Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCXXXVIII
Fab. CCXXXVIII.
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.
REFLEXION.
THERE are some Pestilent Humours and Froward Natures, that Heaven it self has much ado to please. Envy Places it’s Happiness in the Misery and Misfortune of Others; and Avarice is never to Pieas'd, unless it can get All to it self They may seem to be nearer a-Kin then in truth they Are, though the One is seldom or never to be found without the Other. The Best Use of This Application, is to Possess us with a True Sense of the Restlesness of these Two Passions; and Consequently to make Those Weaknesses Odious to our selves, that are so Troublesome to the World; and in truth, no Better then the Common Pest of Mankind.