THE LION AND THE MOUSEA Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his face.
Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it.The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its life."Please let me go," it cried, "and one day I will repay you for your kindness."The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that he laughed aloud, and good-humouredly let it go.But the Mouse's chance came, after all.One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognised his roars of anger and ran to the spot.Without more ado it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free."There!"said the Mouse, "you laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can help a Lion.
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THE LION AND THE MOUSE
ライオンとマウス
A Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his face.
彼の隠れ家で眠っているライオンは、彼の顔の上を走っているネズミによって起こされました。
Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it.
彼は気性を失い、足でそれをつかみ、それを殺そうとしていた。
The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its life.
ネズミは恐怖に包まれながら、彼の命を救うようにと懇願しました。
"Please let me go," it cried, "and one day I will repay you for your kindness."
「行かせてください」と叫び、「いつか私はあなたの親切にあなたに返済します。」
The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that he laughed aloud, and good-humouredly let it go.
非常に重要ではない生き物が彼のために何かをすることができるという考えはライオンをとても面白がって、彼は声を出して笑い、そしてユーモラスにそれを手放しました。
But the Mouse’s chance came, after all.
しかし、結局のところ、マウスのチャンスが訪れました。
One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognised his roars of anger and ran to the spot.
ある日、ライオンはゲームのためにハンターによって広げられていたネットに巻き込まれ、ネズミは怒りの轟音を聞いて認識し、その場に走りました。
Without more ado it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free.
それ以上の手間をかけることなく、ロープを歯でかじるように働き、やがてライオンを解放することに成功しました。
"There!"
"そこ！"
said the Mouse, "you laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can help a Lion.
ネズミは言った、「私があなたに返済することを約束したとき、あなたは私を笑いました。
