Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCCL

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCCCL.

A Bull and a Gnat.

A Gnat that had Planted himself upon the Horn of a Bull, very Civilly begg’d the Bull's Pardon for his Importunity; but rather then Incommode ye, says he, I'll Remove. Oh never Trouble your Head for that, says the Bull; for 'tis all One to me whether you go or stay. I never felt ye when you sat down, and I shall take as Little Notice of ye when you Rise.

The Moral.

The Vanity of this Fly, strikes at a Humour that we meet with every Day in the World, in a Hundred Trifling, Nonsensical People, that will be still making Themselves more Considerable then they are.

REFLEXION.

There are a Thousand Frivolous and Impertinent Pretensions of Civility that are struck at in this Fable; and they well deserve to be Corrected; for it is certainly one of the most Nauseous, Mawmish Mortifications under the Sun, for a Man of Sense and Bus'ness to have to do with a Punctual, Finical Fop, that’s too too Mannerly, and does every thing forsooth by Rule and Compass: Especially where his Quality, Relation, or Authority Entitles him to a Respect.