Krilof and His Fables/The Snake

A Snake begged Jupiter to bestow upon her the voice of a nightingale.

"As I am," she says, "my life is hateful to me. Whereever I show myself, all who are weaker than I am are fright­ened at the sight of me. And as to those who are stronger, God grant that I may escape from them alive! No, such a life as this I can no longer endure. But if I could sing in the forest like a nightingale, then, exciting admiration, I should obtain love and, perhaps, respect, and would become the life of festive meetings."

Jupiter granted the Snake's request. Not even a trace of her hideous hissing was retained by her. The Snake glided up a tree, chose a resting-place upon it, and began to sing as beautifully as any nightingale.

The birds flocked together from all sides, and would have perched close by her; but as soon as they caught sight of the songstress, away they all flew from the tree in a body. Whom could such a reception please?

"Is it possible you can find my voice disagreeable?" asks the Snake with vexation.

"No," replies a Starling: "it is sonorous, wonderful. In ​fact, you sing as well as the nightingale. But, to tell the truth, our hearts shuddered within us when we saw your sting. To us it is a terrible thing to be in your company. And so I will say this to you, but not with any intention of annoying you. We shall be delighted to hear your songs, only sing them at a little distance from us."