Th. Naogeorgi

They desired deeply to know. But what happened?
They began to hate your things, and you: and on the contrary
Many here and there embraced ours with open arms.
At the beginning there was only one, Luther alone,
Who stood against your thefts and foolish trifles,
With which you milked peoples and kingdoms one by one.
He could perhaps have been appeased with friendly words,
And mild deeds, so that he would not contradict further
While the shameless mastiffs aggressive followers were sent out for the plunder:
But while they troubled everything with savage barking,
And you hurled dire thunderbolts from your cave,
And breathed threats, and burned books and writings,
He sent out more books, and depicted you and yours
Cleverly, and dragged you into the middle of the arena.
And gradually three hundred others rose up,
Excited by your clamor, and crude tumult,
Who attack your dogmas and rites, life and faith,
And are ever troublesome to your kingdom.
Do you not yet feel what gain your efforts
Have brought? What more enemies do you want to rise up?
Stop: dissemble: believe me, your ulcers
Are better cured by silence. Indeed, restrain your members,
Lest they irritate us with shameful writings or words.
For one book breeds another, and insults often extort
A dire word even from the unwilling,
And atrocious injury very often provokes war.
I myself would never have written many things (and perhaps another)
If not for...