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.

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.

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.

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.

Men of noble birth, are noted to be envious towards new men, when they rise. For the distance is altered, and it is like a deceit of the eye, that when others come on, they think themselves, go back.

世人歷來注意到，所有情感中最令人神魂顛倒著莫過于愛情和嫉妒。這兩種感情都會激起強烈的欲望，而且均可迅速轉化成聯(lián)想和幻覺，容易鉆進世人的眼睛，尤其容易降到被愛被妒者身上;這些便是導致蠱惑的要點，如果世間真有蠱惑的話。我們同樣可以見到，《圣經(jīng)》中把嫉妒稱為“毒眼”①，占星術上則把不吉之星力叫作“兇象”③，以致世人似乎至今還承認，當嫉妒行為發(fā)生時，嫉妒者會眼紅或曰紅眼。而且有人更為明察秋毫，竟注意到紅眼最傷人之際莫過于被嫉妒者正躊躇滿志或春風得意之時，因為那種得意勁兒會使爐火燃得更旺。另外在這種時候，被嫉妒者的情緒最溢于言表，因此最容易遭受打擊。