^7'i THE LlOA^. 



Lion, which the keepers, during three whole years^ 

 had not been able to tame, though all the art and 

 gentleness imaginable had been used. Sir George 

 no sooner appeared at the gates of the den, than the 

 Lion ran to him with all the marks of joy and trans-* 

 port he was capable of expressing. He reared him- 

 self up and licked his hand^ which this gentleman, 

 put in through the iron gratCi The keeper, af- 

 frighted, pulled him away by the arm, intreating 

 him liot to hazard his life by venturing so near the 

 liercest creature df his kind that had ever entered 

 those dens. Nothing, however, would satisfy Sir 

 George, but in spite of all the keeper said to him 

 he would go into the den. The instant he enter- 

 ed, the Lion threw his paws upon his should- 

 ers, licked his face, and ran about his den, fawn-s 

 ing, and as full of joy as a dog at the sight of his 

 master. After several salutations had been exchang- 

 ed, they parted very good friends. 



The rumour of this interview between the Lion 

 and the stranger, ran immediately through the city^ 

 and Sir George almost passed for a saint among the 

 people. The Grand-duke, as soon as he had heard 

 of it, sent for Sir George ; who going with his high- 

 .ness to the den, gave hini the following account of 

 what had seemed so strange. 



'^ A captain of a' ship from Barbary gave me 

 this Lion, when quite a whelp. I brought him 

 up tame ; but when I tliought him too large to be 

 suffered to run about the house, I built a den for 

 him in my court-yard : from that time he was never 

 permitted to be loose, except when brought into 



