Once a lion was fast asleep when a little mouse ran up and down on him.

有一次，一隻獅子快睡著了，一隻小老鼠在他身上跑上跑下。

This awakened the lion.

這就喚醒了獅子。

He was angry and caught the mouse with his huge paw.

他很生氣，用他的大爪子抓住了老鼠。

Then he opened his big mouth to swallow him.

然後張開大嘴將他吞了下去。

"Please forgive me, O King of jungle”, cried the little mouse.

"叢林之王啊，請原諒我"，小老鼠哭著說。

" I shall never forget your kindness.

"我永遠不會忘記你的恩情。

I may be small but who knows, someday I may turn out to be some kind of help to you."

我也許很渺小，但誰知道呢，有一天我也許會變成對你的某種幫助。"

The lion laughed and took pity and set the mouse free.

獅子笑了，憐憫地放了老鼠。

A few days later, the lion got caught in a hunter's net.

幾天後，這隻獅子被獵人'的網給網住了。

He roared but in vain.

他咆哮著，卻徒勞無功。

The little mouse heard and ran towards the lion.

小老鼠聽到了，向獅子跑去。

Immediately the mouse started cutting the net with its tiny teeth.

老鼠立刻開始用它的小牙齒切割網。

Soon the lion was free and thanked the little mouse.

很快，獅子獲得了自由，並向小老鼠表示感謝。

Thereafter, they became friends.

此後，他們成了朋友。

Moral: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

寓意：患難見真情。