T-HE LIO^. 165 



re had his appetite feilly satisfied previously 

 to their appearance, and at that moment been too in- 

 dolent to attempt to injure them. His retiring at the 

 relation of their story, was, no doubt, to suit his own 

 convenience only thus interrupted as he was by the 

 wanderers. 



Of the generosity of the lion many instances stand 

 on record. Every scholar is acquainted with the story" 

 of Androcles, the Roman slave, who, being ill-treated 

 by his master, the proconsul of Africa, escaped into 

 (he desert, where, exhausted with hunger and fatigue, 

 lie took up his lodging in a cavern, which, contrary" 

 to his expectation, proved to be a lion's den. He had 

 not remained long before an enormous lion entered. 

 Androcles found it impossible to escape, and gave 

 himself up for lost. The lion approached him, but 

 instead of devouring him, held up his foot, which was 

 wounded and bloody, and made a growling complaint 

 as if he craved the man's help. Androcles, consider- 

 ing that nothing could add to the danger of his situa- 

 tion, with a courage that despair excited, and un- 

 doubtedly with a trembling hand, laid hold of the 

 lion's foot, and drew out a large thorn which had been 

 the cause of his pain. The beast, finding himself 

 much eased, caressed the man who had rendered him 

 this service, then laid down and slept beside him. 

 The next night the lion went out asjain, found some 

 prey, brought it home and laid it at the feet of his be- 

 nefactor. A perfect familiarity commenced between 

 Androcles and the lion, and in this manner they lived 

 three years. 



At the expiration of this period, the sluve knowing 

 that the term of his master's proronsulship in Africa 

 was expired, and supposing that he himself was for- 

 gotten, left the dt: u in the lion's absence, and made 

 his way to the Roman colony; but being unfortu- 

 nately recognized for a run-away slave, he was taken 

 and sent to Rome to his master. JJy the Roman lav, s 

 the master was invested with absolute power over h^ 

 slaves, and this unfeeling barbarian ordered Andro 

 cles to be thrown to the wild beasts in the a 





