Aesop's Fables

A Lion, roaming through a forest, stepped on a thorn. Soon afterward he came up to a Shepherd and fawned on 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 the Lion’s paw on his lap, pulled out the thorn. Thus relieved of his pain, the Lion returned to the forest. Some time later, the Shepherd, having been imprisoned on a false accusation, was condemned “to be cast to the Lions” as the punishment for the crime of which he was accused. But when the Lion was released from his cage, he recognized the Shepherd as the man who had healed him, and instead of attacking him, he approached and placed his foot on the Shepherd’s lap. As soon as the king heard the story, he ordered the Lion to be set free again in the forest and the Shepherd to be pardoned and restored to his friends.