The Ass and the Mule by Esopo (1668)
The Ass and the Mule is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: An ass and a mule were arguing over who was the stupidest of the two. They decided to put their argument to rest by seeing who could carry the most weight on their backs. The ass, being smaller and more agile, was able to carry a heavy load with ease. The mule, on the other hand, struggled to carry even a small load. In the end, the ass proved that it was indeed the smarter of the two by carrying more weight than the mule.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 211 words
First lines
A certain man who had an Ass and a Mule loaded them both up one day and set out upon a journey. So long as the road was fairly level, the Ass got on very well: but by and by they came to a place among the hills where the road was very rough and steep, and the Ass was at his last gasp. So he begged the Mule to relieve him of a part of his load: but the Mule refused. At last, from sheer weariness, the Ass stumbled and fell down a steep place and was killed. The driver was in despair, but he did the best he could: he added the Ass's load to the Mule's, and he also flayed the Ass and put his skin on the top of the double load. The Mule could only just manage the extra weight, and, as he staggered painfully along, he said to himself, "I have only got what I deserved: if I had been willing to help the Ass at first, I should not now be carrying his load and his skin into the bargain. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass and the Mule is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1668 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1668 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore, Fantasy
- Length: 211 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Ass and the Mule by Esopo
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Ass The Cock And The Lion by Esopo
- The Lion And The Boar by Esopo
- The Ass And The Dog by Esopo
- The Hound And The Hare by Esopo
- The Bear And The Fox by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The book is about talking animals which is a common characteristic of fables. Esopo is also known for this genre.
- Children's Literature — The book uses animals to teach moral lessons which is common in children's literature.
- Folklore — As a fable, the book can also be considered a piece of folklore, representing moral tales shared through oral tradition.
- Fantasy — The book features animals that talk and reason like humans, demonstrating elements of fantasy.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · friendship · betrayal · wisdom · humor · life lessons · cautionary tale · social commentary · allegory · conflict