Grimm's Household Tales

When God had created the world and was about to fix the length of each creature’s life, the donkey came and asked, “Lord, how long shall I live?” “Thirty years,” replied God. “Does that satisfy you?” “Ah, Lord,” answered the donkey, “that is a long time. Think of my painful existence: to carry heavy burdens from morning to night, to drag sacks of grain to the mill so that others may eat bread, to be cheered and refreshed with nothing but blows and kicks. Relieve me of a portion of this long time.” Then God had pity on him and relieved him of eighteen years. The donkey went away comforted, and the dog appeared. “How long would you like to live?” God said to him. “Thirty years are too many for the donkey, but you will be satisfied with that.” “Lord,” answered the dog, “is that your will? Consider how I will have to run: my feet will never hold out so long, and when I have once lost my voice for barking and my teeth for biting, what will be left for me to do but run from one corner to another and growl?” God saw that he was right and released him from twelve years of life. Then came the monkey. “You will certainly be willing to live thirty years, won’t you?” the Lord said to him. “You have no need to work as the donkey and the dog have to do, and you will always enjoy yourself.” “Ah, Lord,” he answered, “it may seem as if that were the case, but it is quite different. When it rains porridge, I have no spoon. I always have to play merry pranks and make faces that force people to laugh, and if they give me an apple and I bite into it, it is sour! How often sadness hides itself behind mirth! I will never be able to hold out for thirty years.” God was gracious and took off ten.

At last man appeared, joyous, healthy, and vigorous, and begged God to appoint his time for him. “You shall live thirty years,” said the Lord. “Is that enough for you?” “What a short time!” cried man. “When I have built my house and my fire burns on my own hearth, when I have planted trees that blossom and bear fruit and am just about to enjoy my life, I am to die! O Lord, lengthen my time.” “I will add to it the donkey’s eighteen years,” said God. “That is not enough,” replied the man. “You shall also have the dog’s twelve years.” “Still too little!” “Well, then,” said God, “I will give you the monkey’s ten years also, but you shall not have more.” The man went away but was not satisfied.

So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, which are soon gone; then he is healthy and merry, works with pleasure, and is glad to be alive. Then follow the donkey’s eighteen years, when one burden after another is laid on him; he has to carry the grain that feeds others, and blows and kicks are the reward of his faithful services. Then come the dog’s twelve years, when he lies in the corner, growls, and no longer has any teeth to bite with; and when this time is over, the monkey’s ten years form the end. Then man is weak in mind and foolish, does silly things, and becomes the laughingstock of the children.