a lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running over his face.  rising up angrily, 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 st ropes to the ground.  the mouse,  ognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim "you ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; i now you know that it is possible for even a mouse to con benefits on a lion."