The Life Span.
AFTER God had created the world and was about to determine the life span of each and every creature, the ass came to him and asked,
"Lord, how long am I to live?"
"Thirty years," answered God. "Is that all right with you?"
"Oh, Lord," replied the ass, "that's a long time. Just consider the hard life I lead. From morning to night I carry heavy loads, drag sacks of grain into the mill so that others can eat bread, and I'm given nothing but blows and kicks to keep me fresh and cheerful. I ask you to relieve me of part of this long time."
God took pit on him and relieved him of eighteen years. The ass felt consoled and went away. Then the dog appeared.
"How long do you want to live?" God asked him. "Thirty years were too many for the ass, but I think you'll be content with that."
"Lord, is that your will? Just consider how much I must run. My feet will never be able to hold out that long. And once my voice for barking and my teeth for biting are gone, I'll just about be able to run from one corner to another and growl."
God saw that the dog was right and relieved him of twelve years of his life. Next came the monkey.
"You'll certainly want to live thirty years, won't you?" the Lord asked him. "You don't have to work like the ass and the dog, and you're always in good spirits."
"Oh, Lord," he answered, "it just looks that way, but it's not so. Even when times are good, I just get to scrape the bottom of the barrel. I'm always supposed to perform merry pranks and make faces. Yet, whenever they had me an apple and I bite into it, it's sour. My mirth only masks my sadness. I'll never be able to endure all this for thirty years."
God was merciful and took away then years of his life. Finally, a man appeared. He was joyful, healthy, and vigorous, and he asked God to determine his life span.
"You shall live thirty years," the Lord said. "Is that good enough for you?"
"What a short time!" exclaimed man. "Imagine, when I've built my house and the fire is burning on my own hearth, when I've planted trees that blossom and bear fruit, and when I"m just getting ready to enjoy life, I'll have to die! Oh, Lord, give me more time."
"I shall add on the eighteen years of the ass," God said.
"That's not enough," replied man.
"You shall also have the twelve years of the dog."
"Still too little."
"Very well then," said God. "I shall even give you the ten years of the monkey, but nothing more."
The man went away, but he was not satisfied.
So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, which pass by rapidly. This is the time when he is healthy and cheerful, works with pleasure and is glad to be alive. After this period come the eighteen years of the ass, when one burden after the next is laid upon him. He must carry the grain that nourishes others, and he receives blows and kicks as reward for his faithful service. Then come the the twelve years of the dog, when he lies in a corner, growls, and has no more teeth with which to bite. And when this period is over, the ten years of the monkey round out his life. Then man becomes soft in the head and foolish, does silly things, and becomes the laughingstock of children.
Unknown "I don't EXIST" Wild
- 16 years, 11 months, 19 days ago