

The Gnat and the Lion.A Gnat came and said to a Lion: "I do not the least fear you, nor areyou stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You canscratch with your claws, and bite with your teeth—so can a woman in herquarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you; and ifyou doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer." The Gnat, havingsounded his horn, fastened itself upon the Lion, and stung him on thenostrils. The Lion, trying to crush him, tore himself with his claws,until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over theLion, and buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortlyafterwards he became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb, and was eatenby a spider. He greatly lamented his fate, saying: "Woe is me, that I,who can wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should perishmyself from this spider." From Aesop's Fables |