The Story of the Arrogant Donkey

Have you heard about the arrogant donkey? The animals and birds lived with some of them in a large farm. All the animals loved their owner, the good farmer, because he cared for them a lot, treated them well—especially the strong donkey who helped him in his work in the field and in carrying loads and things without trouble or exhaustion. The farmer would present food to the donkey morning and evening—especially the sweet barley that the donkey loved a lot.

He would tie him or place a rope around his neck so the donkey wouldn’t get bored. But the donkey was arrogant. He often looked down on the rest of the animals. He would walk in the farm proud of himself, annoying the rest of the animals and the small, weak birds. The donkey would tell everyone he was the best animal for the farmer and loved mocking the small animals and birds. When he saw the small sheep, he would mock them because they were smaller than him. The sheep would get upset and run to their mother crying.

The donkey became increasingly arrogant and proud, day after day, until everyone was annoyed with him. None of the animals or birds would speak to him. One day, the farmer went out from the farm, rode on the donkey’s back, and was holding a large basket filled with eggs to sell in the market. He hit the donkey’s back with his stick, and ordered him to walk slowly so the eggs wouldn’t break from his back. The donkey walked with bad steps, raising his head in arrogance and amazement. Suddenly, the donkey heard a weak sound. He looked down at his hooves and found a beautiful golden lizard that had appeared and no one saw it. The donkey laughed loudly and kicked it with his hoof. Suddenly, a small needle flew out of it and flew quickly, making two noises.

The lizard looked at the donkey with severe anger and bit him to kill the sheep. The donkey laughed and didn’t care about the lizard because it was weak and couldn’t harm him. The lizard was severely angered. The lizard gave the donkey a strong kick so he wouldn’t forget it forever. The donkey kicked it with his strong hoof, and the farmer fell from the donkey’s back onto the ground. He stood from his hand the basket of eggs, and all the eggs broke. The farmer was angry with the donkey and hit him severely, then took him to the farm and tied him strongly to him. The donkey cried and felt ashamed of himself—how a small lizard had beaten him, he the big strong donkey. He realized his mistake and apologized to all the animals and birds living in the farm.