L'Estrange: A Country-man with his Asses.

A Country-man that had been at Market with his Corn, and was driving his Asses Home again, mounted one of the Best of them to ease himself: When he was up, he fell to Counting, and so kept Telling them over and over all the Way he went, but still wanted one of his Number. Upon this, away he goes to the Market-Town, whence he came, a matter of Seven Miles off, back again, enquiring of all he met, if any Body had seen his Ass. He could learn no Tidings of him, and so home he went, late at Night, as arrant a Fool, as he set out. The Loss went to the Heart of him; but upon Alighting, and his Wife's giving him the Hint, he found his Beast again, and that the Ass he rode upon was forgot in the Reckoning.

The Butcher look'd for his Knife when he had it in his Mouth.

Source: L'Estrange 372.

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(not in Mille) (not in Perry)