030 - The ruined Stockholders restored by a celebrated Harlequin
030 – DE VERVALLEN ACTIONISTEN, HERSTELD DOOR DEN TRIOMPHEERDEN ARLEQUIN [The ruined Stocktraders restored by a celebrated Harlequin]
On the bank of the Lek river, with Vianen, the haven of bankrupts in the background, Harlequin rides a triumphal wagon driven by Athena (“Pallas,” goddess of wisdom). He is followed by a crowd of wretched investors who jump after bills he tosses to them. But where they chased companies and commodities, now they chase low trades and goods. The bills in Harlequin’s hands say, “uyen en kool” (onions and cabbage), “schoen-lappen” (cobbler), “Liet-sang” (ballad-singer, or busker), “Op kar” (?), “Basschander” (?). Other bills falling to the crowd are “Oud yser” (scrap iron), Engelse sprot (English smelt – a small fish), “Hitte gebra[ad?]” (hot roast), “Turf-drager” (turf-carrier), “Kar-man” (coachman), “Kuyllen” (?), “na Via.” (to Vianen). A lucky few have the concessions on gardening (“Tuyn-man”), gutter-cleaning (“Geuten Schoon”), portage (“Kruyer”), chimney-sweeping (“Schoorsteen-veeg”), Mussel-selling (“Mosselen”), magic-lantern projectionist (“Tover-lantere”). Unlucky investors hold bills with lots of zeroes on them or, in one case, “Sold op Inde” (Bill of the Indies Company).
In the foreground trade of some kind goes on. Lower left, an “Akkordeer” (ascertainer?) counts out money on a bale. In the lower middle a couple of traders wheel goods (“altyd winst” – profit always). Lower right, near more bales of goods, a merchant offers money to Mercury, god of commerce.
Al den bruy is ‘t in ‘t rumoer,
Burger, Koopman, hoer, en boer.
Arlequin laat, op een Waagen,
Zich hier langs de Lekkant draagen.
Pallas, och die goeje Sloof,
Speeld voor Veerman, ze is haast doof,
Van ‘t geschreeuw der windgezellen,
Die haar om een baantje kwellen.
Arlequin bid voor de troep,
Wyl, door ‘t vreeselyk geroep,
Zyne twee paer Slepers knollen,
Raaken voor den droes, aan ‘t hollen.
Pallas laat den leepen dief,
Arlequin, vast brief op brief
Deelen, aan die Actieventen,
Maar ach! Ach, ‘t zyn werk patenten,
Arme bruyers daar je bent,
Zyt gy ‘t werken niet gewent?
Kaal en arm zyn zal ‘t ú leeren,
Werk dan krygt ge kost en kleeren.
030 - The ruined Stockholders restored by a celebrated Harlequin
030 – DE VERVALLEN ACTIONISTEN, HERSTELD DOOR DEN TRIOMPHEERDEN ARLEQUIN [The ruined Stocktraders restored by a celebrated Harlequin]
On the bank of the Lek river, with Vianen, the haven of bankrupts in the background, Harlequin rides a triumphal wagon driven by Athena (“Pallas,” goddess of wisdom). He is followed by a crowd of wretched investors who jump after bills he tosses to them. But where they chased companies and commodities, now they chase low trades and goods. The bills in Harlequin’s hands say, “uyen en kool” (onions and cabbage), “schoen-lappen” (cobbler), “Liet-sang” (ballad-singer, or busker), “Op kar” (?), “Basschander” (?). Other bills falling to the crowd are “Oud yser” (scrap iron), Engelse sprot (English smelt – a small fish), “Hitte gebra[ad?]” (hot roast), “Turf-drager” (turf-carrier), “Kar-man” (coachman), “Kuyllen” (?), “na Via.” (to Vianen). A lucky few have the concessions on gardening (“Tuyn-man”), gutter-cleaning (“Geuten Schoon”), portage (“Kruyer”), chimney-sweeping (“Schoorsteen-veeg”), Mussel-selling (“Mosselen”), magic-lantern projectionist (“Tover-lantere”). Unlucky investors hold bills with lots of zeroes on them or, in one case, “Sold op Inde” (Bill of the Indies Company).
In the foreground trade of some kind goes on. Lower left, an “Akkordeer” (ascertainer?) counts out money on a bale. In the lower middle a couple of traders wheel goods (“altyd winst” – profit always). Lower right, near more bales of goods, a merchant offers money to Mercury, god of commerce.
Al den bruy is ‘t in ‘t rumoer,
Burger, Koopman, hoer, en boer.
Arlequin laat, op een Waagen,
Zich hier langs de Lekkant draagen.
Pallas, och die goeje Sloof,
Speeld voor Veerman, ze is haast doof,
Van ‘t geschreeuw der windgezellen,
Die haar om een baantje kwellen.
Arlequin bid voor de troep,
Wyl, door ‘t vreeselyk geroep,
Zyne twee paer Slepers knollen,
Raaken voor den droes, aan ‘t hollen.
Pallas laat den leepen dief,
Arlequin, vast brief op brief
Deelen, aan die Actieventen,
Maar ach! Ach, ‘t zyn werk patenten,
Arme bruyers daar je bent,
Zyt gy ‘t werken niet gewent?
Kaal en arm zyn zal ‘t ú leeren,
Werk dan krygt ge kost en kleeren.