The Lion and the Mouse – Learn English with Fables

Here is another Aesop’s Fable for you to read in English. Read the whole thing without stopping to check words, then try the definitions quiz below.

A Lion was sleeping in the forest, with his huge head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse found him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion’s nose. Waking up from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

“Spare me!” begged the poor Mouse. “Please let me go and some day I will I will reward you.”

The Lion was very amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in a hunter’s net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that held the lion, she chewed it until it broke, and soon the Lion was free.

“You laughed when I said I would reward you,” said the Mouse. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”

A kindness is never wasted.

Adapted from: http://www.read.gov/aesop/007.html