The Head and the Tail of the Serpent

Two parts the serpent has -- / Of men the enemies -- / The head and tail: the same / Have won a mighty fame, / Next to the cruel Fates; -- / So that, indeed, hence / They once had great debates / About precedence. / The first had always gone ahead; / The tail had been for ever led; / And now to Heaven it pray'd, / And said, / 'O, many and many a league, / Dragg'd on in sore fatigue, / Behind his back I go. / Shall he for ever use me so? / Am I his humble servant; / No. Thanks to God most fervent! / His brother I was born, / And not his slave forlorn. / The self-same blood in both, / I'm just as good as he: / A poison dwells in me / As virulent as doth[1] / In him. In mercy, heed, / And grant me this decree, / That I, in turn, may lead -- / My brother, follow me. / My course shall be so wise, / That no complaint shall rise.'

[1]: An ancient mistake in natural history. -- Translator.