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Rh Apollo of his deeds; for when he weds Maidens by force, the children secretly Begotten he betrays, and them neglects

When dying. Thus not you; but while you may Always pursue the virtues, for the gods Will surely punish men of wickedness. How is it right that you, who have prescribed Laws for men's guidance, live unrighteously? But ye being absent, I shall freely speak, And ye to men shall satisfaction give For marriage forced, thou Neptune, Jupiter, Who over heaven presides. The temples ye Have emptied, while injustice ye repay. And though ye laud the prudent to the skies, Yet have ye filled your hands with wickedness. No longer is it right to call men ill If they do imitate the sins of gods; Nay, evil let their teachers rather be."

And in Archelaus:

And in Bellerophon:

And again in the same:

Gods reign in heaven most certainly, says one; But it is false,—yea, false: and let not him Who speaks thus, be so foolish as to use Ancient tradition, or to pay regard Unto my words: but with unclouded eye Behold the matter in its clearest light. Power absolute, I say, robs men of life And property; transgresses plighted faith; Nor spares even cities, but with cruel hand Despoils and devastates them ruthlessly. But they that do these things have more success