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.
行商人が、塩を買うためにロバを海岸へ連れていった。帰り道は小川をわたらなければならなかった。そこでロバは足をふみはずし、たまたま川の中にたおれた。起き上がってみると、水で袋の中の塩がとけたので、荷物はずいぶん軽くなっていた。行商人は来た道を引き返し、前よりもたくさんの塩を荷かごにつめなおした。ふたたび小川に来ると、ロバは同じ場所でわざとたおれた。そして荷物の重さがずっと軽くなって立ち上がると、望みのものを手に入れたとばかりに、得意げにいなないた。行商人はロバのたくらみを見ぬき、三度目にロバを海岸へ連れていって、今度は塩のかわりに海綿をどっさり買いこんだ。ロバはまたもやばかなまねをして、小川に着くとわざとたおれた。ところが海綿は水を吸ってふくれあがり、荷物はずっと重くなってしまった。こうしてロバのたくらみは自分にはね返り、ロバは倍の重さの荷物を背負うはめになったのである。