The Ass and the Wolf

AN ASS feeding in a meadow saw a Wolf approaching to seize him, and immediately pretended to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquired the cause of his lameness. The Ass replied that passing through a hedge he had trod with his foot upon a sharp thorn. He requested that the Wolf pull it out, lest when he ate him it should injure his throat. The Wolf consented and lifted up the foot, and was giving his whole mind to the discovery of the thorn, when the Ass, with his heels, kicked his teeth into his mouth and galloped away. The Wolf, being thus fearfully mauled, said, "I am rightly served, for why did I attempt the art of healing, when my father only taught me the trade of a butcher?"

    Ein Esel begegnete einem hungrigen Wolfe. "Habe Mitleiden mit mir," sagte der zitternde Esel; "ich bin ein armes, krankes Thier; sieh' nur, was für einen Dorn ich mir in den Fuß getreten habe!"
    "Wahrhaftig, du dauerst mich" verseßte der Wolf. "Und ich finde mich in meinem Gewissen verbunden, dich von diesen Schmerzen zu befreien."-
    Kaum war das Wort gesagt, so ward der Esel zerrissen.

    An Ass met a hungry wolf. "Have compassion on me," said the trembling ass; "I am a poor, sick animal; do but see what a thorn I have run into my foot!"
    "Truly, you move me to pity," rejoined the wolf. "And I find myself bound by my conscience to deliver you from this pain."-
    Scarcely was the word said, than the ass was torn to pieces.