A GNAT¹ came and said to a Lion, "I do not in the least fear you,
nor are you stronger than I am.  For in what does your strength
consist? You can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth
an a woman in her quarrels.  I repeat that I am altogether more
powerful than you; and if you doubt it, let us fight and see who
will conquer."  The Gnat, having sounded his horn, fastened
himself upon the Lion and stung him on the nostrils² and the parts
of the face devoid³ of hair.  While trying to crush him, the Lion
tore himself with his claws, until he punished himself severely⁴.
The Gnat thus prevailed over the Lion, and, buzzing about in a
song of triumph, flew away.  But shortly afterwards he became
entangled in the meshes⁵ of a cobweb and was eaten by a spider.
He greatly lamented⁶ his fate, saying, "Woe⁷ is me! that I, who can
wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should perish
myself from this spider, the most inconsiderable of insects!" 

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