The Bird Catcher and the Viper

030. THE BIRD CATCHER AND THE VIPER. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Fowler and the Ringdove

152. THE FOWLER AND THE RINGDOVE. A fowler took his gun, and went into the woods a shooting. He spied a ringdove among the branches of an oak, and intended to kill it. He clapped the piece to his shoulder, and took his aim accordingly: but just as he was going to pull the trigger, an adder, which he had trod upon, under the grass, stung him so painfully in the leg, that he was forced to quit his design, and threw his gun down in a passion. The poison immediately infected his blood, and his whole body began to mortify; which being perceived, he could not help owning it to be just. “Fate,” says he, “has brought destruction upon me, while I was contriving the death of another.” [more info]

The Bird-Catcher and the Viper

07. THE BIRD-CATCHER AND THE VIPER. A bird-catcher seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree, and wishing to capture it, prepared his net and watched his opportunity, having his thoughts directed intently upon his object. Unawares, he trod upon a Viper that lay asleep in the grass. The Viper stung him, when he, falling into a swoon, said to himself, “Woe is me! While I purposed to kill another, I myself have fallen into the snare of death.” MORAL. Men often unawares fall into the snare they lay for others. [more info]

The Fowler and the Ring-Dove

012. THE FOWLER AND THE RING-DOVE. A fowler took his gun, and went into the woods a shooting. He spied a ringdove among the branches of an oak, and intended to kill it. He clapped the piece to his shoulder, and took his aim accordingly: but just as he was going to pull the trigger, an adder, which he had trod upon, under the grass, stung him so painfully in the leg, that he was forced to quit his design, and threw his gun down in a passion. The poison immediately infected his blood, and his whole body began to mortify; which being perceived, he could not help owning it to be just. “Fate,” says he, “has brought destruction upon me, while I was contriving the death of another.” [more info]

The Ring-Dove and the Fowler

012. THE RINGDOVE AND THE FOWLER.
While the young fowler sought, with eager skill,
A Ring Dove in a neighbouring Tree to kill,
An Adder in the floury mead beneath
Stung the unhappy youth, and stung to death.
Morall.
The young usurper, who design'd t'invade,
An others right, himselfe the victim made.
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