The Ass and His Purchaser

: Aesop's Fables

A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that

he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the

Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon

which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the

one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all.

Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his

owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have

made a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; I know

that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his

companion."



A man is known by the company he keeps.



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