Explore "The Thieves and the Ass" by Jean de La Fontaine on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Two thieves, pursuing their profession, / Had of a donkey got possession, / Whereon a strife arose, / Which went from words to blows. / The question was, to sell, or not to sell; / But while our sturdy champions fought it well, / Another thief, who chanced to pass, / With ready wit rode off the ass.
This ass is, by interpretation, / Some province poor, or prostrate nation. / The thieves are princes this and that, / On spoils and plunder prone to fat, -- / As those of Austria, Turkey, Hungary. / (Instead of two, I've quoted three -- / Enough of such commodity.) / These powers engaged in war all, / Some fourth thief stops the quarrel, / According all to one key, / By riding off the donkey.[1]
[1]: Aesop.