Lion and the Mouse
狮子和老鼠
When a lion was asleep,a little mouse began running up and down beside him.This soon wakened the lion.He was very angry,and caught the mouse in his paws ①.
“Forgive ② me,please,” cried the little mouse.“I may be able to help you some day.”
The lion was amused ③ at these words.He thought,“How could this little mouse help me?” However,he lifted up his paws and let him go.
A few days later,the lion was caught in a trap ④.The hunters wanted to take him alive to the king,so they tied him to a tree,and went away to look for a wagon ⑤.
Just then the little mouse passed by,and saw the sad lion.The little mouse went up to him,and soon gnawed ⑥ away the ropes.“Though I’m small,I can help you,too,” said the little mouse.
狮子睡着了,有只老鼠在他的身边爬上爬下,很快吵醒了狮子,狮子很生气,一把抓住了老鼠.
“饶了我吧,”老鼠请求说,“也许有一天我能帮上你的忙呢.”狮子觉得很好笑.他想：“这只小老鼠 怎么能帮上我的忙?”但他还是抬起爪子放他走了.
不久,狮子被陷阱困住了.猎人们想将狮子活捉献给国王,就把他捆在一棵大树上,然后去找马车.
这时,老鼠路过这里,看到了绝望中的狮子.他走过去,很快啃断了绳索,说：“我虽小,可是我也能帮上你的忙.”
【注释】 ① paw n.手掌,爪子 ② forgive v.原谅,宽恕 ③ amuse v.逗乐 ④ was caught in a trap 被陷阱困住 ⑤ wagon n.四轮马车,货车 ⑥ gnaw 咬,啃
【寓意】 有些朋友也许平时看似微不足道,但却有可能在我们身处困境的时候提供巨大的帮助.