(The serpent stuck under the rock. Source)
- A hunter, passing by a quarry, saw a serpent stuck underneath a large rock.
- The serpent wanted the hunter to free him but the hunter said no because the serpent would eat him. Serpent promised that he wouldn't eat the hunter so the hunter let him free. Serpent was about to eat him, saying hunger doesn't observe promises, when hunter asked him if he would still eat him if he had no right. The serpent said no he wouldn't, and so they went to find three judges
- First they found a greyhound, who says the serpent should eat him because the greyhound's master wishes to kill him because he is too old and can't help catch hares for his master anymore
- Second they found a horse, who says the serpent should eat him because the horse can no longer travel and his master wishes to kill him
- Third they found a fox. Fox gets everyone to go back to the quarry to reenact the situation
- After they put the stone on the serpent, the fox asks if that is how the serpent was. Serpent says yes, and fox says to stay there
Bibliography
Italian Popular Tales: The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox by Thomas Frederick Crane
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