伊索寓言《安德魯克里斯與獅子》

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 hidhimself in a wild wood for manydays; but there was no food to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that hethought 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 noisewoke him up. A lion had come into the cave, and was roaring loudly. Androclus was very afraid, for he felt sure thatthe beast would kill him. Soon,however, he saw that the lion was not angry, but that he limped as though hisfoot 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 youwill help me."

4. Androclus lifted the paw fromthe ground, and saw that it was a long, sharp thorn that hurt the lion so much. He took the end of the thornbetween his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came. Thelion 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 afraidafter this; and when night came, he and the lion lay down and slept side by side. Afterwards, for a longtime, the lion brought food to Androclus every day; and the two became suchgood friends, that Androclus found his new life a very happy one.

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

7. When the day came, thousands ofpeople crowded in the arena to see the spectacle. They went to such places at that time as often as peoplenowadays go to see a circus show or a game of baseball. The door opened, andpoor Androclus was brought in. He was almost dead with fear, for the roars ofthe 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… notof fear, but of gladness. It was hisold friend, the lion from the cave. The people, who had expected to see the mankilled by the lion, were filled with wonder. They saw Androclus put hisarms around the lion's neck; they saw the lion lie down at his feet, and lickthem lovingly; they saw the great beast rub his head against the slave's faceas though he wanted to be petted.They could not understand what it all meant.

9. After a while they askedAndroclus to tell them about it. So he stood up before them, and, with his arm aroundthe lion's neck, told how he and the beast had lived together in the cave. "Iam a man," he said; "but no man has ever befriended me. This poor lion only has been kind to me; and we loveeach other as brothers." The people were not so bad that they could becruel 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, andthe 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 asforest)

7. Crept (verb, from: tocrawl)

8. Cave (noun)

9. To perish (verb)

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

11. Roaring (verb, from: toroar)

12. Beast (noun)

13. Limped (verb, from: tolimp)

14. As though (expression)

15. Bold (adj.)

16. Examine (verb)

17. Lame (adj.)

18. Paw (noun)

19. Matter (noun)

20. Rubbed (verb, from: torub)

21. Thorn (noun)

22. Jumped about (phrasalverb)

23. Side by side (expression)

24. Found (verb, from: tofind)

25. Soldiers (noun)

26. Gladiator (noun)

27. Occasions (noun)

28. Fierce (adj.)