The Horse and the Ass (fable)

A HORSE, proud of his fine trappings, met an Ass on the highway.

The Ass, being heavily laden, moved slowly out of the way.

“Hardly,” said the Horse, “can I resist kicking you with my heels.”

The Ass held his peace, and made only a silent appeal to the justice of the gods.

Not long afterwards the Horse, having become broken-winded, was sent by his owner to the farm. The Ass, seeing him drawing a dungcart, thus derided him:

“Where, O boaster, are now all thy gay trappings, thou who are thyself reduced to the condition you so lately treated with contempt?”