Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
140. JUPITER AND A SERPENT (Perry 221)
Jupiter had Presents made him upon his Wedding-Day, greater or less,
from all living Creatures. A Serpent brought him a Rose in his Mouth for
an Offering. The thing was acceptable enough, but not the Presenter; for
(says Jupiter) though Gifts are welcome to me, of themselves, I must not
yet receive any from a Serpent.
THE MORAL. He that receives a Present, contracts an Obligation; which
a Body would be asham'd of in the Case of an ill Man; for it looks towards
making a Friendship with them.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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