The Lion And The Mouse

狮子和老鼠

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws.

一只大头大脑的狮子在深林里趴着睡着了。

A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose.

此时，有一只老鼠意外地走到了狮子的身边，它很害怕，又急着赶紧溜掉，就从狮子的鼻子旁跑了过去。

Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

从小憩中醒来的狮子愤怒地用它那巨大的爪子摁住了这只小老鼠，想要了它小命。

"Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."

“放过我吧！”可怜的老鼠请求道。“如果您能高抬贵手，将来我一定会报答你的。”

The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

狮子被逗乐了，它很难相信一只小老鼠能帮得上自己忙。但是，慷慨仁慈的狮子还是放掉了老鼠。

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net.

过了些天，当狮子正在森林里追踪自己的猎物之时，不幸被某个猎人用网做的陷阱给困住了。

Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring.

不能自救的狮子，发出愤怒的咆哮声，响荡在整片森林。

The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net.

老鼠很熟悉这个声音，很快便发现了困于网中挣扎的狮子。

Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.

它立马跑到一条困住狮子的大网绳旁，用自己的牙齿咬啊咬，绳子一断，狮子便立刻重获自由。

"You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."

“我说过我会报答你的，你却还嘲笑我，”小老鼠说道。“现在你该明白了吧，即使是一只老鼠，也可以帮助一只狮子。”

A kindness is never wasted.

正所谓：善有善报。