Antony subjected lions to the yoke5, and was the first at Rome to harness them to his chariot; and this during the civil war, after the battle on the plains of Pharsalia; not, indeed, without a kind of ominous6 presage7, a prodigy8 that foretold9 at the time that generous spirits were about to be 75 subdued10. But to have himself drawn11 along in this manner, in company with the actress Cytheris, was a thing that surpassed even the monstrous12 spectacles that were to be seen at that calamitous13 period. It is said that Hanno, one of the most illustrious of the Carthaginians, was the first who ventured to touch the lion with the hand, and to exhibit it in a tame state. It was on this account that he was banished14; for it was supposed, that a man so talented and so ingenious would have it in his power to persuade the people to anything, and it was looked upon as unsafe to trust the liberties of the country to one who had so eminently15 triumphed over even ferocity itself. There have been some fortuitous occurrences cited which have given occasion to these animals to display their natural clemency16. Mentor17, a native of Syracuse, was met in Syria by a lion, who rolled before him in a suppliant18 manner; though smitten19 with fear and desirous to escape, the wild beast on every side opposed his flight, and licked his feet with a fawning20 air. Upon this, Mentor observed on the paw of the lion a swelling21 and a wound; from which, after extracting a splinter, he relieved the creature’s pain. There is a picture at Syracuse, which bears witness to the truth of this occurrence.
WILD CAT.—Felis Catus.
In the same manner, too, Elpis, a native of Samos, on landing from a vessel23 on the coast of Africa, observed a lion near the beach, opening his mouth in a threatening manner; upon which he climbed a tree, in the hope of escaping, while, at the same time, he invoked24 the aid of Father Liber; for it is the appropriate time for invocations when there is no room left for hope. The wild beast did not pursue him as he fled, 76 although he might easily have done so; but, lying down at the foot of the tree, tried by the open mouth which had caused so much terror, to excite his compassion25. It appeared that while he was devouring26 his food with too great avidity, a bone had stuck fast between his teeth, and he was perishing with hunger. Elpis, although he understood his mute entreaties27, did not dare to risk trusting himself to so formidable a beast, so he remained stationary28 for some time, more from astonishment29 than from fear. At length, however, he descended30 from the tree and extracted the bone, the lion in the mean while extending his head, and aiding in the operation as far as it was necessary for him to do. The story goes on to say, that as long as the vessel remained off that coast, the lion showed his sense of gratitude31 by bringing to it whatever he had chanced to procure32 in the chase. In memory of this circumstance, Elpis consecrated33 a temple at Samos to Father Liber, which the Greeks, from the circumstance above related, called “the temple κεχην?το? Διον?σον,” or “temple of the open-mouthed Bacchus.” Can we wonder, after this, that the wild beasts should be able to recognize the footsteps of man, when of him alone of all animals they even hope for aid? For why should they not have recourse to others for assistance? Or how is it that they know that the hand of man has power to heal them? Unless, perhaps, it is that the violence of pain can force even wild beasts to risk everything to obtain relief.
Demetrius, the natural philosopher, relates an equally remarkable34 instance, in relation to a panther. The animal was lying in the middle of the road, waiting for some one to pass that way, when he was suddenly perceived by the father of one Philinus, an ardent35 lover of wisdom. Seized with fear, he immediately began to retreat; while the beast rolled itself before him, evidently with the desire of caressing36 him, at the same time manifesting signs of grief, which could not be misunderstood even in a panther. The animal had young ones, which had happened to fall into a pit at some distance from 77 the place. The first dictates37 of compassion banished all fear, and the next prompted him to assist the animal. He accordingly followed her, as she gently drew him on by fixing her claws in his garment; and as soon as he discovered what was the cause of her grief and the price of his own safety, he took the whelps out of the pit, and they followed her to the end of the desert; whither he was escorted by her, frisking with joy and gladness, in order that she might more appropriately testify how grateful she was, and how little she had given him in return; a mode of acting22 which is but rarely found even among men.
MARGAY.—Leopardus Tigrinus.
Facts such as these induce us to give some credit to what Democritus relates, who says that a man, called Thoas, was preserved in Arcadia by a dragon. When a boy, he had become much attached to it, and had reared it very tenderly; but his father, being alarmed at the nature and monstrous size of the reptile38, had it taken away and left in the desert. Thoas being here attacked by some robbers who lay in ambush39, he was delivered from them by the dragon, which recognized his voice and came to his assistance. But as to what has been said respecting infants that have been exposed and nourished by the milk of wild beasts, as in the case of the founders40 of our city by a wolf, I am disposed to attribute such cases as these rather to the greatness of the destinies which have to be fulfilled, than to any peculiarity41 in the nature of the animals themselves.
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1
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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3
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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6
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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8
prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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9
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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11
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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13
calamitous
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| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
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14
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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18
suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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19
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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20
fawning
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| adj.乞怜的，奉承的v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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21
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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22
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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24
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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26
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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28
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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30
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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31
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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32
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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33
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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38
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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39
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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40
founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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41
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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