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The Lion and The Mouse

Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him. This soon awakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon the Mouse and opened his big jaws to swallow him.

"Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse, "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: and I may be able to do you a favor in the future." The Lion was so taken at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he let him go.

Some time after, the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters tied him to a tree. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight of the Lion, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.

Townsend version

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 gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaimed: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; I now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."

L'Estrange version

Upon the roaring of a beast in the wood, a mouse ran presently out to see what news: and what was it, but a lion hamper'd in a net! This accident brought to her mind, how that she her self, but some few days before, had fall'n under the paw of a certain generous lion, that let her go again. Upon a strict enquiry into the matter, she found this to be that very lion; and so set her self presently to work upon the couplings of the net, gnaw'd the threds to pieces, and in gratitude deliver'd her preserver.

Without good nature, and gratitude, men had as good live in a wilderness as in a society. There is no subject so inconsiderable, but his Prince, at some time or other, may have occasion for him, and it holds through the whole scale of the creation, that the great and the little have need one of another.

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