D.H. Lawrence presents the dual response that is evoked when the poet encounters the snake at his water-trough. Actually, it is the conflict between civilized social education or the worldly knowledge and understanding and his natural human instincts. Ultimately, his natural human instincts prevail upon him. He repents at his worthless, ‘vulgar’ and ‘mean’ act of throwing a log of wood at the snake.
In the beginning, the poet is quite fascinated by the presence of the snake. The snake had come to the water-trough to quench his thirst on a hot day in July. However, the poet realises that the snake has the first right to drink water. He came there before him. He is soon torn between two contrasting emotions. The voices of his education tell him that the yellow-brown snake is poisonous and must be killed. But he is honoured that the snake has come there to seek his hospitality. The snake finishes drinking and seems to be satisfied. He withdraws himself, puts his head into the black hole and prepares to depart. The poet doesn’t like that the snake should go back into the horrid black hole. He protests and in a fit of anger throws a log of wood at the snake.
The poet repents immediately at his ‘paltry’, ‘vulgar’ and ‘mean’ act of throwing a log at the snake. He thinks of albatross who was killed by the ancient mariner in a fit of anger. Now he admires and realises the true glory and grandeur of the king in exile. He has something to expiate. It is his ‘pettiness’.