Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-01

GIpeya, ca-nes rit;orum alimenta suorum
Inoidiaoi riscgue oeuLos arerfn af,na
Surgit hume pigra; semasdrumque rehnqu'
Corpora sepentum' pa'suque .nced'f 'aer"
PaHor IN ore sedef; nactes IA corpore toto:
Nnsq.am reeta aeies; fipeni rubigine denies
Pseiore felle ryen.: Engua Is. sufus renemo.
[ovID
The almos, painfully vivid description OF the
demon ENVY, given by the poet, IN the lines
which have placed as motto TO this paper
and The magic al skill which he has exercised
in coniuring up so horrible a person6calion OF
detestable vice, have been remarked, sup
pose, BY every classical reader
To The mere me'aphysician or moralisf, The
dissection Of vice is not so agreeable, OF in
struc,ing as the theoretical and practical study
ofvirtue; on the same principle, suppose. tina,
Dr.. Eschar would rather chuose fresh. perfect
subj-cr for the knife than any other. Bot 10 a
man Of the world like me, one who has often
had, from the nature of his profession, to probe
heart. festered and corrupted with wickedness,
the critic al { Examination Of mems evil propen-
stiles and habits is no. without interest aid
advantage.
Perhaps no man, woman. or child exists, or
ever did exist, who was free, entirely and com.
ple,ely from the vice Of ENVY. Even while
I am declamine against it, feel and aeknowl,
edge its influence. Itproduees its oaneful ct.
fec,s in q variety Of shapes, in every variety OF
disposition.
NV fair friend Camilla, who is acknowledged
10 be remarkably amiable, is not wi'hou, dash
of Envy in the composition Of her character.
Sh. will uncensciously betray the angus IN
hey6a Often, while listening TO her bewi CHI
ing cenxsksa,inn, drinking in her honied &C.
cents, bring her sporti'e gaiety, and
charmed with her innocent vivaci,y, like Par
nell's hermit have l started in amaZement,
when some expression Of lateD, envy has es.
cared from her lips
As one who spies a serpent in his way,
CHstaing and basking in the summer ray,
Disorder'd stops 20 shun the danger near,
Then walks with faintness on and looks with fear"
Camilla shows her envy in her occasional
i,uendoss, her peevish remarks upon erfemale
ACC ,ain, auce> her CRITICISMS upon dress, her
feieued exclama,ions Of surprise, and her occa-
sionsl vein Of irony.
NV young friend THEoDosIus, with all his
rood qualities, is also very envious mortal
I, gals him 10 see others taken more notice of
than ne is Hr sometimes flits into passion
when he hears Others spoken well OF, and can
not sorego the temptation Of mixing mali
rious remark whenever he has an opportunity.
There is young PopIsJAY, Ink wise, who is as
full Of envy as n.tshel is OF kernel, although
no, with half as much brains. / inquired Of
Pnilocles Hatchem. who has studied a great
deal Of natural PHILOSOPHY, and has osen wihai
q grea, traveller, whether any thing like Envv
had ever been witnessed in monkey Philo-
cles assured me that he had himself seen
Jacko ntuIge 10 The most acrimonious feelings
in consequence Of brother Jacko being
dressed in finer red coat than he had been &C
cus,omed TO wear. do not wish, in this case,
to indulge in comparisuns-comparis are
odoyous, as Dogbery says-but leave all the
PopiniAys to make their own reflections.
But I will no, tire my readers with present.
ing further examples Of vice which, trust,
they will be induced to detes' as much as l do
The general character OF ENVY is much like
that Of Jeafousy-thougb it is meaner pas
sion. IL is green eyed monster, winch
makes the meat il feeds on" Ii is dsturber
of the peace and harmony Of society, and an
enemy 70 all ociahilitv and good feeling. Were
I an absolute monarch, would condemn every
envi N. person in my dominions 10 solitary
coninemen, and bread and water for one month:
IL ,sa, did no, fec, a reformation, would oa-
Dish then forever.
The usual imis which assign for my lucu-
brstions, will not permit me TO extend these
observstions any farther. l have contented
myself with laying the foundation, and leave
INV readers TO rear the suDers rue lure.
r>trrnDlIIl TIC NEICCINC