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A certain man put an Image on the back of his Ass to take it to

one of the temples of the town. As they went along the road all

the people they met uncovered and bowed their heads out of

reverence for the Image; but the Ass thought they were doing it

out of respect for himself, and began to give himself airs

accordingly. At last he became so conceited that he imagined he

could do as he liked, and, by way of protest against the load he

was carrying, he came to a full stop and flatly declined to

proceed any further. His driver, finding him so obstinate, hit

him hard and long with his stick, saying the while, "Oh, you

dunder-headed idiot, do you suppose it's come to this, that men

pay worship to an Ass?"

Rude shocks await those who take to themselves the credit that is

due to others.

THE ATHENIAN AND THE THEBAN