Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
114. THE DONKEY, THE HORSE AND THE BARLEY
Perry 571 (Ademar
58)
A donkey asked a horse to give him a nibble of barley. The horse replied,
'If only I could, I would do so gladly! Indeed, I would give you a great
deal of barley, since I am a noble and generous character. When we return
to the stable together this evening, I promise to give you an entire sack
of grain.' The donkey then said to the horse, 'If you refuse to do me
even this small favour now, why should I expect a still bigger favour
in the future?'
For people who make big promises while refusing even small requests:
they are quick to promise but reluctant to give.
Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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