Old Man and the Ass

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2>The Old Man and the Ass.</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">An old man, riding on his ass,<br/></span> <span class="i4">Had found a spot of thrifty grass,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And there turn'd loose his weary beast.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Old Grizzle, pleased with such a feast,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Flung up his heels, and caper'd round,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Then roll'd and rubb'd upon the ground,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And frisk'd and browsed and bray'd,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And many a clean spot made.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Arm'd men came on them as he fed:<br/></span> <span class="i0">"Let's fly," in haste the old man said.<br/></span> <span class="i0">"And wherefore so?" the ass replied;<br/></span> <span class="i0">"With heavier burdens will they ride?"<br/></span> <span class="i2">"No," said the man, already started.<br/></span> <span class="i2">"Then," cried the ass, as he departed<br/></span> <span class="i2">"I'll stay, and be&mdash;no matter whose;<br/></span> <span class="i2">Save you yourself, and leave me loose<br/></span> <span class="i2">But let me tell you, ere you go,<br/></span> <span class="i2">(I speak plain English, as you know,)<br/></span> <span class="i2">My master is my only foe."<br/></span> <span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</SPAN></span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />