The Ass and the Old Shepherd

A shepherd watched his ass feeding in a meadow. Being suddenly alarmed by the cries of the enemy, he appealed to the ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured. The ass lazily replied, "Why should I? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?" "No," rejoined the shepherd. "Then," said the ass, "as long as I carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?"

In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.