老鼠和獅子

張景輝

[英語原文]

Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up in anger， he caught him and was about to kill him， when the Mouse piteously entreated， saying： "If you would only spare my life， I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go。

It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters， who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse， recognizing his roar， came up， and gnawed the rope with his teeth， and setting him free， exclaimed： "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you， not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour； but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."

[漢語翻譯]

一只老鼠從一只獅子面前跑過去，將它從夢中吵醒。獅子生氣地跳起來，捉住老鼠，要弄死它。老鼠哀求說：“只要你肯饒恕我這條小生命，我將來一定會報答你的大恩。”獅子笑著放了它。

后來獅子被幾個獵人捉住，用粗繩捆綁倒在地上。老鼠聽出是獅子的吼聲，走來用牙齒咬斷繩索，釋放了它，并大聲說：“你當時嘲笑我想幫你的忙，而且也不指望我有什么機會報答你。但是你現在知道了，就算是小老鼠也能向獅子效勞。”

[思考版]

老鼠和獅子，一個體型小，一個體型龐大；一個弱小，一個強大。兩者的實力相差太懸殊了，沒有可比性。然而，在關鍵時刻，老鼠竟然救了獅子，這正應驗了“人不可貌相，海水不可斗量”這句俗語。

（大 龍）