Aesop's Fables, Part 45 summary
Part 45 of 284 · 1 min to read the part
In The Ass and His Burdens, a donkey discovers that falling into water lightens its salt load and deliberately repeats the action to ease its work. The peddler recognizes the trick and loads it with sponges, which absorb water and make the next burden heavier instead.
What happens
- A peddler loads his donkey with salt, and the animal accidentally falls into a stream.
- Much of the salt dissolves, leaving the donkey with less weight to carry.
- The peddler buys more salt, but the donkey deliberately lies in a stream to lighten its load again.
- Recognizing the trick, the peddler replaces the salt load with sponges.
- The donkey repeats its action, but the sponges absorb water and leave it carrying an even heavier load.
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In this part
What to notice
The closing lesson connects the donkey’s repeated deception with its heavier burden. Success does not make the trick safe to repeat.
Quick check
Why does the donkey’s final load become heavier?
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