The Laborer and the Snake
A Snake,
having made his hole
close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the
Cottager's
infant son.
Grieving
over his loss, the
Father resolved to kill the Snake.
The next
day, when it came
out of its hole for food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too
hastily,
missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail.
After some
time the Cottager,
afraid that the Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace,
and
placed some bread and salt in the hole.
The Snake,
slightly hissing,
said: "There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see
you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you
will
be thinking of the death of your son."
No one truly
forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused the injury.
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