Aesop's Fables: The Man and the Snake

A Countryman's son by accident stepped on a Serpent's tail, which turned and bit him and he died. The father in a rage got his axe, and pursuing the Snake, cut off part of its tail. So the Snake in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's cattle and caused him severe loss. Well, the Farmer thought it was better to make it up with the Snake, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair, and said to it: "Let's forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my cattle, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?"

"No, no," said the Snake; "take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail."

Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.