THE LIFE OF AESOP
Translated by Sir Roger L'Estrange
CHAPTER II
AEsop and his fellow Slaves upon their Journey to Ephesus
It was AEsop'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 AEsop 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 Panier 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 the trudg'd
together. About Noon, they had their Dinner deliver'd out of
AEsop'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 AEsop was not so arrant
a Fool as they took him for; and that they themselves had not half
the Wit they thought they had.