The Fowler and the Viper

A FOWLER, taking his bird-lime and his twigs, went out to catch
birds.
Seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree, he wished to take
it, and fitting his twigs to a proper length, watched intently,
having his whole thoughts directed towards the sky.
While thus
looking upwards, he unknowingly trod upon a Viper asleep just
before his feet.
The Viper, turning about, stung him, and
falling into a swoon, the man said to himself, "Woe is me! that
while I purposed to hunt another, I am myself fallen unawares
into the snares of death."