Reflections on Literal Obedience

From Joha's tales of foolishness:

He had a donkey that got sick,

so he wanted to treat it,

so he was told: 'Go to the herbalist and buy some medicine for it.'

He went to the herbalist

and said, 'Give me medicine for the donkey.'

The herbalist said, 'Take this medicine and put it in one of its eyes.'

Joha took the medicine and went to the donkey and put it in its eye,

so the donkey died instantly.

Joha was angry and went back to the herbalist

and said to him, 'Didn't I tell you to give me medicine for the donkey?'

He said, 'Yes, you did.'

He said, 'Then why did my donkey die?'

The herbalist said, 'Because you put the medicine in its eye, and you were supposed to put it in its mouth.'