jupiter's lottery

Jupiter, in order to please mankind, directed Mercury to give notice Ihat he had established a lottery, in which there were no blanks, and thaï among a variely of valuable chances, Wisdom was the highest prize. It was Jupiter's command, Ihat in this lottery some of ihe Gods should also become adventurers. The tickets being disposed of, and Ihe wheel placed, Mercury was employed to préside at the drawing. It happened that the best prize fell to Minerva ; upon which a gênerai murmur ran through the assembly, and hints were ihrown out that Jupiter had used some unfair practices to secure the désirable prize to his daughter. Jupiter, that he mighl at once bolh punish and silence thèse impious clamourers of the human race, presented them with Foliy in the place of Wisdom ; wilh which they wentaway perfectly weli contented. And from that time the greatest fools hâve ahvays looked upon themselves as the wisest meu.

(Dodsley).