Aesop´s The Serpent and The Eagle

The Serpent and the Eagle is one of Aesop's Fables.

The Aesopica, is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. 

The fables originally belonged to the oral tradition and were not collected for some three centuries after Aesop's death. 

Aesop - The Serpent and Eagle is one of the fables that does not have a moral written at the end.

This is the beginning of the "Aesop Serpent Eagle" fable.

Once upon a time, in a lush forest far away, a crafty serpent lived among the roots of a towering oak tree. It was said that he was the most cunning creature in the entire forest. He was known for his keen mind and ability to navigate the dangers of the forest with ease.

High up in the branches of the same oak tree, an eagle made her home. She was strong, proud, and admired by all the animals for her ability to soar high above the trees and see the world from a vantage point none of them could ever achieve. The eagle was the envy of the creatures of the forest, and they looked up to her with admiration.

Though they were neighbors, the serpent and the eagle rarely interacted, for their worlds were so different. The eagle spent her days soaring in the sky, while the serpent slithered through the undergrowth, each living in their distinct realm.

One day, as the eagle was perched on a high branch, she spotted a large rabbit in the distance, a perfect meal for her growing eaglets. She decided to seize the opportunity and swooped down to capture the rabbit. However, she did not realize that the crafty serpent was also eyeing the same prey.

As the eagle snatched the rabbit in her sharp talons, the serpent lunged, biting the rabbit's hind leg. The eagle, surprised by the serpent's attack, panicked and began to fly upward, unknowingly carrying the serpent with her. The serpent refused to let go, as his teeth were deeply sunk into the rabbit's flesh.

The two creatures soared high into the sky, locked in a dangerous struggle. The eagle tried to shake the serpent off, but the serpent held on tight, not willing to give up his prize. The higher they climbed, the more terrified the serpent became, for he knew that he could not survive a fall from such a great height.

Realizing that the struggle was putting them both in danger, the serpent decided to use his cunning to strike a deal with the eagle. "Noble eagle," the serpent hissed, "we can both enjoy this meal if we agree to share it. You may take the first half, and I will take the second. In this way, we can both benefit from our efforts."

The eagle hesitated, considering the serpent's proposal. She knew that the serpent could not be trusted, but she also realized that if she continued the struggle, they could both end up falling from the sky.

After a moment of deliberation, the eagle agreed to the serpent's proposal. "Very well, serpent, I will accept your offer. We will share this meal and part ways."

With their agreement in place, the eagle flew down and landed on a rock, carefully releasing the rabbit from her talons. The serpent, true to his word, slithered to the other side, taking his half of the rabbit.

As the two creatures feasted on their shared meal, the other animals of the forest gathered around, amazed by the unlikely partnership that had formed between the two. They marveled at the wisdom of the serpent and the strength of the eagle, who had managed to find a way to coexist despite their differences.

In time, the serpent and the eagle began to understand and appreciate one another's strengths. The eagle admired the serpent's intelligence and cunning, while the serpent looked up to the eagle's strength and her ability to soar above the world. They discovered that by working together, they could achieve far more than they ever could alone.

From that day forward, the serpent and the eagle formed an alliance. They continued to hunt together, sharing their meals and ensuring that their families were well-fed.

What is the Moral?

Aesop Fables, were known for their teachings, because they almost always had a moral statement at the end of the story.  If he wrote stories without a moral, what was he trying to communicate to the children??