The lion and the mouse

"The Lion and the Rat" is a classic fable attributed to Aesop. In the story, a mighty lion spares the life of a small rat that he had captured. Later, the lion is trapped in a hunter's net and roars for help. The rat hears his cries, remembers the lion's previous kindness, and gnaws through the ropes to free him. The tale illustrates the moral that even the smallest creatures can be of help and that kindness is always repaid.