THE DONKEY AND THE OX
A donkey and an ox had been yoked together to pull a single load. The ox was
making a great effort, even though he had an injury to his horn, while the donkey
was doing nothing to help. As the ox struggled to pull the load by himself,
he soon died. The driver then loaded the ox's carcass upon the donkey and began
beating him mercilessly. The donkey broke down and collapsed under the weight,
dropping dead in the middle of the road. A flock of birds flew up and alighted
on the donkey's carcass. 'If only you had been kind enough to help the ox pull
the load,' they said, 'you would not have died this untimely death, with carrion
birds feasting on your flesh.' |