The military court holds legal
Judgments in duress—
It does not judge by law-books,
It adjudicates by guess.
The military court digests
Its victims like a pike—
It can devour the guilty
And the innocent alike.
The royal military court
Did not deliberate;
But gave offhand this verdict,
Concurred in by the State:
“It is the wise opinion
Of this court, and in accord
With imperial decisions
Of the high commanding Lord!
“For committing lese majeste
And for disobedience,
For rebellion, filthy language,
And for his impertinence:
“God Perun is being sentenced
To be hanged until he’s dead;
But the court has shown him mercy—
And he shall be drowned, instead.
“But as warning, and to make the
Disobedient rabble quail,
He shall be dragged to the Dnieper
Fastened to a horse’s tail.”
[36]
