How Eulenspiegel Taught a Donkey to Read a Book in Erfurt

Arriving in Erfurt, home to the famous university, Eulenspiegel nailed a notice to the door. The university scholars, having heard of his cunning, held a council to devise a task for him that he would be unable to accomplish, so as not to bring shame upon themselves. Finally, they decided to entrust Eulenspiegel with the task of teaching a donkey to read and write, especially since there was no shortage of donkeys in Erfurt at the time—both young and old.

They sent for Eulenspiegel and said to him: "Master, you posted a notice stating that you could teach anyone to read and write, and in a short time at that. And so we, the scholars of the university, have decided to place a young donkey under your tutelage. Will you take on this task?" Eulenspiegel agreed but asked for more time, as a donkey, being a dumb and senseless creature, would naturally require it. Eventually, they settled on twenty years. Eulenspiegel thought to himself: "One of three things will happen: either the rector will die, and I will be free; or I will die, and they can demand nothing more of me; or the donkey will die, and I will be free again." Having reasoned thus, he demanded five hundred old coins for the task, and they gave him an advance payment.

Eulenspiegel took the donkey and went to an inn. There, he arranged a separate stall for his pupil, procured an old book, and placed it in the donkey's manger, sprinkling oats between its pages. As soon as the donkey smelled the grain, it began flipping through the pages with its snout, searching for the oats. When it found none, it started braying: "Ee-aw! Ee-aw!"

Seeing this, Eulenspiegel soon went to the rector and said: "Mr. Rector, would you like to see what my pupil has learned?" "Dear master," the rector replied in surprise, "has he already learned something?" "He is terribly dull by nature," Eulenspiegel answered, "and teaching him has been no easy task. However, thanks to my diligence and perseverance, I have managed to get him to recognize and even name some letters. If you wish, come with me, and you will see and hear for yourself."

He made his diligent pupil fast until three o'clock in the afternoon and then returned with the rector and several scholars. As soon as he placed the book in front of the donkey, it began flipping through the pages back and forth. Finding nothing, it brayed at the top of its lungs: "Ee-aw! Ee-aw!"

"You see, esteemed gentlemen," Eulenspiegel said. "He already knows two letters—'E' and 'A.' I hope he will make even greater progress soon."

Not long after, the rector died, and Eulenspiegel released his pupil to graze, as was fitting. With the money he had received, he went on his way, thinking to himself: "How much time would it take to make all the donkeys of Erfurt smarter!"

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How Eulenspiegel Taught a Donkey to Read a Book in Erfurt

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