Explore "Envy" by Charles Lamb on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
This rose-tree is not made to bear / The violet blue, nor lily fair, / Nor the sweet mignonette; / And if this tree were discontent / Or wish'd to change its natural bent, / It all in vain would fret.
And should it fret, you would suppose / It ne'er had seen its own red rose, / Nor after gentle shower / Had ever smell'd its rose's scent, / Or it could ne'er be discontent / With its own pretty flower.
Like such a blind and senseless tree / As I've imagined this to be, / All envious persons are: / With care and culture all may find / Some pretty flower in their own mind, / Some talent that is rare.