The ass pricked up his other ear, and surveyed Dr.Riccabocca.In that mutual survey of physical qualifications, each being regarded according to the average symmetry of its species, it may be doubted whether the advantage was on the side of the philosopher.
The parson had a great notion of the wisdom of his friend in all matters not purely ecclesiastical.
"Say a good word for the donkey!" whispered he.
"Sir," said the doctor, addressing Mr.Sprott, with a respectful salutation, "there's a great kettle at my house--the Casino--which wants soldering: can you recommend me a tinker ?" "Why, that's all in my line," said Sprott; "and there ben't a tinker in the county that I vould recommend like myself, tho'f I say it." "You jest, good sir," said the doctor, smiling pleasantly.

"A man who can't mend a hole in his own donkey can never demean himself by patching up my great kettle." "Lord, sir!" said the tinker, archly, "if I had known that poor Neddy had had two sitch friends in court, I'd have seen he vas a gintleman, and treated him as sitch." "Corpo di Bacco!" quoth the doctor, "though that jest's not new, I think the tinker comes very well out of it." "True; but the donkey!" said the parson; "I've a great mind to buy it." "Permit me to tell you an anecdote in point," said Dr.Riccabocca.
"Well ?" said the parson, interrogatively.
"Once on a time," pursued Riccabocca, "the Emperor Adrian, going to the public baths, saw an old soldier, who had served under him, rubbing his back against the marble wall.

The emperor, who was a wise, and therefore a curious, inquisitive man, sent for the soldier, and asked him why he resorted to that sort of friction.

'Because,' answered the veteran, 'I am too poor to have slaves to rub me down.' The emperor was touched, and gave him slaves and money.

The next day, when Adrian went to the baths, all the old men in the city were to be seen rubbing themselves against the marble as hard as they could.