The Lion and the Mouse

獅子和老鼠

A lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running over his face.

獅子躺在草地上睡覺，一隻老鼠跑來，在它的身邊繞來繞去，把它吵醒了。

Rising up in anger, he caught the mouse and was about to kill him

獅子很生氣，一把抓住老鼠，打算把它殺死。

when the mouse piteously entreated, saying,

老鼠渾身發抖，結結巴巴地哀求:

"If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness"

"獅......子大王，求求你......放了我吧，日後......我一定會報答......你的。"

The lion laughed and let him go.

獅子覺得好笑，於是放了它。

It happened shortly after this that the lion was caught by some hunters,

幾天後，獅子被獵人抓住，

who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.

被繩子綁著躺在地上動彈不得。

The mouse,recognizing his roar,came up,

老鼠聽到它的吼叫聲，悄悄地爬到獅子身上，

and gnawed the rope with his teeth,and set him free,and exclaimed,

用牙齒把繩子咬斷救了它，並感嘆道:

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you,

"你曾嘲笑過我，以為你我不能幫助你，

not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor;

也沒想過有朝一日能得到回報，

but now you know

但現在你明白了

that it is possible for even a mouse to confer benefits on a lion."

即使是無用的小老鼠，也可能救獅子一命。"

1. awakened

v.（使）醒( awaken的過去式和過去分詞 )；（使）覺醒；弄醒；（使）意識到

參考例句：

She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒來聽到鳥的叫聲。

The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation.

公眾完全意識到了這一狀況的可怕程度。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》

2. entreated

懇求，乞求( entreat的過去式和過去分詞 )

參考例句：

They entreated and threatened, but all this seemed of no avail.

他們時而懇求，時而威脅，但這一切看來都沒有用。

'One word,' the Doctor entreated. 'Will you tell me who denounced him?'

“還有一個問題，”醫生請求道，“你可否告訴我是誰告發他的？” 來自英漢文學 - 雙城記

3. gnawed

咬( gnaw的過去式和過去分詞 )； （長時間） 折磨某人； （使）苦惱； （長時間）危害某事物

參考例句：

His attitude towards her gnawed away at her confidence.

他對她的態度一直在削弱她的自尊心。

The root of this dead tree has been gnawed away by ants.

這棵死樹根被螞蟻唼了。

4. ridiculed

v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的過去式和過去分詞 )

參考例句：

Biosphere 2 was ultimately ridiculed as a research debade, as exfravagant pseudoscience.

生物圈2號最終被譏諷為科研上的大失敗，代價是昂貴的偽科學。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》

She ridiculed his insatiable greed.

她嘲笑他的貪得無厭。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》

5. repayment

n.償還，償還款；報酬

參考例句：

I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.

我有權利索取貨物損壞賠償金。

The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.

稅務局一直在催她補交稅款。

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