捕鸟人和毒蛇

Belinda

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."