The Domestic Snake
Aesop | Greece
A poor man befriends a snake by taking care of it, but accidentally injures it; the snake forgives but warns about its nature.
There was once a poor man who lived in a small house. He didn’t have much, but he was happy. One day, he found a snake in his garden. The snake was cold and hungry. Feeling sorry for it, the man took the snake inside and gave it some food.
As time passed, the snake got stronger and healthier. It started visiting the man every day, eating meals together and sitting by the warm fire. The man liked the company, and the snake enjoyed the warmth and food.
One day, while the man was cutting bread, he didn’t notice the snake on the table. By accident, he cut the snake with his knife. The snake hissed in pain and moved away. The man felt terrible and quickly helped the snake, saying sorry many times.
The snake forgave the man but gave him a warning. "I forgive you, but remember, I am still a snake. One day, I might forget your kindness and only remember the pain."
After that, the man was very careful with the snake. He always remembered the snake’s warning and took extra care around it.
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