The Man the Horse the Ox and the Dog

A horse, an ox, and a dog, driven to great straits by the cold, sought shelter and protection from a man. He received them kindly, lit a fire, and warmed them. He allowed the horse to eat freely from his oats, provided the ox with an abundance of hay, and fed the dog with meat from his own table.

Grateful for these favors, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability. To achieve this, they divided the term of the man's life among themselves, each endowing one portion with the qualities that chiefly characterized him.

The horse chose his earliest years and infused them with his own attributes; thus, every man in his youth is impetuous, headstrong, and obstinate in maintaining his own opinion. The ox took under his patronage the next phase of life, which is why man in his middle age is often fond of work, devoted to labor, and resolute in amassing wealth and managing his resources wisely.

The end of life was reserved for the dog. As a result, the old man is frequently snappish, irritable, hard to please, and selfish—tolerant only of his own household, but averse to strangers and to all who do not contribute to his comfort or meet his needs.