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.
|