a serpent had succeeded in surprising an eagle and had wrapped himself around the eagle's neck. the eagle could not reach the serpent, neither with beak nor claws. far into the sky he soared trying to shake off his enemy. but the serpent's hold only tightened, and slowly the eagle sank back to earth, gasping for breath.
a countryman chanced to see the unequal combat. in pity for the noble eagle he rushed up and soon had loosened the coiling serpent and freed the eagle.
the serpent was furious. he had no chance to bite the watchful countryman. instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at the countryman's belt, and into it let fly the poison of his fangs.
the countryman now went on toward home. becoming thirsty on the way, he filled his horn at a spring, and was about to drink. there was a sudden rush of great wings. sweeping down, the eagle seized the poisoned horn from out his savior's hands, and flew away with it to hide it where it could never be found.
an act of kindness is well repaid.
a certain wolf could not get enough to eat because of the watchfulness of the shepherds. but one night he found a sheep skin that had been cast aside and forgotten. the next day, dressed in the skin, the wolf strolled into the pasture with the sheep. soon a little lamb was following him about and was quickly led away to slaughter.
that evening the wolf entered the fold with the flock. but it happened that the shepherd took a fancy for mutton broth that very evening, and, picking up a knife, went to the fold. there the first he laid hands on and killed was the wolf.
the evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit.
a bull once escaped from a lion by entering a cave which the goatherds used to house their flocks in stormy weather and at night. it happened that one of the goats had been left behind, and the bull had no sooner got inside than this goat lowered his head and made a rush at him, butting him with his horns. as the lion was still prowling outside the entrance to the cave, the bull had to submit to the insult.
"do not think," he said, "that i submit to your cowardly treatment because i am afraid of you. when that lion leaves, i'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
it is wicked to take advantage of another's distress.
