Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
118. A BOASTING MULE (Perry 315)
There was a Favourite-Mule, that was high-fed, and in the Pride of Flesh
and Metal, would still be bragging of his Family and his Ancestors. My
Father (says he) was a Courser, and tho’ I say it, that should not say
it, I my self take after him. He had no sooner spoke the Words, but he
was put to the tryal of his Heels, and did not only shew himself a Jade;
but in the very Heat of his Ostentation, his Father fell a braying, which
minded him of his Original, and the whole Field made sport on't, when
they found him to be the Son of an Ass.
THE MORAL. A bragging Fool that’s rais’d out of a Dunghill, and sets
up for a Man of Quality, is asham’d of nothing in this World but of his
own Father.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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