A Merchant, driving his Ass homeward from the seashore with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow ford. They hardly dared blink for fear of losing him out of their sight a single instant. There none would dare harm them. Sir, said the Dog, with a grin, I shall be delighted to have you eat me. No small fry for me, he said. He expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the sling in the air, and shouting loudly at them. Let me drive the flies away, he said kindly. My father was an Ass after all.
The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.