A snake, having made its hole close to the door of a cottage, inflicted a severe bite on the cottager's little son, causing the child's death.
This brought great sorrow to the parents. The father decided to kill the snake. The next day, as the snake came out for food, the man took up his axe. In his haste, he missed the snake's head and only cut off the end of its tail.
Some time later, fearing the snake might bite him in return, the cottager tried to make peace. He placed some bread and salt beside the snake's hole. The snake, with a slight hiss, said: "From now on, there can be no peace between us. Whenever I see you, I shall remember the loss of my tail; and whenever you see me, you will think of the death of your son."
No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of the one who caused them.