The Lion and the Mouse

 

狮子和老鼠

 

A lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running over his face.

 

狮子躺在草地上睡觉，一只老鼠跑来，在它的身边绕来绕去，把它吵醒了。

 

Rising up in anger, he caught the mouse and was about to kill him

 

狮子很生气，一把抓住老鼠，打算把它杀死。

 

when the mouse piteously entreated, saying,

 

老鼠浑身发抖，结结巴巴地哀求:

 

"If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness"

 

"狮......子大王，求求你......放了我吧，日后......我一定会报答......你的。"

 

The lion laughed and let him go.

 

狮子觉得好笑，于是放了它。

 

It happened shortly after this that the lion was caught by some hunters,

 

几天后，狮子被猎人抓住，

 

who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.

 

被绳子绑着躺在地上动弹不得。

 

The mouse,recognizing his roar,came up,

 

老鼠听到它的吼叫声，悄悄地爬到狮子身上，

 

and gnawed the rope with his teeth,and set him free,and exclaimed,

 

用牙齿把绳子咬断救了它，并感叹道:

 

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you,

 

"你曾嘲笑过我，以为你我不能帮助你，

 

not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor;

 

也没想过有朝一日能得到回报，

 

but now you know

 

但现在你明白了

 

that it is possible for even a mouse to confer benefits on a lion."

 

即使是无用的小老鼠，也可能救狮子一命。"