Androclus and the Lion

by James Baldwin

　　In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. Hismaster was a cruel man, and so unkind to him that at last Androclus ran away.He hid himself in a wild wood for many days; but there was no food tobe found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he should die.So one day he crept into a cave and lay down, and soon he was fastasleep.After a while a great noise woke him up. A lion had come into thecave, and was roaring loudly. Androclus was very much afraid, for hefelt sure that the beast would kill him. Soon, however, he saw thatthe lion was not angry, but that he limped as though his foot hurthim.Then Androclus grew so bold that he took hold of the lion's lame pawto see what was the matter. The lion stood quite still, and rubbed hishead against the man's shoulder. He seemed to say,--"I know that you will help me."Androclus lifted the paw from the ground, and saw that it was a long,sharp thorn which hurt the lion so much. He took the end of the thornin his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came.The lion was full of joy. He jumped about like a dog, and licked thehands and feet of his new friend.Androclus was not at all afraid after this; and when night came, heand the lion lay down and slept side by side.For a long time, the lion brought food to Androclus every day; and thetwo became such good friends, that Androclus found his new life a veryhappy one.One day some soldiers who were passing through the wood foundAndroclus in the cave. They knew who he was, and so took him back toRome.It was the law at that time that every slave who ran away from hismaster should be made to fight a hungry lion. So a fierce lion wasshut up for a while without food, and a time was set for the fight.When the day came, thousands of people crowded to see the sport. Theywent to such places at that time very much as people now-a-days go tosee a circus show or a game of baseball.The door opened, and poor Androclus was brought in. He was almost deadwith fear, for the roars of the lion could already be heard. Helooked up, and saw that there was no pity in the thousands of facesaround him.Then the hungry lion rushed in. With a single bound he reached thepoor slave. Androclus gave a great cry, not of fear, but of gladness.It was his old friend, the lion of the cave.The people, who had expected to see the man killed by the lion, werefilled with wonder. They saw Androclus put his arms around the lion'sneck; they saw the lion lie down at his feet, and lick themlovingly; they saw the great beast rub his head against the slave'sface as though he wanted to be petted. They could not understandwhat it all meant.After a while they asked Androclus to tell them about it. So hestood up before them, and, with his arm around the lion's neck, toldhow he and the beast had lived together in the cave."I am a man," he said; "but no man has ever befriended me. This poorlion alone has been kind to me; and we love each other as brothers."The people were not so bad that they could be cruel to the poor slavenow. "Live and be free!" they cried. "Live and be free!"Others cried, "Let the lion go free too! Give both of them theirliberty!"And so Androclus was set free, and the lion was given to him for hisown. And they lived together in Rome for many years.