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$$A YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



cism, that eclipseth men when they grow too great : and therefore it is 

 a bridle also to great ones, to keep them within bounds. 



This envy, being in the Latin word invidia, gocth in the modem 

 languages by the name of discontent ; of which we shall speak in hand 

 ling sedition. It is a disease in a state like to infection : for as infec 

 tion spreadeth upon that which is sound, and tainteth it ; so when envy 

 is gotten once into a state, it traduceth even the best actions thereof, 

 and turneth them into an ill odour ; and therefore there is little won 

 by intermingling of plausible actions : for that doth argue but a weak 

 ness and fear of envy, which hurteth so much the more ; as it is like 

 wise usual in infections, which if you fear them, you call them upon 

 you. 



This public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon principal officers or 

 ministers, rather than upon kings and estates themselves. But this 

 is a sure rule, that if the envy upon the minister be great, when 

 the cause of it in him is small ; or if the envy be general in a manner 

 upon all the ministers of an estate, then the envy, though hidden, is 

 truly upon the estate itself. And so much of public envy or discon 

 tentment, and the difference thereof from private envy, which was 

 handled in the first place. 



We will add this in general touching the affection of envy : that of 

 all other affections it is the most importune and continual : for of other 

 affections there is occasion given but now and then ; and therefore it 

 is well said, &quot; Invidia festos dies non agit : &quot; for it is ever working upon 

 some other. And it is also noted, that love and envy do make a man 

 pine, which other affections do not, because they are not so continual. 



It is also the vilest affection, and the most depraved ; for which 

 cause it is the proper attribute of the devil, who is called, &quot; the envious 

 man, that soweth tares among the wheat by night : &quot; as it always 

 cometh to pass, that envy worketh subtilly, and in the dark ; and to 

 the prejudice of good things, such as is the wheat. 



X. OF LOVE. 



The stage is more beholden to love, than the life of man. For as 

 to the stage, love is ever a matter of comedies, and now and then of 

 tragedies ; but in life it doth much mischief, sometimes like a siren, 

 sometimes like a fury. You may observe, that amongst all the great 

 and worthy persons, whereof the memory rcmaineth, either ancient or 

 recent, there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree 

 of love ; which shows, that great spirits and great business do keep out 

 this weak passion. You must except nevertheless Marcus Antonius 

 the half partner of the empire of Rome, and Appius Claudius the 

 decemvir and lawgiver ; whereof the former was indeed a voluptuous 

 man and inordinate ; but the latter was an austere and wise man : and 

 therefore it seems, though rarely, that love can find entrance, not only 

 into an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified, if watch be not 

 well kept. It is a poor saying of Epicurus ; &quot; Satis magnum alter alter! 

 theatrum sumus : &quot; as if man, made for the contemplation of heaven, 



