A man went to a fair to buy an ass. He found one to his liking. The man asked the owner of the ass, “Sir, will you please let me test the animal before buying it?” The owner agreed. The man took the ass and put him in the yard with his other asses. The new ass ignored all the other animals and joined the most idle and lazy ass. Seeing this, the man took the new ass and led him back to his owner. The owner was surprised and asked, “Sir, you have brought back the ass pretty soon. How could you test him so quickly?” The man replied, “I am sure I don’t want him. I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion. A man is known by the company he keeps.”
The Ass and His Buyer
