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The Astronomer

An Astronomer went out at night to observe the stars. One night with his attention fixed on the sky, he accidently fell into a deep well. Crying out, a neighbor heard and rushed to the well. When he learned what happened he said, "Why, in trying to see into the heavens do you not manage to see what is at your feet?"

Townsend version

An Astronomer used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the wlll, and learning what had happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?'

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