There was once an Ass whose Master also owned a Lap Dog. This Dog was a favorite, receiving many a pat and kind word from his Master, as well as choice bits from his plate. Every day, the Dog would run to meet the Master, frisking playfully and leaping up to lick his hands and face.

All this the Ass observed with much discontent. Though he was well fed, he had much work to do, and the Master hardly ever took any notice of him.

Now, the jealous Ass got it into his silly head that to win his Master's favor, he merely needed to act like the Dog. So, one day, he left his stable and clattered eagerly into the house.

Finding his Master seated at the dinner table, he kicked up his heels and, with a loud bray, pranced giddily around the table, knocking it over. Then he planted his forefeet on his Master's knees and extended his tongue to lick the Master's face, just as he had seen the Dog do. But his weight upset the chair, and Ass and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishes from the table.

The Master was much alarmed at the Ass's strange behavior, and calling for help, he soon attracted the attention of the servants. When they saw the danger the Master was in from the clumsy beast, they quickly drove the Ass back to the stable. There, they left him to mourn the foolishness that had brought him nothing but a disliking Master.