Outside a lively little town there lived a very rich and prosperous man. His house was very large, with gardens all around it, pavilions and small buildings in a row, and all kinds of rare flowers and plants planted everywhere, which looked very beautiful.
Among all his precious collections, there was one horse that stood out the most. This horse was particularly handsome, with a black and oily coat that shone like black silk, a long and strong neck, and a thick and silky mane that rippled like water waves when the wind blew. The rich man pampered him and gave him not only a bridle made of pure gold and a saddle decorated with all kinds of precious stones, but also a special silk cushion embroidered with gold silk. Every time he went out, the horse looked as resplendent as a prince in the palace.
As time went by, the horse became more and more proud. Whenever he came out of the stable, he always held his head high and struck the ground with his front hooves, as if to show his status. If the servant accidentally touched him while leading him, he would lose his temper, let out angry cries and even kick.
One day, when the sun was shining brightly, the horse was tied to a section of fence outside the yard. It watched the servants going about their business and was filled with contempt, feeling that it should not be tied up, but should be out in a wider world, enjoying freedom and honour. Suddenly, like a madman, it bit off the reins, threw back its head, uttered a long cry, and darted out like black lightning.
He ran as fast as he could, and in a short time he was running up a path. Just then a donkey came along the path. The donkey was not tall, its greyish fur was nondescript, and it was carrying two large sacks on its back, which weighed it down. It walked slowly, one step at a time, with weariness written all over its face.
When the proud horse saw the donkey from afar, it became furious, and the iron in its mouth clucked and sprayed a mouthful of white foam. He clawed at the ground with his front hooves and shouted, “Get out of my way! You ugly, tired thing, how dare you stand in front of me? Get out of the way or I’ll trample you to death and feed you to the dogs!
The donkey trembled with fear, its ears immediately drooping and its eyes filled with terror. It said nothing, but ducked hastily to the side of the road, almost falling to the ground. The horse hissed triumphantly and darted past it, heading straight for the woods in the distance.
But it hadn’t been far into the forest before something happened. The forest was full of thorny bushes and branches sticking out in all directions. The horse was running too fast to dodge, and a branch sliced through its leg, causing it to scream in pain and fall to the ground.
It tried to get up, but the injured leg could not support it. Every step he took was so painful that it felt like needles were stabbing him. When the rich man heard the news, he rushed over to look at it. When he saw how badly it was hurt, the rich man sighed and knew that the horse could no longer be ridden. So he took off the golden bridle and the magnificent saddle and sold the horse to a coachman.
The coachman’s house was shabby and full of goods. From that day on, the horse was replaced by a rough harness, and every day it had to pull a heavy paneled wagon up and down a muddy road. His coat became dirty and unkempt, and his eyes, once proud and proud, became grey and tired and full of hopelessness.
One day, as the donkey was returning home after carrying a load, he happened to run into the horse on a street corner. The donkey stopped, and with a flash of complex emotions in his eyes, he said, “Well, isn’t that my majestic friend? Why have you come here? Where is your golden headdress? Where is your soft silk cushion? Why have they all gone?”
Hearing this familiar and harsh voice, the horse lowered its head, too ashamed to speak. After a while he whispered, “It’s all gone. …… It’s because I was too proud and arrogant that I ended up in this situation.
The donkey shook his head gently and said in a serious tone, “My friend, that is the way of the world. If you are too proud, you will be punished sooner or later. Look at the eagles flying in the sky, if they get too carried away, they might fall down and break their wings. When a big river is rushing around, it will eventually come to an end. No matter who we are, living in this world, learning to be humble is the most important thing. If we look down on others too much, disaster will soon find us.
When the horse heard these words, tears welled up in his eyes. It finally realised that its past glory had made it lose itself, thinking that everything was in its own hands, not realising that disaster had actually crept up on it long ago. When the heart thinks only of vanity and pride, the road underfoot has long since lost its way.
Since then, the horse has not been proud and arrogant, nor has it complained about its fate. It has been pulling the cart silently, step by step, with practical actions to atone for its own mistakes. And the story of her and the donkey spread through the neighbourhood, becoming a cautionary tale.
Everyone remembers: when you are on high and the scenery is boundless, you must remember to keep your feet on the ground, for disaster often creeps up on you when you are most pleased with yourself.
