The Ass and the Little Dog

Name: The Ass and the Little Dog
Author: Jean de La Fontaine

The fable argues that natural talents cannot be forced into another course, and that those lacking the gift of pleasing should not imitate those who possess it. An ass envies a little dog that lives affectionately with its master and wife while the ass must endure labour and the whip. Believing that the dog wins favour merely by offering its paw and receiving kisses, the ass decides he can do the same. While his master sits outdoors, the ass approaches awkwardly, raises his battered hoof, pats the man’s chin, and accompanies this supposed caress with an especially tender bray. Far from being pleased, the master angrily calls for Martin to bring a club. Martin gives the ass a beating, punishing his clumsy attempt to copy the dog’s manner.

By Jean de La Fontaine · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Didactic Literature, Animal Fiction · 439 words

First lines

One's native talent from its course / Cannot be turned aside by force; / But poorly apes the country clown / The polish'd manners of the town. / Their Maker chooses but a few / With power of pleasing to imbue; / Where wisely leave it we, the mass, / Unlike a certain fabled ass, / That thought to gain his master's blessing / By jumping on him and caressing. / 'What! ' said the donkey in his heart; / 'Ought it to be that puppy's part / To lead his useless life / In full companionship / With master and his wife, / While I must bear the whip? / What doth the cur a kiss to draw? / Forsooth, he only gives his paw! / If that is all there needs to please, / I'll do the thing myself, with ease. ' / Possess'd with this bright notion, -- / His master sitting on his chair, / At leisure in the open air, -- / He ambled up, with awkward motion, / And put his talents to the proof; / Upraised his bruised and batter'd hoof, / And, with an amiable mien, / His master patted on the chin, / The action gracing with a word -- / The fondest bray that e'er was heard! / O, such caressing was there ever? / Or melody with such a quaver? / 'Ho! Martin! [1] here! a club, a club bring! ' / Out cried the master, sore offended. / So Martin gave the ass a drubbing, -- / And so the comedy was ended.[2]

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Similar titles

Genres

Fable — The work is a brief animal tale in the Aesopic tradition, using an ass and a dog to dramatize a moral lesson about natural aptitude and unsuitable imitation.
Didactic Literature — Its central purpose is instruction: it explicitly teaches that native qualities cannot be forcibly changed and that imitation may be foolish or harmful.
Animal Fiction — Animals occupy the principal narrative roles, with the ass reasoning, envying the dog, and acting in a humanlike attempt to win affection.
Verse Narrative — The story is told in rhymed poetic lines rather than prose, combining narration, dialogue, and commentary.

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The Ass and the Little Dog is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, dated 1668 CE.

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Work type: Fable
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Date: 1668 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fable, Didactic Literature, Animal Fiction, Verse Narrative, Moral Tale
Length: 439 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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