The Soldier and His Horse
Aesop | Greece
A loyal horse carried a soldier in war, but after peace, the soldier mistreated the horse until it weakened and could no longer serve.
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Once upon a time, a Soldier had a loyal Horse. During times of war, the Soldier treated the Horse kindly, feeding him with the best oats and brushing his shiny coat daily. The Horse was always ready to gallop into battle, carrying the Soldier safely.
However, when the war ended, everything changed. The Soldier forgot the bond they shared and treated the Horse poorly. The fine oats were replaced with chaff, and instead of charging into battle, the Horse was made to carry heavy loads from dawn to dusk.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. The Horse grew weaker and weaker, his once proud stance now sagging under the weight of the loads and the lack of proper food.
Suddenly, war was declared again. The Soldier, excited to fight, quickly put heavy armor on the Horse and climbed on, ready for battle. But the Horse, weakened by months of hard work and poor diet, collapsed under the weight.
Looking up at his master, the Horse said, "You have to march into battle on foot now, for you've turned me from a strong Horse into a tired Ass. You can't wish for me to transform back in a split second." And with that, the Soldier was left standing, with no Horse to carry him into battle.
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