A long time ago, a lion lived in the desert. He was so strong that he could find no one stronger than himself. When he was hungry, he would hunt whatever came into his path. When he was full, he would roam about, looking for a nice spot in the shade.
One day, he came across a panther lying under a tree, injured and with a scratched coat.
‘What has happened to you?’ asked the lion.
‘I have met a human,’ sighed the panther.
‘A human? What is that?’ the lion wanted to know.
‘The human is the most dangerous creature in the world,’ replied the panther. “Beware of him!”
“What harm could this human do to me?” laughed the lion. “I am stronger than all the others!” And he walked away proudly.
Then he came across two donkeys pulling a heavy cart and panting with exertion.
“What are you doing there, and why are you putting yourselves through such torment?” the lion asked.
“That’s the man. He has harnessed us to the heavy cart. We wanted to run away, but we can’t free ourselves. He will surely catch us again soon.”
“Is the man bigger and stronger than you?” the lion asked.
“He’s cunning like no one else. Beware of him, or you’ll come to a bad end!”
The lion shook his head and said: “I cannot believe that his cunning is greater than my strength!” Then he ran off.
A short while later, he met another lion. This one was whimpering and gasping, for his front paw was trapped in a tree and he was trying in vain to free himself.
“Who did this?”
“It was the man,” said the injured lion. “Beware of him, or you will end up like me. He lured me to this tree, split it open and made me place my front paw into the wood. But then he let go, and now my paw is trapped in the wood and I must die here!”
“Just you wait, that man shall pay for this!” roared the lion. “When I see him, he shall pay with his life for what he has done to you and the other animals!” roared the lion, and set off furiously in search of the man.
Meanwhile, he had grown hungry. When a mouse crossed his path, he seized it and was about to eat it.
“Spare my life, mighty lion,” begged the mouse. “I am far too small to satisfy your hunger. But if you spare my life, I will help you if you are ever in need.”
The lion laughed and said: “You are right, you are so small it is not worth the trouble. I have important things to do. I am searching for the man to punish him.”
“Think of me if you need help!” squeaked the mouse, and then she scampered away.
The lion carried on. In his rage and pride, he did not see the trap a man had set. No sooner had he stepped on it than a net fell down and he was caught. All his hissing and roaring was to no avail; he could not free himself.  But the mouse had heard his desperate roar. Before long, she came running up and said: “You see, you can need my help this quickly.”
She began to gnaw at the ropes and cords until finally a hole appeared in the net and the lion was able to wriggle free. He said: “I have learnt one thing now: the greatest strength of humans is their cunning, and even the smallest animal can be of help to him.”
Then he let the mouse climb into his mighty mane and together they went on their way.

Fassung Fassung D. Jaenike, nach versch. Fassungen z.B.  H. Wuessing, Altägyptische Märchen, Frankfurt © Mutabor Verlag, Übersetzung ins Englische: Lysander Jaenike