Two _Laden Asses_.
There’s an Old Story of _Two Asses_ Traveling upon the Road, the One
Laden with _Oats_, the other with _Mony_: The _Mony-Merchant_, I Warrant
ye, was so Proud of his _Trust_ and of his _Bell_, that he went Jurking
and Tossing of his Head, and Tabring with his Feet all the way, as if no
Ground would hold him. The other Plodding on with his Nose in the Breech
of his Leader, as Gravely as one Foot could follow another. While they
were Jogging on thus upon the way, out comes a Band of _Highway-Men_ from
the next Wood, and falls upon the _Ass_ that carried the _Treasure_. They
Beat, Wound and Rifle him, and so leave him, without so much as taking
the least Notice of his Fellow. Well, (says the _King’s Ass_,) and for
all this Mischief I may e’en thank my _Mony_. Right, says the other; and
it has been my Happiness that I was not thought worth the Robbing.
The MORAL.
_Poverty is both Safe and Easie; and Riches a Great Snare to People in
many Cases: As it far’d worse here with the_ State-Ass _then with the_
Muletiers.