Summary

The speaker begins by marveling at the sight of a small, terrified mouse. He tells the mouse he does not need to run, lest the speaker be forced to chase him. He apologizes for the fact that man’s dominion over animals has led to a rupture in their natural sense of fellowship, and that now the mouse has to feel fear of humans. Instead, he observes, humans and animals should recognize each other as fellow mortal beings. The speaker admits that, yes, sometimes mice have to steal. They may take a small amount of grain – one ear out of two dozen, perhaps – but that is a small request, and humans can thrive in spite of the loss. The speaker mourns for the loss of the mouse’s small nest, aware that winter is coming and the creature may starve or freeze without it...