原文
冬天,農夫發現一條蛇凍僵了,他很可憐它,便把蛇放在自己懷裡。蛇溫暖後,蘇醒了過來,恢複了它的本性,咬了它的恩人一口,使他受到了緻命的傷害。農夫臨死前說:“我該死,我憐憫惡人,應該受惡報。”這故事說明,即使對惡人仁至義盡,他們的邪惡本性也是不會改變的。
中心
這個故事是說,做人一定要分清善惡,告誡我們要學會辨認是非,不要與壞人打交道,因為狐狸也會哭泣、蛇也有落難的時候,所以這則寓言告誡我們要明辨是非。隻能把援助之手伸向善良的人。對那些惡人即使仁至義盡,他們的本性也是不會改變的。我們要幫助應該幫助的人,不要讓敵人受到你的幫助。
寓意
鞭撻了那些恩将仇報的惡人和幫助惡人的僞善的人。告誡我們要學會辨認是非,不要與壞人打交道,因為狐狸也會哭泣、蛇也有落難的時候,所以這則寓言告誡我們要明辨是非。免得受到傷害。
譯文
The Farmer and the Snake
ONE winter a farmer found a snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. "Oh," cried the farmer with his last breath, "I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel." The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.