นิทานภาษาอังกฤษ

A slave named Androcles

once escaped from his master and fled to the forest.

As he was wandering about there

he came upon a lion lying down moaning and groaning.

At first he turned to flee,

but finding that the lion did not pursue him,

he turned back and went up to him.

As he come near,

the lion put out his paw,

which was all swollen and bleeding

and found that a huge thorn had got into it,

and was causing all the pain.

He pulled out the torn

and bound up the paw of the lion,

who was soon able to rise

and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog.

Then the lion took Androcles to his cave,

and every day used to bring him meat from which to live

But shortly afterwards

both Androcles and the lion were captured.

and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the lion,

after the latter had been kept without food for several days.

The Emperor and all his court

came to see the spectacle,

and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena.

Soon the lion was let loose from his den

and rushed bounding and roaring toward its victim

But as soon as he come near to Androcles

he recognized his friend,

and fawned upon him,

and licked his hands like a friendly dog,

The Emperor, surprised at his,

summoned Androcles to him,

who told him the whole story.

Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed,

and the lion let loose to his native forest.