Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/248

226 brother. These be the precepts and advertisements that a man may give unto him that is the better and superior.

To come now to him who is the inferior, he ought thus to think in his mind: That his brother is not one alone that hath no fellow, nor the only man in the world who is richer, better learned, or more renowned and glorious than himself, but that oftentimes he also is inferior to a great number, yea, and to many millions of us men,

but if he be such an one as either goeth up and down, bearing envy unto all the world; or if he be of so ill a nature, as that among so many men that are fortunate, he alone and none but he troubleth him, who ought of all other to be dearest and is most nearly joined unto him by the obligation of blood, a man may well say of him; That he is unhappy in the highest degree, and hath not left unto another man living any means to go beyond him in wretchedness. As Metellus therefore thought that the Romans were bound to render thanks unto the gods in heaven, for that Scipio, so noble and brave a man, was born in Rome and not in any other city; so every man is to wish and pray unto the gods, that himself may surmount all other men in prosperity, if not, yet that he might have a brother at leastwise to attain unto that power and authority so much desired; but some there be so unfortunate and unlucky by nature, in respect of any goodness in them, that they can rejoice and take a great glory in this, to have their friends advanced unto high places of honour, or to see their hosts and guests abroad, princes, rulers, rich and mighty men, but the resplendent glory of their brethren they think doth eclipse and darken their own renown; they delight and joy to hear the fortunate exploits of their fathers recounted, or how their great grandsires long ago had the conduct of armies, and were lord praetors and generals in the field, wherein they themselves had never any part, nor received thereby either honour or profit; but if there have fallen unto their brethren any great heritages or possessions, if they have risen unto high estate and achieved honourable dignities, if they are advanced by rich and noble marriages, then they are cast down and their hearts be done. And yet it had behoved and right meet it were in the first place, to be envious to no man at all; but if that may not be, the next way were to turn their envy outward, and eye-bite strangers, and to shew our spite unto