Poor Donkey.
Reading edition
Poor Donkey, I’ll give him a handful of grass,
I’m sure he’s a good-natured, honest old ass:
He trots to the market to carry the sack,
And lets me ride all the way home on his back;
And only just stops by the ditch for a minute,
To see if there’s any fresh grass for him in it.
’Tis true, now and then, he has got a bad trick
Of standing stock still, tho’ he never will kick;
And then, poor old fellow, you know, he can’t tell
That standing stock still is not using me well;
For it never comes into his head, I dare say,
To do his work first, and then afterwards play.
No, no, my good Donkey, I’ll give you some grass,
For you know no better, because you’re an ass;
But what little Donkeys some children must look,
Who stand, very like you, stock still at their book,
And waste ev’ry moment of time as it passes,
A great deal more stupid and silly than asses.