“It lawful was of old, and still will be,
        To speak of vice, but let the name go free.”

I hate their vices, not their persons.  If any be displeased, or take aught unto himself, let him not expostulate or cavil with him that said it (so did [802]Erasmus excuse himself to Dorpius, si parva licet componere magnis) and so do I; “but let him be angry with himself, that so betrayed and opened his own faults in applying it to himself:”  [803]"if he be guilty and deserve it, let him amend, whoever he is, and not be angry.”  “He that hateth correction is a fool,” Prov. xii. 1.  If he be not guilty, it concerns him not; it is not my freeness of speech, but a guilty conscience, a galled back of his own that makes him wince.

       “Suspicione si quis errabit sua,
        Et rapiet ad se, quod erit commune omnium,
        Stulte nudabit animi conscientiam."[804]

I deny not this which I have said savours a little of Democritus; [805] Quamvis ridentem dicere verum quid velat; one may speak in jest, and yet speak truth.  It is somewhat tart, I grant it; acriora orexim excitant embammata, as he said, sharp sauces increase appetite, [806]_nec cibus ipse juvat morsu fraudatus aceti_.  Object then and cavil what thou wilt, I ward all with [807]Democritus’s buckler, his medicine shall salve it; strike where thou wilt, and when:  Democritus dixit, Democritus will answer it.  It was written by an idle fellow, at idle times, about our Saturnalian or Dionysian feasts, when as he said, nullum libertati periculum est, servants in old Rome had liberty to say and do what them list.  When our countrymen sacrificed to their goddess [808]Vacuna, and sat tippling by their Vacunal fires.  I writ this, and published this [Greek:  houtis helegen], it is neminis nihil.  The time, place, persons, and all circumstances apologise for me, and why may not I then be idle with others? speak my mind freely?  If you deny me this liberty, upon these presumptions I will take it:  I say again, I will take it.

[809] “Si quis est qui dictum in se inclementius
        Existimavit esse, sic existimet.”

If any man take exceptions, let him turn the buckle of his girdle, I care not.  I owe thee nothing (Reader), I look for no favour at thy hands, I am independent, I fear not.

No, I recant, I will not, I care, I fear, I confess my fault, acknowledge a great offence,

------“motos praestat componere fluctus.”

------“let’s first assuage the troubled waves”

I have overshot myself, I have spoken foolishly, rashly, unadvisedly, absurdly, I have anatomised mine own folly.  And now methinks upon a sudden I am awaked as it were out of a dream; I have had a raving fit, a fantastical fit, ranged up and down, in and out, I have insulted over the most kind of men, abused some, offended others, wronged myself; and now being recovered, and perceiving mine error, cry with [810]Orlando, Solvite me, pardon (o boni) that which is past, and I will make you amends in that which is to come; I promise you a more sober discourse in my following treatise.