An Ass mocked a Lion who eventually decided to just let the Ass be himself and not give the Ass any further notice.
Don’t bother fighting with fools.
Aesop For Children
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.
The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.
Moral
Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them.
JBR Collection
A conceited Ass once had the impertinence to bray forth some contemptuous speeches against the Lion. The suddenness of the insult at first raised some emotions of wrath in his breast, but turning his head, and perceiving whence it came, they immediately subsided; and he vety sedately walked on, without deigning to honour the contemptible creature with even so much as a single word.
L’Estrange version
An asse was so hardy once, as to fall a mopping and braying at a Lyon. The lyon began at first to shew his teeth, and to stomack the affront; but upon second thoughts; well! (says he) jeer on, and be an asse still. Take notice only by the way, that ’tis the baseness of your character that has sav’d your carcass.
Moral
It is below the dignity of a great mind to entertain contests with people that have neither quality nor courage: beside the folly of contending with a miserable wretch, where the very competition is a scandal.
Heinrich Steinhöwel (Of the Lion and the Ass)
[Note: This fable is similar in nature to Perry #484 in which an Ass insults a Boar who then ignores the Ass as beneath contempt.]
Aper et Asinus Iocans
Asinus, occurrens apro, cachinnis illum iocose excepit, percontatus de moribus eius et parentibus et liberali educatione, inquiens praeterea se servulum sibi futurum et si quid foret quod illi in mandatis praeciperet. Cui torvus et iracundus aper ait, “Abi, insulsum animal! Nolo os contaminare colloquio tam vecordis beluae.”