"It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one who will never inflict pain."
John Henry
Cardinal Newman
He is called the King of the Beasts, and there is a reason for that. A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse, running from a predatory Cat. The Mouse unwittingly scampered over the Lions face. Rising up, the Lion snatched the mouse and growled at its temerity in waking him from his nap.
The Mouse entreated the Lion: "Spare my life, O great Lion. I promise I will repay your kindness."
The Lion laughed, and charmed by the Mouse's foolish audacity, let the him go. The mighty beast lightly boxed the Cat's ears, chasing her away from the Mouse and saying to her,
"There are bigger Cats in the forest who would spare so small a creature!"
Some time later the Lion became ensnared in a rope trap set by the hunters. The Mouse heard him roar in frustration and fear, and the small animal rushed to gnaw the ropes that bound the Lion, freeing him.
The Lion was amazed to see the Mouse and thanked him, but it was the Mouse who said, "When you set me free you were kind to me. Kindness is what makes a creature truly a royal gentleman."
And ever after the Mouse told all the forest creatures that ...
It does not matter if one's blood is blue or red, whether one is rich or poor, strong and powerful or weak and humble. None of this matters... not one's work, one's income, one's brains, and certainly not one's "class."
There is only a single thing that defines true aristocracy.
The real gentleman is one who is kind.
A Kindness given always returns...
when needed most,
when most unlikely,
and often from someone
unexpected or unknown.
Since this is the Tale of a Lion who had cause to be Joyful, perhaps you might like to hear the Lion, errrr.... meowing? lol ... (or maybe it is Cat?) ... in the background of this short version of Beethovan' s Ode To Joy! Just click the arrow on the player to hear it while you read the fable.
