There be none of the affections, which have been noted to fascinate or bewitch, but love and envy. They both have vehement wishes; they frame themselves readily into imaginations and suggestions; and they come easily into the eye, especially upon the present of the objects; which are the points that conduce to fascination, if any such thing there be. We see likewise, the Scripture calleth envy an evil eye; and the astrologers, call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects; so that still there seemeth to be acknowledged, in the act of envy, an ejaculation or irradiation of the eye. Nay, some have been so curious, as to note, that the times when the stroke or percussion of an envious eye doth most hurt, are when the party envied is beheld in glory or triumph; for that sets an edge upon envy: and besides, at such times the spirits of the person envied, do come forth most into the outward parts, and so meet the blow.
在人的各種情欲之中,沒有一種可以看出是迷人或魔人的——除了戀愛與嫉妒。這兩者都有很強烈的愿望,它們很容易造出意象和觀念;并且很容易進入眼中,尤其是當對象在場的時候,這些都是導致蠱惑之處——假設有蠱惑這種事的話。類此,我們看見《圣經》中把嫉妒叫做“兇眼”;而占星家把星宿底惡影響叫做“惡容”;所以好象總有人承認嫉妒的行為中是有一種眼力底投射或放光似的。不但如此,還有些人好奇之甚,竟說嫉妒底眼目其打擊傷人最烈的時候是那受嫉的人正在顯耀榮華,受人注視的時候;因為這種情形使嫉妒之心更為銳利也。再者,在這種時候,那受嫉的人底精神多出現于外表上,因而他就受到那種打擊了。
But leaving these curiosities (though not unworthy to be thought on, in fit place), we will handle, what persons are apt to envy others; what persons are most subject to be envied themselves; and what is the difference between public and private envy.
我們現在先不理這些奧妙之點(雖然在適當之處它們并非不值得思索的),且談何種人最易嫉人;何種人最易受嫉;以及公妒與私妒有何分別。
A man that hath no virtue in himself, ever envieth virtue in others. For men's minds, will either feed upon their own good, or upon others' evil; and who wanteth the one, will prey upon the other; and whoso is out of hope, to attain to another's virtue, will seek to come at even hand, by depressing another's fortune.
無德之人常嫉他人之有德。因為人底心思若不以自己底好處為食,就要以他人底壞處為食的;并且缺乏這二者之一的人一定是要獵取其二的。又任何人若是沒有達到他人底美德的希望,他一定要設法壓抑這另一人底幸福以求與之得平的。
A man that is busy, and inquisitive, is commonly envious. For to know much of other men's matters, cannot be because all that ado may concern his own estate; therefore it must needs be, that he taketh a kind of play-pleasure, in looking upon the fortunes of others. Neither can he, that mindeth but his own business, find much matter for envy. For envy is a gadding passion, and walketh the streets, and doth not keep home: Non est curiosus, quin idem sit
malevolus.
多事好問之人每善嫉。因為所以要知道如許關于他人之事的原因決不會是因為這許多勞碌是有關于自己底利害的;因此,其原由一定是因為他在觀察別人底禍福上得到一種觀劇式的樂趣了。并且一個專務己業的人也不會找著許多嫉妒底緣由來的。因為嫉妒是一種游蕩的情欲,在大街上徘徊而不肯居家,所謂“未有好管閑事而不心懷惡意者也”。