George Bernard Shaw

Name: Androcles and the Lion — Act II
Author: George Bernard Shaw

Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

Summary

“Androcles and the Lion — Act II”, published in 1912, is a work by George Bernard Shaw. It explores elements such as gladiators, arena and Androcles.

Quotes from Androcles and the Lion — Act II (George Bernard Shaw)

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ The grating rises with a clash. The lion bounds into the arena. He rushes round frisking in his freedom. He sees Androcles. He stops; rises stiffly by straightening his legs; stretches out his nose forward and his tail in a horizontal line behind, like a pointer, and utters an appalling roar. Androcles crouches and hides his face in his hands. The lion gathers himself for a spring, swishing his tail to and fro through the dust in an ecstasy of anticipation. Androcles throws up his hands in supplication to heaven. The lion checks at the sight of Androcles's face. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ Oh, brothers, pray! exhort me! remind me that if I raise my sword my honor falls and my Master is crucified afresh.
ANDROCLES. Just keep thinking how cruelly you might hurt the poor gladiators.
FERROVIUS. It does not hurt a man to kill him.
LAVINIA. Nothing but faith can save you.
FERROVIUS. Faith! Which faith? There are two faiths. There is our faith. And there is the warrior's faith, the faith in fighting, the faith that sees God in the sword. How if that faith should overwhelm me?
LAVINIA. You will find your real faith in the hour of trial. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ ANDROCLES. Quite safe now, sir.
THE EMPEROR (majestically) What ho, there! All who are within hearing, return without fear. Caesar has tamed the lion. (All the fugitives steal cautiously in. The menagerie keeper comes from the passage with other keepers armed with iron bars and tridents) . Take those things away. I have subdued the beast. (He places his foot on it) .
FERROVIUS (timidly approaching the Emperor and looking down with awe on the lion) It is strange that I, who fear no man, should fear a lion.
THE CAPTAIN. Every man fears something, Ferrovius. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ ANDROCLES. No: I should never have another happy hour. No: on the faith of a Christian and the honor of a tailor, I accept the lot that has fallen on me. If my wife turns up, give her my love and say that my wish was that she should be happy with her next, poor fellow! Caesar: go to your box and see how a tailor can die. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ FERROVIUS. I will not fight. I will die. Better stand with the archangels than with the Pretorian Guard.
CAESAR. I cannot believe that the archangels—whoever they may be—would not prefer to be recruited from the Pretorian Guard. However, as you please. Come: let us see the show.
As the Court ascends the steps, Secutor and the Retiarius return from the arena through the passage; Secutor covered with dust and very angry: Retiarius grinning. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ I can no longer doubt the truth of Christianity. (The Christians press to him joyfully) This Christian sorcerer— (with a yell, he breaks off as he sees Androcles and the lion emerge from the passage, waltzing. He bolts wildly up the steps into his box, and slams the door. All, Christians and gladiators' alike, fly for their lives, the gladiators bolting into the arena, the others in all directions. The place is emptied with magical suddenness) . ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ An Emperor can hardly have too many consciences. (To Ferrovius) Listen, Ferrovius. (Ferrovius shakes his head and will not look up) . You and your friends shall not be outnumbered to-day in the arena. You shall have arms; and there will be no more than one gladiator to each Christian. If you come out of the arena alive, I will consider favorably any request of yours, and give you a place in the Pretorian Guard. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ ANDROCLES (scrambling to his feet and running into the middle of the space between the staircases) It's dreadful. Now I want to fight. I can't bear the sight of a whip. The only time I ever hit a man was when he lashed an old horse with a whip. It was terrible: I danced on his face when he was on the ground. He mustn't strike Ferrovius: I'll go into the arena and kill him first. (He makes a wild dash into the passage. As he does so a great clamor is heard from the arena, ending in wild applause. The gladiators listen and look inquiringly at one another) . ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ They're all in pieces, more or less. (Lavinia hides her face) . (Two more masked slaves come in with a basket and follow the others into the arena, as the Call Boy turns to the gladiators and exclaims, exhausted) Boys, he's killed the lot.
THE EMPEROR (again bursting from his box, this time in an ecstasy of delight) Where is he? Magnificent! He shall have a laurel crown.
Ferrovius, madly waving his bloodstained sword, rushes through the passage in despair, followed by his co-religionists, and by the menagerie keeper, who goes to the gladiators. The gladiators draw their swords nervously. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ I should like to have this man in the Pretorian Guard.
METELLUS. I should not, Caesar. He looks a spoilsport. There are men in whose presence it is impossible to have any fun: men who are a sort of walking conscience. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ Who let that Christian out of here down to the dens when we were changing the lion into the cage next the arena?
THE EDITOR. Nobody let him. He let himself.
THE KEEPER. Well, the lion's ate him.
Consternation. The Christians rise, greatly agitated. The gladiators sit callously, but are highly amused. All speak or cry out or laugh at once. Tumult. LAVINIA. Oh, poor wretch! FERROVIUS. The apostate has perished. Praise be to God's justice! ANDROCLES. The poor beast was starving. It couldn't help itself. THE CHRISTIANS. What! ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ On the east side of the passage the gladiators are standing and sitting at ease, waiting, like the Christians, for their turn in the arena. One (Retiarius) is a nearly naked man with a net and a trident. Another (Secutor) is in armor with a sword. He carries a helmet with a barred visor. The editor of the gladiators sits on a chair a little apart from them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ THE CAPTAIN. No: that is part of my private pleasure. Your friend here is a humorist. I laughed at his telling you to think of yourself to keep up your heart. I say, think of yourself and burn the incense. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ No, really: I can't fight: I never could. I can't bring myself to dislike anyone enough. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion — Act II (1912)

“ I'm glad he's hungry. Not that I want him to suffer, poor chap! but then he'll enjoy eating me so much more. There's a cheerful side to everything. ”

George Bernard Shaw

Summary

Quotes from Androcles and the Lion — Act II (George Bernard Shaw)

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