From the gods I received good grandfathers and parents, a good sister, good teachers, good servants, loving relatives—almost everything I have. And I never hurt any of them through haste or carelessness, even though my nature was such that I easily could have. It was the mercy of the gods that prevented the circumstances that would have made me do wrong. I was not raised for long by my father's mistress. I kept my innocence. I did not try to become a man too early, but waited longer than I needed to.
From the gods I received that I had good grandfathers, and parents, a good sister, good masters, good domestics, loving kinsmen, almost all that I have; and that I never through haste and rashness transgressed against any of them, notwithstanding that my disposition was such, as that such a thing (if occasion had been) might very well have been committed by me, but that It was the mercy of the gods, to prevent such a concurring of matters and occasions, as might make me to incur this blame. That I was not long brought up by the concubine of my father; that I preserved the flower of my youth. That I took not upon me to be a man before my time, but rather put it off longer than I needed.