THE ASS and HIS PURCHASER
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A man went to the market. He wanted to buy a donkey.
The Man looked at many donkeys. He saw one good-looking donkey. It looked strong. He talked to The Donkey's Owner. The Man said, "I will take this donkey." It will come to my home. "I will see if it is good."
The Man took The New Donkey home. He had a stable. Other donkeys lived there. The Man put The New Donkey inside. It went to the stable. It stood with the other donkeys.
The New Donkey looked around. It saw all the other donkeys. Its ears moved. It watched them carefully. It looked at every donkey.
One donkey was very lazy. It liked to eat a lot. This was The Lazy Donkey. The New Donkey walked to it. It stood next to The Lazy Donkey. It chose this friend. This was its new friend.
The Man watched The New Donkey. He saw its choice. He saw who it chose as a friend. The Man understood.
The Man did not wait. He took a rope. He put the rope on The New Donkey. He led it out of the stable. The Man took The New Donkey back. They went to the market. He returned it to The Donkey's Owner.
The Donkey's Owner was surprised. "Why is it back so soon?" he asked. He did not expect this. The Man brought it back very fast.
The Man spoke to The Donkey's Owner. "I do not need more tests," he said. "I saw what kind of donkey it is." The New Donkey chose a friend. It chose The Lazy Donkey. The Lazy Donkey does not like work. It only likes to eat. A good donkey does not choose this friend. This new donkey will be lazy too. I know its character now. I do not want a lazy donkey. I do not need to test it more.
The Man learned a lesson. A donkey's friends show its true self. This is how we know people too. You can know a person by their friends.
Original Story
THE ASS AND HIS PURCHASER
A Man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market, and, coming across a likely-looking beast, arranged with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like. When he reached home, he put him into his stable along with the other asses. The newcomer took a look round, and immediately went and chose a place next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable. When the master saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and handed him over to his owner again. The latter was a good deal surprised to see him back so soon, and said, "Why, do you mean to say you have tested him already?" "I don't want to put him through any more tests," replied the other: "I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself."
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Story DNA
Moral
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Plot Summary
A man takes a prospective ass home on trial to assess its character. Upon placing it in his stable, the ass immediately chooses to stand beside the laziest and greediest of his existing animals. Observing this, the man instantly returns the ass to its owner, explaining that its choice of companion revealed all he needed to know about its nature, thus illustrating the moral that one is known by the company one keeps.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to confirmation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are ancient stories often attributed to a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. They are characterized by anthropomorphic animals and a clear moral lesson.
Plot Beats (9)
- A man goes to market to buy an ass.
- He finds a promising ass and arranges to take it home on trial.
- He puts the trial ass into his stable with his other asses.
- The new ass looks around the stable.
- The new ass chooses to stand next to the laziest and greediest ass.
- The master observes this choice.
- The master immediately puts a halter on the ass and returns it to its owner.
- The original owner is surprised by the quick return.
- The master explains that the ass's choice of companion revealed its character, negating the need for further testing.
Characters
★
The Purchaser
A man of average height and build, with a practical and observant demeanor. His movements are deliberate, reflecting a thoughtful nature.
Attire: Simple, sturdy tunic woven from undyed wool, cinched at the waist with a leather belt. He wears practical leather sandals and a plain cloak of coarse brown fabric over his shoulders, suitable for market visits in ancient Greece.
Wants: To acquire a good, reliable working ass for his stable without wasting time or resources on a poor choice.
Flaw: Potentially overly reliant on first impressions, though in this case, it served him well.
He begins seeking an ass and ends having successfully avoided a bad purchase, reinforcing his belief in judging by association.
Perceptive, shrewd, decisive, pragmatic, observant.
◆
The Ass
A sturdy, grey-brown ass of medium size, with long ears and a short, bristly mane. Its coat is a typical dusty grey, and its build suggests it could be a working animal, though its actions reveal its true nature.
Attire: None, as an animal.
Wants: To find the easiest path and the most comfortable, least demanding existence.
Flaw: Its inherent laziness and poor judgment in choosing companions, which immediately reveals its character.
The ass's character is revealed instantly through its actions, leading to its rejection. It does not change.
Lazy, greedy, unmotivated, prone to bad habits.
○
The Ass's Owner
A man of indeterminate build, likely accustomed to market life. His expression is one of surprise when the Ass is returned so quickly.
Attire: Simple, functional clothing suitable for a market vendor in ancient Greece: a basic chiton of undyed linen, perhaps a short cloak, and sturdy sandals.
Wants: To sell his ass.
Flaw: Underestimates the Purchaser's observational skills; perhaps too trusting of the trial period.
Remains unchanged, simply serves as a point of interaction for the Purchaser.
Surprised, perhaps a little naive about his own animal's true nature, or simply hoping to make a sale.
○
The Laziest Ass
A large, somewhat shaggy ass, noticeably plump and with a perpetually drowsy look in its eyes. Its coat is a duller, perhaps matted grey, suggesting a lack of vigorous activity.
Attire: None, as an animal.
Wants: To eat and rest as much as possible with minimal effort.
Flaw: Its overwhelming laziness and greed, which are immediately apparent.
Remains unchanged, serving as the benchmark for laziness.
Extremely lazy, gluttonous, indolent.
Locations
The Market
A bustling marketplace where animals are bought and sold, likely dusty and open-air, filled with the sounds of merchants and livestock.
Mood: Lively, transactional, busy
The man finds and arranges to purchase the ass on trial.
The Stable
A rustic stable, likely made of wood and stone, with individual stalls for asses. It would smell of hay and animal, with dim lighting filtering in from small openings.
Mood: Functional, earthy, revealing
The new ass chooses its companion, revealing its character to the master.