Arabian Nights "Tale of the Bull and the Ass."

Summary

A wealthy merchant, gifted with the ability to understand animal speech, overhears an ox envying a donkey's easy life. The donkey advises defiance, leading the ox to act out and feign sickness. The merchant, realizing the donkey's mischief, punishes him by making him work like an ox. Later, the donkey tricks the ox again, prompting the merchant to listen in on their conversation, which leads to a humorous revelation and a moral lesson about the consequences of heedless advice.

Takeaways

• 🐂 The merchant's ox envies the donkey's life, believing it to be easier and better cared for.
• 🗣️ The donkey advises the ox to resist and assert itself to improve its treatment.
• 👨‍🌾 The ox follows the donkey's advice, refusing to work and making a scene, which leads to it being perceived as sick.
• 🔄 The merchant, understanding the situation, decides to punish the donkey by making it take the ox's place.
• 💡 The donkey, now suffering, realizes its mistake and tries to warn the ox about the merchant's plan to kill it.
• 🤫 The merchant overhears the donkey's warning to the ox and decides to listen in on their conversation.
• 😄 The merchant's wife is curious about why her husband is laughing and demands to know the reason.
• 🚫 The merchant refuses to share the secret, as revealing it would mean his death.
• 😭 The wife's stubbornness and insistence on knowing the secret leads to emotional distress within the family.
• 🐶 The merchant's dog suggests a harsh solution to the wife's stubbornness, advising the use of a stick to make her comply.

Q & A

What unique ability does the wealthy merchant possess?

The wealthy merchant has the unique ability to understand the language of animals.

What is the strict oath the merchant is under regarding his ability?

The merchant is under a strict oath not to reveal what he hears from the animals, or he will face death.

What advice does the donkey give to the ox about its treatment?

The donkey advises the ox to stand up for itself, use its horns to push people away, and refuse to eat the bad food given to it.

How does the ox react to the donkey's advice?

The ox follows the donkey's advice, becomes uncooperative, refuses to work, and makes a scene when the farmer tries to tie it to the stall.

What happens to the donkey as a result of the ox's actions?

The donkey is forced to pull the plow all day and is beaten so much that it returns to the stall barely able to move.

Why does the merchant decide to listen to the animals' conversation at night?

The merchant is curious about the poor treatment of the donkey and wants to understand the conversation between the donkey and the ox.

What does the donkey overhear the merchant saying about the ox?

The donkey overhears the merchant saying that since the ox can neither eat nor support itself, he wishes for the ox to be killed the next day.

What does the donkey advise the ox to do to avoid being killed?

The donkey advises the ox to start eating immediately when food is brought to it, so the merchant will think the ox has recovered and may revoke the order for its death.

Why does the merchant's wife demand to know the reason for his laughter?

The merchant's wife is curious and wants to know the reason for his laughter so that she can join in and understand the situation.

What does the merchant's wife threaten to do if he does not reveal the secret?

The merchant's wife threatens to leave him in anger if he does not reveal the secret behind his laughter.

What advice does the merchant's pet dog give him regarding his wife's stubbornness?

The pet dog advises the merchant to get a big stick and not hesitate to use it, suggesting that this will make his wife understand and stop pressuring him to reveal the secret.