Not long after, traversing the forest in pursuit of his prey, he chanced to run into the toils of the hunters from whence, not able to disengage himself, he set up a most hideous and loud roar, The Mouse, hearing the voice, and knowing it to be the Lion’s, immediately repaired to the place, and bid him fear nothing, for that he was his friend. The Lion, considering the matter, thought proper to do as he was desired, and immediately released his little trembling prisoner. Upon which, starting up, he clapped his paw upon one of them, and was just going to put it to death, when the little suppliant implored his mercy in a very moving manner, begging him not to stain his noble character with the blood of so despicable and small a beast. It happened that, while he slept, a company of scrambling Mice ran over his back, and waked him. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”Ī LION, faint with heat, and weary with hunting was laid down to take his repose under the spreading boughs of a thick shady oak.
“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the Mouse. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter’s net. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go. The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. “Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you.” Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion’s nose.
A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws.