An ass is eating in a meadow. He sees that a Wolf is approaching to seize him, and immediately pretends to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquires the cause of his lameness.

The Ass replies that when he is passing through a hedge （树篱） there is a sharp thorn( 刺 ) into his foot. He requests that the Wolf pull it out, lest( 免得 ) when he ate him it should injure his throat. The Wolf is giving his whole mind to the discovery of the thorn, when the Ass, with his heels, kicks his teeth into his mouth and runs away.