Serpent had the best of an Eagle when a man freed the Eagle. Serpent put venom into the man’s water but the Eagle knocked it out of his hand. Man lived.
Help those who help you.
Aesop For Children
A Serpent had succeeded in surprising an Eagle and had wrapped himself around the Eagle’s neck. The Eagle could not reach the Serpent, neither with beak nor claws. Far into the sky he soared trying to shake off his enemy. But the Serpent’s hold only tightened, and slowly the Eagle sank back to earth, gasping for breath.
A Countryman chanced to see the unequal combat. In pity for the noble Eagle he rushed up and soon had loosened the coiling Serpent and freed the Eagle.
The Serpent was furious. He had no chance to bite the watchful Countryman. Instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at the Countryman’s belt, and into it let fly the poison of his fangs.
The Countryman now went on toward home. Becoming thirsty on the way, he filled his horn at a spring, and was about to drink. There was a sudden rush of great wings. Sweeping down, the Eagle seized the poisoned horn from out his savior’s hands, and flew away with it to hide it where it could never be found.
Moral
An act of kindness is well repaid.
Townsend version
A serpent and an Eagle were struggling with each other in deadly conflict. The Serpent had the advantage, and was about to strangle the bird. A countryman saw them, and running up, loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go free. The Serpent, irritated at the escape of his prey, injected his poison into the drinking horn of the countryman. The rustic, ignorant of his danger, was about to drink, when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing, and, seizing the drinking horn in his talons, carried it aloft.
Draco et Aquila
Draco et aquila, convoluti inter se, pugnabant. Et quidem draco cum ligatam detineret aquilam, videns id rusticus, soluta draconis spira, liberam dimisit aquilam. Quare iratus draco, venenum immisit in servantis potum. Hausturo vero, quod ignoraret, rustico advolans, aquila ex eius manibus calicem decussit.
Moral
Eos qui bene alicui faciunt, manent gratiae.
Perry #395