as an intruder. You talk about kings and the kisses of matrons. While I am carefully heaping up a stock of grain for winter, I see you feeding on filth about the walls. You frequent the altars; yes, and are driven away as often as you come. You labour not; therefore it is that you have nothing when you stand in need of it. And, further, you boast about what modesty ought to conceal. You tease me in summer; when winter comes you are silent. While the cold is shrivelling you up and putting you to death, a well-stored abode harbours me. Surely I have now pulled down your pride enough."
The ant and the Fly
An Ant and a Fly were contending with great
warmth which was of the greater importance. The Fly was the first
to begin; "Can you possibly compare with my endowments? When
a sacrifice is made, I am the first to taste of the entrails that
belong to the Gods. I pass my time among the altars, I wander
through all the temples; soon as I have espied it, I seat myself
on the head of a king; and I taste of the chaste kisses of matrons.
I labour not, and yet enjoy the nicest of things. What like to
this, good rustic, falls to your lot?" "Eating with
the Gods," said the Ant, "is certainly a thing to be
boasted of; but by him who is invited, not him who is loathed
