THE LION AND MOUSE. 155

chanced that his majesty encountered a
mouse, dancing merrily over the ground.
The king paused, and observed the little
dancer with a grim smile of satisfaction. At
this the bear grumbled, and the monkey
sneered, for his majesty being in a warlike
humour, they thought it meet that everybody
else should be so too: but they were both
speedily silenced by the lion, who spoke as
follows :

« Why do you grumble at this pretty little
fellow? See how graceful his movements
are, and how cheerful is his countenance !
Remember that everything has its use, and
nothing is more useful than that which
makes us Cheerful, provided it is innocent.
Even we warriors have need of cheerful ex-
citement, for by this means we are better
fitted to discharge our solemn duties. Let
us not despise, then, even such sports and
trifles as come in our way; provided always
that they are as harmless as the frisks and
frolics of this little dancing-master of the
meadow; and provided, too, that we never
neglect business for pleasure.”