Avaricious and Envious

Two neighbors came before Jupiter and prayed for him to grant their hearts' desires. One neighbor was consumed by avarice, while the other was eaten up with envy. To punish them both, Jupiter granted that each might have whatever he wished for himself, but only on the condition that his neighbor would receive twice as much.

The avaricious man prayed to have a room full of gold. No sooner had he made his wish than it was granted. However, all his joy quickly turned to grief when he discovered that his neighbor now possessed two rooms full of the precious metal.

Next, it was the turn of the envious man, who could not bear the thought of his neighbor enjoying any happiness at all. In a fit of jealousy, he prayed to have one of his own eyes put out, believing that this would cause his companion to become totally blind.

In the end, their vices became their own punishment, revealing the true nature of their desires and the consequences that followed.