XXIII

Beware, and mark the natural kiths and kins

Of circumstance and office, and distrust

      A rich man reasoning in a poor man's hut;

A poet who neglects pure truth to prove

      Statistic fact; a child who leaves a rut

For the smooth road; a priest who vows his glove

      Exhales no grace; a prince who walks a-foot;

A woman who has sworn she will not love;

      Ninth Pius sitting in Seventh Gregory's chair,

With Andrea Doria's forehead!