趕牲口的人讓驢子和騾子馱上貨物出發了。在路麵平坦的時候，驢子感覺很輕鬆。當他們走到崎嶇的山路時，驢子已經累得筋疲力盡，於是懇求騾子能夠幫他分擔一部分貨物，這樣他可以把剩餘部分馱到目的地。可是，倔強的騾子根本不理會同伴的請求。結果，不堪重負的驢子從山上摔了下去。趕牲口的人沒有辦法，隻好把驢子那部分貨物也放到了騾子身上，另外，把驢皮也放了上去。承受著過重負擔的騾子，嘴裏嘀咕道： “我真是自作自受啊 !如果我答應了驢子的請求，幫他馱一小部分的話，我現在就用不著背負雙倍的貨物了。 ”
一盎司的拒絕相當於一磅的殘忍。
A Muleteer set forth on a j before him an Ass ah well laden. The Ass，as loraveled along the plain， carried his load with ease，but wheo asd the steep path of the mou his load to be more than he could bear. He eed his panion to relieve him of a small portio e the rest；but the Mule paid o the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowio do in sioeer plaule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his o of all placed the hide of the Ass， after he had skihe Mule，groah his heavy burden， said to himself，“I am treated ag to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need，I should not ogether with his burden，himself as well.”
A ouion is ound of cruel.