The Salt Merchant And His Ass
A Peddler drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home
lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell
by accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter,
as the water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled
his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. When he came
again to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot,
and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished,
brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The Peddler
saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast,
where he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again
playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream,
but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his
load. And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his
back a double burden.
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