Envy and Avarice

Envy and Avarice, one summer day,Sauntering abroadIn quest of the abodeOf some poor wretch or fool who lived that way--You--or myself, perhaps--I cannot say--Along the road, scarce heeding where it tended,Their way in sullen, sulky silence wended;

For, though twin sisters, these two charming creatures,Rivals in hideousness of form and features,Wasted no love between them as they went.Pale Avarice,With gloating eyes,And back and shoulders almost double bent,Was hugging close that fatal boxFor which she's ever on the watchSome glance to catchSuspiciously directed to its locks;And Envy, too, no doubt with silent winkingAt her green, greedy orbs, no single minuteWithdrawn from it, was hard a-thinkingOf all the shining dollars in it.

The only words that Avarice could utter,Her constant doom, in a low, frightened mutter,"There's not enough, enough, yet in my store!"While Envy, as she scanned the glittering sight,Groaned as she gnashed her yellow teeth with spite,"She's more than me, more, still forever more!"

Thus, each in her own fashion, as they wandered,Upon the coffer's precious contents pondered,When suddenly, to their surprise,The God Desire stood before their eyes.Desire, that courteous deity who grantsAll wishes, prayers, and wants;Said he to the two sisters: "Beauteous ladies,As I'm a gentleman, my task and trade isTo be the slave of your behest--Choose therefore at your own sweet will and pleasure,Honors or treasure!Or in one word, whatever you'd like best.But, let us understand each other--sheWho speaks the first, her prayer shall certainlyReceive--the other, the same boon redoubled!"

Imagine how our amiable pair,At this proposal, all so frank and fair,Were mutually troubled!Misers and enviers, of our human race,Say, what would you have done in such a case?Each of the sisters murmured, sad and low"What boots it, oh, Desire, to me to haveCrowns, treasures, all the goods that heart can crave,Or power divine bestow,Since still another must have always more?"

So each, lest she should speak beforeThe other, hesitating slow and longTill the god lost all patience, held her tongue.He was enraged, in such a way,To be kept waiting there all day,With two such beauties in the public road;Scarce able to be civil even,He wished them both--well, not in heaven.

Envy at last the silence broke,And smiling, with malignant sneer,Upon her sister dear,Who stood in expectation by,Ever implacable and cruel, spoke"I would be blinded of one eye!"