ANDROCLES.
Couldn’t you have saved him brother?
THE KEEPER.
Saved him! Saved him from a lion that I’d just got mad with hunger! a wild one that came out of the forest not four weeks ago! He bolted him before you could say Balbus.
LAVINIA.
(sitting down again) Poor Spintho! And it won’t even count as martyrdom!
THE KEEPER.
Serve him right! What call had he to walk down the throat of one of my lions before he was asked?
ANDROCLES.
Perhaps the lion won’t eat me now.
THE KEEPER.
Yes: that’s just like a Christian: think only of yourself! What am I to do? What am I to say to the Emperor when he sees one of my lions coming into the arena half asleep?
THE EDITOR.
Say nothing. Give your old lion some bitters and a morsel of fried fish to wake up his appetite. (Laughter).
THE KEEPER.
Yes: it’s easy for you to talk; but—
THE EDITOR.
(scrambling to his feet) Sh! Attention there! The Emperor. (The Keeper bolts precipitately into the passage. The gladiators rise smartly and form into line).
The Emperor enters on the Christians’ side, conversing with Metellus, and followed by his suite.