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.”