A _Covetous Man_ and an _Envious_.
There was a _Covetous_, and an _Envious_ Man, that Joyn’d in a Petition
to _Jupiter_; who very Graciously Order’d _Apollo_ to tell them that
their Desire should be Granted at a Venture; provided only, that whatever
the One Ask’d, should be Doubled to the Other. The _Covetous_ Man,
that thought he could never have enough, was a good while at a Stand;
Considering, that let him Ask never so much, the Other should have Twice
as much. But he came however by Degrees, to Pitch upon One Thing after
another, and his companion had it Double. It was now the _Envious_ Man’s
turn to Offer up His Request, which was, that One of his Own Eyes might
be put out, for his Companion was then to lose Both.
The MORAL.
_Avarice and Envy are Two of the most Diabolical, and Insociable Vices
under Heaven. The One Assumes All to it self, and the Other Wishes Every
bit it’s Neighbour Eats may Choak him._