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 Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave,
 Is emulation in the learn'd or brave.  
 Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave,
 Is emulation in the learn'd or brave. 
 Such men as he be never at heart's ease
 Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
  And read more 
 Such men as he be never at heart's ease
 Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
  And therefore are they very dangerous. 
Envy shoots at others and wounds itself
Envy shoots at others and wounds itself
 Envy's a sharper spur than pay:
 No author ever spar'd a brother;
  Wits are gamecocks to one read more 
 Envy's a sharper spur than pay:
 No author ever spar'd a brother;
  Wits are gamecocks to one another. 
Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely?
Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely?
Our envy of others devours us most of all.
Our envy of others devours us most of all.
 Envy will merit as its shade pursue,
 But like a shadow, proves the substance true.  
 Envy will merit as its shade pursue,
 But like a shadow, proves the substance true. 
If we did but know how little some enjoy of the great things that they possess, there would not be read more
If we did but know how little some enjoy of the great things that they possess, there would not be much envy in the world.
It is in the character if very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered.
It is in the character if very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered.