Be not dismayed then, humanum est errare, we are all sinners, daily and hourly subject to temptations, the best of us is a hypocrite, a grievous offender in God’s sight, Noah, Lot, David, Peter, &c., how many mortal sins do we commit?  Shall I say, be penitent, ask forgiveness, and make amends by the sequel of thy life, for that foul offence thou hast committed? recover thy credit by some noble exploit, as Themistocles did, for he was a most debauched and vicious youth, sed juventae maculas praeclaris factis delevit, but made the world amends by brave exploits; at last become a new man, and seek to be reformed.  He that runs away in a battle, as Demosthenes said, may fight again; and he that hath a fall may stand as upright as ever he did before. Nemo desperet meliora lapsus, a wicked liver may be reclaimed, and prove an honest man; he that is odious in present, hissed out, an exile, may be received again with all men’s favours, and singular applause; so Tully was in Rome, Alcibiades in Athens.  Let thy disgrace then be what it will, quod fit, infectum non potest esse, that which is past cannot be recalled; trouble not thyself, vex and grieve thyself no more, be it obloquy, disgrace, &c.  No better way, than to neglect, contemn, or seem not to regard it, to make no reckoning of it, Deesse robur arguit dicacitas:  if thou be guiltless it concerns thee not: 

[4023] “Irrita vaniloquae quid curas spicula linguae,
        Latrantem curatne alta Diana canem?”

Doth the moon care for the barking of a dog?  They detract, scoff and rail, saith one, [4024]and bark at me on every side, but I, like that Albanian dog sometimes given to Alexander for a present, vindico me ab illis solo contemptu, I lie still and sleep, vindicate myself by contempt alone. [4025]_Expers terroris Achilles armatus_:  as a tortoise in his shell, [4026]_virtute mea me involvo_, or an urchin round, nil moror ictus [4027]a lizard in camomile, I decline their fury and am safe.

       “Integritas virtusque suo munimine tuta,
        Non patet adversae morsibus invidiae:” 

       “Virtue and integrity are their own fence,
        Care not for envy or what comes from thence.”

Let them rail then, scoff, and slander, sapiens contumelia non afficitur, a wise man, Seneca thinks, is not moved, because he knows, contra Sycophantae morsum non est remedium, there is no remedy for it:  kings and princes, wise, grave, prudent, holy, good men, divine, are all so served alike. [4028]_O Jane a tergo quem nulla ciconia pinsit_, Antevorta and Postvorta, Jupiter’s guardians, may not help in this case, they cannot protect; Moses had a Dathan, a Corath, David a Shimei, God himself is blasphemed:  nondum felix es si te nondum turba deridet.  It is an ordinary thing so to be misused. [4029]_Regium est cum bene faceris male audire_, the chiefest men and most understanding are so vilified;