Androclus and the Lion(1)

Androclus and the Lion (1)

In Rome there was a once a poor slave whose name was Androclus.

His master 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 to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he should die.

So one day he crept into the cave and lay down, and soon he was fast asleep.

After a while a great noise woke him up.

A lion had came into the cave, and was roaring loudly.

Androclus was very much afraid, for he felt sure that the beast would kill him.

Soon, however, he saw that the lion was not angry, but that he limped as though his foot hurt him.

Then Androclus grew so bold that he took hold of lion's lame paw to see what was the matter.

The lion stood quite still, and rubbed his head against the man's shoulder.
He seems to sayー"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 thorn in his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came.

The lion was fully of joy.
He jumped about like a dog, and licked the hands and feet of his new friend.

Androclus was not at all afraid after this.
And when night came, he and the lion lay down and slept side by side.

(つづく　1/2)