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Then some envenom'd with an envious touch,
Think ev'ry thing their neighbour hath too much,
O Lord say they (if in the field they be)
What goodly Corn and well-fed beasts hath he?
(If in the house) they never in their lives
Saw fairer women than their neighbours wives:
Tis pitty she (a Lasse of such renown)
Should be embraced by so rude a Clown.
That house is too well furnisht, or doth stand
Better than his: or it hath finer land.
This Farme he thinketh more commodious much,
For wood and water he had never such.
Yea, so he grudges inwardly and frets
At every good thing that his neighbour gets

Of these besides there are, that when they see
Any beloved, or in favour be,
Especially in Courts and Great mens houses,
Then the heart swelleth, and the envious rouses;
Ne're resting till that like a spightfull Elfe,
He do displace them, or disgrace himselfe.

Now some are in the minde that Hate and this
Still go together and one Passion is.
Indeed, they foul injurious humors be,
So like, they seem to have affinitie.
And yet they differ (as oft kindred do)
Enough at least I'me sure to make them two.
Hate many times from wrongs receiv'd hath grown;
Envy is seen where injuries are none.
Her malice also is more generall;
For Hate to some extends, and she to all.
Yet envious men do least spight such as be
Of ill report, or of a low degree:
But rather they do take their aime at such,
Who either well-beloved are, or rich.
And therefore some do fitly liken these
Vnto those flies we call Cantharides:
Sith for the most part they alight on none
But on the flowe as that are fairest blowne.
Or to the boistrous winde, which sooner grubs
The stately Cedar than the humble shrubs.
Yet I have known it shake the bush below,
And move the leafe that's wither'd long ago;
As if it had not shown sufficient spight,
Vnlesse it also could o'erwhelm it quite,
Or bury it in earth. Yea, I have found
The blast of Envy flies as low's the ground.
And when it hath already brought a man
Even to the very meanest state it can,
Yet 'tis not satisfi'd, but still devising
Which way it also may disturbe his rising.

This is most true, or else it could not be
That any man should hate or envy me,
Being a creature (ore would think) that's plac't
Too far below the touch of Envies blast.
And yet they do; I see men have espi'd
Something in me too that may be envi'd.
But I have found it now and know the matter,
The reason's, They are great, and Ile not flatter.
Or else because they see that I do scorn
To be their slave whose equall I am born.

I heard (although twere spoken in a cloud)
They censure, that my knowledge makes me proud:
And that I teach so farre beyond my calling,
They every houre do expect my falling;
With many a prayer and prognostication,
To shew their love not worthy revelation.
But what care I? to quit their good surmising,
I do desire fall may be their rising.
Which say should once be, as I hope twill never,
My hope is sure it shall not be for ever;
Or else, because I know it cannot be
Much lower than it is, it grieves not me.

And where they say, my wit augments my pride;
My conscience tells me that I am belide.
For, that poore dram which heaven on me bestowes,
Such lack (of what is yet more needfull) showes
That I am sad to think how much I come
Short of those gifts which are bestow'd on some:
And knowledge of that want doth grieve me so,
I have no joy to boast of that I know.

But let them scandall as I heare they do,
And see whose lot the shame will fall unto.
The shafts are aim'd at me, but I reject them,
And on the shooters may perhaps reflect them,
I care not for their envy, sith they show it;
Nor do I feare their malice now I know it.
For to prevent the venome of their throat,
I'le of their poyson make an Antidote:
And their presaging (though it be abuse)
I hope will serve me to an excellent use:
For, where before I should have took no heed,
Their words shall make mee circumspect indeed.
Yea, I will be more carefull to do well,
Which were a plague for them as bad as hell.

Some I do know, yea, too too well I know them,
And in this place do a remembrance owe them:
These men when through their envy they intend
To bring one out of favour with his friend,
Will make as though they some great vices knew
That he is guilty of, (and not a few)
They'l shake their heads as if they did detest
The course he follows; and that not in jest.

If to the Father they dispraise the Sonne,
It shall be slily indirectly done:
As thus; (I hope there's some will understand)
He lives, I tell you at a second hand.
Should I say all I know 'twould much offend you,
But more such children I pray God ne're send you.
With other words of doubt to breed suspition,
But dare not (being of a base condition)
To name them any fault: And good cause why,
It should be prov'd unto their shames a lie.
Now 'tis a quality I do despise,
As such an one doth him whom he envies;
If any therefore do that love professe me,
Lord, from their friendship I beseech thee blesse me.

Some crafty ones will honour to their face
Those whom they dare not openly disgrace;
Yet underhand their fames they'l undermine,
As lately did a seeming friend of mine.
They'l sow their slander as if they with griefe
Were forc'd to speak it: or that their beleefe
Were loth to credit it, when 'tis well known
That damn'd invention was at first their own.

Some do not care how grossely they dispraise,
Or how unlikely a report they raise;
Because they know if't be so false and ill
That one beleeves it not another will:
And so their envy very seldome failes,
But one way or another still prevailes.

Oh vilanous conceit! an engine bent
To overthrow the truest innocent:
For well they know when once a slander's sown,
And that a false report abroad is blown,
Though they would wipe it out yet they can never:
Because some scarre will stick behinde for ever.

But what is this that men are so inclinde
And subject to it? How may't be definde?
Sure if the same be rightly understood,
'Tis but a griefe that springs from others good.
Tormenting them when ever they heare tell
That other mens endevours prosper well;
It makes them grieve if any man be friended,
Or in their hearing praised or commended.
Contrariwise again, such is their spight,
In other mens misfortunes they delight;
Yea, notwithstanding it be not a whit
Vnto their profits or their benefit.
Others prosperity doth make them lean:
It nigh devoureth or consumes them clean:
But if they see them in much griefe, why that
Doth onely make them jocund, full, and fat.

Of kingdomes ruines they best love to heare,
And tragicall reports do onely cheere
Their hellish thoughts: and then their bleared eies
Can look on nothing but black infamies.
Reproachfull actions, and the foulest deeds
Of shame that mans corrupted nature breeds:
But they must wink when Vertue shineth bright,
For feare her lustre marre their weakened sight.

They do not love Encomiastick stories,
Nor books that shew their predecessors glories;
For good report to all men they denie,
And both the living and the dead envy:
Yea, many of them I do think had rather
Lose all good fame, than share it with their father.
The byting Satyre they do onely like,
And that at some particulars must strike,
Or all's worth nothing. If they can apply
Some part of this to him they do envy,
(As well perhaps they may) then they'l commend it:
And (spight of their ill natures) I that pend it
Shall have some thank. But why? not cause they deem
Me or my writing either worth esteem.
No, her's the reason they my labour like,
They think I mean him they suppose to strike.
So shall my well-meant lines become to be
A wrong to others, and a snare to me.
Heaven shield me frō such monsters; for their breath
Is worse than blasting, and their praise is death.
And let them finde no matter here, but what
May tend unto their glories whom they hate;
To make them either this ill Passion flie,
Or swoln with their own venome burst and die:
Foule Hag of Envy, let thy snakie Elves
Keep Hell with thee, and there torment themselves
Your poysond conversation fitteth men
For no society, but some grim den
Where nothing can be heard nor seen appeare,
But grones and sighes of misery and feare.
Who have you yet possest that pleased stood
With any private, or with publike good?

VVhat mans endeavours think you prosper should
If the event of things were as these would?
(None can resolve me that, for it's unknown)
Nor parents, no nor children, scarce their own:
(I say) their own hand-works are seldome free;
But subject to their proper envies be.

Witnesse a certain Rich-man who of late
Much pitying a neighbours wofull state,
Put to his helping hand and set him cleare
From all his former misery and feare.
But when he saw that through his thrift and heed,
He had well cur'd again his former need,
And grew to pretty means, though he no whit
Vnthankfull was for that his benefit:
Yet being of a nature that did long,
And joy to see anothers case go wrong,
Having no cause, but a repining now
That he once helpt him; all his studie's how
To ruinate the poore mans case again,
And make (through Envy) his own labour vain.

Oh, that a man should so from reason range,
Or entertain an humour that's so strange
And so unprofitable! Tell me, Why
Should we the honours or the wealth envy
Of other men? If we delight to see
Our brethren when in evill case they be,
Lets wish them riches, titles, and promotion,
'Twill make them greedy, proud, & choke devotion:
'Twill plunge them in a floud of misery,
In the respect of which, the beggery
We think so vile is heaven. Yea, I know
It is a thousand more mens overthrow
Than poverty can be. That if we hate,
Or would envy who are in happy state,
In my opinion they must not be such
That titles have attain'd, or to be rich:
But poore men rather, who are combred lesse,
And have indeed the truest happinesse.

But be they rich or poore I passe not whether,
For my part I am sure I envy neither.
So I but reach the glory I desire,
I do not care how many mount up higher:
And if I want not, what hurt is't to me
If I the poorest in the Kingdome be.
Yet from this Passion I beleeve not many
Can be exempted (if there may be any)
But sure more mischiefe alway doth betide
To th' envious, than to him that is envide;
And they have often (who would them bemoan?)
Lost both their eyes to lose their neighbour one.
Yea, there is many a perjur'd envious Noddy
Damnes his own soule to hurt his neighbours body,
But now such men may best by this be known,
They'l speak to no mans honour but their own.
And in their presence if you praise a man,
They'l from his worth detract ev'n all they can.
Such dogs as these are the detracting Momes,
And he whose eyes on each new Treatise romes,
To feed his humour by disgracing it,
More than for his delight or benefit.
But these most commonly do disalow
What they would mend thēselves if they knew how.

But what are they that keep the Criticks Court?
Not any doubtlesse of the wiser fort,
But such poore Pedants as would fain appeare
A great deal abler than indeed they are.
Yea, such as (when among the learn'd they chance)
Are often set by for their ignorance.
For, howsoever their insinuation
Hath gain'd a little vulgar reputation,
They are but Glow-worms that are brisk by night;
And never can be seen when Sun gives light.
Ill-tongu'd and envious, ignorant of shame;
And vile detractors of anothers fame:
But let them carp on what need any care,
Sith they are known for fools without compare?
But think, oh think to know and shun this evil,
This matchlesse inspiration of the Devill.
Remember 'tis a known apparant foe
To Charitie, and friendships overthrow:
A vicious humour that with hell acquaints,
And hinders the Communion of Saints.
Consider that, and how it makes unable
To be partaker of the holy Table.
Do so; survey your selves: and if you finde
Such guests within you, root them from your minde:
Banish that gnawing fury from your heart:
And as one wisely counsells, lay apart
Dissembling, Envy, Slander, Malice, Guile,
With evill-speaking, as most bad and vile;
In those men chiefly, whose Religion saith,
Her mainest Pillar is True-Love; next Faith.