As a Tame Ass was Airing himself in a Pleasant Meadow, with a Coat and Carcase in very good Plight, up comes a Wild One to him from the next Wood, with this short Greeting. Brother (says he) I Envy your Happiness; and so he left him: It was his Hap some short time after this Encounter, to see his Tame Brother Groaning under an Unmerciful Pack, and a Fellow at his Heels Goading him forward. He rounds him in the Ear upon't, and Whispers him, My Friend (says he) your Condition is not, I perceive, what I took it to be, for a Body may buy Gold too Dear: And I am not for Purchasing good Looks and Provender at this Rate.
Betwixt Envy and Ingratitude, we make Our selves twice Miserable; out of an Opinion, First, that Our Neighbour has too Much; and, Secondly, that We are Selves have too Little.Source:
L'Estrange 189.
Click here for a
SLIDESHOW of all the Medici Aesop images.The manuscript is damaged here, but you can see most of the onager off to the left watching the donkey grazing; then, on the right, the donkey is being beaten.
M0147 Perry183
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