STANDING before Gaius, the slave, who named himself Androcles, said he had fled into the Egyptian desert to escape his abusive master, and taken refuge from the baking sun in a cave. Almost at once, an enormous lion was framed in the opening; but instead of pouncing, the lion extended a quivering paw, in which a splinter had begun to go septic.

Androcles cleaned the wound, and a bond with the lion was formed. For three years they shared cave and meat, until one day Androcles stole quietly away. Just three days later he was captured, and shipped to Rome; evidently, the lion was snared soon afterwards.

When the crowd heard this story, they cheered so much that Androcles was pardoned. Thereafter, said Apion, Androcles would wander Rome’s markets with the lion on a slender leash, showered with flowers and presents. ‘There’s the lion that was a man’s best friend’ people would say, pointing; ‘that’s the man who was a lion’s nurse.’