Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/The Life of Æsop/Chapter II
Cap. II.
Æsop and his Fellow-slaves Upon their Journey to Ephesus.
IT was Æsop's Fortune to be sent to Ephesus, in Company with other Slaves to be sold. His Master had a great many Burdens to Carry, and Æsop begg'd of his Companions not to over Charge him. They found him a Weakling, and bad him please himself. The Parcel that he Pitch'd upon was a Panyer of Bread; and twice as heavy as any of the rest. They called him a thousand Fools for his pains, and so took up their Luggage, and away they Trudg'd together. About Noon, they had their Dinner deliver'd out of Æsop's Basket, which made his Burden Lighter by one half in the Afternoon, than it had been in the Morning: And after the next Meal he had Nothing left him to Carry, but an Empty Basket. His Fellow-Slaves began Now to Understand, that Æsop was not so Arrant a Fool as they took him for; and that they Themselves had not half the Wit they Thought they had.