Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/162

138 sympathy thou wouldst by now have perished on the roadside. When I picked thee up thou wast almost frozen to death. I have given thee back thy life and in return thou seekest to kill me. Is it right to return evil for good? Is this thy way of thanking those who help thee?&quot;

&quot;Thou art a very nice old man. But thou dost not seem to remember what I am. Tell me that first.&quot;

&quot;Thou art a snake.&quot;

&quot;Exactly. I am therefore quite in order in killing thee and any man. Snakes are made to kill the children of men."

&quot;Come, Master Snake. Let us put our case before a judge and let us hear what he has to say.&quot;

&quot;Very well, I agree to do this. Before whom shall we state our case?&quot;

&quot;Before the first creature that we meet on the road.&quot;

On and on they went till at last they saw an ox coming along. The old man was pleased and called out:

&quot;Please, Master Ox, oblige this snake on my neck and me by standing here for a few minutes.&quot;

&quot;What do ye want?&quot;

&quot;We wish thee to judge between us.&quot;

&quot;What's the matter?&quot;

&quot;I found this snake perishing with cold. To save its life I put it on my chest under my coat.&quot;