07-08-1944, 2nd volume, no. 30, Page 9
07-08-1944, 2nd volume, no. 30, Page 10

cover / introduction table of contents

Premature

I said at that time, says Mussert, that when one does something for this people, one is attacked or murdered. We have seen this with William of Orange, the brothers de Witt, and de Ruyter. So, it is normal that we are now attacked. – 22-6-4

Yes, we bear a heavy burden
No, it is not easy for us
One hears “LEADER” Mussert complain
Indignant and upset.

Nobody wants anything to do with us
Everyone looks at us with distrust
But these people has always treated
Their prophets with injustice.

They have always attacked and deceitfully
Murdered their best sons.
And if they taunt us nowadays
That only urges us on.

No, it’s not a matter now
That I refuse to serve the people in need
Did they not also kill
Willen de Zwijger at the time?

Even if many a smart-arse
Thinks that I am bad
Admiral De Ruyter too
Was once denied the honour.

And the two de Witts were put
To their deaths in the Hague
They did not leave it a that
Today they are highly praised.

If today they will not praise us
Awareness will be our consolation
Later on, they will esteem us
Upon reading that, I will only say: Cheers!

Antoon is not very modest
So he places himself in a row
Cheekily, he plans to become part
Of the Dutch gallery of heroes.

He does not wait until history
Eventually grants him a place
He surrounds himself with glory,
With honour, while alive.

And with it, he is not scanty
But very generous, so I would think
And I find it somewhat premature
Because his self-praise, it stinks.

Post-Editing: Rob den Heijer, Tom Rieke