"At least, they shall say of me," thought this exemplary man, "that I leave no public duty unperformed, nor ill performed!"
“至少,他们在谈起,”位为人楷模的人自忖,“会认为裁并非未尽公职或草草了事!”
If the error is a matter of opinion and unpunishable, so much the better —an apology then becomes a gracious and creditable occasion, and an example to all.