Androcles is a runaway slave hiding in the forest when he hears a deep moaning among the trees. It comes from a lion lying on the ground, and when Androcles runs, the lion does not come after him.
There was once a slave named Androcles who ran away from his master. He fled into the forest and hid there among the trees, far from anyone who might find him.
One day, as he wandered through the forest, he heard a deep moaning and groaning. A lion lay on the ground in front of him. Androcles turned and ran. But the lion did not come after him, and before long Androcles stopped, turned around, and walked slowly back.
As he came near, the lion held out one of his front paws. It was swollen and bleeding, and when Androcles looked closely, he saw why: a huge thorn was stuck deep in it.
Androcles took hold of the thorn and pulled it out. Then he bound up the paw. Soon the lion was able to get to his feet, and he licked Androcles’s hand, just as a dog would.
After that the lion led Androcles to his cave. Every day the lion went out and brought back meat, so the runaway always had something to eat.
Not long afterward, though, Androcles and the lion were both captured. The slave was sentenced to be thrown to the lion in the arena. First, the lion was kept for several days without any food at all.
On the day of the spectacle, the emperor came with his whole court to watch. Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena and left there by himself.
Soon the lion was let out of his den. Bounding and roaring, he rushed straight at the man standing alone on the open ground.
But as soon as the lion came close to Androcles, the beast recognized his friend. He stopped roaring, crouched low, rubbed against him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog.
The emperor could hardly believe his eyes. He sent for Androcles, who told him the whole story: the forest, the thorn, the cave, and the meat the lion had brought him every day.
So the slave was pardoned and set free. The lion was set free too, and he went back to his own forest, where he had always lived.
Retold by Talerie from The Fables of Aesop (opens in a new window) Public domain Copy this text, adapt it, use it however you like. A link back to Talerie is appreciated but never required. CC0 1.0 (opens in a new window)