One murder makes a villain

One murder makes a villain, Millions a hero.—Princes are privileg'd To kill, and numbers sanctify the crime. Ah! why will kings forget that they are men? Why delight in human sacrifice? why burst the ties Of nature, that should knit their souls together In one soft bond of amity and love? Yet still they breathe destruction, still go on Inhumanly ingenious to find out New pains for life, new terrors for the grave; Artificers of death! Still monarchs dream Of universal empire growing up From universal ruin.—Blast the design Great God of Hosts! nor let thy creatures fall Unpitied victims at ambition's shrine.