XVII

Yet were these Florentines as self-retired

      In hungry pride and gainful cowardice,

As two close Hebrews in that land inspired,

      Paled in and vineyarded from beggar-spies;

The hawks of ship-mast forests—the untired

      And pannier'd mules for ducats and old lies—

Quick cat's-paws on the generous stray-away,—

Great wits in Spanish, Tuscan, and Malay.