Androcles and the Lion

**Androcles and the Lion** is a story told in the Adventures from the Book of Virtues episode Compassion. It is based on the Greek folk tale of the same name.

## Plot

Androcles is a slave in the days of the Roman empire who is under the employment of a cruel slave master. Androcles is shown making a shadow puppet on the wall when he should be working, only for his master to stop this foolishness, before snapping his whip at Androcles. That night, Androcles decides to escape, as he removes some bricks from the wall, but quickly hides to avoid being spotted by some passing guards. After the guards have left, Androcles is about to climb through the hole in the wall, when another slave asks Androcles if he's mad, telling him that if he's caught escaping, they'll feed him to the lions. Androcles counters back that it's better to be a lion's lunch than to live under the whip, before bidding farewell to the other slave as he climbs through the hole. The next morning, the other slaves are still working, while the lead guard tells the Slave Master that they searched everywhere for Androcles, but he has vanished. The Slave Master tells the guards that if Androcles isn't in Rome, then he's gone to the forest and for them to find him, which the guards proceed to carry out.

In the forest, Androcles is hiding in some bushes, just as the guards approach while using their swords to slash through some bushes. Androcles runs deeper through the forest, but hides behind more bushes when the guards show up again. This time, Androcles is able to evade the guards before running towards a nearby cave. Upon entering the cave, Androcles ends up tripping on a stalagmite, which trips him, before a lion emerges from deep within the cave. However, the lion is limping before licking his paw, which hurts really bad. Upon seeing that the lion is not doing anything, Androcles faces the lion before asking him if he's in pain. Androcles then asks to see the lion's paw, before the lion slumps to the ground as Androcles walks up to him. Upon looking at the lion's paw, Androcles sees that the lion has a thorn stuck in his paw, before removing the thorn. However, just as soon as Androcles has removed the thorn, the guards then enter the cave, which causes Androcles to realize that he's trapped. When the guards walk deeper within the cave, they are unable to find Androcles, due to the fact that he and the lion are hiding within the darkness of the stalagmites and stalactites of the cave. Because of this, the guards leave in anger over their failure to locate Androcles. After the guards have left, Androcles thanks the lion for helping him, while the lion licks Androcles in gratitude. So because of that, Androcles lived with the lion for many months and that they became fast friends. Meanwhile, the Slave Master is angry with the guards for failing to find Androcles as well as the fact that all of Rome is laughing at him. The lead guard informs the Slave Master that Androcles is hiding somewhere in a cave but when he comes out, they'll seize him, and that the Slave Master will be the one laughing, laughing as the lion tears Androcles apart.

Meanwhile, Androcles is taking a walk through the forest, when the guards suddenly ambush him and put him in handcuffs, while the lead guard tells Androcles to save his strength for the lions because Caesar and his master will want a good show. Soon, Androcles has been brought to the stadium and put in a cage, waiting to be fed to the lions. The lead guard then comes up to the cage and opens it while telling Androcles that he's next. Meanwhile, the Slave Master approaches Caesar and hails him, while telling him that he can't express the honor of being his guest. Caesar then beckons for the Slave Master to sit down because he almost missed the main event. Caesar then announces for Androcles to be brought out, along with the lion. Because of that, Androcles is forcefully brought into the center of the stadium, just as the lion is then released. The lion then starts to menacingly approach Androcles, until he finds himself backed against the wall of the stadium. However, before the lion can pounce, he suddenly starts to smell the air, being able to recognize Androcles' scent and immediately stands down. The instant Androcles notices this, this causes him to realize that this lion is the same one that he helped out long ago as he gives the lion a hug. From up above, Caesar and the Slave Master see this, while the Slave Master angrily asks what trickery this is. Androcles then tells Caesar that he once helped this lion and that his reward is his friendship. The Slave Master refuses to believe this, saying that Androcles must die, but Caesar supports Androcles' case and says that he shall live, which is enough to get the Slave Master to back off. Caesar then tells Androcles that because of this miracle, he and the lion are free, which Androcles is happy to hear as he and the lion leave the stadium while watched by everyone in the crowds.

## Characters

* Androcles
* Lion
* Slave Master
* Caesar