826. Rusticus Aratrum Portans. Rusticus, admodum incultus, cum usque ad meridiem arasset, fessis bobus, et ipse labore fatigatus, rediturus in oppidum, aratrum super asellum alligat, deinde asellum, praemissis bobus, ascendit. Qui cum nimio onere gravatus sub pondere deficeret, sentit tandem rusticus asellum ire non posse. Tum descendens atque aratrum super humerum ponens, rursus asellum ascendit, inquiens, “Nunc recte ambulare potes; non enim tu, sed ego aratrum fero.”
M0826 (not in Perry). Source: Poggio Bracciolini 56. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog (Perry included only two fables of Poggio in his catalog). Poggio tells this story of a certain “Pierus.” Compare the fable of the man on horseback, #926.
