The Ass and the Old Shepherd

: Aesop's Fables

A SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all

of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to

fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal

lazily replied, "Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the

conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?' "No," rejoined

the Shepherd. "Then," said the Ass, "as long as I carry the

panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?'



In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name

of their master.