THE ASS. 209 



disagreeable manner. If his eyes are covered he 

 will not stir a step ; and if he is laid down in such 

 a manner that one eye is covered with the grass 

 while the other is hidden with a stone, or what- 

 ever is next at hand, he will continue fixed in 

 the same situation, and will not so much as at- 

 tempt to rise to free himself from those slight im- 

 pediments. He walks, trots, and gallops like a 

 horse ; but although he sets out very freely at 

 first, yet he is soon tired, and then no beating 

 will make him mend his pace. It is in vain that 

 his unmerciful rider exerts his whip or his cudgel ; 

 the poor little animal bears it all with patience, 

 and without a groan, and, conscious of his own 

 imbecility, does not offer even to move. 



Notwithstanding the stupid heaviness of his air, 

 he may be educated with as much ease as any 

 other animal ; and several have been brought up 

 to perform, and exhibited as a show. In general, 

 however, the poor animal is entirely neglected. 

 Man despises this humble, useful creature, whose 

 efforts are exerted to please him, and whose ser- 

 vices are too cheaply purchased. The horse is 

 the only favourite, and upon him alone all ex. 

 pense and labour are bestowed. He is fed, at- 

 tended, and stabled, while the ass is abandoned 

 to the cruelty of the lowest rustics, or even to the 

 sport of children, and instead of gaining by the 

 lessons he receives, is always a loser. He is con- 

 ducted along by blows ; he is insulted by unne- 

 cessary stripes ; he is overloaded by the lazy ; 

 and, being generally the property of the poor, he 

 shares with them in their wants and their dis- 



VOL. u. o 



