One winter a Farmer found a Viper frozen and numb with cold, and out of pity picked it up and placed it in his bosom. The Viper was no sooner revived by the warmth than it turned upon its benefactor and inflicted a fatal bite upon him; and as the poor man lay dying, he cried, “I have only got what I deserved, for taking compassion on so villainous a creature.”
Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.
一个冬天，一个农夫发现了一条冻僵的蛇，出于怜悯，他把蛇捡起来，放在了自己怀里。到了温暖的环境中，蛇很快便醒了过来，却恩将仇报，给了自己的救命恩人致命一咬。可怜的人摔倒在地，奄奄一息，哭喊着说：“我可真是活该啊，居然同情这种邪恶的东西。”
训诫：善心投诸恶人，完全是虚掷。