Aesop

The Lion and the Mouse

Der Löwe und die Maus

A mouse wakes a sleeping lion by running across his nose, and begs for its life with a promise to repay the favor someday. The lion laughs at the idea, until he later finds himself helplessly tangled in a hunter's net.

B15 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

A lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little mouse came upon him by surprise, and in her fright and hurry to get away, she ran across the lion's nose.

Ein Löwe lag schlafend im Wald, seinen großen Kopf auf seine Pfoten gebettet. Eine ängstliche kleine Maus stieß überraschend auf ihn, und in ihrem Schrecken und ihrer Eile zu entkommen lief sie über die Nase des Löwen.

Woken from his nap, the lion angrily put his huge paw on the tiny creature to kill her.

Aus seinem Nickerchen geweckt, legte der Löwe wütend seine riesige Pfote auf das winzige Geschöpf, um es zu töten.

"Please spare me!" begged the poor mouse. "Let me go, and some day I'll pay you back, I promise."

„Bitte verschone mich!“, bettelte die arme Maus. „Lass mich frei, und eines Tages werde ich es dir vergelten, ich verspreche es.“

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

The Lion and the Mouse · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 197 words · ~5 min · Audio
Der Löwe und die Maus · GermanB1 Intermediate · 199 words · ~5 min · Audio
Το λιοντάρι και το ποντίκι · GreekB1 Intermediate · 199 words · ~5 min
El león y el ratón · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 197 words · ~5 min · Audio
Le Lion et la Souris · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 210 words · ~5 min · Audio
शेर और चुहिया · HindiB1 Intermediate · 235 words · ~5 min
Singa dan Tikus · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 183 words · ~5 min
Il leone e il topo · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 181 words · ~5 min
ライオンとネズミ · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
사자와 생쥐 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 134 words · ~5 min
De leeuw en de muis · DutchB1 Intermediate · 217 words · ~5 min
Lew i mysz · PolishB1 Intermediate · 161 words · ~5 min
O Leão e o Ratinho · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 194 words · ~5 min
Leul și șoarecele · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 190 words · ~5 min
Aslan ile Fare · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 140 words · ~5 min
Sư tử và Chuột nhắt · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 260 words · ~5 min
狮子与老鼠 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read The Lion and the Mouse in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

What level is it?

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 197 words: around 5 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Is it free?

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

The Lion and the Mouse

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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