254. Mulus et Nomen Eius. Mulus pascebat in prato veniensque vulpes interrogavit, “Quo vocaris nomine?” Tunc mulus “Ignoro,” inquit, “quia eram parvulus quando pater meus fuit mortuus. Ne autem oblivioni traderetur nomen meum, fecit scribi in pede meo. Si ergo vis scire nomen meum, lege in pede meo.” Vulpes autem, intellegens dolum, ivit in silvam ad lupum et ait, “Vade in pratum hic prope et ibi invenies bestiam magnam crassamque.” Tunc lupus, pergens ad mulum in prato, ait, “Quomodo vocaris?” At mulus, “Si scire vis meum vocabulum, vade et lege in pede meo.” Tunc lupus ivit ad pedem muli at mulus, percutiens eum in mediam frontem, oculos ac cerebrum ei excussit in terram. Tunc vulpecula ait, “Litteras nesciebas et legere volebas; es ita percussus.”
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SLIDESHOW of all the Billinghurst images. Notice that in this illustration, it is a horse, rather than a mule, who has outwitted his enemies.
M0254 = Perry693. Source: Steinhowel 5.1 (shortened). This is Perry 693. Compare the story of the donkey’s privilege, where it is the fox who gets kicked, #71.
