Aesop's Fables
THE
LION wearied
Jupiter with his frequent
complaints. "It is true, O Jupiter!" he said, "that I am
gigantic in strength,
handsome in shape, and
powerful in attack. I have
jaws well provided with
teeth, and
feet furnished with
claws, and I lord it over all the
beasts of the forest, and what a
disgrace it is, that being such as I am, I should be
frightened by the crowing of a cock." Jupiter replied, "Why do you
blame me without a cause? I have given you all the
attributes which I possess myself, and your
courage never fails you except in this one instance." On
hearing this the Lion groaned and
lamented very much and,
reproaching himself with his cowardice, wished that he might die. As these thoughts passed through his mind, he met an
Elephant and came close to hold a
conversation with him. After a time he observed that the Elephant shook his ears very often, and he inquired what was the matter and why his ears moved with such a
tremor every now and then. Just at that moment a
Gnat settled on the head of the Elephant, and he replied, "Do you see that little buzzing
insect? If it enters my ear, my
fate is sealed. I should die presently." The Lion said, "Well, since so huge a beast is afraid of a tiny gnat, I will no more complain, nor wish myself dead. I find myself, even as I am, better off than the Elephant."