Section 272
The Serpent and the Eagle explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman...
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Public-domain original
An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with
the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was
too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then
there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman,
who was a witness of the encounter, came to the assistance of the
Eagle, and succeeded in freeing him from the Serpent and enabling him
to escape. In revenge the Serpent spat some of his poison into the
man's drinking-horn. Heated with his exertions, the man was about to
slake his thirst with a from the horn, when the Eagle knocked
it out of his hand, and spilled its contents upon the ground.
One good turn deserves another.
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns the lesson “One good turn deserves another.” into a compact story about everyday judgment.
Characters in this scene
- The Serpent: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Eagle: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two.