This three-line poem is Jonson’s ironic tribute to the spy trade and how its practitioners tend to come to ignominious ends.
Spies, you are lights in state, but of base stuff
Who, when you've burn yourselves down to the snuff
Stink and are thrown away. End fair enough
On Spies was written by Ben Jonson.
Ben Jonson released On Spies on Fri Jan 01 1616.