A Serpent managed to catch an Eagle by surprise and wrapped itself tightly around the Eagle’s neck. The Eagle struggled desperately, but he could not reach the Serpent with his beak or his sharp claws.
With all his strength, the Eagle soared high into the sky, hoping the Serpent would lose its grip. But the Serpent only squeezed tighter. Exhausted and barely able to breathe, the Eagle slowly descended toward the ground.
A passing Countryman witnessed the unequal struggle. Feeling sorry for the noble bird, he hurried over and carefully unwound the Serpent from the Eagle’s neck, setting the Eagle free.
The Serpent was furious.
Unable to strike the watchful Countryman, it looked for another way to take revenge. Seeing the man’s drinking horn hanging from his belt, the Serpent slipped its deadly venom into it before disappearing into the grass.
Later, as the Countryman walked home, he became thirsty. He filled the horn with fresh spring water and raised it to his lips.
Just then, there was a powerful rush of wings.
The Eagle swooped down, snatched the drinking horn from the Countryman’s hands, and carried it high into the sky. The horn fell far away, where no one would ever find it.
Only then did the Countryman realize that the Eagle had saved his life, just as he had once saved the Eagle’s.
Moral: A good deed is often rewarded, and kindness is rarely forgotten.
The Serpent and the Eagle: An Aesop Fable About Kindness and Gratitude – Free Printable
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