By man’s plain sense, or by religious rules;
No! nor by law itself, in truth discern’d,
But as its statutes may be warp’d and turn’d:
How they should judge of man, his word and deed,
They in their books and not their bosoms read:
Of some good act you speak with just applause;
“No, no!” says he, “’twould be a losing cause:
Blame you some tyrant’s deed? - he answers “Nay,
He’ll get a verdict; heed you what you say.”
Thus to conclusions from examples led,