A man wished to purchase an Ass¹, and agreed with its owner that he should try him before he bought him. He took the Ass home, and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses², upon which he left all the others, and joined himself at once to the most idle and the greatest eater of them all. The man put a halter on him, and led him back to his owner, saying: "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just such another as the one whom he chose for his companion."

A man is known by the company he keeps.