Æsop _and his Fellow-slaves Upon their Journey to_ Ephesus.
It was _Æsop_’s Fortune to be sent to _Ephesus_, in Company with other
Slaves to be sold. His Master had a great many Burdens to Carry, and
_Æsop_ begg’d of his Companions not to over Charge him. They found him
a Weakling, and bad him please himself. The Parcel that he Pitch’d upon
was a Panier of Bread; and twice as heavy as any of the rest. They called
him a thousand Fools for his pains, and so took up their Luggage, and
away they Trudg’d together. About Noon, they had their Dinner deliver’d
out of _Æsop_’s Basket, which made his Burden Lighter by one half in the
Afternoon, then it had been in the Morning: And after the next Meal he
had Nothing left him to Carry, but an Empty Basket. His Fellow-Slaves
began Now to Understand, that _Æsop_ was not so Arrant a Fool as they
took him for; and that they Themselves had not half the Wit they Thought
they had.