There was once an Ass, whose fate it was toil and labor for his master, dragging in wood from the forests or burdens from the field, grinding corn at the mill and all the other tasks normally expected of asses, and he ate of the oats in the stables, just like any other ass would.

His master treated all his animals with respect but showed especial favor to his own beautiful Maltese lapdog. He would fondle him and seldom returned home from dining without tidbits of food to share.

The Ass looked upon this with disdain, until one day, overcome with jealousy he broke his tether, pranced into his master’s house frisking and fawning as he had observed the lapdog do, and, jumping up to rest his forefeet on the master’s table, destroyed it and everything set thereupon. If this weren’t enough, the Ass then jumped upon his master’s back and started licking him. Having heard such dismay, the servants quickly came to their master’s aid, and whipping and clubbing the Ass, chased him back into the stables.

the lesson here: don't be an ass.