Androcles

Androcles

There once was a slave named Androcles. Which is to say, he was a slave, but found a way to escape the chains which bound him to his life of servitude. As Androcles was escaping, he ran into a dense forest to hide from any would-be pursuers. Unbeknownst to him, the forest was the domain of a great lion. As Androcles traveled deeper into the great forest, he eventually came upon the lion. The large animal was lying beneath a tree, making a most terrible noise. At first, Androcles went to run away, but as he turned to give one last look, he realized that the noise coming from the lion was not some terrible threatening roar, but in fact a great moan of pain and anguish. The lion had gotten a thorn stuk in his paw, which was now swollen and bloody. For some reason, perhaps just the charitable nature of Androcles, or maybe that the thorn reminded him of the shackles that once kept him from moving freely, Androcles decided to help the lion. Androcles pulled the thorn from the Lion’s paw, and ripped a piece of fabric from his clothes and bandaged the wound. However, with the job at hand occupying Androcles’ attention, he had forgotten completely that he was in the process of escaping. Eventually, his former owner caught up to Androcles and the lion, and captured them both.
For his attempted escape, Androcles had been sentenced to be thrown to the very lion he had helped. So the lion was starved for days and days on end until he would devour friend and foe alike just to have something to eat. Androcles’ master invited all of the city to watch the event. Even the king came to bear witness. However, when Androcles was thrown to the lion, the lion did not eat him. Instead, he licked Androcles as old friends often do. The king, bewildered by the spectacle invited Androcles to come speak with him. The king listened intently to the story Androcles told of the lion and the thorn. Surprised by Androcles’ generosity, allowed Androcles to be set free, and promised him one favor, for all the trouble he had been put through.
“Name it and it shall be yours”, said the king.
“Release my friend”, Androcles replied.