THE ASS 365 



bitually used as mount for going from one quarter 

 to another. Its gait, without fatigue for the rider, 

 makes it preferred to the horse ; the greatest ladies, 

 in making their calls, do not disdain its richly orna- 

 mented pack-saddle. The city of Cairo alone, in 

 Egypt, uses some forty thousand of these graceful 

 trotters. In such society would our shameful don- 

 key dare to show itself? Ah! let us pity the poor 

 creature : its wretched lot has made it what it is." 



"I should willingly agree with the people of 

 Cairo," said Emile. "I should prefer the donkey 

 for a mount. At any rate, if one gets a fall the 

 danger is not so great." 



"The donkey is just the mount for invalids, chil- 

 dren, women, and old people ; it is naturally gentle, 

 as quiet as the horse is spirited, mettlesome, and im- 

 petuous. Since, by endowing it with a patience that 

 is proof against everything and with a small size 

 which makes a fall from its back not at all danger- 

 ous, Heaven has created the donkey expressly for 

 you, show the good beast by your care that you are 

 not forgetful of your servant. 



"The ass is patient; it suffers punishment and 

 blows with constancy and perhaps with courage. 

 This fine virtue is, as it were, written on its coat. 

 You will often see on the donkey's back a long black 

 stripe and another shorter one crossing the first on 

 the shoulders. The two dark bands form the image 

 of the cross, divine symbol of resignation to suf- 

 fering. I know very well that this peculiarity in the 

 animal's coat has not the least significance in itself; 



