21. To you let them give good
health, to us bad, ay, the very worst. Let them water your farms
with seasonable showers; from our little fields let them drive away all
those rains which are gentle. Let them see to it that your sheep
are multiplied by a numerous progeny; on our flocks let them bring
luckless barrenness. From your olive-trees and vineyards let them
bring the full harvest; but let them see to it that from not one shoot
of ours one drop be expressed. Finally, and as their worst, let
them give orders that in your mouth the products of the earth retain
their natural qualities; but, on the contrary that in ours the honey
become bitter, the flowing oil grow rancid, and that the wine when
sipped, be in the very lips suddenly changed into disappointing
vinegar.