The Ass carrying the Image — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

An Ass once carried through the streets of the city a famous wooden Image, to be placed in one of its temples. The crowd as he passed along made lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect for him, bristled up with pride and gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders and said: "O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass."
They are not wise who take to themselves the credit due to others.

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Learning from "The Ass carrying the Image"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The Ass carrying the Image" uses 2 lines to create a memorable verse — proof that effective poetry doesn't need to be long. Pay attention to the meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is what makes the rhyme stick in your head.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to The Ass carrying the Image?
The lyrics to The Ass carrying the Image are: An Ass once carried through the streets of the city a famous wooden Image, to be placed in one of its temples. The crowd as he passed along made lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect for him, bristled up with pride and gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders and said: "O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass." / They are not wise who take to themselves the credit due to others.
How many lines does The Ass carrying the Image have?
"The Ass carrying the Image" has 2 lines of verse.

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