Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd Possibly 1744 - 1745

This is a poem about the sword used in the execution of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619, penned by Anthony Hartsen in 1744 in Amsterdam. The writing style and the sword are symbols of law and justice, but here, these are twisted. Consider the sword: throughout history, it appears as a symbol of power, justice, and even sacrifice. Think of the Archangel Michael, or the Roman gladius. Yet here, the sword is an instrument of injustice, of political murder. We see a similar perversion in the references to nobility. Hartsen describes the execution as driven by "bitter hate and cruel tyranny" to imprint "the ingratitude into the princely heart." These words are heavy with irony, highlighting the betrayal of noble ideals. Such inversions are not random. They reflect a deeper psychological tension, a subconscious struggle to reconcile ideals with reality. The poem isn't just about an execution; it's about how symbols of authority can be twisted, revealing the dark underbelly of power. This subversion is powerful, engaging us on a deep, emotional level. As this poem reminds us, symbols are never static; they evolve and are often reinterpreted through the lens of history.