THE TWO ENEMIES

There were two enemies who had set sail on the same ship. They wanted to keep their distance from one another, so one went up on the prow while the other took the stern. Each man then stayed where he was. Soon a fierce storm began to blow and the ship foundered. The man standing at the stern asked the helmsman which part of the ship was likely to sink first. 'It will be the prow,' said the helmsman. 'So be it!' said the man. 'The thought of death does not trouble me so long as I will see my enemy die before me!'
So too there are people who feel such ill-will towards their neighbours that they elect to suffer something dreadful themselves so that they can see the others suffering along with them.