One snowy evening a farmer found a snake lying on the roadside, stiff as a stick, half dead with cold. He felt sorry for it and he picked it up, put it in his pocket and took it home to warm it by the fire.
一個下雪的晚上，一個農夫發現一條蛇躺在路邊，僵硬得像根棍子，凍得半死。他可憐蛇，就把它撿起來，放在口袋裡，帶回家用火取暖。
After a little while the warmth of the flames began to revive the snake. It gave a wriggle, then a twist, then raised its head and looked around with its tongue flickering in and out.
過了一會兒，溫暖的火焰使蛇甦醒過來。它扭動了一下，然後扭動起來，抬起頭張望，舌頭一伸一縮。
The farmer's family crowded round to watch. Suddenly, without warning, the snake darted at the youngest child and bit her in the leg.
農夫一家圍著看。突然，那條蛇毫無預兆地向最小的孩子撲去，咬了她的腿。
"Why do you repay my kindness with spite?" asked the farmer.
「你為什麼用怨恨來報答我的好意呢？」農夫問。
"You should know better than to trust me," replied the snake. "You and I are old enemies. Why should I forget just because you were soft-hearted?"
「你不應該相信我，」蛇回答說，「你和我是老冤家。為什麼我會因為你心軟就忘了這一點呢？」
"I know better now," said the farmer angrily and with one blow of his stick he killed the snake stone dead.
「我現在明白了，」農夫生氣地說，他一棍子就把蛇石打死了。
Don't expect gratitude from people who dislike you.
不要指望不喜歡你的人會感激你。