"Why, you tiny, little, mean, insignificant creature you, how DARE you speak to ME?" he raged.
"How dare I speak to you?" repeated the Gnat quietly. "By the virtue of right, which is always greater than might. Why don't you keep to your own part of the forest? What right have you to be here, disturbing folks at this time of night?"
By a mighty effort the Lion restrained his anger—he knew that to obtain mastery over others one must be master over oneself.
"What right?" he repeated in dignified tones. "Because I'm King of the Forest. That's why. I can do no wrong, for all the other creatures of the forest are afraid of me. I DO what I please, I SAY what I please, I EAT whom I please, I GO where I please—simply because I'm King of the Forest."
"But who told you you were King?" demanded the Gnat. "Just answer me that!"
"Who told ME?" roared the Lion. "Why, everyone acknowledges it—don't I tell you that everyone is afraid of me?"
"Indeed!" cried the Gnat disdainfully. "Pray don't say all, for I'm not afraid of you. And further, I deny your right to be King."
This was too much for the Lion. He now worked himself into a perfect fury.
"You—you—YOU deny my right as King?"
"I do, and, what is more, you shall never be King until you have fought and conquered me."