The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

-- -'Twas by a poor ass, who had just turned in with a couple of large panniers upon his back, to collect eleemosynary turnip-tops and cabbage-leaves; and stood dubious, with his two forefeet on the inside of the threshold, and with his two hinder feet towards the street, as not knowing very well whether he was to go in or no.

Now, 'tis an animal (be in what hurry I may) I cannot bear to strike -- -- -there is a patient endurance of sufferings, wrote so unaffectedly in his looks and carriage, which pleads so mightily for him, that it always disarms me; and to that degree, that I do not like to speak unkindly to him: on the contrary, meet him where I will -- whether in town or country -- in cart or under panniers -- whether in liberty or bondage -- -- -I have ever something civil to say to him on my part; and as one word begets another (if he has as little to do as I) -- -- -I generally fall into conversation with him; and surely never is my imagination so busy as in framing his responses from the etchings of his countenance -- and where those carry me not deep enough -- -- -in flying from my own heart into his, and seeing what is natural for an ass to think -- as well as a man, upon the occasion. In truth, it is the only creature of all the classes of beings below me, with whom I can do this: for parrots, jackdaws, etc.