LXXVI. — ANDROCLES AND THE LION. TH HERE was a certain slave named Androcles,* who was so ill-treated by his master that his life became insupportable. Finding no remedy for what he suffered, he at length said to himself: "It is better to die than to continue to live in such hardships and misery as I am obliged to suffer. I am determined, therefore, to run away from my master. If I am taken again, I know that I shall be punished with a cruel death; but it is better to die at once than to live in misery. If I escape I must betake myself to deserts and woods inhabited only by wild beasts; but they cannot treat me more cruelly than I have been treated by my fellow-creatures; therefore, I will rather trust myself with them than continue to be a miserable slave." 2. Having formed this resolution, he took an opportunity of leaving his master's house, and hid himself in a thick forest at some miles' distance from the city. But here the unhappy man found that he had only escaped from one sort of misery to experience another. He wandered about all day through a vast and trackless wood, where his flesh was incessantly torn by thorns and brambles. He grew hungry, but could find no food in his dreary solitude. At length, he was ready to die with fatigue, and lay down in despair in a large cavern which he accidentally discovered. 3. He had not lain long quiet in the cavern, before he heard a dreadful noise, which seemed to be the roar of some wild beast, and alarmed him very much. He started up, with a design to escape, and had already reached the mouth of the cave, when he saw coming towards him a lion of prodigious size, who prevented any possibility of retreat. The terrified man now believed his destruction to be inevitable; but to his great astonishment, the beast advanced towards him with a gentle pace, without any * Pronounced An'dro-cleez. mark of enmity or rage, and uttered a mournful sound, as though demanding the assistance of the man. 4. Androcles, who was naturally brave, acquired courage from this circumstance, to examine the immense creature. He saw as the lion approached him, that he seemed to limp upon one of his legs, and that the foot was extremely swelled, as though it had been wounded. Acquiring still more fortitude from the gentle demeanor of the beast, he advanced up to him, and took hold of the wounded paw, as a surgeon would examine the hand of a patient. He then perceived that a thorn of uncommon size had penetrated the ball of the foot, and was the occasion of the swelling and lameness which he had noticed. 5. Androcles found that the beast, far from resenting his familiarity, received it with the utmost gentleness, and seemed by his actions to invite him to proceed. He therefore extracted the thorn, and, pressing the swelling, discharged a considerable quantity of matter, which had been the cause of so much pain and uneasiness. 6. As soon as the beast felt himself relieved, he began to testify his joy and gratitude by every expression within his power. He jumped about like a playful spaniel, wagged his enormous tail, and licked the feet and hands of his physician. Nor was he contented with these demonstrations of kindness. From this moment Androcles became his guest; nor did the lion ever sally forth in quest of prey without bringing home the produce of his chase, and sharing it with his friend. 7. In this savage state of hospitality did the man continue to live during several months. At length, wandering unguardedly through the woods, he met with a company of soldiers sent out to apprehend him, and was taken prisoner, and conducted back to his master. 8. The laws of that country being very severe against slaves, he was tried, and found guilty of having fled from his master; and as a punishment for this pretended crime, he was sentenced to be torn in pieces by a furious lion, kept many days without food, to inspire him with additional rage. 9. When the destined moment arrived, the unhappy man was exposed, in the midst of a spacious a'rea, enclosed on every side, around which many thousand people were assembled to view the mournful spectacle. 10. Presently a dreadful yell was heard, which struck the spectators with horror; and an immense lion rushed out of the den, which was purposely set open. The brute darted forward with erected mane and flaming eyes, and jaws that gaped like an open sepulchre. 11. A mournful silence instantly prevailed! All eyes were turned upon the destined victim, whose destruction now appeared inevitable. But the pity of the multitude was soon converted into astonishment when they beheld the lion, instead of destroying his defenceless prey, crouch submissively at his feet, fawn upon him as a faithful dog would fawn upon his master, and rejoice over him as a mother that unexpectedly recovers her offspring. 12. The governor of the town, who was present, then called out with a loud voice, and ordered Androcles to explain to them this mystery, and how a savage of the fiercest nature should thus in a moment have forgotten his innate disposition, and be converted into a harmless animal. 13. Androcles then related to the assembly every circumstance of his late adventures, and concluded by saying that the very lion which now stood before them had been his friend and entertainer in the woods. 14. All the persons present were astonished and delighted with the story, to find that even the fiercest beasts are capable of being softened by gratitude and moved by humanity; and they unanimously joined to entreat from the governor the pardon of the unhappy man. This was immediately granted; and Androcles was also presented with the lion, who had in this manner twice saved his life. Thomas Day. WH Unto his throne the Queen of Sheba came (So in the Talmud you may read the story), Drawn by the magic of the monarch's fame, To see the splendors of his court, and bring Some fitting.tribute to the mighty king. II. Nor this alone much had her Highness heard III. And straight she held before the monarch's view, Was newly culled from Nature's choicest bowers; The other, no less fair in every part, Was the rare product of divinest Art. IV. "Which is the true, and which the false?" she said. As one who sees a miracle, and fain, For very rapture, ne'er would speak again. V. "Which is the true?" once more the woman asked, But still the sage was silent; it was plain VI. While thus he pondered, presently he sees, A little band of busy, bustling bees, Hunting for honey in a withered rose. The monarch smiled, and raised his royal head; "Open the window!" - that was all he said. |