Explore "Plain Sermons" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I saw a man -- and envied him beside -- / Because of this world's goods he had great store; / But even as I envied him, he died, / And left me envious of him no more.
I saw another man -- and envied still -- / Because he was content with frugal lot; / But as I envied him, the rich man's will / Bequeathed him all, and envy I forgot.
Yet still another man I saw, and he / I envied for a calm and tranquil mind / That nothing fretted in the least degree -- / Until, alas! I found that he was blind.
What vanity is envy! for I find / I have been rich in dross of thought, and poor / In that I was a fool, and lastly blind / For never having seen myself before!