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Weekly Vitamins for the Soul -- January 22. 2005
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Yali Shi
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Jan 22, 2005 02:59 PST
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Weekly Vitamins for the Soul -- January 22. 2005
Androclus and the Lion
Retold by Casandra Lindell (based on a true story recorded in Noctes
Atticae Vol. XV by Aulus Gellius)
Heart racing, legs aching, he reached the forest. Androclus knew no
other safe place. He could survive there—find roots and berries, avoid
wild animals. He had few choices. He would be executed as a runaway
slave if caught.
He wondered how it would be, living in terror of discovery. Every pine
cone that fell softly to the mossy carpet beneath his feet was enough to
make him jump, jerking his head around so wide eyes could search for
soldiers.
He needed shelter. Rain was in the air, and it would soon be dark.
Through the trees, he saw an opening in the rocks. Thinking it might be
big enough to sleep in just for one night, Androclus veered toward it.
Suddenly he stopped. Lying to the right of the opening was a lion.
Instinct kicked in and Androclus ran, praying that the creature had
already eaten.
Hearing no sound of pursuit, he slowed and then stopped. Looking back,
he saw that the lion had not chased. In fact, its only movement had been
to roll its head to look at him—rather sorrowfully, Androclus thought.
Slowly, he retraced his steps. The lion was in pain. Androclus spoke
softly, stroking the lion’s mane and back gently as he searched for the
injury. Finally, he found it—a nasty gash on the lion’s hind leg that
had been bleeding for some time and showed no sign of stopping. The man
tore a piece of cloth from the hem of his tunic and cleaned the wound.
The lion shuddered and groaned. Finally, it slept.
Just then the clouds let go of their rain. Androclus crawled into the
cave and fell asleep immediately. It had been a long run from the city.
Minutes later, he awoke as the lion crawled into the cave next to him,
dragging its leg, and collapsed with a wheezing sigh.
The cave was large, and man and beast lived together for several weeks.
Androclus found a fresh spring not too far away. The two hunted and
gathered the food each needed.
One day, while scooping water from the stream, Androclus felt something
sharp press into his neck.
“Don’t move!” a gruff voice ordered. “There is quite a reward for the
life of a runaway slave, you know. Now, stand up slowly.”
Forced back to the city, Androclus thought of his friend the lion,
knowing they would never meet again. He was taken to stand before the
Emperor in court, and was there sentenced to death. Soldiers took him to
a stone cell in the halls under the arena until the time of execution.
Finally, they led him into the arena. The crowd spat its hatred. But
they began a thunderous cheer when a lion was loosed—a lion that had not
been fed for several days, a lion poked and prodded into fierce anger by
the soldiers. It roared when it saw the man, and bounded headlong toward
its prey.
Androclus knew he didn’t stand a chance. Still, his muscles tensed for
the fight, readied for pain. How different things had turned out when he
had befriended a lion in pain instead of one poked and prodded into
anger. He closed his eyes, waiting for the full weight of the animal,
steeling himself against the first slashing blows.
But then, instead of searing pain, Androclus felt the lion’s tongue wash
his face as it knocked him to the ground.
Androclus opened his eyes—face to face with his friend from the forest.
Instead of pouncing to kill, even after days of hunger and torment, the
lion he had once so gently cared for fawned over him like a friendly
dog.
The crowd was instantly silent, the Emperor stunned. He called Androclus
to him, and Androclus told his story.
“Both Androclus and his lion are hereby freed,” the Emperor announced.
“Such amazing kindness and gratitude between fierce enemies should be
greatly rewarded.”
* * *
Best Regards,
Shi Yali
http://www.sunshin.org
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