劳动者和蛇 The Laborer and the Snake

      A SNAKE, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager's infant son.  Grieving over his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake.  The next day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail.  After some time the Cottager, afraid that the Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed some bread and salt in the hole.  The Snake, slightly hissing, said:  "There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be thinking of the death of your son."  

  No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused the injury. 

      一条毒蛇趁人不备爬进农夫家，咬死了农夫的儿子。农夫非常悲痛，抓起一把斧头，气冲冲地跑到蛇洞外站着，只要蛇一出洞就砍死他。不久，蛇刚从洞里出来，农夫立即一斧头砍去，可惜没砍到蛇，却把洞旁的一块石头劈成了两半。农夫担忧后患，便恳求蛇与他和解。蛇说：“我一见那劈开的石头，就不可能对你产生好感；同样，你一见到儿子的坟墓也不会原谅我。”

      这故事说明，深仇大恨难以和解。