The Horse and the Ass

by Aesop

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 dung-cart, 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?