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A Gnat once went up to a Lion and said, "I am not in the least

afraid of you: I don't even allow that you are a match for me in

strength. What does your strength amount to after all? That you

can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth--just like a

woman in a temper--and nothing more. But I'm stronger than you:

if you don't believe it, let us fight and see." So saying, the

Gnat sounded his horn, and darted in and bit the Lion on the

nose. When the Lion felt the sting, in his haste to crush him he

scratched his nose badly, and made it bleed, but failed

altogether to hurt the Gnat, which buzzed off in triumph, elated

by its victory. Presently, however, it got entangled in a

spider's web, and was caught and eaten by the spider, thus

falling a prey to an insignificant insect after having triumphed

over the King of the Beasts.

THE FARMER AND HIS DOGS