nocency will vindicate itself: and
which the poet gave out of Hercules, _diis fruitur iratis_, enjoy thyself,
though all the world be set against thee, contemn and say with him,
_Elogium mihi prae, foribus_, my posy is, "not to be moved, that [4032]my
palladium, my breastplate, my buckler, with which I ward all injuries,
offences, lies, slanders; I lean upon that stake of modesty, so receive and
break asunder all that foolish force of liver and spleen." And whosoever he
is that shall observe these short instructions, without all question he
shall much ease and benefit himself.

In fine, if princes would do justice, judges be upright, clergymen truly
devout, and so live as they teach, if great men would not be so insolent,
if soldiers would quietly defend us, the poor would be patient, rich men.
would be liberal and humble, citizens honest, magistrates meek, superiors
would give good example, subjects peaceable, young men would stand in awe:
if parents would be kind to their children, and they again obedient to
their parents, brethren agree amongst themselves, enemies be reconciled,
servants trusty to their masters, virgins chaste, wives modest, husbands
would be loving and less jealous: if we could imitate Christ and his
apostles, live after God's laws, these mischiefs would not so frequently
happen amongst us; but being most part so irreconcilable as we are,
perverse, proud, insolent, factious, and malicious, prone to contention,
anger and revenge, of such fiery spirits, so captious, impious,
irreligious, so opposite to virtue, void of grace, how should it otherwise
be? Many men are very testy by nature, apt to mistake, apt to quarrel, apt
to provoke and misinterpret to the worst, everything that is said or done,
and thereupon heap unto themselves a great deal of trouble, and
disquietness to others, smatterers in other men's matters, tale-bearers,
whisperers, liars, they cannot speak in season, or hold their tongues when
they should, [4033]_Et suam partem itidem tacere cum aliena est oratio_:
they will speak more than comes to their shares, in all companies, and by
those bad courses accumulate much evil to their own souls (_qui contendit,
sibi convicium facit_) their life is a perpetual brawl, they snarl like so
many dogs, with their wives, children, servants, neighbours, and all the
rest of their friends, they can agree with nobody. But to such as are
judicious, meek, submissive, and quiet, these matters are easily reme