The Lion And The Gnat

by Aesop

　　"Away with you, vile insect!" said a Lion angrily to a Gnat thatwas buzzing around his head. But the Gnat was not in the leastdisturbed.

　　"Do you think," he said spitefully to the Lion, "that I am afraidof you because they call you king?"

　　The next instant he flew at the Lion and stung him sharply on thenose. Mad with rage, the Lion struck fiercely at the Gnat, butonly succeeded in tearing himself with his claws. Again and againthe Gnat stung the Lion, who now was roaring terribly. At last,worn out with rage and covered with wounds that his own teeth andclaws had made, the Lion gave up the fight.

　　The Gnat buzzed away to tell the whole world about his victory,but instead he flew straight into a spider's web. And there, hewho had defeated the King of beasts came to a miserable end, theprey of a little spider.

　　The least of our enemies is often the most to be feared.

　　Pride over a success should not throw us off our guard.