An Astronomer while concentrating on the stars managed to fall into a well. A neighbor pointed out he should keep his feet on the ground.
Keep one eye on the ground.
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 well, 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?”
Chambry (The Astrologer)
Note: The Chambry collection is published in Greek. AI was used to translate the Greek to this text and to create the image:
An astrologer used to go out every evening to observe the stars. One day, while walking in the outskirts of the city and keeping his whole mind fixed on the sky, he fell unawares into a well. As he cried out and lamented, someone passing by heard his groans. Coming over and learning what had happened, the passerby said to him: “O fellow, while you try to see what is in the heavens, you do not see what is on the earth!”
Perry. #40