a horse, proud of his fine trappings, met an ass on the highway. the ass, being heavily laden, moved slowly out of the way. “hardly,” said the horse, “can i resist kicking you with my heels.” the ass held his peace, and made only a silent appeal to the justice of the gods. not long afterwards the horse, having become broken-winded, was sent by his owner to the farm. the ass, seeing him drawing a dungcart, thus derided him: “where, o boaster, are now all thy gay trappings, thou who are thyself reduced to the condition you so lately treated with contempt?’