If you're a knight, do you not know the hierarchy of your own kind?

No. I am not a knight. If knights were still in existence in Italia they would serve their noble lord as his, or her, retainer. Just as that lord would serve his king or queen as their retainer. That is the hierarchy of that system.

Firenze is a republic with no such system.

...But the dream is still there in every Italian's heart to have that nobility like all the other countries speak of. But what is it really? [Now he's getting philosophical. He stops himself short. Sorry.]