I 



THE LION. 



inhabited by man, the cafe alters ; there, become prudent by experience, 

 his natural boldnefs is abated, and fhunning the unequal combat, he feeks to 

 avoid thofe weapons, which his valour will not enable him to fubdue. 

 Thus the courage of the Lion feems much to depend on the heat of the places 

 he inhabits, and the degree of refinance he meets with ; and is fometimes fo 

 much fubdued, that even the crack of a whip (a), or a loud Ihout will fcare 

 him away ; and women, nay, even children, are fufneient to drive him from 

 the cattle he is about to attack. It is probable, from this evident alteration 

 in the difpolition of the Lion, that he is capable, in fome meafure, of receiving 

 the impreffions of education : he is certainly fenlible of carelTes, and will lick 

 his keeper's hand, and fuffer his tongue and mouth to be handled with 

 impunity ; he even bears chaftifement with grave compofure ; but, like 

 the Cat, his friendfhip is not to be depended on, and if his refentment 

 is once excited, the confequences are terrible. It appears, however, 

 from innumerable teliimonies, that his anger is noble, and his courage 

 magnanimous ; and fome inltances are recorded,, which prove him grateful ; 

 among others, the famous Itory of Androclus the Have, related by Aulus 

 Gellius. This man was compelled, by the feverity of his mailer, to efcape 

 by flight, and conceal himfelf in the defert parts of Africa. Scorched by the 

 burning heat of the fun, he took fhelter in a cave, which he met with ; he 

 had not remained there long, before a Lion entered the fame cave, moaning 

 and fhewing evident marks of diltrefs and pain; as foon as Androclus 

 had recovered a little from the terror excited by the appearance of the 

 tremendous animal, he obferved that the Lion was lame in one of his feet, 

 which he prefented to Androclus, feeming to entreat his alTiilance ; 

 encouraged by the gentle demeanour of the Lion, he ventured to examine 

 his foot, in which he found a very large thorn Ituck fail: ; this he prefently 

 extracted, and fqueezed out the blood and matter from the wound, to which 

 he applied proper remedies, and fhortly completed the cure. During, this 

 period, the Lion conftantly brought him the bell parts of the animals he 



(a) Sparrmari. 



