Sayfa 343 / 1116

The Tale of the Envier and the Envied.

They relate, O Ifrit, that in a certain city were two men who

dwelt in adjoining houses, having a common party wall; and one of

them envied the other and looked on him with an evil eye,[FN#217]

and did his utmost endeavour to injure him; and, albeit at all

times he was jealous of his neighbour, his malice at last grew on

him till he could hardly eat or enjoy the sweet pleasures of

sleep. But the Envied did nothing save prosper; and the more the

other strove to injure him, the more he got and gained and

throve. At last the malice of his neighbour and the man's

constant endeavour to work him a harm came to his knowledge; so

he said, "By Allah! God's earth is wide enough for its people;"

and, leaving the neighbourhood, he repaired to another city where

he bought himself a piece of land in which was a dried up draw

well,[FN#218] old and in ruinous condition.