Our "Aesop's Fable" of the Month

Androcles and the Lion

Once there was a slave named Androcles who was cruelly treated by his master. When the opportunity came he escaped to the forest. In his wanderings he came upon a lion. His first instinct was to turn about and flee. Then he noticed that the lion seemed to be in great distress and was moaning and whimpering piteously.

As the slave came near, the lion put out his paw, which was swollen and bleeding. A large thorn and had penetrated one of the lion�s toes, and this was the cause of all the animal�s discomfort. Quickly Androcles pulled out the thorn and bound up the wounded paw. To show his gratitude the lion licked the man's hand like a dog, and then he led him to his cave for shelter. Every day, after his wound had healed, he would go hunting in the forest and return with fresh meat for his master's refreshment.

But one day, when Androcles and the lion went out together, they were both captured and taken to the city to be used in the circus. The slave was to be thrown to the lion, after the animal had been kept without food for several days to make him more ferocious.

The Emperor and all his court came to the arena to view the spectacle. The despairing slave was unchained and led out into the amphitheatre before the Emperor's box. Then the lion was let loose, and rushed bounding and roaring toward his victim. But as soon as he came near Androcles he recognized his friend. To the surprise of the audience, the lion seemed to fawn upon the slave whom they had expected to see torn to shreds by the savage beast. Pleased by this unusual spectacle the Emperor summoned Androcles to him, and the slave told him the whole story. Thereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the lion set loose to return to his native forest.

-Aesop

Moral: Gratitude is a quality not limited to man.