It all began in the old days at Rome. It was known that a slave named Androcles escaped from his master and fled into the forest. He wandered there for a long time until he was weary and well nigh spent with hunger and despair. Just then, he heard a lion near him moaning and groaning and at time it roared terribly. Tired as he was Androcles rose up and rushed away.

As the lion made his way through the bushes, he stumbled over the root of a tree and fell down lamed.

Androcles tried to get up and saw the lion was coming toward him. However, it was limping on three feet and held its forepaw in front of Androcles.

Poor Androcles was in despair; he had not any strength to rise and run away. The lion was coming upon him. However, when the king of beasts came up to him instead of attacking Androcles, it kept moaning and groaning and looking at the human. Androcles realized that the lion was holding out its right paw, which was covered with blood and was much swollen.

As Androcles took a closer look, he saw a great big thorn pressed within the lions paw. That is what was causing the lion trouble. Androcles plucked all his courage and seized hold of the thorn and drew it out of the lion’s paw. The poor beast roared with pain when the thorn came out, but soon after found such relief that he fawned upon Androcles. Instead of eating Androcles, he brought him a young deer that he had slain. Androcles managed to make a meal from it. For some time, the lion continued to bring the game he had killed to Androcles, who became quite fond of the magnificent beast.

One day, a group of soldiers marched through the forest. They found Androcles. They took him as a prisoner and brought him back to the town from which he had fled. His master soon found him and brought him before the authorities. He was condemned to death because he had fled from his master.

It used to be a custom in those days to throw murderers and criminals to the lions in a huge circus, so that while the criminals were punished the public could enjoy the spectacle of a combat between them and the wild beasts.

Androcles was condemned to be thrown to the lions. On the appointed day, he was led forth within the Arena and left there alone with only a spear to protect him from the lion. The Emperor was in the royal box that day. He gave the signal for the lion to come out and attack. However, it was like a miracle happened. Once the lion came out of its cage and got near Androcles, what do you think it did? Instead of jumping upon him , it fawned upon him and stroked him with its paw and made no attempt to do any harm.

It was revealed to be the lion which Androcles had met in the forest. The Emperor, surprised at seeing such a strange behavior in so cruel a beast, summoned Androcles to him and asked him how it happened that this particular lion had lost all its cruelty of disposition. Androcles told the Emperor all that had happened to him and how the lion was showing its gratitude for his having relieved it of the thorn. Thereupon the Emperor pardoned Androcles and ordered his master to set him free, while the lion was taken back within the forest and let loose to liberty once more.

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