INTRODUCTION. 3 



Gradually, I allowed feelings almost amounting to ill-will 

 towards you to creep into my heart; but, happily, I soon 

 stifled them, when I found, upon examination, that they owed 

 their birth to nothing but envy. 



Every happiness excites jealou^. When we see others in 

 the enjoyment of it, we endeavour to persuade ourselves that 

 they have injured us in some serious manner; and then we 

 try to dignify that mean sentiment , of envy with a nobler 

 name, and call it just resentment, proper pride, or wounded 

 dignity. 



When once I recognised my weakness, I quickly triumphed 

 over it, and justified you; but it was not so easy a matter to 

 justify myself to my own conscience. 



Truly the evil one would have very little hold of us if 

 he presented the baits he lays for us under their proper 

 names. 



When I returned to my home I could not refrain from 

 envying your happiness, but you I no longer envied; you 

 again appeared the same excellent friend, as soon as I ceased 

 to seek in you those chimerical qualities that are imposed 

 upon a poor Pylades, although we never examine if we our- 

 selves are for another what we require another, should be for 

 us; in a word, every one is anxious to have a friend, without 

 taking any particular pains to be one himself 



But, as my ill-humour towards you faded away, it seized 

 upon myself, and I complained bitterly that my scanty 

 fortune would not permit me, like you, to see other countries, 

 other men, other climates; and I became painfully aware 

 of the poverty to which I had hitherto given but little 

 attention. 



What ! said I to myself, shall I be always, then, like that 

 poor goat which I see fastened to a post in a field yonder? 

 She has already cropped all the grass which grew wittiin the 

 circle its cord allowed it to traverse, and she must recom- 

 mence by nibbling the herbage which she has already eaten 

 down as close as velvet. 



Whilst thus sohloquizing, I stood upon the balcony of 

 a low window which opened on to my garden, looking out 

 mechanically upon the scene before me; the sun was setting; 

 at first my eyes, and afterwards my soul, were enthralled 



