A Countryman and a Snake

009. A Countryman and a Snake . A Countryman happen'd in a Hard Winter to spy a Snake under a Hedge, that was half Frozen to Death. The Man was good Natur'd and Took it up,and kept it in his Bosom, till Warmth brought it to Life again; and so soon as ever it was in Condition to do Mischief, it bit the very Man that sav'd the Life on't. Ah thou Ungrateful Wretch! Says he, Is that Venemous Ill Nature of thine to be Satisfi'd with nothing less then the Ruine of thy Preserver.

Moral. There are Some Men like Some Snakes; 'Tis Natural to them to be doing Mischief; and the Greater the Benefit on the One side, the More implacable is the Malice on the other.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration from a 15th-century Latin Aesop:

The Man and the Snake

1.10. de homine et serpente
Caxton: Of the man and of the serpent
He that leneth and helpeth the euylle men / synneth / for after that men haue doo to them some good / they hurte them afterward / For as men sayen comynly / yf ye kepe a man fro the galhows / he shalle neuer loue yow after / wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable / A man was somtyme / whiche fond a serpent within a vyne / and for the grete wynter and frost the serpent was hard / and almost dede for cold wherof the good man had pyte and toke and bare her in to his hows and leyd her before the fyre / and so moche he dyd that she came ageyne in to her strengthe and vygour / She beganne thenne to crye and whystled about the hows and troubled the good wyf / and the children / wherfor this good man wold haue her oute of his hows / And whanne he thoughte to haue take her she sprange after his neck for to haue strangled hym /
And thus hit is of the euyll folk whiche for the good done to them / they yeld ageyne euyll and deceyuen them whiche haue had pyte on them / And also theyre felauship is not good ne vtyle /
[more info]

The Man and the Snake

THE MAN AND THE SNAKE. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Countryman and the Snake

018. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKE A Countryman, returning home one winter’s day, found a Snake by the hedge-side, half dead with cold. Taking Compassion on the creature, he laid it in his bosom, and brought it home to his fireside to revive it. No sooner had the warmth restored it, than it began to attack the children of the cottage. Upon this the Countryman, whose compassion had saved its life, took up a mattock and laid the Snake dead at his feet.
Those who return evil for good, may expect their neighbour’s pity to be worn out at last. [more info]

The Man and the Snake

4.18. THE MAN AND THE SNAKE. He who gives relief to the wicked has to repent it before long.
A Man took up a Snake stiffened with frost, and warmed her in his bosom, being compassionate to his own undoing; for when she had recovered, she instantly killed the Man. On another one asking her the reason of this crime, she made answer: “That people may learn not to assist the wicked.” [more info]

The Countryman and the Snake

025. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKE. A villager, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a snake under a hedge almost dead with cold: he could not help having compassion for the poor creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth near the fire, but it had not lain there long before (being revived with the heat) it began to erect itself, and fly at the wife and children, filling the whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The countryman hearing an outcry, and perceiving what the matter was, catched up a mattock, and soon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words, “Is this —vile wretch! — the reward you make to him that saved your life? Die as you deserve; but a single death is too good for you.” [more info]

The Man and the Adder

4.13. THE MAN AND THE ADDER.
He, that malicious men relieves,
His folly in a season grieves.
A Man, against himself humane,
Took up an Adder, that had lain
And stiffen’d in the frosty air,
And in his bosom placed with care,
Where she with speed recov’ring breath,
Her benefactor stung to death.
Another Adder near the place,
On asking why she was so base,
Was told, “’Tis others to dissuade
From giving wickedness their aid.” [more info]

The Countryman and the Snake

050. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKE. A villager, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a snake under a hedge almost dead with cold: he could not help having compassion for the poor creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth near the fire, but it had not lain there long before (being revived with the heat) it began to erect itself, and fly at the wife and children, filling the whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The countryman hearing an outcry, and perceiving what the matter was, catched up a mattock, and soon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words, “Is this —vile wretch! — the reward you make to him that saved your life? Die as you deserve; but a single death is too good for you.” [more info]

The Countryman and the Serpent

06.13: THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SERPENT.
A countryman, as Aesop certifies,
A charitable man, but not so wise,
One day in winter found,
Stretch'd on the snowy ground,
A chill'd or frozen snake,
As torpid as a stake,
And, if alive, devoid of sense.
He took him up, and bore him home,
And, thinking not what recompense
For such a charity would come,
Before the fire stretch'd him,
And back to being fetch'd him.
The snake scarce felt the genial heat
Before his heart with native malice beat.
He raised his head, thrust out his forkèd tongue,
Coil'd up, and at his benefactor sprung.
'Ungrateful wretch!' said he, 'is this the way
My care and kindness you repay?
Now you shall die.' With that his axe he takes,
And with two blows three serpents makes.
Trunk, head, and tail were separate snakes;
And, leaping up with all their might,
They vainly sought to reunite.
'Tis good and lovely to be kind;
But charity should not be blind;
For as to wretchedness ingrate,
You cannot raise it from its wretched state.
[more info]

The Countryman and the Snake

2.15. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKE. A Villager, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a Snake under a hedge, almost dead with cold. He could not help having compassion for the poor creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth near the fire; but it had not lain there long before (being revived with the heat) it began to erect itself, and fly at his wife and children, filling the whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The countryman hearing an outcry, and perceiving what the matter was, catched up a mattock, and soon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words: Is this, vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved your life? Die, as you deserve; but a single death is too good for you.
Evil for good, relentless to bestow,
Is all the gratitude th' unworthy know;
Mercy to such should be with caution shown;
Saving a villain's life, you risk your own. [more info]

The Farmer and the Snake

02. THE FARMER AND THE SNAKE.
One winter's day a Farmer found
A Serpent stretched upon the ground
Lifeless and stiff. Touched by the sight
Of the poor frozen creature's plight,
He bore it home with him and there
Brought it to life, with warmth and care.
No sooner was the Serpent quite
Recovered, than it sprang to bite
The good man's hands. "So that's the way,"
Exclaimed the Farmer, "you repay
A friendly turn!" With that, he plied
His stick till he was satisfied,
Beyond a doubt, this time the Snake
was really dead and no mistake. [more info]

The Woodman and the Serpent

17. THE WOODMAN AND THE SERPENT. One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home.
As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth before the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but the Serpent raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to death. So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Serpent in two. "Ah," said he, "no gratitude from the wicked." [more info]

The Countryman and Snake

050. THE COUNTRYMAN AND SNAKE. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Countryman and the Serpent

051. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SERPENT.
A countryman, as Aesop certifies,
A charitable man, but not so wise,
One day in winter found,
Stretch'd on the snowy ground,
A chill'd or frozen snake,
As torpid as a stake,
And, if alive, devoid of sense.
He took him up, and bore him home,
And, thinking not what recompense
For such a charity would come,
Before the fire stretch'd him,
And back to being fetch'd him.
The snake scarce felt the genial heat
Before his heart with native malice beat.
He raised his head, thrust out his forkèd tongue,
Coil'd up, and at his benefactor sprung.
'Ungrateful wretch!' said he, 'is this the way
My care and kindness you repay?
Now you shall die.' With that his axe he takes,
And with two blows three serpents makes.
Trunk, head, and tail were separate snakes;
And, leaping up with all their might,
They vainly sought to reunite.
'Tis good and lovely to be kind;
But charity should not be blind;
For as to wretchedness ingrate,
You cannot raise it from its wretched state.
[more info]

The Man and the Snake

27. THE MAN AND THE SNAKE.
In pity he brought the poor Snake
To be warmed at his fire. A mistake!
For the ungrateful thing
Wife and children would sting.
I have known some as bad as the Snake.
BEWARE HOW YOU ENTERTAIN TRAITORS
[more info]