A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. —
一个男人想购买一只驴，他与驴的主人达成了协议，他要在购买前试试这只动物。 —

He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. —
他把驴带回家，放在草料场里和其他驴子一起，新的驴子立刻离开其他驴子，加入了那只最懒惰、最能吃的驴子。 —

Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. —
看到这一点，男人给他套上缰绳，把他领回了主人那里。 —

On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, “I do not need a trial; —
当被问及如何在短时间内试验他时，他回答说：“我没有试验的必要； —

I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion.”
我知道他会和他选择的伴侣一样。”

A man is known by the company he keeps.
一个人可以从他交往的人群中看出他的品行。