THE SCENE: A heartwarming tale of how a knight and a snake forged a productive friendship based on their mutual hatred for a toad.
THE TEXT: In the reign of Caesar there lived a noble and valiant knight, who once rode by a certain forest, and beheld a serpent engaging with a toad. The latter obtained the mastery; which when the knight saw, he assisted the serpent; and grievously wounding the toad, reduced it to seek safety in flight. But the conqueror was also affected by the toad’s venom. The knight turned homeward, and for a long time lay sick of his wound. At last he made his will and prepared himself for death.
Now, as he reclined near the fire, utterly hopeless of life, the serpent which he had preserved entered the apartment. When the attendants beheld it, they said, “My lord, my lord, a serpent has entered the room!” When the knight saw it, he recollected that it was the same he had aided in its contest with the toad, and through which he was laid upon his bed incurable. “Do not molest it,” said the knight, “I do not believe that it will harm me.” The serpent glided towards him, and applying its tongue to the wound, sucked up the poison till its mouth was quite full; and then, hastening to the door, cast it out. It returned twice to the wound, and did as before, until the venom was exhausted.
The knight commanded milk to be given to the serpent, which it instantly drank; and no sooner had it done so, than the toad from which the wound had been received, entered, and again attacked the serpent, in revenge for its having healed the knight. The latter seeing this, said to his servants, “Without doubt, my friends, this is the toad which I wounded in defence of that serpent, and from which I derive all my infirmity. If it conquer, it will attack me; therefore, as ye love your master, kill it incontinently.” The servants, obedient to the knight’s command, slew it with swords and clubs; while the serpent, as if to praise and thank its defender, twined around his feet, and then departed. The knight completely recovered his health.
– Gesta Romanorum, 13th Century AD
[Image Credit: Circle of Karl by Wilhelm de Hamilton]
