EPTANDROCLES AND THE LION
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ANDROCLES shivered as another icy drop of water dripped on to his face. He looked up at the cave roof above his head. Androcles drew his cloak around his shoulders and wrapped his arms around his body trying to keep warm.
It was no use trying to sleep in this cave, he thought miserably. At least the soldiers who were out hunting for him would not find him here.
One thing he knew for certain --- his cruel master Publius Sirius would not be able to give him a beating today and then send him off, sore and aching, to do a day's hard labor in the fields. Androcles had hated his master ever since the day Publius bought him in the slave market in Rome.
Now inside the cave, Androcles thought over the plans he had made to get away from Italy. He would stay in the cave until it grew dark. The soldiers Publius had sent to catch him would not be looking for him at night. Then Androcles planned to leave the cave and make his way to the coast. There he hoped to find a boat and sail back home to Greece. As these thoughts crossed his mind he fell into a deep sleep.
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Androcles looked at the shafts of light coming into the cave. The sun seemed to be low in the sky now. It might be dark soon. He stepped outside to have a look at the sky.
Suddenly, as he was heading back into the cave, Androcles saw a lion. His skin prickled with fright. A low, growling roar was coming from the lion's throat. It was a powerful creature, with a flowing mane and a great swishing tail. There was something strange though. Surely the lion would have noticed Androcles by now?
However, the lion seemed to be more concerned with its front paw, which it was holding off the ground and licking from time to time. Every now and then, the lion gave a sort of whining howl, as if it was in pain.
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When Androcles looked at the paw, he saw why. It was very swollen and blackish in color. Obviously it gave the lion a great deal of pain. Androcles felt pity for the animal and wanted to help him, but it was a huge risk.
Androcles was very soft hearted. He loved animals and could not bear to see even a fierce lion suffering. He moved very cautiously towards the lion, who looked up at him with pleading eyes instead of the usual ferocious glare that lions have.
The lion gave a howl as Androcles touched its paw. For one terrible moment, Androcles thought the creature would attack him. But the lion looked sadly at him and the growl became a whine. Androcles carefully lifted the lion's front leg and examined his paw.
There was a large metal spike embedded in the lion's front paw. It was best to remove the spike immediately, he thought to himself. Androcles pulled and the lion let out a deafening roar.
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He went back to the cave to fetch some water from a puddle and ripped off part of his cloak to serve as a temporary bandage.
"That will protect it until it heals," he told the lion. "In a strange way," Androcles thought, "he seems to understand."
The lion, obviously feeling much better, got up and ran around and eventually disappeared behind a hill. What Androcles didn't know was that three soldiers were watching him the entire time. They had spotted him outside the cave and were waiting for the lion to leave before they could pounce on him.
One of the soldiers grabbed Androcles around the waist and threw him on the rocky ground. The other two held him down, while the soldier tied his wrists with rope. Androcles felt like crying. It was unjust, he thought to himself, that his act of kindness towards the lion had to end this way.
One of the soldiers gave Androcles a rough push. "Your master Publius Sirius wants to see you," he told Androcles. "He's got a very special punishment for runaway slaves."
"What is it?" Androcles cried out.
The soldiers laughed. "You'll see!" they sneered. "And when you do, you'll be sorry you ever thought of running away."
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Two weeks later, Androcles sat on the floor of a large underground cellar with his hands chained behind his back. All around him were other captives who were destined to suffer the same fate. From above their heads, they could hear the crowd chattering and laughing in their seats around the amphitheater. From the excitement in their voices it was clear the crowd expected good, blood thirsty sport. After all, it wasn't everyday that runaway slaves and hungry lions were put into the arena together. The Emperor himself was coming to watch the show.
This was certainly a special punishment as his master Publius had planned. "Only this time," Androcles thought grimly, "there is no hope of escape."
A few moments later, the bolts on the cellar door was unfastened and the door creaked open. A troop of soldiers marched in and started unchaining Androcles and the other slaves. Androcles felt a sharp push from behind and he stumbled forward, bruising his knee on the hard gravel and watching his blood stain his tunic. With the other slaves, he emerged into the brilliant sunshine that filled the arena. As the crowd spotted them, they let out a great yell of excitement.
There was a scraping sound from across the theater and the grille at the opposite end was lifted. At once, ten or twelve lions came bounding out and started racing across the sand to where the slaves stood, paralyzed with fear.
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The crowd laughed and applauded as the helpless slaves tried to run from the fast and hungry lions. Suddenly, Androcles saw a lion leap towards him. He tried to run as fast as he could but he was already tired and the lion was simply too fast and strong. Any moment now, he thought to himself, he would feel the lion's claws on his skin and its sharp fangs sinking into his flesh.
But nothing like that happened. Instead, to Androcles's amazement, the lion started licking the scratches on his arms and knees.The crowd saw what was happening, and their shouts of excitement turned to shouts of astonishment.
When the lion had finished licking Androcles's knee, it lay down next to him and put its paw across his chest, as if to protect him.
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Even the Emperor was on his feet, his mouth wide open with amazement. Rome had never witnessed anything like this in the Colosseum. Androcles put his hands up and turned the lion's face towards his own. "I know you," Androcles said. "And you haven't forgotten me."
The lion purred as Androcles lifted its paw and examined it. Sure enough, the lion had a bandage around its right paw made of the same material as the cloak that Androcles was wearing. This was the same lion that he had tended to in the cave. And now it was showing its gratitude. Not only had the lion not hurt Androcles, but it was growling fiercely at the other lions who were chasing and attacking the slaves.
The whole amphitheater was in uproar now. The Emperor ordered the animal keepers to drive the other lions back into the cellar. The slaves who were unharmed stood and wept with relief at their unexpected escape from death.
Androcles got to his feet and dusted the sand off his tunic. The lion sat meekly beside him, looking up at him with adoring eyes. Everyone in the crowd was clapping. Even the Emperor joined in, and a tremendous cheering broke out as Androcles walked around the ring with the lion following him like a faithful dog.
Emperor Tibius was so amused that he gave Androcles his freedom.
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"A man who can tame the wildest of beasts cannot be a slave," the Emperor declared.
Androcles was even more delighted when he let him keep the lion as his own. Afterwards, the two of them became well known in Rome. Wherever Androcles went, the lion went too. No one was afraid to meet them in the street, even when Androcles did not keep the lion on a leash. Their true friendship persisted for their whole lifetimes.
