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On Jealousy and Envy

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 9

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

9. The mischief is much more trifling, and the danger

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less

,

when

the

limbs

are

wounded

with

a

sword

.

The

cure

is

easy

where

the

wound

is

manifest

;

and

when

the

medicament

is

applied

,

the

sore

that

is

seen

is

quickly

brought

to

health

.

The

wounds

of

jealousy

are

hidden

and

secret

;

nor

do

they

admit

the

remedy

of

a

healing

cure

,

since

they

have

shut

themselves

in

blind

suffering

within

the

lurking

-

places

of

the

conscience

.

Whoever

you

are

that

are

envious

and

malignant

,

observe

how

crafty

,

mischievous

,

and

hateful

you

are

to

those

whom

you

hate

.

Yet

you

are

the

enemy

of

no

one’s

well

-

being

more

than

your

own

.

Whoever

he

is

whom

you

persecute

with

jealousy

,

can

evade

and

escape

you

.

You

cannot

escape

yourself

.

Wherever

you

may

be

,

your

adversary

is

with

you

;

your

enemy

is

always

in

your

own

breast

;

your

mischief

is

shut

up

within

;

you

are

tied

and

bound

with

the

links

of

chains

from

which

you

cannot

extricate

yourself

;

you

are

captive

under

the

tyranny

of

jealousy

;

nor

will

any

consolations

help

you

.

It

is

a

persistent

evil

to

persecute

a

man

who

belongs

to

the

grace

of

God

.

It

is

a

calamity

without

remedy

to

hate

the

happy

.

Notes

19
Erasmus and others give this reading. Baluzius, Routh, and many codices, omit “vulnus,” and thus read, “what is seen.”
20
[“It punishes the delinquent in the very act.” Jer. Taylor, ut supra, p. 492, also Anselm, Opp., i. 682, ed. Migne.]