勞動(dòng)者和蛇 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. 

      一條毒蛇趁人不備爬進(jìn)農(nóng)夫家，咬死了農(nóng)夫的兒子。農(nóng)夫非常悲痛，抓起一把斧頭，氣沖沖地跑到蛇洞外站著，只要蛇一出洞就砍死他。不久，蛇剛從洞里出來，農(nóng)夫立即一斧頭砍去，可惜沒砍到蛇，卻把洞旁的一塊石頭劈成了兩半。農(nóng)夫擔(dān)憂后患，便懇求蛇與他和解。蛇說：“我一見那劈開的石頭，就不可能對(duì)你產(chǎn)生好感；同樣，你一見到兒子的墳?zāi)挂膊粫?huì)原諒我。”

      這故事說明，深仇大恨難以和解。