A SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all
of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to
fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal
lazily replied, “Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the
conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?’ “No,” rejoined
the Shepherd. “Then,” said the Ass, “as long as I carry the
panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?’

In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name
of their master.