182 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

leap upon him and kiss him? I see no profit-
able service he doth him. I labour, bear and
draw, and do more service in one week than
the dog and his whole kind are able to do in
a year, and yet have I not the tithe of his
favours; for he sitteth by his trencher, eats
the fat of his meat, and lies on carpets and
pillows; when I that do all am fed only with
nettles and thistles. Well, I will no longer
endure it, but I will study to have my lord’s
favour as much as the hound, if not in greater
measure.”

‘Anon, the master of the house came home,
and the ass lifting up his tail leaped with his
forefeet on his shoulders, and braying and
grinning, and put forth his mouth to kiss him,
and used such rude unmannerly action, that he
rubbed all the skin from his master’s ear, and
almost overthrew him, so that the man was
forced to cry out, “ Help, help, for this ass will
kill me.” Then came in his servants with
staves, and beat the ass so exceedingly, that
he was almost slain, which done, he returned
to his stall again, and was an ass as he was
before. In the same manner, they which do
envy and spite at others’ welfare, if they
receive the same reward, it is nothing more