ANDROCLES AND THE LIONAbout 2000 years age, a slave called An drocles(pronounced AN-dro-klees)lived in Rome. He was a small, kindly, timid man. He was very much afraid of his cruel master who whipped his slaves for even the smallest mistakes. Androcles was very unhappy working for such a master. One day, when he was travelling with his master in Africa, he decided to set himself free. He ran away.

Androcles ran into the thick forest where he knew nobody would follow him. He was barefooted and had only a short tunic to kneep himself warm. He had nothing to protect himself. Androcles ran, and ran, and ran. He was still running when it grew dark. He feel to the ground exhaustedd in a dark cave, and soon was fast asleep.

As the day was beginning to break, Andocles woke up when he heard a terryfying roar which echoed through the cave, making it shake as if there were an earthquake. Andocles nearly died of fear when he saw, in the opening of the cave, a huge lion, roaring and roaring.

The lion went on roaring without moving forward or backwards. Androcles expected to be eaten up at any moment, but then he noticed that the lion’s front paw was bleeding. ‘He has hurt himself. Perhaps he is roaring not at me, but because he is in pain, poor animal,’ Androcles told himself.

He began slowly and gently to move towards the lion to see what was making the paw bleed. He soon saw that a big wooden splinter was stuck in the lion’s paw, causing the poor animal great pain. Androcles began to talk to the lion very softly, as you would talk to a child in pain.

‘I shall try and help you,’ he said gently as he lifted the wounded paw. Very, very carefully, he pulled the splinter out. The lion seemed to understand that Androcles was helping him. When the splinter had come out, he gently licked Androcles’ face with his big wet tongue.

Androcles and the lion became good friends. They lived together, sharing everything. The lion went hunting for deer and rabbits, and Androcles taught himself to fish in the stream and lakes. He also picked berried from the bushes. Every evening the two friends shared their meal. The lion began to like berried, like Androcles, though he still preferred deer meat. Years later they were still living happily in the forest.

One day, when Androcles was alone near the cave, a Party of Roman soldiers, who were looking for runaway slaves, caught him and took him away with them. In those days runaway slaves, if they were caught, were thrown to the wild beasts in the circus.

Androcles was taken and chained up in a cell to wait for this cruel death. Watching fights between wild beast in the circus arena was one of the entertainments in ancient Rome. Sometimes two lions or bears were set to fight each other.

Sometimes an armed man fought a beast. Sometimes a man fought a beast only with his bare hands. To keep the beast well fed and strong, run away slaves were thrown to them.

At last the day came when Androcles was to be thrown to the lions. The excited Roman crowd, who enjoyed watching these cruel things, sat all round the circus arena to see the fun. There was a lot of shouting and laughing.

Androcles was driven into the arena through one gate, and through another gate rushed a huge lion, fierce and hungry. Androcles shut his eyes and knelt down to wait for his death. But suddenly the crowd stopped laughing and shouting and began watching in silence.

At first they could not believe their own eyes. The lion, instead of tearing Androcles to pieces, rushed up to him and began licking him all over and jumping about with joy, like a great dog. It was Androcles’ own lion, who was delighted to find his friend again.

The crowd went wild with joy. They thought Androcles must be a magician to be able to tame a hungry lion, and they demanded that he be set free. Androcles was called before the Emperor, who told him that he could go free and was no longer a slave.

The Emperor also said that Androcles could ask for whatever he wanted as well. ‘Ceaser,’ said Androcles, bowing deeply before the Emperor, ‘May my friend, the lion, go with me?’The Emperor ordered the lion to be set free, too.

All the people watched Androcles, with the lion beside him, walk away from the great market place of Rome, and leave the city. Together they went back to the forest, where they continued living happily for many years.

Get into your groups and discuss :•Slavery was one of the evils of ancient times. Agree/Disagree, Why?•What was one of the sources of entertainment in ancient Rome?•Do you think these custom should have continued? Yes/No, Why?•What does the story tell you about animal behavior?