Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Not to envy each others Gifts or Preferments. [ CXVIII]

IT is said of one Pelaretus a Lacedemonian,* 1.1 that standing for a place of credit, to be one of the 300. which was a degree of honour at Sparta; and missing of it, though a man highly deserving,* 1.2 yet he was so far from complaining, or grudging, or grie∣ving threat, that when others marvelled at his contentment, and enquired of his reason, he told them, That he rejoyced at the happinesse of that Commonwealth, that it had three hundred men more worthy to govern than himself.* 1.3 But how many are there in these times of clearer judgment, wherein it is apparently known, that true god∣linesse teacheth every man contentment, to move in that Orb and place where God hath placed him, with that portion that God hath given him: Yet, as sore eyes are offended at clear lights, so they fret at the brightnesse of other men's fortunes, ver∣tues, and prosperity, and envy because of other mens wealth or honour. How many rage and storm like Aeolus, not that 300. nor three, but some one eminent person, is preferred before them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plut. Ap••ph∣thegm.
• * 1.2

  Alterius rebus non macrescit opimis.
• * 1.3

  Mr. Wood∣noth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 antea. Invide, quid sus piras? Proprium ne malum, an alienum bo∣num? Basil.