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.
