The Farmer And The Snake

During a cold winter, a farmer found a snake stiff and frozen with cold.

The snake said to the Farmer, "If you pick me up and hold me to your stomach, your body will make me warm."

The Farmer said, "If I do that you will bite me."

The Snake answered, "Why would I do that if you save me?"

The Farmer had compassion on the Snake, 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, "Why did you bite me after I saved you?"

"You knew I was a snake when you picked me up," answered the Snake.

With his last breath the farmer said,"I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel."

Moral

The greatest kindness cannot change for natural instincts.

or

Be a good judge of character.

中文故事:

农夫与蛇

冬天，农夫发现一条蛇冻僵了，他很可怜它，便把蛇放在自己怀里。蛇温暖后，苏醒了过来，恢复了它的本性，咬了它的恩人一口，使他受到了致命的伤害。农夫临死前说：“我该死，我怜悯恶人，应该受恶报。”

这故事说明，即使对恶人仁至义尽，他们的邪恶本性也是不会改变的。