A WICKED Old Man finding himself ill sent for a Physician, who
prescribed for him and went away.  Then the Wicked Old Man sent for
another Physician, saying nothing of the first, and an entirely¹
different treatment was ordered.  This continued for some weeks,
the physicians visiting him on alternate days and treating him for
two different disorders², with constantly enlarging doses of
medicine and more and more rigorous nursing.  But one day they
accidently met at his bedside while he slept, and the truth coming
out a violent quarrel ensued.

  "My good friends," said the patient, awakened³ by the noise of the
dispute, and apprehending⁴ the cause of it, "pray be more
reasonable.  If I could for weeks endure you both, can you not for
a little while endure each other?  I have been well for ten days,
but have remained in bed in the hope of gaining by repose⁵ the
strength that would justify⁶ me in taking your medicines.  So far I
have touched none of it."

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