ASS.] 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



and is therefore kindly heavy and slow, and unlusty, dull 

 and witless and forgetful. Natheless he beareth burdens, 

 and may away with travail and thraldom, and useth vile 

 meat and little, and gathereth his meat among briars and 

 thorns and thistles. Small birds that nesteth them in bushes, 

 thorns and briars hate the Ass. And therefore small 

 sparrows fighteth with the Ass, for the Ass eateth the thorns, 

 in the which the sparrows make their nests. And also the 

 Ass rubbeth and froteth his flesh against the thorns, and so 



:he birds or the eggs of the sparrows falleth out of the 

 :iest down to the ground. And when that the Ass reareth 

 and heaveth up her head, then by a strong blast the thorns 

 moveth and shaketh, and of the great noise the birds be 

 afeared full sore, and falleth out of the nest. And there- 

 fore the mothers suffereth them to leap on the face of the 

 Ass, and bite and smite and rese to his eyes with their 

 :>ills. And if the Ass have a wound or a scab in the ridge 

 :>r in the side of pricking of thorns or in any other wise, 

 :he sparrows leapeth on the Ass, and pecketh with their 



