A Choice Retaliation

A tame elephant kept by a merchant was suffered to go at large. The animal

used to walk about the streets in as quiet and familiar a manner as any of

the inhabitants, and delighted much in visiting the shops, particularly

those which sold herbs and fruit, where he was well received, except by a

couple of brutal cobblers, who, without any cause, took offence at the

generous creature, and once or twice attempted to wound his proboscis with

their awls. The noble animal, who knew it was beneath him to crush them,

did not disdain to chastise them by other means. He filled his large trunk

with a considerable quantity of water, not of the cleanest quality, and

advancing to them as usual, covered them at once with a dirty flood. The

fools were laughed at, and the punishment applauded.