Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/90

78 the same wood, and caught that lion and held him captive for many years. Now the knight having offended the king fled from his anger to the very forest in which he had been accustomed to hunt. There he betook himself to plunder, and spoiled and imprisoned a multitude of travellers. But the King's sufferance was exhausted; he sent out an army, captured, and condemned him to be delivered to a fasting lion. The knight was accordingly thrown into a pit every minute in expectation and dread of being devoured. But the lion, considering him attentively, and remembering his former friend, fawned upon him; and remained seven days with him destitute of food. When this reached the ears of the king, he was struck with wonder, and directed the knight to be taken from the pit. "Friend," said he, "by what means have you been able to render the lion harmless?" "As I once rode along the forest, my lord, I was met by a lame lion. I extracted from its foot a large thorn, and afterwards healed the wound. This lion I take to be the same, and therefore he has spared me." "Well," returned the king, "since the