The
LYON
and
the
GNAT
.
TO
the
still
Covert
of
a
Wood
,
About
the
prime
of
Day
,
A
Lyon
,
satiated
with
Food
,
With
stately
Pace
,
and
sullen
Mood
,
Now
took
his
lazy
way
.
To
Rest
he
there
himself
compos'd
,
And
in
his
Mind
revolv'd
,
How
Great
a
Person
it
enclos'd
,
How
free
from
Danger
he
repos'd
,
Though
now
in
Ease
dissolv'd
!
Who
Guard
,
nor
Centinel
did
need
,
Despising
as
a
Jest
All
whom
the
Forest
else
did
feed
,
As
Creatures
of
an
abject
Breed
,
Who
durst
not
him
molest
.
But
in
the
Air
a
Sound
he
heard
,
That
gave
him
some
dislike
;
At
which
he
shook
his
grisly
Beard
,
Enough
to
make
the
Woods
affeard
,
And
stretch'd
his
Paw
to
strike
.
When
on
his
lifted
Nose
there
fell
A
Creature
,
slight
of
Wing
,
Who
neither
fear'd
his
Grin
,
nor
Yell
,
Nor
Strength
,
that
in
his
Jaws
did
dwell
,
But
gores
him
with
her
Sting
.
Transported
with
th'
Affront
and
Pain
,
He
terribly
exclaims
,
Protesting
,
if
it
comes
again
,
Its
guilty
Blood
the
Grass
shall
stain
,
And
to
surprize
it
aims
.
The
scoffing
Gnat
now
laugh'd
aloud
,
And
bids
him
upwards
view
The
Jupiter
within
the
Cloud
,
That
humbl'd
him
,
who
was
so
proud
,
And
this
sharp
Thunder
threw
.
That
Taunt
no
Lyon's
Heart
cou'd
bear
;
And
now
much
more
he
raves
,
Whilst
this
new
Perseus
in
the
Air
Do's
War
and
Strife
again
declare
,
And
all
his
Terrour
braves
.
Upon
his
haughty
Neck
she
rides
,
Then
on
his
lashing
Tail
;
(
Which
need
not
now
provoke
his
Sides
)
Where
she
her
slender
Weapon
guides
,
And
makes
all
Patience
fail
.
A
Truce
at
length
he
must
propose
,
The
Terms
to
be
her
Own
;
Who
likewise
Rest
and
Quiet
chose
,
Contented
now
her
Life
to
close
,
When
she'd
such
Triumph
known
.
You
mighty
Men
,
who
meaner
ones
despise
,
Learn
from
this
Fable
to
become
more
Wise
;
You
see
the
Lyon
may
be
vext
with
Flies
.