ANDROCLES AND THE LION, 159 
a punishment for his pretended crime, he was 
sentenced to be torn in pieces by a furious lion, 
kept many days without food, to inspire him with 
additional rage. 
When the destined moment arrived, the un- 
happy man was exposed, unarmed, in the midst 
of a spacious area, enclosed on every side, round 
which many thousand people were assembled to 
riew the mournful spectacle. 
Presently a dreadful yellwas heard, whichstruck 
the spectators with horror; and a monstrous lion 
rushed out of a den, which was purposely set open, 
and darted forward with erectedmane, and laming 
eyes, and jaws that gaped like an open sepulchre. 
A mournful silence instantly prevailed. Alleyes 
were directly turned upon the destined victim, 
whose destruction now appeared inevitable. But 
the pity of the multitude was soon converted into 
astonishment when they beheld the lion, instead 
of destroying his defenceless prey, crouch submis- 
sively at his feet; fawın upon him as a faithful dog 
would do upon his master, and rejoice over him as 
a mother that unexpectedly recovers her offspring. 
The governor of the town, who was present, then 
called out with a loud voice, andordered Androcles 
to explain tothemthis unintelligible mystery; and 
how a savage of the fiercest and most unpitying 
nature should thus in a moment have forgotten 
his innate disposition, and be converted into a 
harmless and inoffensive animal. 
Androcles then related to the assembly every 
circumstance of his adventures in the woods; and 
soncluded by saying, that the very lion which 
now stood before them, had been his friend and