But the deceiv'd must be her victim too?Either the gods are empty notions, creptInto the minds of sleepers as they slept,In vain are fear'd, are but the tricks of law,To keep the foolish cred'lous world in awe;Or, if there be a god, he loves the fair,And all things at their sole disposal are.For us are all the instruments of warDesign'd, the sword of Mars, and Pallas' spear;'Gainst us alone Apollo's bows are bent,And at our hands Jove's brandish'd thunder sent.Yet of the ladies, oh ! how fond are they !Dare not the inj'ries they receive, repay,But those who ought to fear them they obey.Jove to his votaries is most severe;