The Salt Merchant and His Ass

A PEDDLER drove his Ass¹ to the seashore to buy salt.  His road
home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step,
fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably
lighter, as the water melted the sack.  The Peddler retraced² his
steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt
than before.  When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down
on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining³ his feet with the
weight of his load much diminished, brayed⁴ triumphantly⁵ as if he
had obtained what he desired.  The Peddler saw through his trick
and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a
cargo of sponges instead of salt.  The Ass, again playing the
fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the
sponges became swollen⁶ with water, greatly increasing his load.
And thus his trick recoiled⁷ on him, for he now carried on his
back a double burden.