A Man took up a Snake stiffened with frost, and warmed her in his bosom, being compassionate to his own undoing; for when she had recovered, she instantly killed the Man. On another one asking her the reason of {this} crime, she made answer: “That people may learn not to assist the wicked.”[26] [Footnote IV.26: _Not to assist the wicked_)--Ver. 5. It has been remarked that Phædrus here deviates from nature, in making the Serpent give a bad character of itself. Those who think that Phædrus wrote after the time of Tiberius, suggest that Caligula is represented by the snake, who wreaked his cruelty on his former benefactors, Macro and Ennia.] FABLE XIX. THE FOX AND THE DRAGON. While a Fox, digging a lair, was throwing out the earth, and making deeper and more numerous burrows, she came to the farthest recesses of a Dragon’s den,[27] who was watching some treasure hidden there. As soon as {the Fox} perceived him, {she began}:-- “In the first place, I beg that you will pardon my unintentional {intrusion}; and next, as you see clearly enough that gold is not suited to my mode of life, have the goodness to answer me: what profit do you derive from this toil, or what is the reward, so great that you should be deprived of sleep, and pass your life in darkness?” “None {at all},” replied the other; “but this {task} has been assigned me by supreme Jove.” “Then you neither take {anything} for yourself, nor give to another?” “Such is the will of the Fates.” “Don’t be angry {then}, if I say frankly: the man is born under the displeasure of the Gods who is like you.” As you must go to that place to which {others} have gone before, why in the blindness of your mind do you torment your wretched existence? To you I address myself, Miser, joy of your heir,[28] who rob the Gods of their incense, yourself of food; who hear with sorrow the musical sound of the lyre; whom the joyous notes of the pipes torment; from whom the price of provisions extorts a groan;[29] who, while adding some farthings to your estate, offend heaven by your sordid perjuries; who are for cutting down[30] every expense at your funeral, for fear Libitina[31] should be at all a gainer at the expense of your property. [Footnote IV.27: _Of a Dragon’s den_)--Ver. 3. In former times, when riches were more commonly duried in the earth, it was perhaps found convenient to encourage a superstitious notion, which was very prevalent, that they were guarded by watchful Dragons.] [Footnote IV.28: _Joy of your heir_)--Ver. 18. That is to say, in his death.] [Footnote IV.29: _Extorts a groan_)--Ver. 22. So in the Aulularia of Plautus, Act II. Sc. viii. the miser Euclio is represented as groaning over the high price of provisions.] [Footnote IV.30: _Cutting down_)--Ver. 25. In his will.]