Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

16 The Envious man

16 The Enuious man

Is more closely, but more dangerously mad. Envy is the consumption of the bones, saith Solomon: he doth make much of that, which will make nothing of him: he whets a knife to cut his own throat. The Glutton feeds beasts, to feed on; and like a Witch, nourisheth a devil with his own blood. He keeps a disease fat, which will ever keep him lean: and is indulgent to a Serpent that gnaws his entrails. He punisheth and revengeth the wrongs on himself, which his adversary doth him. Is not this a mad-man? Others strike him, and like a strangely-penitential Monk, as if their blows were not sufficient, he strikes himself. That Physicians may not beg him when he's dead, he makes himself an Anatomy living. Sure, he gives cause to think, that all the old fables of walking ghosts were meant of him, and but for a little starved flesh, he demonstratively expounds them. If it were not for his soul, the Devil could scarce tell, what to do with his body. He would do much mischief, if he live's to't: but there is great hope, that he will kill himself before-hand. If you miss him in a Stationers shop geering at books, or at a Sermon cavilling at doctrines, or amongst his neighbours cattle, grudging at their full udders, or in the Shambles plotting massacres; yet thou shalt be sure to find him in Bedlam.

Is more closely, but more dangerously madde. Enuie is the consumption of the bones, sayth Solomon: he doth make much of that, which will make nothing of him: he whets a knife to cut his owne throat. The Glutton feeds beasts, to feed on; and like a Witch, nourisheth a deuil with his own bloud. He keeps a disease fat, which will euer keepe him leane: and is indulgent to a Serpent that gnawes his entralles. Hee punisheth and reuengeth the wrongs on himselfe, which his aduersary doth him. Is not this a mad-man? Others strike him, and like a strangely-penitentiall Monke, as if their blowes were not sufficient, hee strikes himselfe. That Physitians may not begge him when hee's dead, hee makes himselfe an Anatomie liuing. Sure, hee giues cause to thinke, that all the olde fables of walking ghosts were meant of him, and but for a little starued flesh, he demonstratiuely expounds them. If it were not for his soule, the Deuil could scarce tell, what to doe with his body. Hee would doe much mischiefe, if he liue's to't: but there is great hope, that he wil kil himselfe before-hand. If you misse him in a Stationers shoppe geering at books, or at a Sermon cauilling at doctrines, or amongst his neighbours cattell, grudging at their full vdders, or in the Shambles plotting massacres; yet thou shalt bee sure to finde him in Bedlam.