A man bought a donkey at the market one day and took him home on approval . Now the man owned several donkeys already and he knew each one's character very well. One of the donkeys was very strong and brave. Another was eager to please but quickly exhausted. One donkey was very lazy. He hated going to work in the morning and he did as little as he possibly could all day long. When the other animals were being loaded up he always tried to be the last so that he would get the lightest load.
The man led the new donkey into the stable. For a moment he stood sniffing at his new companions. Then, without hesitation, he trotted up to the lazy donkey and began feeding comfortably at his side.
Though it was late in the day, the man immediately led the new donkey out of the yard, straight back to the market.
“You cannot have given him a fair trial yet,” said the merchant. “It is only ten minutes since you bought him.”
“I don't need to try him any more,” replied the man. “I know just what he is like from the friend he chose for himself. Take him away and give me my money back. I can do without donkeys like him.”
有个人在集市上买了头驴带回家，卖家承诺包退包换。这个人已经有好几头驴了，他熟知每一头的品性。其中一头长得很壮，也很勇敢。另一头很卖力讨好主人，但是力气耗尽得也快。有一头懒得要命，早上不爱干活儿，整天能少干就少干。其他的驴都忙着驮东西，他总是最后一个出现，想拣最轻的货来驮。
主人领着新买的驴来到马厩，没一会儿工夫，他就站在那儿对新同伴们嗤之以鼻，然后毫不犹豫地快速跑到懒驴旁边，挨着他悠闲地吃起食来。
尽管天色已晚，主人还是立马牵着新买的驴出了院子，径直向集市走去。
“你这会儿就下定论不公平，”卖驴的说，“你才买回去十分钟啊。”
“不用再试了，”买家说，“看他选什么朋友就知道他是什么货色。拿回去吧，把钱退给我。这样的驴，不要也罢。”
on approval (货物)不满意可以退的
-trot [trɒt] v. 小跑；快速前进
英语文化中，老百姓常说的“Every man is defined by his friends.”和“Birds of a feather flock together.”恰好对应中文的“物以类聚，人以群分”。
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