“Oh, my sister,” replied the gnat, “it is the heavy work which I have to do that bends my back and pulls my head so low. I have to drive the oxen to the plough, and make them do their work. I must sit between the horns and prick them to urge them on. Their hide is so thick that I have to bend my body and put my head very low to drive the sting through it. But, then, tell me, why is your back so much bent, sister flea? You have no heavy work like me.”
“You do not know what you are talking about. I have to keep mankind to their duties. These men have such heavy clothing that it takes all my strength to lift it up so that I can move about, to get at him.”
CIII.
THE STORY OF THE GNAT, THE LION, AND THE MAN.
The fable of the gnat and the lion is told in order to explain the proverb, “The gnat, small as it is, proved stronger than the lion.” Once upon a time a lion sat himself down to rest under a tree. Suddenly a gnat appeared and settled upon his nose. The lion, feeling the tickle, struck out with his paw, but missed her. The gnat then settled in his ear, and again the lion tried to strike her, but failed. So he said to the gnat:
“Who are you? and why do you come here and worry me? Who are you that although so small can worry so much and give so much trouble, and yet are one whom it is impossible to catch?”
“I am the gnat, and I drink the blood of anyone I choose, and no one can hurt me.”
“You may drink blood from whomever else you choose, but my blood you shall not drink, for I am the stronger.”
“If you believe that I cannot drink your blood, very well then, let us wait and see who is the stronger,” said the gnat.