The Old Man and the Ass

"The Old Man and the Ass" is a moral allegory delivered in narrative poem form from Jean de La Fontaine's collection of fables. In this story, an old man and his ass make a journey, encountering various critics along the way who each find something wrong with how the man and his animal companion are traveling. The man continuously tries to please these critics until their contradictory advice becomes impossible to follow. Ultimately, this fable teaches the reader about the futility of trying to please everyone.

• Fable

								
An Old Man, riding on a Donkey, saw
A meadow thick with flowers, and full of grass.
He instantly unbridled the poor Ass,
And let him roam for twenty minutes' law.
It scratch'd, and scratch'd, and munch'd, and chew'd, and bray'd
Nipping the best, and kicking, for sheer fun:
The meal refreshing was betimes begun.
Just then the enemy came, all arrayed:
"Fly," said the Old Man. "Wherefore?" said the beast;
"Am I to carry double burden--double load?
Am I to tramp once more upon the road?"
"No," said the Old Man; "I'll stop here, at least."
"To whom I may belong is no great matter.
Go, save yourself from an unlucky blow;
My master is my enemy, I know:
I tell you in the best French I can patter."


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