The Literal Translation (see below for a more free--and lively--translation). Translated by Audacia (Kelley Allen), Honora (Janet Aquilio), Laura (Laura Cerva), and Tonans (Nicole Totans)
The cold forest is pleasing to the sleeping lion. A group of mice, ready to play, run to and fro here. The lion, touched by the mouse, captures the mouse. That mouse begs; that mouse weighs out his entreaty; he humbly petitions the anger with a prayer. Nevertheless, he begins these words with courage before the lion can eat him: "What praise will you get by a killed mouse? It causes shame for the highest to conquer the small. If a lion should consider a mouse worthy of death, will not shame begin to be for the lion and honor for the mouse? If the highest should conquer the smallest, to conquer this way is to be conquered. It is fitting to be able to conquer; to conquer has crime. If it should be an honor to devour, if it should be praise to conquer thus, this praise and honor will become less from this smallest enemy. The victory will depend upon the value of the conquered. The victor will be as great as the glory of the conquered was."
The mouse leaves, and delivers thanks; he promises help if it was possible to repay the help. The small delay becomes a single day. For the lion plunges into a net, and to use his strength does not benefit the lion, but to speak about his injuries with complaining moans benefits him. The mouse returns, he finds the lion, he sees the circumstances, he gnaws the chains. With this help the mouse repays the help of the lion. Thus the lion, safe, leaves. The skill of the smallest tooth was able to do so great a thing. The lion, in giving kindness to the mouse, gave himself back to himself.
You who are able to do the highest things, do not despise one who is able to do small things. For someone can be useful even if he is unable to harm.
The Way We Would Tell the Tale
The sleeping lion enjoys the cold depths of the forest. A group of mice scatter about, playing. One mouse accidently awakens the lion, who captures the little fellow. The tiny mouse, being a philosopher, humbly begs the lion for his life. Using agile rhetoric, the mouse cross-examines the lion: "What praise will you earn by killing a wee mouse? It is disgraceful for the highest to conquer the small. Plus, if a lion considers a mouse worthy to die by his fierce claws, shame will fall upon the lion, while the mouse will die honorably, since victory depends upon the value of the conquered. If you let me go, your glory will be even greater."
The lion ponders and decides to let the mouse go. The mouse skitter-scatters away, thanking the lion and promising to repay him one day. The next day, the lion is trapped in a hunter's net. After he fails to break through the net, he resorts to crying for help. It just so happens that the mouse returns and finds the lion. Keeping true to his promise, the mouse gnaws through the hunter's net, thus proving that even the smallest is able to do great things. The lion and mouse become great friends.
You who are able to do the highest of actions, do not disregard those who are less powerful, for they can be useful when you least expect it!