A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favourite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”
ある男が、ロバと、マルタ犬という、とても美しい小さな愛玩犬を飼っていた。ロバは馬小屋に入れられ、ほかのロバと同じように、エンバクや干し草をたっぷり食べていた。小犬はたくさんの芸を知っていて、主人の大のお気に入りだった。主人はよく小犬をかわいがり、食事に出かけたときには、たいてい何かおいしいものを小犬に持って帰ってきた。それにひきかえ、ロバには、粉ひき臼を回したり、森から木を運んだり、農場から荷物を運んだりと、たくさんの仕事があった。ロバはよく自分のつらい運命をなげき、小犬のぜいたくで遊んでばかりの暮らしとくらべていた。そしてとうとうある日、綱と端綱を引きちぎって主人の家にかけこみ、めちゃくちゃにはね回って、できるかぎりはしゃいだり甘えたりした。次に、小犬がするのを見ていたように、主人のまわりを跳びまわろうとしたが、テーブルをこわし、その上の皿をすべてこなごなにしてしまった。それから主人をなめようとして、主人の背中に跳びのった。召し使いたちは奇妙な大さわぎを聞きつけ、主人があぶないと気づくと、すぐに主人を助け出し、けったりこん棒でなぐったり平手で打ったりしてロバを馬小屋へ追い返した。死にそうなほどたたかれて小屋にもどったロバは、こうなげいた。「みんな自分でまねいたことだ！どうしてわたしは仲間といっしょに働くことに満足できなかったのだろう。あの役立たずの小犬のように一日じゅう遊んでいたいなどと思わなければよかったのに！」