S. Augustine. Please God may pride have done you as little hurt as envy! So far as I judge, you have escaped this sin, but I have others whereof to accuse you.
Petrarch. Still you will not vex me whatever reproaches you may bring. Tell me freely everything that leads me astray.
S. Augustine. The desire of things temporal.
Petrarch. Come, come! I truly have never heard anything so absurd.
S. Augustine. There! you see everything vexes you. You have forgotten your promise. This is not, however, any question of envy.
Petrarch. No, but of cupidity, and I do not believe there is a man in the world more free of this fault than myself.
S. Augustine. You are great at self-justification, but, believe me, you are not so clear of this fault as you think you are.
Petrarch. What? do you mean to say that I, I am not free from the reproach of cupidity?
S. Augustine. I do, and that you are likewise guilty of ambition.
Petrarch. Go on, ill-treat me more still, double your reproaches, make full proof of your work of an accuser. I wonder what fresh blow you have in store for me.