kind; so Damascen defines it, _lib. 2.
de orthod. fid._ Thomas, _2. 2. quaest. 36. art. 1._ Aristotle, _l. 2.
Rhet. c. 4. et 10._ Plato _Philebo_. Tully, _3. Tusc_. Greg. Nic. _l. de
virt. animae, c. 12._ Basil, _de Invidia_. Pindarus _Od. 1. ser. 5_, and we
find it true. 'Tis a common disease, and almost natural to us, as
[1699]Tacitus holds, to envy another man's prosperity. And 'tis in most men
an incurable disease. [1700]"I have read," saith Marcus Aurelius, "Greek,
Hebrew, Chaldee authors; I have consulted with many wise men for a remedy
for envy, I could find none, but to renounce all happiness, and to be a
wretch, and miserable for ever." 'Tis the beginning of hell in this life,
and a passion not to be excused. [1701]"Every other sin hath some pleasure
annexed to it, or will admit of an excuse; envy alone wants both. Other
sins last but for awhile; the gut may be satisfied, anger remits, hatred
hath an end, envy never ceaseth." Cardan, _lib. 2. de sap._ Divine and
humane examples are very familiar; you may run and read them, as that of
Saul and David, Cain and Abel, _angebat illum non proprium peccatum, sed
fratris prosperitas_, saith Theodoret, it was his brother's good fortune
galled him. Rachel envied her sister, being barren, Gen. xxx. Joseph's
brethren him, Gen. xxxvii. David had a touch of this vice, as he
confesseth, [1702]Psal. 37. [1703]Jeremy and [1704]Habakkuk, they repined
at others' good, but in the end they corrected themselves, Psal. 75, "fret
not thyself," &c. Domitian spited Agricola for his worth, [1705]"that a
private man should be so much glorified." [1706]Cecinna was envied of his
fellow-citizens, because he was more richly adorned. But of all others,
[1707]women are most weak, _ob pulchritudinem invidae sunt foeminae
(Musaeus) aut amat, aut odit, nihil est tertium (Granatensis.)_ They love
or hate, no medium amongst them. _Implacabiles plerumque laesae mulieres_,
Agrippina like, [1708]"A woman, if she see her neighbour more neat or
elegant, richer in tires, jewels, or apparel, is enraged, and like a
lioness sets upon her husband, rails at her, scoffs at her, and cannot
abide her;" so the Roman ladies in Tacitus did at Solonina, Cecinna's wife,
[1709]"because she had a better horse, and better furniture, as if she had
hurt them with it; they were much offended." In like sort our gentlewomen
do at their usual meetings, one repines or scoffs at another's bravery and
happiness. Myrsine, an Attic w