horse would not; and so his fellow Servant sunk
under his Load. The Master, upon this, had the Ass flaid, and laid his
whole Pack, Skin and all, upon the Horse: Well (says he) this Judgement
is befall’n me for my ill Nature, in refusing to help my Brother in the
Depth of his Distress.
THE MORAL. It is a christian, a natural, a reasonable, and a political
Duty, for all Members of the same Body to assist one another.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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