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 adder¹, 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 mortify²; which, when he perceived, he could not help owning it to be just. "Fate," said he, "has brought destruction upon me while I was contriving³ the death of another."

Men often fall into the trap which they prepare for others.