226 THE LION. 



and several others of his family, have not as much as a bone to 

 pick, and in vain do they roar for their supper. 



" You, ladies, you, whose gentle hearts do fear 



The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor, 

 May now, perchance, both quake and tremble here, 

 When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar." 



(Midsummer Night's Dream, Act V. Sc. 1.) 



The lion generally becomes attached to its keeper, and 

 recognises his very step and voice from that of any other 

 person. "Prince, a tame lion on board H. M.S. Ariadne, was 

 much attached to his keeper, a seaman, who, having got drunk 

 one day, was ordered to be flogged. The grating was rigged on 

 the main deck opposite Prince's den, a large barred-up place, 

 the pillars very strong, and cased with iron. When the keeper 

 began to strip, to undergo this disgusting and savage punish- 

 ment, the lion rose gloomily from his couch, and got as near to 

 his friend as possible. On beholding his bare back, he walked 

 hastily round the den j and when he saw the boatswain inflict the 

 first lash, his eyes sparkled with fire, and his sides resounded 

 with the strong and quick beating of his tail. At last, when the 

 blood began to flow down the poor fellow's back, and the clotted 

 cat-o'-nine-tails jerked its gory knots close to the lion's cage, 

 the animal's fury became tremendous ; he roared with a voice 

 of thunder, shook the strong bars as if they were osiers, but 

 finding his efforts to break them unavailing, he rolled and roared 

 in a manner so terrific,; that the captain, fearing the conse- 

 quences, ordered the unfortunate keeper to be cast off and to 

 enter the den. It is impossible to describe the joy evinced by 

 the lion. He licked with care the mangled and bleeding back 

 of his keeper, caressed him with his paws, and even folded them 

 around him as if to protect him from similar treatment ; and it 

 was only after several hours that the lion would allow the 

 keeper to return among those wretches who had so ill-used 

 him."* 



* Martin's History of the British Colonies, 1834. 



