“Braire comme des Asnes en plain marché.”
_Cf._ LEROUX DE LUICY: _Facetieux Réveille-matin_, pp. 103, 171.
_XVII. Siècle_.
“Ha, Sire Ane, ohé!
Belle bouche, rechignez!
Vous aurez du foin assez
Et de l’avoine à-plantez!”
_Chanson_, _XII. Siècle_.
There were once assembled at the table of the Emperor many friends of
Virgilio, who praised him highly. But there was also one who abused him
bitterly, and called him an ass; and the word went forth to all the city,
and much was said of it, and there was a great scandal over it.
When Virgil heard of it he smiled, and said that he thought he would ere
long be even with the gentleman who had jackassed him; and those who knew
him were of the same opinion, for certainly the means of retaliation were
not wanting to him.
Now, the Emperor had given to Virgilio an ass to ride, and the poet said
to his patron that, if he would order that the animal might go or come
wherever he pleased, he would show him some time a merry jest. To which
the Emperor right willingly assented.
So one day there were many lords seated at the imperial table, and among
them were Virgilio and his enemy. But what was the amazement of all save
the magician when the servants, flying in, said that the ass of the
Signore Virgilio had entered the door, and insisted on coming into the
banqueting-hall.
“Admit him instantly,” said the Emperor.
The ass came in as politely as an ass could. He bowed down before the
Emperor and kissed his hand.
“He has come to visit his dear brother,” remarked the enemy of Virgil.
“_That is true_,” replied the ass; and walking up to the gentleman, he
stared him in the face, and said: “Good brother, good-day!”
The signore, bursting into a rage, tried to utter something, but only
brayed—and such a bray, the King of the Asses himself could not have
equalled it. There was a roar of laughter long and loud, revived again
with each succeeding roar. At last, when there was silence, Virgil said:
“But tell me, Ciuchino, donkey mine, which of us three is the _real_ ass?
For thy brother there says that I am one, and thou callest him brother,
and yet from thy appearance I should say that thou art truly ‘the one.’”
And the ass replied:
“Trust not to looks in this world, for in outward seeming there is great
deceit. By their _voice_ shall ye know them; by their song, which is the
same in all lands. For many are the languages of mankind, but there is
only one among asses, for we all bray and pray in the same tongue.”
“Truly,” replied Virgilio, “thou almost deservest to become a Christian,
and I will help thee to it.” Saying this, he touched the donkey’s nose
with his wand, and his face became as the face of the gentleman, on whom
there now appeared a donkey’s head.
“Now we are indeed beginning to look more like ourselves,” quoth the ass.
“_Aun-ky—aunky—aunky—ooooh_!” brayed the gentleman.
“That, my lords,” explained the donkey, “when translated into _volgare_
from our holy tongue, is my brother’s confession of faith, wherein he
declares that he is the very Ass of Asses—the _summa summarum_, and the
_somaro dei somari_.”
“That will do,” exclaimed Virgilio; and touching the ass and the signore,
he restored to each his natural form and language. And the signore
rushed out in a blind rage, but the ass went with proper dignity, first
saluting the company, and then bowing low before the Emperor ere he
departed.
“_Per Bacco_!” exclaimed the Emperor; “the ass, it seems to me, hath
better manners and a finer intellect than his brother.”
“’Tis sometimes the case in this world, your Imperial Highness, that
asses appear to advantage—even at court.”