第4章 The Lion And The Mouse 狮子和老鼠

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, 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 and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."

有一次，狮子正在美美地睡大觉，这时一只老鼠偏偏在它的脸上爬了过去。狮子被弄醒后一把抓住老鼠，就要把它吞下肚去。老鼠苦苦哀求狮子饶命，并且许诺今后一定报答它。狮子觉得非常可笑，不过还是把老鼠放了。谁知不久之后，老鼠就有了报恩的机会。原来，有几个猎人抓住了狮子，并用绳子紧紧地把它绑在树上。听到狮子的呻吟声，老鼠就马上赶来，用自己的牙齿咬断了绳子，救出了狮子。老鼠对狮子说：“当初我说要报答你的时候，你还不屑一顾，取笑我。现在你应该明白了吧，连一只小小的老鼠也是懂得，并且有能力知恩图报的。”