A stone or two flung at some servile form,
Liveried in the yellow gaberdine
(With secret happiness but half suppressed
On features cast for misery) , served at first
For chance expression of the rabble's hate ;
But, swelling like a snow-ball rolled along
By mischief-plotting boys, the rage increased,
Grew to a mighty mass, until it reached
The palace of Duke Vladislaw. He heard
With righteous wrath his injured subjects' charge
Against presumptuous aliens : how these blocked
His avenues, his bridges ; bared to the sun
The canker^taint of Prague's obscurest coigne ;
Paraded past the churches of the Lord
One who denied Him, one by them hailed Christ.
Enough ! This cloud, no bigger than one's hand.
Grains overweening bulk. Prague harbored, first.
Out of contemptuous ruth, a wretched band
Of outcast paupers, gave them leave to ply
Their money-lending trade, and leased them land
On all too facile terms. Behold ! to-day.
Like leeches bloated with the people's blood.
They batten on Bohemia's poverty ;
They breed and grow ; like adders, spit back hate
And venomed perfidy for Christian love.
Thereat the Dulce, urged by wise counsellors —
Narzerad the statesman (half whose wealth was pledged
To the usurers), abetted by the priest.