THE ASS 367 



more example of stupidity to the donkey's account. 

 Is it not agreed that the unfortunate beast has every 

 possible whimsicality? Has not its very name be- 

 come the favorite term to denote stupidity? All 

 this is pure calumny ; far from being the idiot it is 

 called, the ass is a cunning beast, prudent, full of cir- 

 cumspection, as is proved by the care it takes in not 

 drinking except from known springs already tested 

 by use.'* 



"Why make such a fuss about drinking?" was 

 Emile's query. 



"Why? Alas, my friend, evil sometimes befalls 

 us for not exercising the donkey's prudence in the 

 choice of our drinking-water. The unknown spring 

 whence we draw water may be too cold, unwhole- 

 some, full of injurious substances. Better advised 

 than we, the ass will put its lips only to water known 

 by experience to be wholesome. ' ' 



"And the ass is a hundred times right," Jules de- 

 clared. 



" If I dared to, I should blame the ass for the pas- 

 sion it has for rolling on the ground, sometimes, 

 alas, without any thought of the load it carries. But 

 is it really the animal's fault? Since nobody takes 

 the trouble to curry the ass, to relieve the itching of 

 its skin, it rolls on the grass and seems thus to re- 

 proach its master for neglect. Let the curry-comb 

 and the brush keep its back clean, and the donkey 

 will cease trying to rub itself, all four legs in the 

 air, against the prickly foliage of the thistles. It is 

 the accumulation of dust and dirt that torments it, 



