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Androclus and the Lion

伊索寓言《安德鲁克里斯与狮子》

By James Baldwin – edited version

詹姆斯·鲍德温——编辑版

Androclus and the Lion

by James Baldwin

1. In Rome there w...

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Androclus and the Lion

伊索寓言《安德鲁克里斯与狮子》

By James Baldwin – edited version

詹姆斯·鲍德温——编辑版

Androclus and the Lion

by James Baldwin

1. In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. His master was a cruel man, and so unkind to him that Androclus ran away. He hid himself in a wild wood for many days; but there was no food to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he would die. So one day he crept into a cave and lay down to perish, and soon he was fast asleep.

2. After a while a great noise woke him up. A lion had come into the cave, and was roaring loudly. Androclus was very afraid, for he felt sure that the beast would kill him. Soon, however, he saw that the lion was not angry, but that he limped as though his foot hurt.

3. Then Androclus grew so bold that he started to examine the lion's lame paw to see what was the matter. The lion stood quite still, and rubbed his head against the man's shoulder. He seemed to say, --"I know that you will help me."

4. Androclus lifted the paw from the ground, and saw that it was a long, sharp thorn that hurt the lion so much. He took the end of the thorn between his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came. The lion was full of joy. He jumped about like a dog, and licked the hands and feet of his new friend.

5. Androclus was not at all afraid after this; and when night came, he and the lion lay down and slept side by side. Afterwards, for a long time, the lion brought food to Androclus every day; and the two became such good friends, that Androclus found his new life a very happy one.

6. One day some soldiers who were passing through the woods found Androclus in the cave. They knew who he was, and took him back to Rome. It was the law at that time that every slave who ran away from his master should be made into a gladiator, and fight a hungry lion. For each of these occasions, a fierce lion was locked up for a while without food, and a time was set for the fight.

7. When the day came, thousands of people crowded in the arena to see the spectacle. They went to such places at that time as often as people nowadays go to see a circus show or a game of baseball. The door opened, and poor Androclus was brought in. He was almost dead with fear, for the roars of the lion could already be heard. He looked up to face the audience, and saw that there was no pity in the thousands of faces staring at him.

8. Then the hungry lion rushed in. With a single jump he reached the poor slave. Androclus gave a great cry, but… not of fear, but of gladness. It was his old friend, the lion from the cave. The people, who had expected to see the man killed by the lion, were filled with wonder. They saw Androclus put his arms around the lion's neck; they saw the lion lie down at his feet, and lick them lovingly; they saw the great beast rub his head against the slave's face as though he wanted to be petted. They could not understand what it all meant.

9. After a while they asked Androclus to tell them about it. So he stood up before them, and, with his arm around the lion's neck, told how he and the beast had lived together in the cave. "I am a man," he said; "but no man has ever befriended me. This poor lion only has been kind to me; and we love each other as brothers." The people were not so bad that they could be cruel to the poor slave now. "Live and be free!" they cried. "Live and be free!" Others cried; "Let the lion go free too! Give both of them their liberty!" And so Androclus was set free, and the lion was given to him. And they lived together in Rome for many years.

New Words

1. Aesop (name)

2. Slave (noun)

3. Master (noun)

4. Cruel (adj.)

5. Wild (adj.)

6. Wood (noun, same as forest)

7. Crept (verb, from: to crawl)

8. Cave (noun)

9. To perish (verb)

10. Fast asleep (phrasal verb, from: to be fast asleep)

11. Roaring (verb, from: to roar)

12. Beast (noun)

13. Limped (verb, from: to limp)

14. As though (expression)

15. Bold (adj.)

16. Examine (verb)

17. Lame (adj.)

18. Paw (noun)

19. Matter (noun)

20. Rubbed (verb, from: to rub)

21. Thorn (noun)

22. Jumped about (phrasal verb)

23. Side by side (expression)

24. Found (verb, from: to find)

25. Soldiers (noun)

26. Gladiator (noun)

27. Occasions (noun)

28. Fierce (adj.)

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