Lion was awakened1 from sleep by a mouse running over his face.

　　Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the mouse piteously entreated2, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The lion laughed and let him go.

　　It happened shortly after this that the lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.

　　The mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed3 the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: "You ridiculed4 the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment5 of your favour; but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a lion."

　　Little friends may prove great friends.

　　一只老鼠從一只獅子面前跑過去，將它從夢(mèng)中吵醒。

　　獅子生氣地跳起來，捉住老鼠，要弄死它。老鼠哀求說：“只要你肯饒恕我這條小生命，我將來一定會(huì)報(bào)答你的大恩。”獅子便笑著放了它。

　　后來獅子被幾個(gè)獵人捉住，用粗繩捆綁倒在地上。

　　老鼠聽出是獅子的吼聲，走來用牙齒咬斷繩索，釋放了牠，并大聲說：“你當(dāng)時(shí)嘲笑我想幫你的忙，而且也不指望我有什么機(jī)會(huì)報(bào)答。但是你現(xiàn)在知道了，就算是小老鼠，也能向獅子效勞的。”

　　強(qiáng)者不會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)是強(qiáng)者，強(qiáng)者也會(huì)有需要弱者幫助的時(shí)候。