The tattooist then said "Where shall I begin?" The man replied, "On my shoulder blade." As soon as the tattooist began to work on him, however, pain invaded his shoulder and the man started to moan, "You're killing me! What image are you in the middle of designing?" "A lion," the tattooist replied, "just as you ordered." "Which limb of the lion have you begun with?" "The tail." "Leave the tail" the man cried out. "My heart shivered from the blows of the needle."

The tattooist began to prick another part of the man's shoulder. "Which of the lion's limbs are you doing now?" "The ears." "Don't let the lion have ears," the man shouted. "Leave out the ears!" Again the tattooist began to work with his needle on another part of the shoulder blade. "What limb are you doing now?" the man screamed. "The stomach," said the tattooist. "Don't let the lion have a stomach! What does it need a stomach for?"

At this the tattooist was totally bewildered; he stood a long time with his fingers in his mouth. Then he threw his needle to the ground and said, "Am I dreaming or what? Who has ever seen a lion without tail or head or stomach?" God himself never created a lion like that!"