FSSA YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 13 



Nevertheless it is to be noted, that unworthy persons are most envied 

 at their first coming in, and afterwards overcome it better ; whereas 

 contrariwise, persons of worth and merit arc most envied when their 

 fortune continueth long. For by that time, though their virtue be the 

 same, yet it hath not the same lustre ; for fresh men grow up that 

 darken it. 



Persons of noble blood are less envied in their rising ; for it scemeth 

 but right done to their birth : besides, there scemcth not much added 

 to their fortune : and envy is as the sun-beams, that beat hotter upon 

 a bank or steep rising ground than upon a flat. And for the same 

 reason, those that are advanced by degrees, arc less envied than those 

 that are advanced suddenly, and per saltum. 



Those that have joined with their honour, great travels, cares, or 

 perils, are less subject to envy : for men think that they earn their 

 honours hardly, and pity them sometimes ; and pity ever healethenvy : 

 wherefore you shall observe, that the more deep and sober sort ol 

 politic persons, in their greatness, are ever bemoaning themselves 

 what a life they lead, chanting a &quot;Quanta patimur:&quot; not that they 

 feel it so, but only to abate the edge of envy. But this is to be under 

 stood of business that is laid upon men, and not such as they call unto 

 themselves : for nothing increaseth envy more, than an unnecessary 

 ind ambitious ingrossing of business : and nothing doth extinguish 

 envy more, than for a great person to preserve all other inferior officers 

 in their full rights and pre-eminences of their places : for by that means 

 there be so many screens between him and envy. 



Above all, those are most subject to envy, which carry the great 

 ness of their fortunes in an insolent and proud manner: being never 

 well but while they are showing how great they are, either by outward 

 pomp, or by triumphing over all opposition or competition ; whereas 

 wise men will rather do sacrifice to envy, in suffering themselves some 

 times of purpose to be crossed and overborne in things that do not 

 much concern them. Notwithstanding, so much is true : that the 

 carriage of greatness in a plain and open manner, so it be without 

 arrogancy and vain-glory, doth draw less envy, than if it be in a more 

 crafty and cunning fashion. For in that course a man doth but dis 

 avow fortune, and scemcth to be conscious of his own want in worth, 

 and dothJMU teach others to envy him. 



Lastly, to conclude this part ; as we said in the beginning, that the 

 act of envy had somewhat in it of witchcraft, so there is no other cure 

 of envy, but the cure of witchcraft : and that is, to remove the lot, as 

 they call it, and to lay it upon another. For which purpose, the wiser 

 sort of great persons bring in ever upon the stage somebody upon 

 whom to derive the envy that would come upon themselves : some 

 times upon ministers and servants, sometimes upon colleagues and 

 associates, and the like : and for that turn, there arc never wanting 

 some persons of violent and undertaking natures, who, so they may 

 have power and business, will take it at any cost. 



Now to speak of public envy. There is yet some good in public 

 envy, whereas in private there is none. For public envy is as an ostra- 



