ASS. 433 



more incommodious than agreeable, tlie behaviour 

 of the Ass is entirely simple and unaffected : no 

 supercilious and self-sufficient air. He marches 

 with a very uniform pace, and though he is not 

 extraordinary swift; he pursues his journey for a 

 long time, and without intermission. He finishes 

 his work in silence, serves you with a steady per- 

 severance, and discovers no ostentation iji his pro- 

 ceedin2:s, A^hich is certainlv a considerable ac- 

 complishment in a domestic. His meats re- * 

 quire no preparation, for he is perfectly well con- 

 tented with the first thistle that presents itself in 

 his way. He does not pretend that any thing is 

 due to him, and never appears squeamxish or dis- 

 satisfied : he thankfully accepts whatever is of- 

 fered to him : he hath an elegant relish for the 

 best things, and very civilly contents himself 

 with the most indifferent. If he happens to be 

 forgotten, or is fastened a little too far from his 

 fodder, he entreats his master, in the most pathe- 

 tic language he can utter, to be so good as to 

 supply liis necessities. It is very just that he 

 should live, and he employs all his rhetoric with 

 that view. When he has finished his expostula- 

 tions, he patiently waits the arrival of a little 

 bran, or a few withered leaves ; and the moment 

 he has dispatched his meal, he returns to his busi- 

 ness, and marches on, without a murmur or reply. 

 His occupations have a tinge of the meanness of 

 those who set him to work ; but the judgments 

 that are formed, both of the Ass and his master, 

 are equally partial. The employments of a Judge, 



