I N A U G U R A T I O N

S O - C A L L E D

F L E M I N G S,

Help me purify, help me consecrate,
The little pen of the strayed Lamb,
Shorn bare of wool in the fray,
Before it fled to take up this hutch;
Help me rejoice, help me weep:
Rejoice, for this valley of refuge,
Where the Sheep unite;
Weep, for the loss of the Stable.
Cry, oh New Geuzen a term historically referring to Dutch rebels, here used mockingly to describe religious dissidents, bravely,
For the loss of the dark money:
Pray a bit stiffer, scold a bit looser;
Flight saves the body, not the field.
Piet the Scraper mad after preaching,
Samuel too hot for gold,
Rough-doctor full of tongue-defects,
Sour Isaac without fault,
Are four stiff Temple-Pillars.
Hard Reynard, full of resentment,
First consecrates the baptismal choir with howling,
Grinds his teeth, shakes his head,
Moans: Galenus Referring to Galenus Abrahamsz, a prominent leader of the Lamist faction through his quarrels,
Catches and sells us in a sack;

Oh, what does this Temple-quarreling
Bring of soul and body discomfort!
Jan, a ditcher in the wrangling,
Cannot let a Sheepfold play,
Without strife in her fool's cap;
He courts, and if he misses money, he grinds.
Oh strayed and stupid Lambs,
Placed all too close to the pitch,
I already hear your souls lamenting,
Blackly tainted, and in the snare:
Oh, why ever flee the Church,
Where one gave to the poor Shepherds,
Where one invited everyone to God’s table,
Charitable, and not punishing!
What is here? A hole full of heads,
Hard as iron, stiff of beak.
Who shall stop these Gapings?
You, who deal with the pitch?
Then return to your Brothers,
Everyone excuses your lack of understanding,
Wiser Shepherds are your Guardians.
Greed retreats, virtue stands firm.

The Lamb by the Pitch.

Does the Stray-Lamb stand for sale here, so close to Pitch and Tar,
And does it remain untainted in the Apostolic Doctrine?
It will be strange! For a fine brain hates nothing, if not to grind,
As long as the Fleming trusts him with his old Faith,
And keeps an open bread-chest for him and for Van Vreed,
He wants to bite through the Bible-Book for the sake of the Olive branch.

Namtuos.