The Lace-Makers by Tomás de Iriarte

Near a lace-weaver, lived / A man who made silver and gold galloons.

"Now, who would have believed, / Neighbor," said he, "that, even for more doubloons, / Three yards of your light lace are sold / Than ten of mine, though wrought in heavy gold!"

"That my articles exceed / In value, sir, so very much your own, / Is not strange; although, indeed, / You work in gold, and I in thread alone.

For skill is known to all / To be of greater worth than raw material."

Let those, at style who sneer, / And, to regard the matter only, condescend, / Note that -- as here / A simple thread doth precious gold transcend -- / So elegance and finish give / That form to thought, by which great works shall live.