Aesop’s Fables, THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS

THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS

A Pedlar who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity of salt, and loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear. On the way home the Ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into the water. The salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted and drained away, so that, when he got on his legs again, the Ass found his load had become much less heavy. His master, however, drove him back to town and bought more salt, which he added to what remained in the panniers, and started out again. No sooner had they reached a stream than the Ass lay down in it, and rose, as before, with a much lighter load. But his master detected the trick, and turning back once more, bought a large number of sponges, and piled them on the back of the Ass. When they came to the stream the Ass again lay down: but this time, as the sponges soaked up large quantities of water, he found, when he got up on his legs, that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever.

You may play a good card once too often.

THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS

A Pedlar who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity of salt, and loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear. Un jour, un colporteur qui possédait un âne acheta une quantité de sel et chargea sa bête avec autant de sel qu'il pouvait en supporter. On the way home the Ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into the water. Sur le chemin du retour, l'Ass a trébuché en traversant un ruisseau et est tombé dans l'eau. The salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted and drained away, so that, when he got on his legs again, the Ass found his load had become much less heavy. Le sel se mouilla complètement et une grande partie fondit et s'écoula, de sorte que, lorsqu'il se remit sur ses jambes, l'Ass constata que sa charge était devenue beaucoup moins lourde. His master, however, drove him back to town and bought more salt, which he added to what remained in the panniers, and started out again. Mais son maître le reconduit en ville et lui achète du sel, qu'il ajoute à ce qui reste dans les sacoches, et repart. No sooner had they reached a stream than the Ass lay down in it, and rose, as before, with a much lighter load. A peine arrivé à un ruisseau, l'Ass s'y coucha et se releva, comme auparavant, avec une charge beaucoup plus légère. But his master detected the trick, and turning back once more, bought a large number of sponges, and piled them on the back of the Ass. Mais son maître s'aperçut de la supercherie et, revenant sur ses pas, acheta un grand nombre d'éponges qu'il empila à l'arrière de l'Ass. When they came to the stream the Ass again lay down: but this time, as the sponges soaked up large quantities of water, he found, when he got up on his legs, that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever. Arrivé au bord du ruisseau, l'âne s'allongea de nouveau, mais cette fois, comme les éponges absorbaient une grande quantité d'eau, il s'aperçut, en se redressant sur ses jambes, qu'il avait un fardeau plus lourd que jamais à porter.

You may play a good card once too often. Vous pouvez jouer une bonne carte une fois de trop.