All men have liberty of conscience there. On cheating nymphs a cheat is well designed; 'Tis a profane and a deceitful kind. 'Tis said, that Egypt for nine years was dry, Nor Nile did floods, nor heaven did rain supply. A foreigner at length informed the king, That slaughtered guests would kindly moisture bring. The king replied:--On thee the lot shall fall; Be thou my guest, the sacrifice for all. Thus Phaleris Perillus taught to low, And made him season first the brazen cow.[45] A rightful doom, the laws of nature cry, 'Tis, the artificers of death should die: Thus, justly women suffer by deceit; Their practice authorizes us to cheat. Beg her, with tears, thy warm desires to grant; For tears will pierce a heart of adamant. If tears will not be squeezed, then rub your eye, Or 'noint the lids, and seem at least to cry. Kiss, if you can; resistance if she make, And will not give you kisses, let her take. Fie, fie, you naughty man, are words of course; She struggles but to be subdued by force. Kiss only soft, I charge you, and beware, With your hard bristles not to brush the fair. He who has gained a kiss, and gains no more, Deserves to lose the bliss he got before. If once she kiss, her meaning is exprest; There wants but little pushing for the rest; Which if thou dost not gain, by strength or art, } The name of clown then suits with thy desert; } 'Tis downright dulness, and a shameful part. } Perhaps, she calls it force; but, if she 'scape, She will not thank you for the omitted rape. The sex is cunning to conceal their fires; They would be forced e'en to their own desires. They seem to accuse you, with a downcast sight, But in their souls confess you did them right. Who might be forced, and yet untouched depart, Thank with their tongues, but curse you with their heart. Fair Phœbe and her sister did prefer To their dull mates the noble ravisher. What Deidamia did, in days of yore, The tale is old, but worth the reading o'er. When Venus had the golden apple gained, And the just judge fair Helen had obtained; When she with triumph was at Troy received, The Trojans joyful, while the Grecians grieved; They vowed revenge of violated laws, And Greece was arming in the cuckold's cause: Achilles, by his mother warned from war, Disguised his sex, and lurked among the fair. What means Æacides to spin and sow? } With spear and sword in field thy valour show; } And, leaving this, the nobler Pallas know. } Why dost thou in that hand the distaff wield, Which is more worthy to sustain the shield? Or with that other draw the woolly twine, The same the fates for Hector's thread assign? Brandish thy faulchion in thy powerful hand,