Androcles and the Lion
Aesop | Greece
A slave named Androcles helps a lion in the forest, and later, the lion saves him from execution in the arena.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Androcles who was a slave. He decided to escape from his master and ended up lost in a big, dark forest. While he was walking through the forest, he found a lion lying on the ground. The lion was making sad noises because it was in pain.
When Androcles looked closer, he saw that there was a big thorn stuck in the lion's paw. Feeling sorry for the lion, Androcles carefully pulled out the thorn and took care of the lion's paw until it got better. The lion and Androcles became great friends and enjoyed spending time together in the forest.
But one day, soldiers found Androcles and took him back to his master. Because he had run away, Androcles was going to be punished by being thrown to the lions in a big arena where people watched.
On the day of the punishment, Androcles was put in the arena with a very hungry lion. But when the lion came closer, something amazing happened—it recognized Androcles! Instead of hurting him, the lion cuddled up to him like an old friend.
The emperor, who was watching, was very surprised and asked Androcles to tell him why the lion acted this way. After hearing the story of how Androcles helped the lion, the emperor was so moved that he let both Androcles and the lion go free.
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