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Aesop’s Fables, THE SLAVE AND THE LION

THE SLAVE AND THE LION

THE SLAVE AND THE LION

A Slave ran away from his master, by whom he had been most cruelly treated, and, in order to avoid capture, betook himself into the desert. As he wandered about in search of food and shelter, he came to a cave, which he entered and found to be unoccupied. Really, however, it was a Lion's den, and almost immediately, to the horror of the wretched fugitive, the Lion himself appeared. The man gave himself up for lost: but, to his utter astonishment, the Lion, instead of springing upon him and devouring him, came and fawned upon him, at the same time whining and lifting up his paw. Observing it to be much swollen and inflamed, he examined it and found a large thorn embedded in the ball of the foot. He accordingly removed it and dressed the wound as well as he could: and in course of time it healed up completely. The Lion's gratitude was unbounded; he looked upon the man as his friend, and they shared the cave for some time together. A day came, however, when the Slave began to long for the society of his fellow-men, and he bade farewell to the Lion and returned to the town. Here he was presently recognised and carried off in chains to his former master, who resolved to make an example of him, and ordered that he should be thrown to the beasts at the next public spectacle in the theatre. On the fatal day the beasts were loosed into the arena, and among the rest a Lion of huge bulk and ferocious aspect; and then the wretched Slave was cast in among them. What was the amazement of the spectators, when the Lion after one glance bounded up to him and lay down at his feet with every expression of affection and delight! It was his old friend of the cave! The audience clamoured that the Slave's life should be spared: and the governor of the town, marvelling at such gratitude and fidelity in a beast, decreed that both should receive their liberty.


THE SLAVE AND THE LION

THE SLAVE AND THE LION 奴隷とライオン

A Slave ran away from his master, by whom he had been most cruelly treated, and, in order to avoid capture, betook himself into the desert. 奴隷は、最も残酷に扱われていた主人から逃げ出し、捕らえられないように砂漠に身を潜めました。 As he wandered about in search of food and shelter, he came to a cave, which he entered and found to be unoccupied. 食べ物と避難所を求めてさまよっていると、彼は洞窟に行きました。 Really, however, it was a Lion's den, and almost immediately, to the horror of the wretched fugitive, the Lion himself appeared. しかし、実際には、それはライオンの巣窟であり、ほとんどすぐに、惨めな逃亡者の恐怖に、ライオン自身が現れました。 The man gave himself up for lost: but, to his utter astonishment, the Lion, instead of springing upon him and devouring him, came and fawned upon him, at the same time whining and lifting up his paw. その男は迷子に身をあきらめました。しかし、ライオンはまったく驚いたことに、彼に飛び付くのではなく、むさぼり食うのではなく、足をなでて持ち上げながら、彼に近づきました。 Observing it to be much swollen and inflamed, he examined it and found a large thorn embedded in the ball of the foot. それが非常に腫れて炎症を起こしているのを観察したところ、彼はそれを調べたところ、足の親指の付け根に埋め込まれた大きな棘が見つかりました。 He accordingly removed it and dressed the wound as well as he could: and in course of time it healed up completely. それに応じて彼はそれを取り除き、傷を整えました。時間の経過とともに完全に治りました。 The Lion's gratitude was unbounded; he looked upon the man as his friend, and they shared the cave for some time together. ライオンの感謝の気持ちには限りがありませんでした。彼はその男を彼の友人とみなし、彼らはしばらくの間一緒に洞窟を共有しました。 A day came, however, when the Slave began to long for the society of his fellow-men, and he bade farewell to the Lion and returned to the town. しかし、奴隷が仲間の社会に憧れ始めた日が来て、彼はライオンに別れを告げ、町に戻った。 Here he was presently recognised and carried off in chains to his former master, who resolved to make an example of him, and ordered that he should be thrown to the beasts at the next public spectacle in the theatre. ここで彼は現在認識され、彼の手本を作ることを決意した彼の前のマスターに鎖で運ばれ、劇場の次の公共の光景で彼を獣に投げ入れるように命じました。 On the fatal day the beasts were loosed into the arena, and among the rest a Lion of huge bulk and ferocious aspect; and then the wretched Slave was cast in among them. 致命的な日には、獣はアリーナにゆるめられ、残りの中でライオンは巨大でかさばる猛烈な面を持っていました。そして惨めな奴隷が彼らの中に投げ込まれた。 What was the amazement of the spectators, when the Lion after one glance bounded up to him and lay down at his feet with every expression of affection and delight! ライオンが一目見た後彼に近づき、愛情と喜びのあらゆる表情で彼の足元に横たわったとき、観客の驚きは何でしたか! It was his old friend of the cave! それは洞窟の彼の古い友人でした! The audience clamoured that the Slave's life should be spared: and the governor of the town, marvelling at such gratitude and fidelity in a beast, decreed that both should receive their liberty. 聴衆は奴隷の命は免れるべきだと叫びました。そして町の知事は獣の中でそのような感謝と忠誠に驚嘆し、両方が彼らの自由を受けるべきであると布告しました。