The Serpent and the Eagle

"The Serpent and the Eagle" is not a book, but a fable from Aesop, a storyteller from ancient Greece. The fable tells the story of an eagle who carries a sleeping serpent into the sky, only for the serpent to wake up and bite the eagle. This story serves as a cautionary parable about the dangers of underestimating those we consider weaker or beneath us. Aesop's fables traditionally end with a moral, and the lesson in this story could be interpreted as a warning against pride and recklessness.

• Children

								
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.
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