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192 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
he also staied in the same place. The newes of
this Dogge being come to the Temple-keepers, they
as they went along, enquiring of the Dogs haire and
colour, pursued his tracke so long that at last they
found hoth the Dog and the theefe in the Citie of
Cromyon, whom they brought backe to Athens, where
for his offence he was severely punished. And the
judges in acknowledgement of the Dogges good office,
at the Cities charge appointed him for his sustenance
a certaine daily measure of Corne, and enjoyned the
Priests of the Temple, carefully to looke unto him.
Plutarke affirmeth this storie to be most true, and to
have hapned in his time. Touching gratitude and
thankfulnesse (for me thinks we have need to further
this word greatly), this onely example shall suffice, of
which Appion reporteth to have been a spectator himself.
One day (saith he) that the Senate of Rome (to
please and recreate the common people) caused a great
number of wilde beasts to be baited, namely huge
great Lions, it so fortuned that there was one amongst
the rest, who by reason of his furious and stately
carriage, of his unmatched strength, of his great limbs,
and of his loud and terror-causing roaring, drew all
by-standers eyes to gaze upon him. Amongst other
slaves, that in sight of all the people were presented
to encounter with these beasts, there chanced to be
one Androclus of Dacia, who belonged unto a Roman
Lord who had been Consull. This huge Lion, having
eyed him afar off, first made a suddaine stop, as
strucken into a kind of admiration, then with a milde
and gentle contenance, as if he would willingly have
taken acquaintance of him, faire and softly approached
unto him : Which done, and resting, assured he was
the man he tooke him for, begun fawningly to wagge
his taile, as dogges doe that fawne upon their newfound
masters, and licke the poore and miserable
slaves hands and thighs, who through feare was almost
out of his wits and halfe dead. Androclus at last
taking hart of grace, and by reason of the Lions
mildnesse having rouzed up his spirits, and wishly