106 THE LION. 



tors of this interesting scene supposed, was to bury him in its 

 voracious stomach. At the moment, however, when the people 

 expected to see the terrible creature open his tremendous jaws 

 to devour his victim, he, to every one's surprise, fell down at the 

 man's feet, and began to fawn upon him like a spaniel. Andro- 

 cles then recognised him to be the identical lion with which he 

 had lived so familiarly in Africa, which, having been unfortunate 

 like himself, had been taken, and carried to Rome for the public 

 shows. 



This happened in the reign of Caligula, and that emperor be- 

 ing informed of so extraordinary a circumstance, obliged the 

 cruel master to liberate the slave. By the emperor's order the 

 lion was also given to Androcles, who traversed the streets of 

 Home attended by his old friend. The lion would never leave 

 him ; but constantly accompanied him, and proved to the man a 

 source of wealth, by the emoluments which it procured him for 

 the gratification of public curiosity. 



A remarkable instance of recollection and grateful attach- 

 ment is related, by Mr. Hope, of a lion belonging to her grace 

 the Duchess of Hamilton: "One day," says our author, "I 

 had the honour of dining with the Duchess. After dinner, the 

 company attended her grace to see a lion fed, which she kept in 

 the court. While we were admiring his fierceness, and teasing 

 him with sticks, to make him abandon his prey, and fly at us, the 

 porter came and informed the Duchess, that a sergeant, with 

 some recruits at the gate, begged to see the lion. They were 

 accordingly admitted at the moment the lion was growling over 

 his prey. The sergeant, advancing to the cage, called l Nero, 

 Nero, poor Nero, don't you know me ?' The animal instantly 

 turned his head to look at him ; then left his prey, and came, 

 wagging his tail, to the side of the cage. The man put his hand 

 upon him and patted him ; telling us at the same time, it was 

 three years since they had seen each other; that the care of the 

 lion, on his passage from Gibraltar, had been committed to him, 

 and he was happy to see the poor beast show so much gratitude 

 for his attention." 



When the lion has become acquainted with human superiority, 

 his courage has been so degenerated, that he has even been 

 scared away with a shout ; and in a tame state, we have an in- 

 stance of one of these animals being overcome by a goat. Mr. 

 Bruce, commander-general of the Senegal company on the coast 

 of Africa, had near him a full-grown tarne lion, when a flock of 

 go;its was brought that had been just purchased. They were so 

 terrified at this enormous animal, that all of them ran off ex- 

 cept one; but he, looking stedfastly at the lion, stamped with his 

 foot upon the ground in a menacing attitude ; then retreated .three 



