The Envious. Lu.II. A Ofthe Envious. feeds on others evils,and hathno difeafe but his neighbours welfm:whatoever God doe for him, he cannot be happy with company; and ifhewere putto chufe,whether he would rather have equals in a common felicity, or fuperiours in mifery , he would demurre upon the eletlion. His eye calls our too much,and never returnes home,but to make comparifonswith anothers good. He is an ill prizer offorraine commodity;worfe ofhis own;for,that he rates too high,this under value.You !hall have him ever inquiring into the elbtes ofhisequals and bet- B ters;wherein he is nor more defirousto heare all, then loth to heare any thing overgood:and if jull report relate ought better then he would,he redoubles the quellion, as being hard to beleevc what he likesnor;and hopes yet, iftharbe averred again to 1 his griefe,rhar there is fomewhat concealed in the relation,which if it wereknown, would argue the commended partymiferable , and blemitb him with fecrer fhamr. Heis ready toquarrel! with God,becaufe the next field is fairer growne1and angerly calculates his coil, and time, and tillage. Whom he dares not openly backbite,nor wound with adired: cenfure,he llrikes fmoothly with an over-cold praifet and when he fces tlm hemull either malicioufiy oppugne the jull praife of another, (which were uofafe)or approve it by alfent,he yeeldeth; but tbeweswithal! that his meaoes were fuch,both by nature and education, that hecould not, without much neglect, C be ldfe commendable:fo his happinelfe {ball be made the colour ofdetradion.When anwholefome law is propounded,he crolfeth it, either by open, or clofe Qppofition; not for any incommodity orinexpedience,bur bccaufe it proceeded from any mouth befides his owne. And it mull be acaufe rarely plaufible, that will not admit fome probable contradiCtion. When his equal! tbould rife to honour, hellrives againll it unfeen; and rather with much coil fuborneth great adverfaries ; and when he fees his refillance vaine,he can give an hollow gratularion in prefence; but in fecret,difparages that advancement; eirher the man is unfit for the place, or the place for the man: or if fit,yet lelfe gainfull,or more commonthen opinion:whereto he addes,that himfdfe might have had the fame dignity upon better termes, and refufed it. He is witty io devifing fuggellions, to bring hisRival! out oflove, into fufpition. Ifhe be D curteoos,he is fcditioufiy popular; ifboumifull, he bindesover his clients to a faClion;iffucceffefull in warre,he is dangerous in peace~f wealthy,he !ayes up for aday; ifpowerfull,nothing wants but opportunity of rebellion. His fubmiflion is ambiti. ous hypocrifie;his rdigion,politike infinuarion; no aCtion is fafe from 3 jealous conftrudion. When he receives 3 good report of himwhom he emulates,he faith, Fame u pmiall,•nd is wMIID hlancb mifthieftsl and pleafeth himfelf with hope to fiode it worfe; and iflll-will have difperfed any more fpightfull narration, he laies hold on that,againll all witoelfes, and brocheth that.rumour for truell, bccau[e worll : and when he fees him perfeCtly miferable, he canat once piry him, and rejoyce. What himfclfe cannot doe,others fhall not: he hath gained well,ifhe have hindred the fuccelfe ofwhathe would have done,and could not. Heconccales his bell skill, not fo E as it may not be knowne that he knowes it, but foas it may not be learned; bccaule he would have thew?rld milfe him. He attained to a foveraigne medicine , by the I fecret Lega~~of 3dymg Emp~ncke, wher<af he will leave no he1re, I ell the praifc fhould be dtvtd<d.Fmally,he LS an enemy to Gods favours, 1f they fall befide himfelf;the bell nurfe ofill Fame;amanoftheworlldier;for heconfumeshimfdfe; and ddighrs in pining;a thoro".hedge covered with nettles 1 a peevitb Interpreter ofgood things,andnoother then a lean and pale carcalfe quid.ned with a Fiend. FINIS.
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