The White Snake

By Itellyouastory

A long time ago there  lived a king who was  famed for his wisdomthrough all the land. Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed as ifnews of the most secret  things was  brought to  him through  the air.But he  had  a strange custom; every day after dinner, when the tablewas cleared, and no one else was present, a trusty servant had to bringhim one more dish.  It was covered, however, and even  the servant didnot  know what was in  it, neither did anyone know, for the king  nevertook off the cover to eat  of it until he was quite alone.

This had gone on for a long time, when one day the servant, who tookaway the dish, was overcome with such curiosity that he could not helpcarrying the dish into his room. When he  had carefully locked the door,he  lifted up the cover, and saw a white snake lying on the dish. Butwhen he saw  it he could not  deny himself  the pleasure  of tasting it,so he  cut of  a little bit and put it into his mouth. No sooner had ittouched his  tongue than he heard a strange whispering of little voicesoutside his window. He went and listened,  and then  noticed that itwas the  sparrows who  were chattering together, and telling one anotherof all kinds of things  which they had seen  in the fields  and woods.Eating the snake  had given  him power of understanding the language ofanimals.

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