Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/46

Rh be because all that Adoe may concerne his owne Estate ; Therfore it must needs be that he taketh a kinde of plaie-pleasure in looking upon the Fortunes of others; Neither can he that mindeth but his own Businesse finde much matter for Envy. For Envy is a Gadding Passion, and walketh the Streets, and doth not keepe home; Non est curiosus, quin idem sit malevolus.

Men of Noble birth are noted to be envious towards New Men when they rise. For the distance is altered; And it is like a deceipt of the Eye, that when others come on they thinke themselves goe backe.

Deformed Persons and Eunuches and Old Men and Bastards are Envious: For he that cannot possibly mend his owne case will doe what he can to impaire another's; Except these Defects light upon a very brave and Heroicall Nature, which thinketh to make his Naturall Wants part of his Honour: In that it should be said that an Eunuch or a Lame Man did such great Matters, Affecting the Honour of a Miracle; as it was in Narses the Eunuch, and Agesilaus, and Tamberlanes, that were Lame men.

The same is the Case of Men that rise after Calamities and Misfortunes; For they are as Men fallen out with the times, And thinke other Men's Harmes a Redemption of their owne Sufferings.

They that desire to excell in too many Matters, out of Levity and Vaine glory, are ever Envious, For they cannot want worke ; It being impossible but many, in some one of those Things, should surpasse them: Which was the Character of Adrian the Emperour, that mortally Envied Poets and Painters and Artificers in Works wherein he had a veine to excell.

Lastly, neare Kinsfolks, and Fellowes in Office, and those that have beene bred together, are more apt to Envy