Three Hundred Æsop's Fables/The Bald Man and the Fly

by attr. Æsop

 

THE BALD MAN AND THE FLY.

A Fly bit the bare head of a Bald Man, who, endeavouring to destroy it, gave himself a heavy slap. Then said the Fly mockingly, "You who have wished to revenge, even with death, the prick of a tiny insect, what will you do to yourself, who have added insult to injury?" The Bald Man replied, "I can easily make peace with myself, because I know there was no intention to hurt. But you, an ill-favoured and contemptible insect, who delight in sucking human blood. I wish that I could have killed you, even if I had incurred a heavier penalty."

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