Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights TRANSLATION

Apion, qui “Plistonices” appellatus est, litteris homo multis praeditus rerumque Graecarum plurima atque varia scientia fuit.

Apion, who was called “Plistonices”, was a man endowed with much learning and very great and varied knowledge of Greek matters.

eius libri non incelebres [esse] feruntur, quibus omnium ferme, quae mirifica in Aegypto visuntur audiunturque, historia comprehenditur.

His books are said [to be] not unrenowned in which is contained the history of nearly all the things which are seen and heard [to be] remarkable in Egypt.

hoc autem, quod in libro Aegyptiacorum quinto scripsit, neque audisse neque legisse, sed ipsum sese in urbe Roma vidisse oculis suis confirmat.

However, he affirms that he neither heard nor read this which he wrote in the fifth book of Egyptian Wonders, but that he himself saw it with his own eyes in the city of Rome.

“in Circo Maximo” inquit “veniationis amplissimae pugna populo dabatur. eius rei, Romae cum forte essem, spectator” inquit.

“In the Circus Maximus,” he said, “a contest consisting of very splendid hunting was being presented to the people. I was a spectator of this event, when I happened to be in Rome,” he said.

“fui. multae ibi saevientes ferae, magnitudines bestiarum excellented, omniumque invisitata aut forma erat aut ferocia”

“There were many raging wild animals there, superior sizes of beasts, and either the shape or fierceness of all was extraordinary.”

“sed praeter alia omnia leonum” inquit “immanitas admirationi fuit praeterque omnis ceteros unus.

“But apart from everything else,” he said, “the huge size of the lions was a source of wonder and besides all the others, one [in particular].

is unus leo corporis impetu et vastitudine terrificoque fremitu et sonoro, toris comisque cervicum fluctuantibus animos oculosque omnium in sese converterat.

This one lion on account of the vigour and enormous size of his body and his terrifying and resounding roaring, the rippling muscles and hairs of his neck, had turned everyone’s attention and eyes towards him.

introductus erat inter compluris ceteros ad pugnam bestiarum datus servis viri consularis; ei servo Androclus nomen fuit.

Among several others, the slave of a man who was an ex-consul had been brought in, assigned for the battle with the beasts; the name of this slave was Androclus.

hunc ille leo ubi vidit procul, repente” inquit “quasi admirans stetit ac deinde sensim atque placide tamquam noscitabundus ad hominem accedit.

When than lion saw him far away, suddenly,” he said, “it stopped as if in wonder and then gradually and peacefully, as if recognising him, it approached the man.

tum caudam more atque ritu adulantium canum clementer et blande movet hominisque se corpori adiungit cruaque eius et manus prope iam exanimati metu lingua leniter demulcet.

Then in the custom and manner of fawning dogs, it wagged its tail gently and pleasantly, attached itself to the man’s body and with its tongue gently licked the legs and hand of him who was now almost half dead with fear.

homo Androclus inter illam tam atrocis ferae blandimenta amissum animum recuperat, paulatim oculos ad contuendum leonem refert.

The man, Androclus, during those caresses from such a fierce wild animal recovered his lost courage [and] gradually turned his eyes to behold the lion.

tum quasi mutua recognitione facta laetos” inquit “et gratulabundos videres hominem et leonem.”

Then, as if mutual recognition had occurred,” he said, “you could see the man and the lion happy and congratulating [each other].”

ea re prorsus tam admirabili maximos populi clamores excitatos dicit accersitumque a Caesare Androclum quaesitamque causam, cur illi atrocissimus leo uni parsisset.

He says that very great shouts were raised from the people at such a completely remarkable event as that, and that Androclus was summoned by the emperor and the reason sought as to why a very fierce lion had spared him alone.

ibi Androclus rem mirificam narrat atque admirandam.

Then Androclus related a remarkable and wonderful event.

“cum provinciam” inquit “Africam proconsulari imperio meus dominus obtineret, ego ibi iniquis eius et cotidianis verberibus ad fugam sum coactus et,

“When my master held the province of Africa with proconsular power,” he said, “I was forced to flight there by his unjust and daily floggings,

ut mihi a domino, terrae illius praeside, tutiores latebrae forent, in camporum et arenarum solitudines concessi ac, si defuisset cibus, consilium guit mortem aliquo pacto quaerere.”

and so that hiding placed might be safer for me away from my master, the ruler of that country, I withdrew into the seclusion of the plains and sands, and if food was lacking, it was my plan to seek death by some means.

“tum sole medio” inquit “rabido et flagranti specum quandam nanctus remotam larebrosamque in eam me penetro et recondo.

“Then,” he said, “when the midday sun was raging and burning, having found a certain cave, which was distant and hidden, I entered it and concealed myself.

neque multo post ad eandem specum venit hic leo debili uno et cruento pede gemitus edens et murmura dolorem cruciatumque vulneris commiserantia.”

Not long afterwards there came to the same cave this lion with one crippled and bloodstained foot, uttering groans and growls bewailing the pain and torture of a wound.”

atque illic primo quidem conspectu advenientis leonis territum sibi et pavefactum animum dixit. “sed postquam introgressus” inquit

And at that point he said that at first, indeed, his mind was terrified and alarmed by the sight of the approaching lion, “but,” he said,

“leo, uti re ipsa apparuit, in habitaculum illud suum, videt me procul delitescentem, mitis et mansues accessit et sublatum pedem ostendere mihi et porrigere quasi opis petendae gratia visus est.”

“as was evident from the event itself, when the lion, having entered into that [place which was] his lair, saw me lurking in the distance, he approached gently and tamely, lifted his foot and seemed to show and offer it to me as if in order to seek help.”