Aesop's Fables
A
LION, roaming through a
forest, trod upon a
thorn. Soon afterward he came up to a
Shepherd and fawned upon him,
wagging his
tail as if to say, "I am a
suppliant, and seek your
aid." The Shepherd boldly examined the
beast, discovered the thorn, and placing his paw upon his lap, pulled it out; thus relieved of his pain, the Lion returned into the forest. Some time after, the Shepherd, being
imprisoned on a false accusation, was
condemned "
to be cast to the Lions" as the
punishment for his imputed crime. But when the Lion was released from his
cage, he recognized the Shepherd as the man who healed him, and instead of attacking him, approached and placed his foot upon his lap. The
King, as soon as he heard the tale, ordered the Lion to be set free again in the forest, and the Shepherd to be
pardoned and restored to his
friends.