The Fowler and the Asp

A fowler, taking his birdlime and his limed twigs with him, set off to hunt. On spotting a thrush on a tall tree, he set his heart on catching it. He fitted his rods end to end and he gazed fixedly upwards, turning all his attention to the sky. While he thus held his head in the air, he did not notice that he was setting his foot on a sleeping asp, which turned and struck him with its fangs. And he, feeling himself die, said, "Wretch that I am! I meant to catch a prey, and I did not notice that I was myself becoming the prey of death."