35. Since these things are so, because it were too long to treat thoroughly of all that in that “Pound”75    Or “Balance.” of Dictinius are set down as precedents of lying, meet to be imitated, it seemeth to me that this is the rule to which not only these, but whatever such there be, must be reduced. Namely, either what is believed to be a lie must be shown not to be such; whether it be where a truth is left untold, and yet no falsehood told; or where a true signification willeth one thing to be understood of another, which kind of figurative either sayings or doings abounds in the prophetical writings. Or, those which are convicted to be lies, must be proved to be not meet to be imitated: and if any (as other sins) should stealthily creep in upon us, we are not to attribute righteousness to them, but to ask pardon for them. So indeed it seems to me, and to this sentence the things above disputed do compel me.

35. Quae cum ita sint, quoniam nimis longum est omnia pertractare, quae in illa Libra Dictinii sunt posita velut imitanda exempla mentiendi: ad hanc regulam mihi videntur non solum ista, verum etiam si qua sunt talia redigenda, ut aut quod esse creditur, ostendatur non esse mendacium; sive ubi tacetur verum, nec dicitur falsum; sive ubi significatio verax aliud ex alio vult intelligi, quod genus figuratorum vel dictorum vel factorum abundat in propheticis Litteris: aut quae convincuntur esse mendacia, non esse imitanda monstrentur, et si qua nobis ut alia peccata subrepserint, non eis tribuendam justitiam, sed veniam postulandam. Hoc quidem mihi videtur; et ad istam sententiam me superius disputata compellunt.