Th. Naogeorgi

And they will desire to unfold your books everywhere,
These people too, who before had scarcely known you by name.
For who would obey one who is furious and swelling with anger?
And who would not scorn the anathemas of a rabid heart?
For what has been done with judgment, or with reason and sound
Moderation? What with the example of the ancients? What, finally, by law?
We have often offered to give an account
Of our doctrine, and of our faith, and to prove our dogmas
From the holy scriptures, or to be taught better things from them:
And for many years we have afflictedly prayed,
To be heard in a free council of doctors and pious men.
But what have we accomplished by asking for what is fair?
We have not been heard. Cerberus himself has presided,
And has condemned us with unjust prejudices:
And he closed the mouths of his own people with clamor and terror,
Lest anyone should judge more freely concerning religion and faith,
Or condemn any gross abuses.
The best way seemed to be to proscribe those who had not been heard,
And not yet convicted of haeresis heresy to be struck down by a thunderbolt:
Which no nation (I know) would do, nor would even the Turk approve
With common sense and reason teaching otherwise.
Nor is it enough to have forbidden our books:
But because of them, and your work and kind zeal,
He rejects everything at once that comes from your presses,
Even if they are purely pagan, or treat of profane things,
So that anything under your name is suspected of poison.
Is this not wonderful rabies, and headlong insanity?