Androclus and the Lion
Roman Folktale
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00145
A long time ago in the city of Rome, there lived a young slave named Androclus. He worked for a harsh master who treated him very poorly. Day after day, Androclus felt sad and tired, wondering if he’d ever be free. Finally, he decided he could not bear it any longer and ran away, escaping into the forest to find safety.
Androclus wandered in the wild woods for many days, but there was no food to eat. Eventually, he grew weak and tired, feeling he couldn’t take another step. One day, he found a small, cool cave hidden among the trees and decided to rest there. As soon as he lay down, he drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
But not long after, a loud noise woke him. A mighty lion had come into the cave and was roaring with pain. Androclus was frightened at first, certain the lion would attack him. But as he watched, he noticed something strange—the lion wasn’t angry. Instead, it seemed to be limping, holding one of its paws off the ground.
Androclus could see the lion was hurt, so he gathered his courage and slowly approached the animal. To his surprise, the lion sat calmly, looking at him as if to say, “I need help.” Gently, Androclus took the lion’s paw in his hands. There, he found a long, sharp thorn stuck deep in its soft pad. Very carefully, he pulled the thorn out. The lion immediately jumped up in joy, relieved of the pain. It pranced around the cave like a happy dog and even licked Androclus’s hands to thank him.
From that day on, the lion and Androclus became close friends. Each night, they slept side by side, keeping each other safe and warm. Every day, the lion would bring Androclus food from the forest, and together, they lived a peaceful, happy life.
One day, however, some soldiers passing through the forest found Androclus in the cave. They recognized him as a runaway slave and captured him, taking him back to Rome. The law in Rome was that any slave who ran away would be punished by having to face a fierce, hungry lion in the arena. So, Androclus was placed in a dark cell while the lion went without food for several days.
When the day of Androclus’s punishment arrived, thousands of people gathered to watch in a grand arena, just as people today go to watch sports games or shows. The arena doors opened, and Androclus was led inside. He was terrified as he heard the fierce lion roaring on the other side of the gate. Glancing around, he saw no kindness in the crowd, only excitement and curiosity.
The gate opened, and the lion leaped into the arena with a powerful roar, ready to attack. But as it got closer, Androclus’s fear turned to joy. The lion was his old friend from the cave! The crowd gasped as they watched Androclus embrace the lion, and the lion, in return, gently lay at his feet, licking his hands and rubbing its great head against Androclus’s shoulder.
The crowd was amazed. They had expected to see the lion attack, but instead, they saw a bond between the man and the beast that they could not understand. Curious and moved, the people asked Androclus to tell his story. Standing with his arm around the lion’s neck, he explained how they had become friends when he removed the thorn from the lion’s paw and how they had cared for each other in the forest.
“I am just a man,” Androclus said, “but no man has ever shown me kindness. Only this lion has been a true friend to me, and we care for each other like brothers.”
The people were so moved by Androclus’s story that they felt compassion for him. “Let him live in peace!” they shouted. “Set him free!” And soon, the crowd began to shout for the lion’s freedom as well. “Let the lion go free too! Give them both their liberty!”
And so, that day, Androclus was set free, and the lion was given to him as his companion. Together, they returned to Rome, where they lived happily for many years, grateful for the friendship that had saved them both.
Baldwin, James. “Fifty Famous Stories Retold.” Gutenberg.org, 2020, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18442/pg18442-images.html#ANDROCLUS_AND_THE_LION. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
