The Viper and the Water-Snake

A viper used to come regularly to drink at a spring. A water-snake that lived there wanted to stop her, indignant that the viper, not content with her own pasture, should trespass on her domain as well. As the quarrel grew ever more bitter, they agreed to do battle: whichever won would have possession of the land and the water. They had fixed the day when the frogs, out of hatred for the water-snake, came to the viper and emboldened her, promising to take her side. The fight began, and the viper struggled against the water-snake, while the frogs, unable to do more, raised loud cries. The viper, having won the victory, reproached them: they had, she said, promised to fight alongside her, and yet during the battle, instead of helping her, they had only sung. The frogs replied, "Know well, friend, that our help is given not with arms but with the voice alone."