Folk Tale

The Man and the Viper

Translated From

Γεωργὸς καὶ ὄφις ὑπὸ κρύους πεπηγώς

AuthorΑἴσωπος
LanguageAncient Greek

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
Y dyn a’r neidrWelshGan Glan Alun1887
The Farmer and the Frozen ViperEnglishLaura Gibbs_
U viddhanu e a visina aggragnata ri fridduSicilian__
AuthorAmbrose Bierce
LanguageEnglish
OriginGreece

A Man finding a frozen Viper put it into his bosom.

“The coldness of the human heart,” he said, with a grin, “will keep the creature in his present condition until I can reach home and revive him on the coals.”

But the pleasures of hope so fired his heart that the Viper thawed, and sliding to the ground thanked the Man civilly for his hospitality and glided away.


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