Crimes of their potent rulers to chastise,
Too heinous, or unknown before the world.
And soon as falls on him the last decree,
Not even a brother’s trespass to condone;
Each must by violent or by treasonous ways,
On him condemned fulfil the spoken doom;
Dagger in hand, and rapier at their side.
One of the maskers now approached the throne,
And standing with drawn sword before the book,
Spoke thus: “Tremendous judges!