Th. Naogeorgi

Believe himself fortunate, and greatly blessed,
To be marked with the crime of heresy
Together with these, and because of these? It is no wonder, since you loathe Christ and the truth,
That you hate us equally, and our books:
Which adorn Christ with writings, and teach the truth,
And pull off the painted mask from you, nor
Do we assert that you are the head of the redeemed gathering,
Or a sound limb of the body of Christ,
However much you boast with title and name,
And we do not approve of your immense greed, frauds, and deceits,
Nor your pomps, pride, and life.
If you grieve that these things are said and written, make the false things
Appear so: not by forbidding books, and the voices of teachers:
But by taking away whatever is adverse to Christ and a pious
Life. Correct the manifest abuses:
Stop striving to define the truth, and to protect the false:
Then we will acknowledge that you are a faithful pastor:
Then you will be acceptable to us, and will be loved willingly,
And we will raise your merit to the stars with highest praises.
But if you do not care for these things (as there is no hope),
You will strive in vain by forbidding books and writings,
Rising up to oppress the truth through kingdoms and towns.
I truly believe, touched by great and true pain,
You would rush upon us ourselves, and would gladly give
Our bodies to the fire. Because that power
Is not given, and the fates do not allow such fury,
You rush upon books, and forbid and burn them: