FABLES. 



189 



THE CLOWN AND THE GNAT. 



As a clownish Fellow was sitting musing upon a 

 bank, a Gnat alighted upon his leg and bit it. He 

 slapped his hand upon the place, with the intention 

 of crushing the assailant; but the little nimble in- 

 sect escaped between his fingers, and repeated its 

 attacks. livery time he struck at it, he gave him- 

 self a smart blow upon the leg, but missed his aim. 

 At this he became enraged, and in the height of 

 his peevish and impatient humour, he earnestly 

 prayed to Hercules, beseeching him with his mighty 

 power to stretch forth his arm against a pernicious 

 insect, by which he was so miserably tormented. 



APPLICATION. 



HE who suffers his mind to be ruffled by every 

 little inconvenience, subjects himself to perpetual 



