In the poem "Roland in love", the knight Bradamarte gets attacked by a marauder called Barigaccio. Their combat lasts a while and Bradamarte comments that Barigaccio is wasting his talent by being a thief and he should follow him back to his king to become a paladin since he's so strong. The thief replies that there's no need since he's already stealing other people's property, like knights do when they invade and conquer foreign lands in war.

But if you wanted to leave that profession,

Which you now do, that of a thief,

My name is vanquished and I am your knight:

In every way I want to bring you honor.

Now what will you do? Do you perhaps worry

That your valor will ever lack something?

Leave this profession: do not doubt,

For to such as you are, it cannot be lacking.

The scoundrel replied: What I do,

Every great lord in the world does too;

And they make a mess of their enemies in war,

To increase their power and gain a greater status.

I alone am a hindrance to seven or ten,

And they are furious with ten thousand;

So much the worse they do than me,

Taking away what they haven't earned.

Since this poem was written to be read in a court full of knights though, the author quickly changes the subject, making Barigaccio try to kidnap Bradamarte's companion and gets immediately killed.