Aesop

The Serpent and the Eagle

Summary

This story illustrates the themes of kindness, gratitude, and unintended consequences. In the tale, an eagle and a serpent are locked in a fierce battle where the serpent seems to have the upper hand. A passing countryman aids the eagle by freeing it from the serpent's grasp. In retaliation, the serpent poisons the countryman's drinking horn. Unaware of the danger, the countryman is about to consume the contaminated drink when the eagle, in a gesture of gratitude, prevents him by taking the horn away. The story underscores the importance of helping others while highlighting the potential repercussions of actions, both positive and negative.

Read Online

A Serpent and an Eagle were struggling with each other in deadly conflict. The Serpent had the advantage, and was about to strangle the bird. A countryman saw them, and running up, loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go free. The Serpent, irritated at the escape of his prey, injected his poison into the drinking horn of the countryman. The rustic, ignorant of his danger, was about to drink, when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing, and, seizing the drinking horn in his talons, carried it aloft.

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