The Salt Merchant and His Ass

The Salt Merchant and His Ass

A PEDDLER drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home lay

across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell by

accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter, as the

water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his

panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. When he came again

to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot, and,

regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished, brayed

triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The Peddler saw

through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast, where

he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing

the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the

sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load. And

thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his back a double

burden.