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.
