Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/389

caught, and bound firmly to a tree, making a most horrible clamour. Moved by pity, he loosed it, and warmed its frozen body in his own bosom. No sooner, however, did the animal find itself recovered, than it began to bite its benefactor, and shot a flood of poison into the wound. "What hast thou done?" said the emperor, "wherefore have you rendered evil for good?" The serpent, like the ass of Balaam, being suddenly endowed with voice, replied, "The propensities which nature has implanted, no one can destroy. You have done what you could; and I have only acted according to my nature. You exhibited towards me all the kindness in your power, and I have recompenced you as well as I might. I offered poison; because, except poison, I had nothing to offer. Moreover, I I am an enemy to man; for through him I became punished with a curse." As they thus contended, they entreated a prophet to judge between them, and to state which was in the wrong. "I know these matters," answered the umpire, "only by your relation; but I should like to see the thing itself upon