THE ASS. 103

the same ideas were then established as are now entertained
in the East concerning the relative dignity of the two ani-
mals. The ass is by no means despised, but much conse-
quence is attached to riding on horseback, and persons even
of moderate means will submit to great discomfort rather
than give up the possession of one or more horses; hence it
is considered a mark of humility and lowliness to use the
humbler animal. In Matthew xxi. is recorded the literal
fulfilment of the foregoing prophecy :—“Then sent Jesus
two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over
against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied,
and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them to me.
And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord
hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of
Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting
upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass. And the dis-
ciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And
brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their
clothes, and they set him thereon.’ The passage here
cited led the Jews to expect that the Messiah would come
riding upon an ass; and they reconciled this with Daniel’s