The Book of Fives

Suttas 229-230

The Black Snake

 

1

"Beggars! There are five bad things about a black snake.
What five?

Uncleanliness.

A foul smell.

It belongs to anyone.

It is easily frightened.

And it is duplicitous with friends.

Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about a black snake

"Beggars! There are five bad things about the female gender.
What five?

Uncleanliness

A foul smell.

They'll belong to anyone.

They are easily frightened.

And they are duplicitous with friends.

Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about the female gender.

 

2

"Beggars! There are five bad things about a black snake.
What five?

It's anger is uncontrolled.

It carries a grudge

It's bite is deadly poison

It is forked toungued.

And it is duplicitous with friends.

Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about a black snake

"Beggars! There are five bad things about the female gender.
What five?

Uncontrolled anger.

Vengefulness.

A deadly poisonous bite.

Forked-tongue speech.

And duplicity with friends.

Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about the female gender.

Beggars! This is the deadly poison of womankind: they are almost always intensely passionate.

Beggars! This is the forked tongue of womankind: they are almost always slanderous in speech.

Beggars! This is the duplicity of womankind: they are almost always unfaithful.