A merchant hired a donkey and driver to carry his goods from one town to another across the desert.
The day was hot and the journey was long, so they had to stop and rest. There was no shade of any kind, except for the shadow cast by the donkey.
The merchant settled down comfortably in that shade, but the driver protested. "That's my donkey," he said, "so it's my shade!"
"But I'm the one who hired the donkey!" the merchant exclaimed.
"You paid for the donkey, it's true," said the driver, "but you did not pay for his shadow!"
Inspired by: Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists by Roger L'Estrange, 421.
Notes: This is Perry 460.
Here is an illustration by Tenniel:
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