A Countryman’s son by accident trod upon a Serpent’s tail, which turned
and bit him so that he died. The father in a rage got his axe, and
pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail. So the Serpent in
revenge began stinging several of the Farmer’s cattle and caused him
severe loss. Well, the Farmer thought it best to make it up with the
Serpent, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair, and said
to it: “Let’s forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my
son, and take vengeance on my cattle, but surely I was right in trying
to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why should not we be
friends again?”
“No, no,” said the Serpent; “take away your gifts; you can never forget
the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail.”
Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.