FABLES. 



269 



THE ANT AND THE FLY. 



Ix a dispute between the Ant and the Fly con- 

 cerning precedency, the latter thus boasted : I 

 have, said he, the uppermost seats at church, and 

 even frequent the altars; I am taster to the gods, 

 and a partaker of all their sacrifices; I am ad- 

 mitted into the palaces of kings, and enjoy myself 

 at every entertainment provided for the princes of 

 the earth, and all this without having occasion to 

 labour. What have you to boast of, poor sorry 

 drudge, crawling upon the earth, living in caverns 

 and holes, and with constant exertion gathering up 

 a grain of corn to support a wretched existence? 

 Indeed! said the Ant, I pretend to none of these 

 fine things. Visiting the great, and partaking of 

 their festivals and sacrifices, might be entitled to 

 some consideration, were you invited; but you are 

 only an impudent intruder in such places. My 

 time, indeed, is spent differently: I lead a life of 



