Friday, December 18, 2009

On the weakness of donkeys


A Roman oil lamp.

"The ass is an animal which is unable to endure cold, for which reason it is that it is never produced in Pontus [...]They will not pass over a bridge either, when the water can be seen between the planks beneath[...]They ought always to have plenty of room for sleeping; for they are very subject to various diseases in their sleep[...] An ass, after witnessing the death of another ass, survives it but a very short time only.

Pliny the Elder - Naturalis Historia (the Natural History) VIII.68
Translated by John Bostock, H.T. Riley

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