Jews

thrust away
in miserable hovels
wedged against
one angle of the walls
live the accursed
the Jews

dark haired
dark eyed
people with
oriental physiognomies

exceedingly obsequious
to Christians
but never trusted
by them

bearded men with earrings
woman with bright kerchiefs
of eastern stuffs

each conducts a little shop
where can be bought
the cheapest furniture
household utensils
old clothes

a small stone building
an ancient synagogue
the Jewish colony
as old as the town

small windows
dark grimy interiors
lit by dim lamps

strange ancient books
written in a character
which no Christian
can read
sure blasphemy

endured
abject
compelled to wear
saffron circles
on their breasts
but
they have money
which speaks legions
for dukes and kings

no wonder
for you see
Christians fear usury
but not the Jews
forty, fifty, sixty percent
interest
not unheard of

despised
maltreated
mobbed
every Good Friday
nevertheless
indispensable.

[This verse follows the book cited below. As I am partly Jewish and proud of it, no stereotyping is intended. I would guess the above too simple.]

[Loosely based on a passage in Life on a Mediaeval Barony by W. S. Davis.]