The Fables of Fontaine: Vol. 3

A storybook collecting short fables. Most are not original to the author but from ancient poems now lost.

The Donkey's Tale

However a mediocre man disguises himself, none will find him elegant. Everyone in the world has unique strengths and lacks. For this one can only humbly accept and face one's own shortfalls— never like the donkey in the story, over-clever and inviting mockery.

Hearing how the fox took the cheese, the donkey too itched to try: "Why is it? The fox is no clever beast, yet always gets praised; while I the donkey labor every day, and none greets me with a smile. Then I too should act as Sister Fox does; that is easy—for it is only a little cleverness."

So the donkey hid in the thicket and waited for someone to pass. The cheese-maker's daughter happened to drive by; the donkey leapt out, mimicked the fox, raised one hoof, and said with self-satisfied wit: "Ha! I see, sir, you truly do not know the art of driving a cart— drop those cheeses, and a lighter cart will arrive all the faster!"

The girl was startled and cried at once: "Oh my! You a donkey dare pull tricks before people? Bring my stick—I'll drive this fellow back to the mill!"

Seeing the stick brandished at him, the donkey at once fell silent.

This story says: those who imitate others to hide their nature in the end not only labor in vain, but bring harm upon themselves.