The Playful Ass

Summary

In this brief fable, an Ass imitates a Monkey by climbing onto the roof of a building and causing damage to the tiling. When the building's owner discovers the Ass, he forces the animal down and punishes it with a beating. The Ass, confused by the unfairness, points out that the Monkey performed the same act the day before and was met with laughter and enjoyment rather than punishment. This story highlights the differences in expectations and consequences for similar actions depending on who performs them, implicitly addressing themes of fairness and justice.

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An Ass climbed up to the roof of a building, and frisking about there, broke in the tiling. The owner went up after him and quickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thick wooden cudgel. The Ass said, “Why, I saw the Monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it afforded you very great amusement.”