The Ass and his Shadow
A certain man hired an ass for his journey in summertime, and started out with the owner following behind to drive the beast. By and by, in the heat of the day, they stopped to rest, and the traveler wanted to lie down in the asses shadow; but the owner, who himself wished to be out of the sun, wouldn’t let him do that; for he said he had hired the ass only, and not his shadow. The other maintained that his bargain secured him complete control of the ass for the time being. From words they came to blows; and while they were belaboring each other the ass took to his heels and was soon out of sight.
In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance.