,illustration3 ,titlepage ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,paul ,a ,,sequel ,,to ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,saul ,the action of ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,paul begins with that conspiracy formed at ,jerusalem against the life of the apostle1 which in the sequel led to a prolonged suspension of his free missionary career4 ,it embraces the incidents of his removal from ,jerusalem to ,csarea1 of his imprisonment at the latter place1 of his journey to ,rome for trial before ,csar1 and of his final martyrdom4 ,the design of the poem as a whole is to present through conduct on ,paul's part and through speech from him1 a living portrait of the man that he was1 together with a reflex of his most central and most characteristic teaching4 ,its descriptions are vivid1 and it brings the reader's mind into close touch with the great spirit of ,paul4 ,it is a poem in which dignity1 beauty1 and power are commingled with a rare charm4 ,paul1 the new man1 retrieved from perished ,saul1 ,unequaled good and fair1 from such unfair1 ,such evil1 orient miracle unguessed6-- ,both what himself he was and what he taught-- ,this marvel in meet words to fashion forth ,and make it live an image to the mind ,forever1 blooming in celestial youth4--,from the ,proem4 ,,an ,,appreciative ,,criticism4 ,noble as was ,dr4 ,wilkinson's ',epic of ,saul1' his ',epic of ,paul' is even nobler4 ,the kingliness of its range2 the majesty of its principal figure2 the fascination of its subordinate figures2 the subtlety of its characterizations2 the pathos of its interviews2 the intricate consistency of its plot2 the conscientiousness of its exegesis and allusions2 the splendor of its imaginations2 the nobility of its ethics2 the stateliness of its rhythm2 the grandeur of its evolution--these are some of the characteristics which make ',the ,epic of ,paul' another necessary volume in the library of every clergyman1 philosopher1 and litterateur4 --,,rev4 ,,george ,,dana ,,boardman1 ,d4,d4 #hvo1 ,cloth1 ,gilt top1 #gbb pp4 ,price1 #b4jj1 post-free4 ,both books together1 #c4jj4 ,,funk ,,wagnalls ,,company1 ,publishers1 ,new ,york ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,saul ,,by ,,william ,,cleaver ,,wilkinson ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,paul ,,funk ,,wagnalls ,,company ,,new ,,york ,,and ,,london #ahih ,,copyright1 #ahia1 ,,by ,,funk ,,wagnalls2 #ahih1 ,,by ,,funk ,,wagnalls ,,company4 ,registered at ,stationers' ,hall1 ,london1 ,eng4 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,book ,i4 ,,saul ,,and ,,gamaliel1 #e ,book ,,ii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,sanhedrim1 #cg ,book ,,iii4 ,,saul ,,against ,,stephen1 #ei ,book ,,iv4 ,,stephen ,,against ,,saul1 #hg ,book ,v4 ,,saul ,,and ,,shimei1 #aac ,book ,,vi4 ,,saul ,,and ,,rachel1 #aci ,book ,,vii4 ,,stephen ,,and ,,ruth1 #aei ,book ,,viii4 ,,stephen ,,martyr1 #ahc ,book ,,ix4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,rachel1 #bji ,book ,x4 ,,saul ,,at ,,bethany1 #bce ,book ,,xi4 ,,saul ,,and ,,hirani1 #bfe ,book ,,xii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,apostles1 #bii ,book ,,xiii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,sergius1 #cag ,book ,,xiv4 ,,for ,,damascus1 #cdg ,book ,,xv4 ,,saul ,,and ,,jesus1 #cga ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,saul4 ,saul of ,tarsus1 brought up at ,jerusalem a pupil of ,gamaliel1 the most celebrated ,rabbi of his time1 from setting out as eager but pacific controversialist in public dispute against the preachers of the ,gospel1 changes into a virulent1 bloody persecutor of ,christians1 and ends by abruptly becoming himself a ,christian and a teacher of ,christianity4 ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,saul tells the story of this4 ,,proem4 ,saul saw the prophet face of ,stephen shine ,as it had been an angel's1 but his heart ,to the august theophany was blind-- ,blinded by hatred of the fervent saint1 ,and hatred of the ,lord who in him shone4 ,what blindfold hatred such could work of ill ,in nature meant for utter nobleness1 ,then1 how the hatred could to love be turned1 ,the proud wrong will to lowly right be brought1 ,and ,paul the servant spring from rebel ,saul-- ,this1 ye who love in man the good and fair1 ,and joy to hail retrieved the good and fair ,from the unfair and evil1 hearken all ,and speed me with your wishes1 while ,i sing4 ,,book ,i4 ,,saul ,,and ,,gamaliel4 ,saul visits ,gamaliel to submit a forming purpose conceived by him of entering into public dispute with the ,christian preachers4 ,gamaliel disapproves2 informing ,saul that the ,jewish rulers are about to apply against those preachers the penalties of the law4 ,these men accordingly arrested and arraigned1 the ,sanhedrim hold a council on their case1 at which ,caiaphas advises accusing them to the ,romans as seditious2 ,mattathias urges stoning them out of hand2 ,shimei recommends pursuing against them a policy of guile4 ,,the ,,epic ,,of ,,saul4 ,,saul ,,and ,,gamaliel4 ,gamaliel sat at evening on his roof ,and deeply mused the meaning of the law4 ,the holy city round about him lay ,magnificent1 encircled with her hills4 ,beyond the torrent ,kedron1 sunken deep ,within his winding valley1 ,olivet ,leaned long his shaded ridge against the east1 ,distinct in every olive to the sun4 ,nearer1 amid the city1 chief to see1 ,the glory of the temple of the ,lord6 ,the seat was noble for a noble pile3 ,the summit of ,moriah1 levelled large1 ,spread larger yet1 outbuilt on masonry ,cyclopean1 or more huge1 pillar and arch ,fast-founded like the basis of a world4 ,a world of architecture rested there-- ,temple1 and court1 and long-drawn colonnade ,on terrace above terrace ranged around1 ,cloister1 and porch1 and pendent gallery1 ,height1 depth1 length1 space1 and splendor1 without end1 ,glittering its stones of lustre purest white1 ,and stately portals rich with gems and gold3 ,the setting sun now smote it that it blazed4 ,the sight was torment to ,gamaliel's pride1 ,torment with pleasure mixed1 but torment more1 ,as there he sat upon his roof alone4 ,tall1 and erect in port1 unbent his form ,with all that weight of venerable years1 ,his head with almond-blossom glory-crowned1 ,and bosom overstreamed with silver beard1 ,gamaliel stood before his countrymen ,their stay1 their solace1 and their ornament1 ,one upright pillar in a fallen state4 ,fallen1 for ,rome had pushed her foaming wave ,of conquest far into the ,east1 and laid ,juda under deluge1 quiet now1 ,but deep1 of domination absolute-- ,a weight as of the sea upon her breast4 ,jerusalem was glorious to behold1 ,girdled with guardian mountains round about1 ,and sunlit with her temple in the midst4 ,alas1 but more her glory1 more her shame6 ,for all her glory was the ,roman's now1 ,the queen a vassal at a tyrant's feet1 ,she ,csar serving who should serve but ,god4 ,and1 worse disgrace than heathen servitude1 ,there recreant ,jews were found1 and more and more1 ,who their hearts sold to their captivity1 ,and abjectly gave up the ancient hope ,and promise1 dawning-star of prophecy1 ,that yet to captive ,israel should arise ,messiah1 ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 ,to break the yoke from off ,his people's neck ,and gift them with the empire of the earth-- ,this crown of ,israel's hope gave up1 to choose1 ,instead1 for captain and deliverer1 one ,base-born1 from ,galilee1 consorting friend ,with publicans and sinners1 hung at last ,convicted malefactor on the cross6 ,such thoughts and tortures exercised the mind ,of grave ,gamaliel on his roof that eve4 ,he felt the burden of his name and fame ,weigh heavy1 his renown of sanctity1 ,with wisdom1 rife so wide1 and holy zeal4 ,his head declined upon his bosom1 there ,amid the evening cool unheeded1 he1 ,gray reverend teacher of the law1 sat mute1 ,rapt over the writ parchment on his knees1 ,and read1 or thought1 or thought and read1 and prayed4 ,the veil was on the old man's heart2 he saw ,unseeing1 for the sense from him was sealed4 ,in words like these his prayer and plaint he poured3 ,hath ,god forgotten to be gracious8 ,will ,jehovah cast us off forevermore8 ,we groan1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy people groan1 beneath ,the yoke of the oppressor4 ,it is time1 ,lo1 bow ,thy heavens and come avenging down6 ,appear ,thou for ,thy people6 ,visit us6 ,not only the uncircumcised are come1 ,and heathen1 into ,thine inheritance1 ,but of ,thy chosen seed are risen up ,false children unto ,abraham1 to vex ,our nation's peace and shame us to our foes4 ,the son of ,joseph suffered his desert1 ,accursd1 on the tree1 pretender vile1 ,who out of ,nazareth came forth to claim ,messiahship1 the gift of ,david's line1 ,and trailed a glorious banner in the dust1 ,the banner of the hope of ,israel4 ,that day1 too long expected1 yet shall dawn ,and true ,messiah1 girded on ,his thigh ,his sword athirst for alien blood1 shall ride ,conquering and to conquer over all ,the necks of these ,his enemies and ours4 ,how long1 ,lord ,god of ,sabaoth1 how long8 ,for now that hated false ,messiah's name ,is preached1 the dead for re-arisen to life1 ,the crucified for glorified1 to men1 ,and ,,ichabod is written everywhere ,on all that was the boast of ,israel4 ,o ,thou that overthrewest the harrying horde ,of ,pharaoh whelmed beneath the entombing sea1 ,rise1 overwhelm ,thine enemies1 restore ,the glory and the kingdom to ,thine own6 ,gamaliel prayed1 and knew not that his prayer ,found voice and smote at least an earthly ear4 ,amen6 ,gamaliel started as he heard ,the voice of ,saul responding fervently4 ,saul had been pupil to ,gamaliel1 ,loyal and loving1 and he now was friend ,familiar1 whom1 as guest1 unbidden oft ,and unannounced1 that famous ,pharisee ,welcomed to share his most seclusive hours4 ,my son6 ,rabboni6 mutually they said4 ,the younger to the elder now had come1 ,a thought to purpose quickening in his breast4 ,he too was ,hebrew patriot1 and he yearned ,with anguish like his master's1 yet at once ,sharper than his1 and more accessible ,to hope1 as well his livelier youth became ,and native blood more nimble in his veins-- ,saul also1 with ,gamaliel1 yearned and burned1 ,beholding prone his country in the dust1 ,under the grinding heel of ,roman power-- ,and ,messianic glory turned to shame6 ,saul's first wish was to bring his brethren back ,stung to their pristine1 proud1 prophetic hope ,of a ,messiah born to regal robes1 ,swaying a sceptre1 seated on a throne1 ,crowned with a crown of myriad diadems1 ,symbol of lordship that should myriad tribes ,mass in one mighty empire of mankind4 ,he felt the soul of eloquence astir ,within him1 and he longed to be at war1 ,in words that flamed like lightning and that smote ,like thunder-stones1 against those grovelling men ,who ,israel taught to grovel at the feet ,of ,galilan ,jesus crucified1 ,accepted for the ,christ1 forsooth1 of ,god6 ,such wish1 becoming purpose1 ,saul has brought ,this evening to ,gamaliel1 with high hope1 ,hope high1 but vain1 to disappointment doomed1 ,of grateful gratulant words to hearten him1 ,approving and applauding his desire1 ,won from the wisest in ,jerusalem4 ,thus minded1 ,saul1 blithe1 eager1 sanguine1 bold1 ,with yet a grace of filial in his mien1 ,as toward a master had in love and fear1 ,said3 ,teacher1 what ,i came to learn from thee1 ,already1 having marked thy prayer1 ,i know4 ,god hear thee out of ,zion in thy prayer6 ,god bring to naught the counsels of ,his foes6 ,now know ,i1 and rejoice to know1 that thou1 ,my teacher in the blessed law1 wilt say1 ',god speed thee1 son1' in what ,i seek to do4 ,for1 lo1 ,i seek to serve the suffering cause ,of truth wounded and bleeding in the street4 ,love of my country burns me as with flame ,imprisoned and living in my very bones-- ,my country1 and my countrymen4 ,this land ,to me is lovely like a bride beloved-- ,beloved the more1 unutterably wronged6 ,her trodden dust is dear to me4 ,not ,i1 ,as do my brethren on her bosom born1 ,equably love her with composed and calm ,affection sweet4 ,that homesick longing bred ,with boyhood in ,cilicia haunts me yet1 ,to heighten love with anguish1 and more dear ,make the dear soil of this my fatherland4 ,a passion1 not a fondness1 is my love2 ,and for my countrymen to die1 were sweet-- ,such blind abandonment of love usurps ,my being for my kinsmen in the flesh4 ,would ,god ,i might in very deed pour out ,this blood1 no vain oblation1 to redeem ,my bondmen brethren and to purge this land6 ,in speech no farther--though in passionate tears ,the strong man vented still his else choked heart4 ,gamaliel1 with wise senior sympathy1 ,sat silent1 waiting till that burst were past4 ,then gravely3 ,yea1 my son1 ,i know thy zeal1 ,and praise it4 ,such as thou1 in number more1 ,might somewhat2 such as thou1 alas1 are few4 ,his master's praise ,saul took as check and chill1 ,uttered with that insinuated sense ,of sage discountenance to his youthful zeal4 ,he shrank1 but braced himself1 and gently said3 ,but1 father1 not by many or by few ,is our ,god bound to working4 ,many or few ,to ,him is one4 ,nay1 were there none save me1 ,were ,i alone among my brethren1 ,i1 ,alone among my brethren1 yet would dare4 ,against the vernal aspiration warm ,of ,saul's young blood and tropic temperament ,gamaliel's aged1 wise1 sententious phlegm1 ,and magisterial manner though benign1 ,abode unmoved1 inert1 insensible2 ,like an ice-,alp that freezes on its cheek ,a breath of spring soft blowing from the south4 ,with viscid slow demur the old man spoke1 ,and downcast heavily shook his hoary head3 ,to dare is cheap and common with our race1 ,we are few dastards2 did not ,judas dare8 ,and ,theudas8 ,but their daring came to naught4 ,wisdom with daring1 fortitude to wait1 ,we need1 son ,saul2 the daring that must do1 ,and cannot wait1 has wrought us sumless ill4 ,damped1 but remonstrant1 ,saul still plied his plea3 ,and yet but now1 ',how long1' ,i heard thee cry1 ',how long1 ,lord ,god of ,sabaoth1 how long8' ,yea1 said ,gamaliel1 that ,i daily cry4 ,thy counsel and thy praying how agree8 ,men ,i bid wait2 wait not1 ,i pray my ,god4 ,were this not well1 ,o master calmly wise1 ,in trust that ,god will rouse him at my cry1 ,to rouse myself and strongly side with ,god8 ,i cannot rest in peace2 ,i hear the woe ,denounced for such as safely sit at ease ,in ,zion4 ,let me do as well as pray4 ,saul's rising zeal once more the master checked3 ,praying is doing1 likewise waiting works2 ,but what1 son ,saul1 is in thine heart to do8 ,i cherished better dreams1 my son1 for thee1 ,than to behold thee leading to their doom ,one helpless1 hopeless1 hapless company more1 ,insurgent out of season against ,rome1 ,confederate sons of folly and of crime6 ,rebuke like this ,saul brooked it ill to hear2 ,with filial sweet resentment he replied3 ,and cherish other dreams1 ,i pray thee1 father6 ,no man-at-arms am ,i to challenge ,rome2 ,though not even ,rome should daunt me1 called of ,god ,to front her with but pebble from the brook1 ,like ,david1 in her plenitude of power4 ,rome rules us1 and ,i grieve1 but ,i rejoice3 ,i grieve that we are such as must be ruled1 ,and cannot rule ourselves2 but ,i rejoice1 ,since such we are1 that we are ruled by ,rome4 ,the strongest and the wisest is the best ,to serve1 if one must serve4 ,alas1 my country6 ,her face is in the dust because her heart ,grovels1 and therefore on her neck the heel4 ,so1 not to rid us of the ,roman1 ,i ,labor with this desire1 but to erect ,the dustward spirit of my countrymen4 ,this people knowing not the law are cursed6 ,by instinct wise of policy unmeant1 ,saul1 in his last half-maledictory words ,of vehement passion edged with bitterness1 ,had struck a chord that answered in the breast ,of the habitual teacher of the law4 ,yea1 said ,gamaliel1 now art thou true son ,and utterest wisdom4 ,make them know the law4 ,with both my hands ,i bless thee speaking thus4 ,the law shall save them1 if they know the law4 ,saul knew it was ,gamaliel's wont that spoke1 ,his life-long wont of reverence for the law ,and trust in its omnipotence to serve ,whatever need befell his nation--this1 ,rather than any fresh1 fair-springing sense ,of hope in him auxiliar to his own4 ,yet1 in despair of better heartening now1 ,and self-impelled to ease his laboring mind1 ,he1 fixed and faltering both1 with courteous phrase ,premised of teachable assent sincere ,to smooth somewhat thereto his doubtful way1 ,frankly a hearing for his counsel sought3 ,i ever heard thee1 father1 teaching that1 ,and ,i believe it wholly1 mind and heart2 ,but something now ,i did not learn from thee1 ,hearken1 ,i pray1 and weigh if it be wise4 ,but less like one who hearkened as to weigh ,a counsel shown1 ,gamaliel now to ,saul ,seemed1 than like one who sat behind a shield ,in opposition1 a broad shield of brow ,immobile1 placid1 large circumference1 ,and orb of diamond proof1 between them hung ,there on the housetop still in dim twilight1 ,ready to quench in darkness any ray ,of word or sign from him that should aspire ,to reach an understanding guarded so-- ,such to ,saul seemed ,gamaliel now1 while yet1 ,despite1 repressed but irrepressible1 ,that strenuous strong spirit thus went on3 ,deeply ,i have desired to know my time ,and not to waste my strength beating the air4 ,are not men's needs other with other times8 ,no more perhaps in peaceful shelters now ,sacred to sacred studies1 synagogue ,retirements1 where our doctors of the law ,propose in turn their sage conclusions1 heard ,by questioning disciples--here perhaps ,no more is truth most truly taught to men4 ,some1 it may be1 might well go forth to stand ,even at the corners of the streets and cry4 ,folly amain preaches to gaping crowds1 ,and shall not wisdom cry8 ,my heart is hot1 ,amid the multitude they make their prey1 ,to meet these false proclaimers to their face1 ,and stop their mouths1 with ,moses and with all ,the prophets and the ,psalms1 from uttering lies4 ,gamaliel heard1 and like a lion stood1 ,that shakes his dewy mane from slumber roused2 ,the old man loomed in action nobly tall1 ,as thus1 with weighty gesture1 in a voice ,solid with will1 he gently1 sternly spoke3 ,nay1 ,saul1 my son1 thy zeal misguides thee now-- ,thy zeal1 and peradventure some conceit ,of wisdom wiser than thine elders4 ,thou1 ,consenting thus to parley with the fool ,according to his folly1 like becomest4 ,this is a time to answer otherwise ,than with the wind of words against their words ,of wind1 as equal against equal matched4 ,those wresters of the law must feel the law ,smiting their mouths shut with the heavy hand4 ,with blows1 not words1 vain fools like these are taught4 ,go thou thy way1 to-morrow shalt thou see ,hap other far than that thou hast devised ,befall those evil men of ,galilee4 ,our chiefly prudent1 watchful for our weal1 ,will stop their mouths profane and make an end4 ,saul chode his tongue to silence1 but his heart ,set stern in resolution touched with pride1 ,as1 after decent pause1 he took farewell4 ,the master and the pupil parted thus1 ,and both were blind to that which was to be2 ,for both would change1 but change in converse ways ,gamaliel gentle grow1 and ,saul grow hard4 ,that morrow1 ,peter with his brethren all1 ,apostle preachers of the ,gospel1 felt ,the heavy hand ,gamaliel shadowed fall ,indeed upon them into dungeon thrown4 ,but thence by night the angel of the ,lord1 ,opening the doors1 delivered them1 and bade ,boldly into the temple take their way ,and there preach ,christ to all the worshippers4 ,with the first flush of morning1 their swift feet ,shod with the sandals of obedience1 ,they hasten to fulfil the angelic word4 ,meanwhile the ,sanhedrim for counsel met ,concerning those their prisoners1 and the state1 ,the vexed state1 of the ,hebrew commonwealth1 ,sent pursuivants to fetch them from their cells ,and station them in presence to be judged4 ,but those despatched to bring them came and said1 ,we found1 indeed1 the prison safely shut ,and all the keepers keeping watch and ward ,without before the doors2 but entering in ,to find our prisoners1 prisoner found we none4 ,the captain of the temple1 the high-priest1 ,and all that council mused in maze and doubt-- ,gamaliel most1 guessing the finger of ,god4 ,but now comes one who brings a fresh report1 ,behold1 said he1 the men ye put in bond ,are standing in the temple teaching there4 ,forthwith the captain of the temple goes1 ,his band attending1 and1 no violence shown-- ,for fear was on them of the people1 lest ,they stone them--leads the ,galilans in4 ,robed venerably each in rich array ,of purple1 and fine linen1 glistering white ,and broidered fair1 their flowing garments fringed ,with large expanse of border and with cords ,of blue adorned1 broad their phylacteries1 ,the council of the seventy sat severe ,within their council-hall in solemn state4 ,a semi-orb they sat1 or crescent-wise1 ,and in the midst1 between the horns1 were placed1 ,under their beetling frown1 the prisoners4 ,awful these felt the presence of the place1 ,and1 while the high-priest of their nation1 throned ,middle and chief among the councillors1 ,denouncing asked3 ,did we not straitly bid ,forbear to teach in this accursd name8 ,and1 lo1 ye fill ,jerusalem with bruit1 ,and seek to bring on us this person's blood6-- ,while thus1 sternly1 he spoke1 those simple men ,felt the heart fail within them and the tongue ,cleave to the mouth's dry roof4 ,he ceasing1 back ,their spirit came1 and ,spirit not their own1 ,the ,holy ,ghost of ,god1 flooded their souls1 ,as when into a bay the ocean pours4 ,then ,peter and his brethren boldly spoke3 ,fathers and brethren1 hearken to our words3 ,god needs must we1 rather than men1 obey4 ,that ,jesus whom ye crucified and slew1 ,him did the ,lord ,god of our sires raise up1 ,and at ,his own right hand exalt to be ,both prince and saviour1 to bestow on us ,repentance and forgiveness of our sins4 ,of these things all we stand here witnesses2 ,nor we alone1 for with us witnesseth ,god's ,spirit bestowed on whoso ,him obeys4 ,something not earthly in those prisoners' mien ,a tone of more than human in their words1 ,a majesty1 as of omnipotence ,patient within them1 ready to break forth1 ,but patient still1 to brook how much was need-- ,so much1 no more6--this awed one watchful heart ,prepared amid that council now to heed2 ,gamaliel inly pondered1 ',is it ,god8' ,the clear simplicity1 the perfect faith1 ,the steady1 prompt obedience1 the serene ,courage that dared1 without defying1 all ,the terrors brandished by the ,sanhedrim-- ,this spirit1 strange in those despisd men1 ,as with a soft and subtle atmosphere ,enfolding and suffusing him1 subdued ,the solid temper of his mind1 the strong ,set of his resolution grim relaxed1 ,undid the hard contortions of his nerves1 ,and supple made the will so firm before4 ,his steadfast poise of confidence perturbed1 ,gamaliel trembled with uncertainty4 ,otherwise ,saul2 he1 merged in different thought1 ,eluded quite that penetrative spell4 ,unconscious of the ,holy ,ghost1 he strove ,blindly against ,him1 like the rest1 though not ,yet1 like the rest1 with zeal of violence ,to do the prisoners harm or shed their blood2 ,with such zeal not1 but with ambitious pride ,of wisdom unawares puffed up to show ,his prowess in the ,scriptures1 and to earn ,a high degree surpassing all his peers4 ,his fellow-councillors concerting how ,to quench this propagandist fire in blood1 ,saul said within his heart3 ',nay1 nay1 instead1 ,might ,i but once these bold presumers face ,amid the idling crowds they feed with lies1 ,how1 from the law itself1 whereof1 untaught ,therein1 they prate1 would ,i1 in open test ,of argument1 confute them to their teeth6 ,their own ill-wielded weapons from their hands ,seen wrenched and turned against them1 surely then ,not only would these brawlers cease1 but all ,would laud and magnify the glorious ,word ,of ,god1 thus shown1 well wielded1 capable ,of wreaking its own vengeance on its foes4' ,these twain such counsel in their secret breast ,held diverse1 while that strife of words went on4 ,not what1 in present need1 behooved to do-- ,a full and fell accord conjoined them there6-- ,was doubt or question to the ,sanhedrim2 ,but in what chosen way their chosen goal1 ,the doom of death for those accursd men1 ,with safe sure speed1 most prudently1 to reach-- ,this doubt embroiled a vehement debate4 ,one argued thus his sentence and advice-- ,caiaphas he1 high-priest that lately was1 ,reputed statesman politic and wise3 ,we are a subject nation2 government ,is for this present slipped from out our hands4 ,chafe how we may1 how will it otherwise1 ,ours is a state of vassalage to ,rome4 ,death in our hearts and death upon our tongues1 ,denounced amain against our enemies1 ,is futile--thunder bare of thunderbolt4 ,we make ourselves a laughter--unless we ,warp toward our end with wisdom2 who is weak ,well needs be wise1 to win--wisdom is power4 ,to kill and keep alive1 by process due ,of law1 no longer appertains to us1 ,that right being forfeit to our conqueror2 this ,must we not let our honorable pride1 ,justly indignant1 and our holy zeal ,incensed for ,god1 bribe us to blink4 ,but slave1 ,if wise1 may make a foolish master serve4 ,break we proud ,rome to do our task for us4 ,true triumph1 when we wield the tyrant power ,itself of domination over us ,a weapon in our hands to work our will6 ,i counsel that we seek and find firm ground ,of mortal accusation1 before those ,who rule us1 against these audacious men1 ,as teachers of seditious doctrine meant ,to undermine allegiance1 and at length ,prompt insurrection and a state of war4 ,rome then will stamp our troublers out of life1 ,and we1 well rid of them without annoy1 ,besides shall safely reap from her the praise1 ,ill-merited1 of fealty to her right-- ,praise that sometime hereafter may be gain ,of vantage1 if sometime hereafter come ,fit season to fling off her hated yoke4 ,such words of weight spoke ,caiaphas1 and ceased ,those words1 not idle1 fell as falls the steel ,smiting the flint2 a sparkle keen of fire ,flew forth1 found tinder ready1 and flashed up ,in instant flame4 ,a patriot malcontent1 ,fiercely1 irreconcilably1 a ,jew1 ,was ,mattathias2 ,mattathias said3 ,yoke by whom hated8 ,surely not by him ,who tamely brooks to talk of earning praise ,for loyalty from ,rome6 ,nor more by those ,who patient sit to hear such counsel broached6 ,nay1 men my brethren1 that ,i did not hear6 ,sure1 son of ,abraham never have ,i heard ,own himself slave1 and meekly speak of ,rome1 ,as of a master6 ,this ,i will not hear6 ,i could not hear it6 ,speech of such a strain ,were like a river of molten metal poured ,red-hot into my ear to quench the sense6 ,stone-deaf am ,i to craven treachery ,from one of my own fellow-councillors here6 ,i only heard my brother say1 ',let us ,arise and stand for ,god6' ,lo1 ,i arise ,and stand1 with him1 with all6 ,there is a law1 ,ancient and unrepealed1 wholesome and good1 ,to stone for blasphemy4 ,blasphemers these1 ,what wait we8 ,we have hands1 and there are stones1 ,let us this instant forth and stone them1 stone ,unto the death6 ,the clenched hands1 and the fierce ,menace of husky tones1 half-choked1 and teeth ,gnashing1 and brow braided with swollen knots1 ,were more than words to speak the murderous will4 ,the prisoners listened with suspended breath2 ,they deemed a dreadful doom indeed was nigh4 ,instinctive instant fear1 forestalling faith1 ,with sudden loud alarum startled them1 ,and for one moment violently shook1 ,in them1 all save the basis of the soul-- ,one moment--then they sped themselves with prayer1 ,ran to the shelter of the promises1 ,and were at peace6 ,in that secure retreat ,withdrawn1 the secret place of the ,most ,high1 ,the angel of the ,lord encamping round1 ,composdly at leisure they looked out ,and saw the wicked plot against the just1 ,vainly1 and gnash upon him with his teeth6 ,within their hearts they knew his day would come4 ,the speaker still stood leaning imminent1 ,his posture instigation1 while a hiss ,of hot adhesion ran increasing round-- ,but skipped ,gamaliel1 skipped the musing ,saul ,with one beside1 scarce daring to be dumb-- ,when1 in his place1 slowly1 by soft degrees1 ,with furtive look and gesture1 to his feet ,stealing1 half stood1 half crouched1 a speaker new4 ,this was one ,shimei1 an abject man1 ,abject in spirit1 though in wit not dull1 ,and capable of long malevolence ,fed on resentments such as abjects feel4 ,saul listened1 but ,gamaliel bowed in prayer1 ,as ,shimei thus1 obliquely1 sneering1 spoke3 ,stoning is pleasant1 doubtless1 when1 as now1 ,one's sense of righteousness is much engaged4 ,the reflex satisfaction to be had ,from accurately casting a choice stone ,to break the teeth of the ungodly1 is ,superlative1 perhaps the very highest ,relish attainable to mortals here4 ,the consciousness of sympathy with ,god ,always exhilarates delightfully2 ,but in particular if the sympathy ,be exercised in such a case as this1 ,where the most glorious of ,god's attributes1 ,his justice1 is involved4 ,borne far above ,pity1 or any weakness of the sense1 ,you only feel a rapture of divine ,approval of the law you execute4 ,so subtly strong and sweet possesses you ,the instinct to indulge your appetite ,for righteousness1 you might almost mistake ,your pleasure for the pleasure of revenge4 ,but let revenge be for the heathen1 who ,know not ,jehovah and ,his law contemn4 ,jehovah's chosen we1 our sentiment ,purged of all personal bias of mere hate1 ,we simply wash our feet in wicked blood ,with pleasure--pleasure naturally enhanced1 ,if we have spilled said wicked blood ourselves4 ,yea1 stoning gratifies the pious mind ,profoundly--grant the stoning be by you2 ,by you1 not to you2 being stoned1 ,i judge1 ,is less satisfactory4 ,on this point who doubt ,or differ1 have their opportunity ,to clear their minds by prompt experiment-- ,they need but act upon the last advice2 ,for--grant our gracious masters smiled and pleased ,to let us play a prank of self-misrule1 ,this once1 wilful1 but harmless1 in their view1 ,which might even turn out comedy for them-- ,yet1 stoning these1 we should ourselves get stoned1 ,with expedition--past all chance of doubt4 ,our friend1 the vehement adviser here1 ,might peradventure go himself as blithe ,to be stoned by the people1 as to stone ,these pestilent fellows--for the glory of ,god4 ,but1 then1 more clearly how the glory of ,god ,would be subserved thereby1 the rest of us1 ,colder in heart perhaps1 but certainly ,cooler in head1 would wish to be advised1 ,before we take our lives into our hands ,to wreak the righteous judgment of the law ,on favorites of a fierce and fickle mob ,whose palms1 unless ,i much misread the signs1 ,already itch for stones to throw at us1 ,while we sit here and talk of throwing stones ,at whom they love and honor4 ,give them line ,this wild ,jerusalem mob1 and they will change ,their mood4 ,remember how it chanced but late ,with ,jesus ,nazarene4 ,hailed yesterday ,messiah1 ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 ,ovation of hosannas greeting him ,from thousand times a thousand throats--to-day1 ,a malefactor hooted through the streets1 ,with ',crucify him6 ,crucify him6' cried ,in multitudinous chorus like one voice-- ,the mouths to-day and yesterday the same4 ,their second tune indeed we set for them ,and sang precentors--but how well they joined6 ,in due time pitch them the like tune again1 ,and doubt not they will sing it with full breath4 ,not that ,i hence advise to wait remiss2 ,my counsel is no less from sloth removed ,than hostile to crude1 hasty violence4 ,only1 shun public note2 with proper quest1 ,ways may be found1 ways pregnant too1 that make ,no noise4 ,the nail that went so shrewdly through ,sisera's temples made no noise4 ,it sped ,softly1 but sped surely1 and found the quick ,secret of life4 ,are there not ,jaels yet8 ,you have guessed what ,i advise4 ,the end you seek ,is holy2 holy hold whatever means ,shall lead thereto4 ,let us commit this thing ,to those the wisest found among us1 few ,better than many1 charging them to choose ,some suitable silent means of silencing ,these praters1 without stir or scandal made1 ,likest the ways of nature1 hint1 perhaps1 ,conveyed of overruling providence ,at work through nature for revenging crime4 ,for me1 ,i seek no honor at your hands3 ,i do not court responsibility2 ,i am least wise among you2 yet a trust ,imposed were duty sacred in mine eyes4 ,as1 should along a living bosom warm ,with youthful life-blood coursing joyously1 ,a deadly serpent1 with protracted1 cold ,belly incumbent1 glide1 beneath that touch ,and creep the conscious flesh would creeping shrink1 ,and all the genial current in the veins ,curdle2 so now1 at ,shimei's words1 much more ,at signs in him that spoke beyond his words1 ,the accent of the voice1 the look1 the port ,of figure1 sinister suggestion couched ,in action or grimace1 there came a chill1 ,a shudder1 of reaction and collapse ,over the council late with zeal aglow4 ,even ,mattathias1 who1 in attitude ,of menace1 after ,shimei arose1 ,some space still stood--he1 too1 while ,shimei ,was speaking1 felt the evil spell and sank ,into his seat4 ,with one accord they all1 ,when ,shimei ceased1 a gloomy silence kept4 ,gamaliel did not lift his head1 but groaned ,audibly now1 though gently1 in his prayer4 ,from such a source such sound made seem yet more ,ominous the spell which hushed that council-hall4 ,,book ,,ii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,sanhedrim4 ,the ,sanhedrim still in session on the apostles' case1 ,saul speaks2 first scornfully repudiating for himself ,shimei's proposal of guile1 and then impressively announcing his own purpose1 now fully mature1 to controvert the ,christian preachers in open argument before the people4 ,after a pause following ,saul's speech1 ,gamaliel speaks in favor of letting the prisoners go free4 ,other councillors express their sentiments4 ,a scourging of the utmost severity being proposed1 ,nicodemus1 with bated breath1 deprecates first a cruel infliction1 and then any infliction at all4 ,release after scourging is finally resolved upon4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,sanhedrim4 ,dumb-struck and stirless long the ,sanhedrim-- ,instinctively abhorrent from the part ,of that base councillor--at last there rose ,a new assessor in the midst to speak4 ,a young man he1 who1 in the general thought1 ,wherever moving1 round about him wore ,a golden halo of uncertain hope ,and prophecy of bright futures4 ,aspect clear ,and pure2 straight stature2 foothold firm and free2 ,the bloom of youth just ripening to the hue ,of perfect manhood upon cheek and brow2 ,lip mobile1 but not lax--capacity ,expressed of exquisite emotion1 will ,elastic and resilient1 tempered true ,to bend1 not break1 and ultimately strong2 ,glances of lightning latent in the eye1 ,but lightning liable to be quenched in tears2 ,the pride of every ,hebrew1 such was ,saul4 ,a stir of expectation broke the hush ,of that strange silence1 ere his opening words3 ,that ,i1 the youngest of this order1 thus ,should rise for speech--and that beloved gray head ,before me bowed1 unready yet--might seem ,unseemly4 ,but to speak after he speaks1 ,my own reverd guide1 the guide of all1 ,would be1 should ,i then speak to differ1 more ,unseemly still4 ,and what ,i have to say1 ,being my thought1 burns in me to be said1 ,approve1 condemn1 who will2 ,god bids me speak4 ,gamaliel raised his head and looked at ,saul4 ,saul felt the look1 and hardened his will1 but not ,his heart1 to meet it4 ,turning so1 he saw1 ,not what he inly braced himself to bear1 ,warning1 rebuke1 anger to overawe1 ,reproach1 appeal1 dissuasion1 pain confessed ,at filial separation1 grasp of will ,at old authority elapsed--of these1 ,naught2 only a pathos of perplexity1 ,a broken1 anguished1 groping childlikeness1 ,desire of any help1 and hope of none-- ,saul will hereafter understand it all2 ,he simply marks it now compassionately ,in wonder1 pausing not1 and thus1 with loth ,allusion to the last advice1 proceeds3 ,but other speech my lips refuse1 until ,i purge my conscience by protesting here1 ,for me1 ,i spurn1 scorn1 hate1 loathe utterly ,the devil and devilish lies4 ,i have no qualms ,at blood1 but ,i love truth1 and qualms ,i own ,at falsehood1 practised in whatever name2 ,damnable ever1 then thrice damnable1 ,damning a holy cause it feigns to serve6 ,a flush of warm revival in the breasts ,of some that listened answered to such words4 ,but one there was1 that vile adviser1 felt ,a gripe of mortal hatred at his heart4 ,he1 by ,gamaliel's eye not unobserved1 ,behind a black malignant scowl which1 like ,that murk emission of the cuttle-fish1 ,flushed from his heart his face to overspread ,and hide his thought1 sat fostering the wound ,of ,saul's disdainful noble words--a wound ,to rankle long in the obscene recess ,of that bad bosom1 and therein to breed ,at last an issue foul of fell revenge2 ,in purpose fell1 though in fulfilment foiled4 ,but ,saul1 magnanimously heedless1 deigned ,nor glance at him nor thought of consequence4 ,elate with the elixir of his youth1 ,and buoyed with confidence exultant now ,by the rebound of his beginning1 buoyed ,besides with sympathy1 he passed along1 ,yet1 master he1 not mastered1 of his mood1 ,curbed strongly his strong passion and delight ,of power1 and1 calm with self-possessing will1 ,force in him to have sped a thunderbolt ,stayed back from sudden waste1 to be sent on ,in fine diffusive throb--as farther thus3 ,enough of that2 ,i did but purify ,my soul with words4 ,i feared some inward stain ,from only listening1 if ,i listened only1 ,and did not speak1 when base was proffered me4 ,hear now what ,i propose4 ,what ,i propose ,is not advice2 advice ,i neither give ,nor ask4 ,i do not ask it1 for my heart ,is fixed2 duress of conscience presses me1 ,with flesh and blood forbidding to confer4 ,i must do what ,i shall1 in man's or devil's ,despite4 ,i trust ,i speak not thus in pride4 ,not therefore that the census of your yeas ,or nays may guide me1 but that ye may weigh ,what force my purpose now unfolded owns ,to sway your present counsels1 hear and judge4 ,ye know1 and all ,jerusalem1 that ,saul ,has counted nothing worthy to be prized ,beside the learning of the law of ,god4 ,for this1 a boy1 from yon ,cilician lands ,i came2 for this1 ,i have consumed my youth4 ,what envied gains of knowledge ,i have made1 ,sitting a student at ,gamaliel's feet1 ,befits me not to vaunt2 these1 small or large1 ,belong to ,god and to my nation1 being mine ,only to use for ,him and them4 ,i see ,plainly how ,i must use my trust from ,god4 ,wherefore are we assembled8 ,wherefore1 save ,because these sciolists pervert the law1 ,deceived perhaps1 deceiving certainly8 ,scarce waved a careless hand in sign at them-- ,toward the apostles1 still in presence there1 ,saul deigned not to divert his scornful eyes3 ,shame is it if ,i1 knowing the law indeed1 ,am less than match for these untutored minds1 ,amid the flocking fools they lead astray1 ,to controvert their hateful heresies4 ,herewith then ,i proclaim my ripe resolve ,to undertake1 against the preaching liars1 ,on their own terms1 a warfare for the truth4 ,let it be seen which cause1 in open list1 ,is stronger1 truth from heaven or lie from hell6 ,brethren and fathers1 as ye will1 consult2 ,the youngest has his purpose thus divulged4 ,as when a palm diversely blown upon ,in a strong tempest of opponent winds1 ,now this way1 and now that1 obedient ,to each prevailing present urgency1 ,leans to all quarters of the firmament ,by turns1 but quickly1 let a lull succeed1 ,upright again1 shows every leaf composed2 ,so now the council1 long enough between ,opinion and opinion buffeted1 ,while ,saul was speaking took a little ease1 ,no new advice proposed1 to breathe again1 ,steady itself1 and come to equipoise4 ,some thought that ,saul had spoken proudly2 some1 ,that pride became his worth2 some held that he ,would make his vaunting good2 some feared his plan ,savored of youth and rashness2 others deemed ,public dispute mistaken precedent ,teeming with various mischief--sure to breed ,insufferable pretensions in the crowd1 ,so taught to count themselves fit arbiters ,on ,scriptural or traditional points of moot1 ,and1 by close consequence1 a serious breach ,endanger in their own authority2 ,yet others felt1 whatever fruit beside ,was borne of ,saul's proposed experiment1 ,two things at least were safe to reckon on-- ,in its own dignity1 the ,sanhedrim ,must needs incur immedicable hurt1 ,so plainly scandalous a spectacle ,exhibiting1 a councillor enrolled ,of their own number stooping to debate ,on equal terms with ignorant fishermen2 ,then1 on their side1 those flattered fishermen1 ,far from indulging proper gratitude ,for being publicly confounded quite ,at such illustrious hands1 would be instead ,inflated out of measure1 nigh to burst1 ,with added pride at complaisance so new ,from their superiors1 while the common herd ,would give them greater heed accordingly4 ,such things diverse they thought1 and silence kept1 ,saul's colleagues in the ,sanhedrim2 they all ,together felt that ,saul in any wise ,would go ,saul's way2 they therefore silence kept4 ,one man alone1 by age and gravity1 ,and reverence his in ample revenue1 ,was easy master of the ,sanhedrim3 ,on him the council rested and revolved1 ,as on a fixd centre and support4 ,and now ',gamaliel6 let us hear at last ,gamaliel's word' was suddenly the sole1 ,the simultaneous1 silent thought to all4 ,the eyes of all concentred instantly ,upon ,gamaliel found that saint esteemed ,and sage already stirring as to rise4 ,their readiness to hear1 with his to speak1 ,timed so in perfect reciprocity ,and exquisite accord responsive1 marked ,that fleet meet moment for the orator1 ,which1 conscious half1 but half unconscious1 he1 ,gamaliel1 wielded by the ,holy ,ghost1 ,was now to seize and use for ,god so well4 ,the hoary head1 the mien of majesty1 ,the associative power of ancient fame1 ,his habit and tradition of command1 ,their instinct1 grown inveterate1 to obey1 ,always1 wherever he arose to speak ,among his brethren1 won ,gamaliel heed4 ,but now1 a certain gentle winsomeness1 ,born of a certain wavering wistfulness1 ,qualified so a new solemnity ,of manner1 like a prophet's1 felt in him1 ,that awe came on his hearers as from ,god4 ,gamaliel first bade put the prisoners forth1 ,in keeping1 out of audience1 and then said3 ,my brethren3 ,saul my brother--son no more ,i name him1 since he parts himself from me ,in counsel--yet ,i love him not the less-- ,a tremor of sensation fluttered through ,the council1 with these words1 and at ,saul's heart ,pausing1 infixed1 then healed1 a subtle pang ,of sweet remorse and gracious tenderness-- ,yea1 not the less for this love ,i my son1 ,my brother1 while ,i honor him the more4 ,yea1 and not wholly does he part himself ,from me2 in deepest counsel we are one4 ,saul seeks to honor ,god obeying ,him1 ,the same seek ,i2 are we not deeply one8 ,and ever ,i have taught obedience ,to ,god as the prime thing and paramount2 ,disciple therefore still to me1 and son1 ,is ,saul1 even in this act and article ,of his secession from his master's part2 ,saul and ,gamaliel both1 and all of us1 ,i pray my ,god to save from self-deceit6 ,i shudder while ,i pray1 ',deliver me1 ,o ,lord1 deliver1 from the secret sin ,of false supposed obedience masking pride6' ,late1 ,i was sure1 as ,saul is sure to-day4 ,i thought1 and doubted not1 we ought to do ,even what ye now are bent to bring to pass4 ,my way was not ,saul's way1 but rather yours2 ,to me it seemed plainly1 as seems to you1 ,wiser to save the body by some loss1 ,if loss were need1 of limb4 ,unfalteringly1 ,the knife would ,i myself with mine own hand ,have wielded to cut off these members1 judged ,unsound and harmful to the general health1 ,forever from the congregation4 ,now1 ,i feel less sure1 ,gamaliel feels less sure4 ,i wish--brethren1 ,i think ,i wish--to be ,obedient2 though deceitful is the heart ,above all things and wicked desperately-- ,what man can know it8--yet ,i think ,i will ,obedience4 ,that was a pure word--the mouth ,however far from pure that uttered it-- ',to ,god rather than men must we obey4' ,saul was true son of mine to turn from me ,to ,god--if haply he to ,god indeed ,have turned from me1 and not from me to ,saul1 ,not knowing6 ,might ,i also turn1 even ,i1 ,gamaliel from ,gamaliel1 unto ,god6 ,i dread to trust myself1 lest ,i1 myself ,obeying1 misdeem myself obeying ,god4 ,hearken1 my children4 ,these accusd men ,unlikely1 most unlikely1 choice of ,heaven ,to be ,his prophets1 seemed1 and seem1 to me4 ,i look at them and find no prophet mien2 ,i listen and their ,galilan speech ,offends me2 and far more the scandal is ,to think what message they propound to us4 ,their person and their message ,i reject-- ,reject1 or if reject not1 not receive4 ,and yet1 my brethren1 yet1 ,i counsel you1 ,beware6 ,what ye intend1 accomplished once1 ,were once for all accomplished1 not to be ,undone forever4 ,ye consult to slay1 ,and find your purpose hard to come by4 ,how1 ,if1 having slain1 to your repentance1 ye ,consulted to bring back to life again8 ,were that not harder yet8 ,wherefore take heed1 ,ye men of ,israel4 ,remember how1 ,a generation gone1 ,theudas arose1 ,proud boaster and asserter of himself1 ,who drew his hundreds to his standard2 he ,was slain1 and all his followers came to naught4 ,some space thereafter1 out of ,galilee ,judas arose and mustered to his side ,many adherents2 but he perished too1 ,and all that clave to him were far dispersed4 ,this therefore as to these is my advice3 ,refrain your hands from them2 let them alone4 ,know1 if their deed and counsel be of men1 ,its doom is certain1 it will come to naught2 ,but if it be of ,god1 strive how ye may1 ,ye cannot overthrow it4 ,well take heed1 ,lest haply ye be found to fight against ,god4 ,for myself1 when close upon the heels ,of what was wrought mysterious in the escape ,of these our prisoners from that warded keep ,fast-barred1 ,i heard their answer to our sharp ,inquest and blame1 ,i felt as felt of old ,that prophet chanting his majestic strain1 ',the ,lord is in ,his holy temple1 let ,the earth1 let the whole earth1 before ,him keep ,silence4' ,my soul kept silence and still keeps4 ,and silence keep1 all ye1 before the ,lord6 ,for the ,lord cometh1 lo1 ,he cometh swift ,to judge the earth6 ,and who of us shall bide ,the day of ,his approach8 ,not surely he ,then found in arms against ,god and ,his ,christ6 ,gamaliel spoke and ceased2 but1 while he spoke1 ,his speaking was like silence audible1 ,rather than sound of voice2 and when he ceased1 ,his silence was as eloquence prolonged4 ,awhile the council sat as in a trance1 ,unable or unwilling to bestir ,themselves for speech or motion4 ,but not all ,are capable of awe4 ,some present there1 ,either through sad defect of nature proof1 ,or through long worldly habit seared and sealed1 ,against the access of heavenly influence1 ,bode unaware of anything divine ,descended near them--carnal minds1 immersed ,in sense1 from shocks of spirit insulate1 ,calm1 discomposure none from things unseen1 ,the faculty for such experience lost1 ,pitiably self-possessed6 and ,god ,himself ,so nigh to have possessed them6 ,these a space ,waited to let the power a little pass1 ,wrought by ,gamaliel on the council2 then ,with tentative preamble1 one of them ,said that ,gamaliel's words were words of weight1 ,weight well derived from character like his-- ,whereat the speaker paused1 with crafty eye ,cast round from countenance to countenance1 ,to read how much he safely might detract1 ,by open difference or by sly demur1 ,from the just value and authority ,of mild ,gamaliel's sentence4 ,but small sign ,saw he to hearten him in hope of ebb ,to the strong tide still standing at full flood ,that set in favor of the prisoners4 ,he feebly closed with wish expressed--and wish ,it was1 not hope--of hope no grounds he saw-- ,that some means might be found to save the shocked ,and staggering dignity--a dignity ,ancient and sacred--of the ,sanhedrim ,from sheer shipwreck4 ,some slight responsive stir ,under such spur to pride emboldened one ,to trust they should at least sharply rebuke ,the prisoners1 and take bond of word from them ,not further to disturb the city's peace4 ,another following said1 that had been tried ,already once1 with what result accrued ,was plain to see4 ,and now the ,sanhedrim1 ,through various such suggestion commonplace1 ,relaxed somewhat from their late mood so tense1 ,grew readier to approve his voice who said3 ,the first offence we deemed condignly met ,with reprimand from us1 and interdict4 ,those gentle means the prisoners once have scorned1 ,and to our face assure us they will scorn4 ,now let such contumacious insolence ,toward just authority too meek1 be met1 ,if not with death deserved1 at least with stripes ,so heavy they shall wish it had been death4 ,such truculence renewed provoked a new ,reaction4 ,this1 that councillor less stern ,noted--who1 with ,gamaliel and with ,saul1 ,refrained1 when all the others hissed applause ,to ,mattathias--noted1 and with thrift ,converted into opportunity4 ,a wary spirit ,nicodemus was1 ,with impulses toward good1 but weak in will1 ,and selfish as the timid are4 ,his heart ,was a divided empire in his breast1 ,half firm for ,god1 but half to self seduced4 ,his fellows trusted him accordingly2 ,hate him they could not1 but they did not love4 ,some guessed him guilty of discipleship ,to ,jesus1 secretly indulged through fear4 ,this their suspicion the suspect in turn ,suspected1 and the uneasy consciousness ,made him more curious than his wont to move ,by indirection toward his present aim4 ,what he wished was1 to serve the prisoners ,and not disserve himself--a double end1 ,rendering his counsels double2 but as such ,could speak1 now ,nicodemus rising spoke4 ,with sinuous slow approach winning his way ,devious whither he wished to go1 like those ,creatures that backward facing forward creep ,and seem retiring still while they advance1 ,so ,nicodemus wound him toward his goal1 ,well-chosen1 as he said3 ,let us be wise2 ,beyond our purpose were not well to go1 ,were foolish4 ,cruelty is not1 ,i trust1 ,our spirit2 ,god is just1 but cruel not4 ,let us1 ,god's sons1 be just indeed1 like ,god1 ,but then1 like ,god1 also not cruel4 ,stripes ,are heavy1 howsoever lightly laid ,on freeborn men4 ,the shame is punishment2 ,a wounded spirit who can bear8 ,through flesh ,you smite the smarting spirit1 every blow4 ,remember too that lacerated flesh ,has lips to plead with1 makes its mute appeal ,to pity--eloquence incapable ,of being answered1 charging cruelty2 ,whereas the bleeding spirit1 bleeding hid1 ,no cruelty imputes1 reports no pain1 ,but1 pith of self-respect clean gone from one1 ,glazes the eye1 dejects the countenance1 ,changes the voice to hollow1 takes the spring ,out of the step1 and leaves the man a wretch ,to suffer on an object of contempt ,more than compassion--hopelessly bereft ,of power to captivate the public ear1 ,which ever itches to be caught the prey ,of orator full-blooded1 iron lungs1 ,brass front1 a lusty human animal4 ,such make of men1 through shame of public stripes1 ,transformed to eunuchs--this1 sure1 were enough2 ,nay1 for our purpose1 more than more would be4 ,and even so much as this1 yea1 lightest stripe1 ,drawing a sequel such as ,i have said-- ,brethren1 for me1 my soul revolts from it2 ,i feel it cruel1 fear it impious4 ,behooves we ponder well ,gamaliel's word2 ,and1 if to slay were haply against ,god ,to be found fighting1 why not1 then1 to scourge8 ,such fine-spun sentiment1 another now1 ,concurring1 though sarcastically1 said1 ,in pity of the victim of the scourge ,for suffering inwardly endured through shame1 ,supposes that your victim is endowed ,with some small faculty for feeling shame1 ,which in the present case asks evidence4 ,still1 ,i too take the clement part1 and say1 ,if only for ,saul's sake1 let these go free ,of any but the lightest punishment4 ,saul will desire for foemen hearts as strong ,as may be1 to call out that strength in him ,which we well know1 for their discomfiture4 ,even thus1 he may prefer some other foe ,than men disparaged by the brand of blows ,upon their backs1 some fairer1 fresher fame1 ,his gage of battle to take up1 and be ,by him immortalized through overthrow ,experienced1 such as never yet was worse4 ,divergent so in view or motive1 they ,agreed at last to let the prisoners go ,with stripes inflicted1 and a charge severe ,imposed to speak in ,jesus' name no more4 ,these so released departed thence with joy1 ,rejoicing to have been accounted meet ,for ,jesus' sake to suffer shame4 ,nor ceased ,those faithful men to preach and teach as erst1 ,both in the temple and from house to house1 ,daily still sounding forth ,jesus as ,christ4 ,but ,saul withdrew deep pondering in his mind ,how he might best his plan divulged fulfill4 ,,book ,,iii4 ,,saul ,,against ,,stephen4 ,stephen1 as a ,christian preacher of brilliant genius and of growing fame1 is selected by ,saul to be his antagonist in the controversy resolved upon by him4 ,to a vast concourse of people assembled in expectation of hearing ,stephen preach1 ,saul takes the opportunity to address an impassioned and elaborate appeal1 with argument1 against ,stephen's doctrine4 ,his hearers are powerfully affected2 among them1 he not knowing it1 ,saul's own beloved sister ,rachel4 ,,saul ,,against ,,stephen4 ,like a wise soldier on some task intent ,of moment and of hazard1 who1 at heart ,secure of prospering1 yet no caution counts1 ,no pains1 unworthy1 but with wary feet ,explores his ground about him every rood1 ,all elements of chance forecalculates1 ,draws to his part each doubtful circumstance2 ,never too much provided1 point by point ,equips himself superfluously strong1 ,that he prevailing may with might prevail1 ,and overcome with bounteous victory2 ,so ,saul1 firm in resolve and confident1 ,and inly stung with conscience and with zeal ,not to postpone his weighty work proposed1 ,would not be hasty found1 nor rash1 to fail ,of any circumspection that his sure ,triumph might make more sure1 or wider stretch ,its margin1 certain to be wide4 ,some days ,after the council1 he1 with forecast sage ,and prudence to prepare1 refrained himself ,from word or deed in public2 while1 at home1 ,not moody1 but not genial as his use1 ,his gracious use1 was1 self-absorbed1 retired ,in deep and absent muse1 he nigh might seem ,a stranger to his sister well-beloved1 ,wont to be sharer of his inmost mind4 ,inmost1 save one reserve4 ,he never yet ,had shown to any1 scarce himself had seen1 ,the true deep master motive of his soul1 ,that fountain darkling in the depths of self ,whence into light all streams of being flowed4 ,saul daily1 nightly1 waking1 sleeping1 dreamed ,of a new nation1 his belovd own1 ,resurgent from the dust consummate fair1 ,and1 for chief corner-stone1 with shoutings reared ,to station in the stately edifice-- ,whom but himself8 ,who worthier than ,saul8 ,this beckoning image bright of things to be-- ,audacious-lovelier far than might be shown ,to any1 yea1 than he himself dared look1 ,with his own eyes1 steadfast and frank upon-- ,was interblent so closely in his mind ,with what should be the fortune and effect ,of his intended controversy nigh1 ,that1 though his settled purpose to dispute ,he had for public reasons publicly ,declared1 he yet in private1 of that strife1 ,still future1 everywhere to speak abstained1 ,abiding even unto his sister dumb4 ,rachel from ,tarsus to ,jerusalem ,had borne her brother company1 her heart ,one heart with his to cheer him toward the goal ,of his high purpose1 which she knew1 to be ,beyond his equals master in the law4 ,alone they dwelt together1 their abode ,between ,gamaliel's and the synagogue ,of the ,cilicians4 ,beautiful and bright ,his home she made to him1 with housewife ways ,neat-handed1 and with fair companionship4 ,the sister1 with that quick intelligence ,the woman's1 first divined1 for secret cause ,of this her brother's travailing silentness1 ,that he some pregnant enterprise revolved2 ,then1 having1 with the woman's wit1 found means ,to advise herself what enterprise it was1 ,she1 with the woman's tact of sympathy1 ,in watchful quiet reverent of his mood1 ,strove with him and strove for him1 in her thought1 ,her wish1 her hope1 her prayer2 nor failed sometimes ,a word to drop1 unconsciously as seemed1 ,by lucky chance1 that might perhaps convey ,a timely help of apt suggestion wise ,to ,saul her brother for his purpose1 he ,all undisturbed to guess that aught was meant4 ,at home1 abroad1 reserved1 ,saul not the less ,all places of men's frequence and resort ,still visited1 and mixed with crowds to catch ,the whisper of the people2 active not1 ,but not supine1 observing unobserved ,as if alone amid the multitude4 ,the brave apostles of the ,nazarene ,he heard proclaim their master ,lord and ,christ1 ,and marked their method in the ,scriptures2 not ,with open mind obedient toward the truth1 ,but ever only with shut heart and hard1 ,intent on knowing how to contradict4 ,meanwhile the novel doctrines spread1 and found ,new converts day by day1 and day by day ,proclaimers new4 ,of these more eminent ,was none than ,stephen1 flaming prophet he1 ,quenchless in spirit1 full of faith and power4 ,him oft ,saul heard1 to listening throngs that hung ,upon the herald's lips with eager ear1 ,the claim of ,jesus to ,messiahship ,assert1 and from the psalms and prophets prove4 ,in guise a seraph rapt1 with love aflame ,and all aflame with knowledge1 like the bush ,that burned with ,god in ,horeb unconsumed1 ,the fervent pure apostle ,stephen stood1 ,in ardors from celestial altars caught ,kindling to incandescence--stood and forged1 ,with ringing blow on blow1 his argument1 ,a vivid weapon edged and tempered so1 ,and in those hands so wielded1 that its stroke ,no mortal might abide and bide upright4 ,stephen is such as ,saul erelong will be ,risen from the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost6 ,saul felt the breath of human power that blew ,round ,stephen like a morning wind1 he felt ,the light that lifted and transfigured him ,and glorified1 that bright auroral ray ,of genius which forever makes the brow ,it strikes on from its fountain far in ,god ,shine like the sunrise-smitten mountain peak-- ,saul felt these things in ,stephen by his tie ,with ,stephen in the fellowship of power2 ,kindred to kindred answered and rejoiced4 ,but that in ,stephen which was more and higher ,than ,stephen at his native most and highest1 ,the inhabitation of the ,holy ,ghost-- ,this1 ,saul had yet no sense to apprehend4 ,the ,spirit of ,god1 only the ,spirit of ,god ,can know2 the natural man to ,him is deaf ,and blind4 ,saul1 therefore1 seeing did not see1 ,and hearing heard not4 ,but no less his heart1 ,in seeing and in hearing ,stephen speak1 ,leapt up with recognition of a peer ,in power to be his meet antagonist ,and task him to his uttermost to foil4 ,beyond ,saul's uttermost it was to be1 ,that task6 though this of ,stephen not1 but ,god4 ,still goaded day by day with such desire ,as nobler spirits know1 to feel the strain ,and wrestle of antagonistic thews ,tempting his might and stirring up his mind1 ,saul felt1 besides1 the motion and ferment ,and great dilation of a patriot soul1 ,magnanimous1 laboring for his country's cause4 ,he thought the doctrines of the ,nazarene ,pernicious to the ,jewish commonwealth1 ,not less than was his person base1 his life ,unseemly1 and opprobrious his death4 ,he saw1 or deemed he saw1 in what was taught ,from ,jesus1 only deep disparagement ,disloyally implied of everything ,nearest and dearest to the ,hebrew heart4 ,the gospel was high treason in ,saul's eyes2 ,suppose it but established in success1 ,the temple then would be no more what erst ,it was1 the daily sacrifice would cease1 ,the holy places would with heathen feet ,be trodden and profaned1 the middle wall ,of old partition between ,jew and ,greek ,would topple undermined1 the ritual law ,of ,moses would be obsolete and void1 ,common would be the oracles of ,god1 ,to all divulged1 peculiar once to ,jews-- ,of ,jewish name and nation what were left8 ,such thoughts1 that seemed of liberal scope1 were ,saul's1 ,commingled1 he not knowing1 with some thoughts1 ,less noble1 of his own aggrandizement4 ,it came at length to pass that on a day ,the spacious temple-court is thronged with those ,come from all quarters to ,jerusalem1 ,or dwellers of the city1 fain to hear ,once more the preacher suddenly so famed4 ,present is ,saul1 but not as heretofore ,to hearken only and observe2 the hour ,has struck when his own voice he must uplift1 ,to make it heard abroad4 ,he dreamed it not1 ,but ,rachel too was there1 his sister4 ,she ,had1 from sure signs observed1 aright surmised ,that the ripe time to speak was come to ,saul4 ,in her glad loyalty1 she doubted not ,that he1 that day1 would1 out of a full mind1 ,pressed overfull with affluence from the heart1 ,pour forth a stream of generous eloquence-- ,stream1 nay1 slope torrent1 steep sheer cataract1 ,of reason and of passion intermixed-- ,for such she proudly felt her brother's power-- ,which down should rush upon his adversaries ,and carry them away as with a flood1 ,astonished1 overwhelmed1 and whirled afar2 ,rescued at least the ruins of the state6 ,so glorying in her high vicarious hope ,for ,saul her brother1 ,rachel came that morn ,betimes and chose her out a safe recess ,for easy audience1 nigh1 and yet retired1 ,between the pillars of a stately porch1 ,where she might see and not by him be seen4 ,thence ,rachel watched all eagerly2 when now ,the multitude1 expecting ,stephen1 saw ,a different man stand forth with beckoning hand ,as if to speak4 ,the act and attitude ,commanded audience1 for a king of men ,stood there1 and a great silence fell on all4 ,some knew the face of the young ,pharisee1 ,these whispered round his name2 ,saul's name and fame ,to all were known1 and1 ere the speaker spoke1 ,won him a deepening heed4 ,rachel the hush ,felt with a secret sympathetic awe1 ,and for one breath her beating heart stood still2 ,it leapt again to hear her brother's voice ,pealing out bold in joyous sense of power4 ,that noble voice1 redounding like a surge ,pushed by the tide1 on swept before the wind1 ,and all the ocean shouldering at its back1 ,which seeks out every inlet of the shore ,to brim it flush and level from the brine-- ,such ,saul's voice swelled1 as from a plenteous sea1 ,and1 wave on wave of pure elastic tone1 ,rejoicing ran through every gallery1 ,and every echoing endless colonnade1 ,and every far-retreating least recess ,of building round about that temple-court1 ,and filled the temple-court with silver sound-- ,as thus1 with haughty summons1 he began3 ,ye men of ,israel1 sojourners from far ,or dwellers in ,jerusalem1 give heed4 ,the lines are fallen to us in evil times3 ,opinions run abroad perverse and strange1 ,divergent from the faith our fathers held4 ,a day is come1 brethren1 and fallen on us-- ,on us1 this living generation1 big ,with promise1 or with threat1 of mighty doom4 ,which will ye have it8 ,threat1 or promise1 which8 ,yours is the choosing--choose ye may1 ye must4 ,abolish ,moses1 if ye will2 destroy ,the great traditions of your fathers2 say ,abraham was naught1 naught ,isaac1 ,jacob1 all ,the patriarchs1 heroes1 martyrs1 prophets1 kings2 ,that ,seed of ,abraham naught1 our nation's ,hope1 ,foretold to be an universal ,king2 ,make one wide blank and void1 an emptied page1 ,of all the awful glories of our past-- ,deliverance out of ,egypt1 miracle ,on miracle wrought dreadfully for us ,against our foes1 path cloven through the sea1 ,jehovah in the pillar of cloud and fire1 ,and host of ,pharaoh mightily overthrown2 ,the law proclaimed on ,sinai amid sound ,and light insufferable and angels nigh ,attending2 manna in the wilderness2 ,the rock that lived and moved and followed them1 ,our fathers1 flowing water in the waste-- ,obliterate at a stroke whatever sets ,the seal of ,god upon you as ,his own1 ,and marks you different from the heathen round-- ,shekinah fixed between the cherubim1 ,the vacant ,holy of ,holies filled with ,god1 ,the morning and the evening sacrifice1 ,priest1 altar1 incense1 choral hymn and psalm1 ,confused melodious noise of instruments ,together sounding the high praise of ,god2 ,all this1 with more ,i will not stay to tell1 ,this temple itself with its magnificence1 ,the hope of ,him foreshown1 the ,messenger ,of that eternal covenant wherein ,your souls delight themselves1 ,who suddenly ,one day shall come unto ,his temple--blot1 ,expunge1 erase1 efface1 consent to be ,no more a people1 mix and merge yourselves ,with aliens1 blood that in your veins flows pure ,all the long way one stream continuous down ,from ,abraham called the friend of ,god--such blood ,adulterate in the idolatrous1 corrupt ,pool of the ,gentiles--men of ,israel6 ,or are ye men8 and are ye ,israel8 ,i stand in doubt of you--,i stand in doubt ,of kinsmen mine supposed that bide to hear ,such things as seems that ye with pleasure hear6 ,say1 know ye not they mean to take away ,your place and name8 ,are ye so blind8 ,or are ,ye only base poor creatures caring not ,though knowing well8 ,oft have ye seen the fat ,of lambs upon the flaming altar fume ,one instant and in fume consume away2 ,so swiftly and so utterly shall pass1 ,in vapor of smoke1 the glorious excellency1 ,the pomp1 the pride1 nay1 but the being itself1 ,of this our nation from beneath the sun1 ,let once the hideous doctrine of a ,christ ,condemned and crucified usurp the place ,in ,hebrew hearts of that undying hope ,we cherish of ,messiah yet to reign ,in power and glory more than ,solomon's1 ,from sunrise round to sunrise without end1 ,and tread the ,gentiles underneath our feet4 ,indignant patriot spirit in the breast ,of ,rachel mixed itself with kindred pride ,and gladness for her brother gleaming so ,before her in a kind of fulgurous scorn ,which made his hearers quail while they admired2 ,she could not stay a sudden gush of tears4 ,but ,saul's voice now took on a winning change1 ,as1 deprecating gently1 thus he spoke3 ,forgive1 my brethren1 ,i have used hot words ,freely and frankly1 as great love may speak4 ,but that ,i love you1 trust you1 hope of you ,the best1 the noblest1 when once more you are ,yourselves1 and feel the spirit of your past ,come back1 ,i had not cared to speak at all4 ,i simply should have hung my head in shame1 ,worn sackcloth1 gone with ashes on my brow1 ,and sealed my hand upon my lips for you ,forever4 ,love does not despair1 but hopes ,forever4 ,and ,i love you far too well ,to dream despair of you4 ,bethink yourselves1 ,my brethren6 ,me1 as if ,i were the voice ,of your own ancient aspiration1 hear4 ,bear with me1 let me chide1 say not that love ,lured me to over-confidence of you4 ,be patient now1 my brethren1 while ,i go1 ,so briefly as ,i may1 through argument ,that well might ask the leisure of long hours1 ,to show from ,scripture1 from authority1 ,from reason and from nature too not less1 ,why we should hold to our ancestral faith1 ,and not the low fanatic creed admit ,of such as preach for ,christ one crucified4 ,be patient--,i myself must patient be1 ,tutoring down my heart to let my tongue ,speak calmly1 as in doubtful argument1 ,where ,i am fixed and confident to scorn4 ,as when ,gennesaret1 in his circling hills1 ,by wing of wind down swooping suddenly ,is into tempest wrought that1 to his depths ,astir1 he rouses1 and on high his waves ,uplifts like mountains snowy-capped with foam2 ,so1 smitten with the vehement impact ,and passion of ,saul's rash1 abrupt ,beginning1 that mercurial multitude ,had answered with commotion such as seemed ,menace of instant act of violence3 ,but1 as when haply there succeeds a lull ,to tempest1 then the waves of ,galilee ,sink from their swelling and smooth down to plane ,yet deep will roll awhile from shore to shore ,that long slow undulation following storm2 ,so1 when1 with wise self-recollection1 ,saul1 ,in mid-career of passionate appeal1 ,stayed1 and those gusts of stormy eloquence ,impetuous poured no longer on the sea ,of audience underneath him1 but1 instead1 ,proposed a sober task of argument1 ,the surging throng surceased its turbulence1 ,and settled from commotion into calm2 ,yet so as still to feel the rock and sway ,of central agitation at its heart1 ,while thus that master of its moods went on3 ,what said ,jehovah to the serpent vile ,which tempted ,eve8 ,did he not speak of ,one1 ,offspring to her seduced1 ,who should arise ,to crush the offending head8 ,no hint1 ,i trow1 ,of meekness and obedience unto death ,found there at least1 death on the shameful tree1 ,forsooth1 to be the character and doom ,of that foretokened ,champion of his kind1 ,that haughty ,trampler upon ,satan's head6 ,to ,abraham our father was of ,god ,foretold1 ',in thee shall all the families ,of the earth be blessed4' ,what blessing1 pray1 could come ,abroad upon mankind through ,abraham's seed1 ,messiah1 should ,messiah1 ,abraham's seed1 ,prove to be such as now is preached to you1 ,a shame1 a jest1 a byword1 a reproach1 ,a hissing and a wagging of the head1 ,a gazing-stock and mark for tongues shot out-- ,burlesque and travesty of our brave hopes ,and of our vaunts1 shown vain1 rife everywhere ,among the nations1 that erelong a prince ,should from the stem of ,jesse spring1 to sway ,an universal sceptre through the world8 ,did ,god mock ,abraham8 ,did ,he mean1 perchance1 ,that all the families of the earth should find ,peculiar blessedness in triumphing ,over that puissant nation promised him1 ,his progeny1 to match the stars of heaven ,for multitude1 and be as on the shore ,the sands1 innumerable8 ,was such the sense ,of promise and of prophecy8 ,behooves1 ,then1 we be glad and thankful1 we1 on whom ,the fullness of the time now falls1 to be ,this blessing to the ,gentiles4 ,but ye halt1 ,beloved4 ,slack and slow seem ye to greet ,the honor fixed on you4 ,why1 hearken6 ,ye1 ,ye1 out of all the generations1 ye ,fallen on the times of ,jesus crucified1 ,may count yourselves elect and called of ,god ,to bless the ,gentiles1 in affording them ,unquenchable amusement to behold ,your wretched plight and broken pride6 ,now clap ,your hands1 ye chosen6 ,let your mouth be filled ,with laughter1 and your tongue with singing filled6 ,nay1 sons of ,abraham1 nay4 ,no mocking words ,spake ,he who cannot lie1 ,lord ,god of truth ,and grace4 ,he meant that ,abraham's race should reign ,from sea to sea while sun and moon endure4 ,and ever a blessing true it is to men ,to bend the neck beneath an equal yoke ,of ruler strong and wise and just to rule4 ,then will at last the ,gentiles blessd be ,in ,abraham1 when1 from ,abraham's loins derived ,through ,david1 ,god's ,anointed shall begin1 ,in ,david's city1 ,his long government ,of the wide world1 and every heathen name ,shall kiss the rod and own ,messiah king4 ,our father ,jacob1 touched with prophecy1 ,spake of a sceptre that should not depart ,from ,judah until ,shiloh came1 to ,whom ,the obedience of the peoples was to be2 ,a sceptre1 symbol of authority ,and rule1 law-giving attribute1 resort ,of subject nations speeding to a yoke-- ,such ever everywhere in ,holy ,writ ,the image and the character impressed ,on ,god's ,messiah1 hope of ,israel4 ,what need ,i more8 ,wherefore to ears like yours1 ,well used to hear them in the temple chants ,resounded with responsive voice to voice1 ,rehearse those triumphs and antiphonies ,wherein ,jehovah ,father to ,his ,son ,messiah speaks3 ',ask ,thou of ,me1 and ,i ,to ,thee the heathen for inheritance ,will give1 and for possession the extreme ,parts of the earth4 ,thou shalt with rod of iron ,break them1 yea1 shatter them shalt ,thou in shards1 ,like a clay vessel from the potters hand4 ,be wise now1 therefore1 ,o ye kings1 be ye ,instructed1 judges of the earth4 ,kiss ye ,the ,son1 lest ,he be angry1 and ,his wrath1 ,full soon to be enkindled1 you devour4' ,tell me1 which mood of prophecy is that1 ,the meek or the heroic8 ,craven he1 ,or king1 to whom ,jehovah deigns such speech1 ,concerning whom such counsel recommends8 ',gird ,thou upon ,thy thigh ,thy sword1 ,o ,thou ,most ,mighty1'--so once more the psalmist1 rapt ,prophetical as to a martial rage1 ,breaks forth1 ,jehovah to ,messiah speaking-- ',gird on ,thy glory and ,thy majesty2 ,and in ,thy majesty ride prosperously1 ,and ,thy right hand shall teach ,thee terrible things4 ,sharp in the heart of the king's enemies ,thine arrows are1 whereby the peoples fall ,beneath ,thee4' ,such ,messiah is1 a man ,of war and captain of the host of ,god4 ,nay1 now it mounts to a deific strain1 ,the prophet exultation of the psalm3 ',thy throne1 ,o ,god' it sings--advancing ,him1 ,messiah1 to the unequalled dignity ,and lonely glory of the ,,one ,i ,,am1 ,audacious figure--close on blasphemy1 ,were it not ,god who speaks--to represent ,the dazzling splendors of ,messiahship4 ,let us erect our spirits from the dust1 ,my brethren1 and1 as sons of ,god1 nay1 gods ,pronounced--unless we grovel and below ,our birthright due1 unfilial and unfit1 ,sink self-depressed--let us1 ,i pray you1 rise1 ,buoyed upward from within by sense of worth ,incapable to be extinguished1 rise1 ,found equal to the will of ,god for us1 ,and know the true ,messiah when ,he comes4 ,be sure that when ,he comes1 ,his high degree ,will shine illustrious1 like the sun in heaven1 ,not feebly flicker for your fishermen ,from ,galilee to point it out to you ,with their illiterate ',lo1 here6' ',lo1 there6' ,at this increasing burst of scorn from ,saul1 ,exultant like the pan and the cry ,that rises through the palpitating air ,when storming warriors take the citadel1 ,once more from ,rachel's fixd eyes the tears ,of sympathetic exultation flowed-- ,the sister with the brother1 as in strife ,before the battle striving equally1 ,now equally in triumph triumphing4 ,but ,saul1 his triumph1 felt to be secure1 ,securer still will make with new appeal3 ,if so1 as we have seen1 the ,scriptures trend1 ,not less the current of tradition too-- ,no counter-current1 eddy none--one stress1 ,steady and full1 from ,adam down to you1 ,runs strong the self-same way4 ,out of the past ,what voice is heard in contradiction8 ,none4 ,turn round and ask the present2 you shall hear ,one answer still the same from every mouth ,of scribe or master versed in ,holy ,writ4 ,tradition and authority in this ,agree with ,scripture1 teaching to await ,for our deliverer an anointed king4 ,what ruler of our people has believed ,in ,jesus1 him of ,nazareth1 ,joseph's son1 ,as ,christ of ,god8 ,if any1 then some soul ,self-judged unworthy of his rulership1 ,secret disciple1 shunning to avow ,his faith1 and justly therefore counted naught-- ,ruler in name1 in nature rather slave4 ,and now ,i bid you look within your breast ,and answer1 ,does not your own heart rebel ,against the gospel of the ,nazarene8 ',gospel1' forsooth6 ,has ,god1 who made your heart1 ,provided you for gospel what your heart ,rejects with loathing8 ,likely seems it1 pray1 ,becoming1 fit1 that ,he ,who1 on the mount ,of ,sinai once the law promulging1 there ,displayed ,his glory more than mortal eye ,could bear to look upon or ear to hear-- ,who in the temple hid behind the veil ,shekinah blazed between the cherubim-- ,nay1 tell me1 seems it tolerable even ,to you1 that your ,jehovah ,god should choose1 ,lover of splendor as ,he is1 and power1 ,to represent ,himself among mankind ,not merely naked of magnificence1 ,but outright squalid in the mean estate ,and person of a carpenter1 to die ,at last apparent felon crucified8 ,reason and nature outraged cry aloud1 ',for shame6 ,for shame6' at blasphemy like this4 ,a strange ungentle impulse moved the heart ,of ,rachel to a mood like mutiny1 ,and almost she ,for shame6 herself cried out ,in echo to her brother's vehemence2 ,while murmur as of wind rousing to storm ,ran through the assembly at such words from ,saul1 ,the passion of the speaker so prevailed ,to stir responsive passion in their breasts4 ,this ,saul perceiving said1 in scornful pride1 ,fallaciously foretasting triumph won3 ,ye men of ,israel1 gladly ,i perceive ,some embers of the ancient fire remain1 ,if smouldering1 not extinguished1 in your breasts4 ,i will not further chafe your noble rage4 ,you are1 if ,i mistake not1 now prepared ,to hear more safely1 if less patiently1 ,the eloquence ,i keep you from too long4 ,let me bespeak for ,stephen your best heed4 ,and ,saul1 as if in gesture of surcease1 ,a pace retiring1 waved around his hand ,toward ,stephen1 opposite not far1 the while ,his nostril he dispread1 and mobile lip ,curled1 in the height of contumelious scorn2 ,and ,rachel1 where she stood1 unconsciously1 ,the transport of her sympathy was such1 ,repeated with her features what she saw4 ,,book ,,iv4 ,,stephen ,,against ,,saul4 ,stephen1 following ,saul1 turns the tide of feeling overwhelmingly in the opposite direction4 ,saul1 however1 but he almost alone--for even his sister ,rachel has been converted--stands out defiant against the manifest power of ,god4 ,shimei appears as an auditor watching with sinister motive the course of the controversy4 ,,stephen ,,against ,,saul4 ,the tumult grew a tempest when ,saul ceased3 ,no single voice of mortal man might hope1 ,though clear like clarion and like trumpet loud1 ,to live in that possessed demoniac sea ,of vast vociferation whelming all1 ,or ride the surges of the wild uproar4 ,what ailed thee1 ,o thou sea1 that thy mad mind ,so suddenly was soothed8 ,did ',peace1 be still6' ,dropping1 an unction from the ,holy ,one1 ,softly as erst on stormy ,galilee1 ,wide overspread the summits of the waves ,and sway their swelling down to glassy calm8 ,stephen stood forth to speak1 and all was still4 ,before he spoke1 already ,rachel felt ,a different power of silence there1 and sense1 ,within1 other than sympathetic awe2 ,this felt she1 though she knew it not1 nor dreamed ,it was the ,holy ,ghost sent down from heaven6 ,brethren--so ,stephen spoke1 beyond his wont ,now1 under awe of grave occasion1 calmed ,from ,god with power--,god's thoughts are not our thoughts1 ,neither our ways ,his ways2 for as the heavens ,are than the earth more high1 so than our ways ,more high are ,his1 and ,his thoughts than our thoughts4 ,our valued wisdom folly is to ,god ,full oft2 then most1 when folly seems to us ,god's wisdom4 ,have ye yet to learn that ,god ,rejoices to confound the vain conceit ,of man8 ,the ,scriptures1 then1 search ye with eyes ,blinded so thick8 ,it is ,isaiah's word3 ',jehovah1 yea1 hath poured upon you all ,the spirit of deep sleep1 and hath your eyes1 ,those prophets of the soul that might be1 closed1 ,also your heads1 meant to be seers1 hath veiled2 ,and vision all is now to you become ,even as the words of a shut book and sealed4 ,therefore ,jehovah saith1 ,for that this people ,draw nigh to ,me in worship with their mouth1 ,but have their heart removed from ,me afar1 ,while all their fear of ,me is empty form ,enjoined of men1 and idly learned by rote-- ,behold1 a thing of wonder will ,i do ,among this people1 wonder passing thought1 ,and perish shall the wisdom of their wise ,and prudence of their prudent come to nought6' ,brethren1 that was man's wisdom which just now ,ye heard1 and were well pleased to hear1 from ,saul4 ,hearken again1 and hear what ,god will speak4 ,at the first word that fell from ,stephen's lips1 ,an overshadowing of the ,holy ,ghost ,hung like a heaven above the multitude2 ,with every word that followed1 slow and full1 ,that awful cope seemed ever hovering down ,impendent nearer1 as when1 fold to fold1 ,droops lower and lower a dark and thunderous sky4 ,the speaker used no arts of oratory2 ,only a still small voice1 not wholly his1 ,nor wholly human1 issuing from his lips1 ,only a voice1 but eloquence was shamed4 ,and ,stephen thus his theme premised pursues3 ,rightly and wrongly1 both at once1 have ye ,this day been taught of ,god's ,messiah2 ,king ,he is1 as ,saul has said1 but in a sense1 ,and with a highth and depth and length and breadth ,and reach immense of meaning1 that nor ,saul1 ,nor ye1 nor any by the ,holy ,ghost ,untaught1 have yet conceived4 ,not of this world ,his kingdom is4 ,the pageant and the pomp1 ,state visible1 and splendor to the eye1 ,are of this world that vanishes away1 ,and of the princes of this world that come ,to naught4 ,his glory whose the kingdom is ,whereof ,i speak1 no eye hath seen1 no eye ,can see4 ,that vision is for naked soul4 ,the lordship and authority which craves ,obeisance of the knee1 the lip1 the hand1 ,and the neck breaks to an unwelcome yoke1 ,but traitor leaves the hidden heart within1 ,rebel the will insurgent1 infidel ,the mind1 the critic reason dissident1 ,and violated conscience enemy-- ,such rule is but the hollow show of rule1 ,a husk of vain pretence1 the kernel gone4 ,no earthly kingdom such1 ,messiah's is1 ,of nations hating and yet serving ,him-- ,trampled into the dust beneath ,his feet1 ,and either cringing or else gnashing rage4 ,a kingdom here on earth of heaven to found1 ,from heaven to earth ,god's true ,messiah comes2 ,a kingdom built of meek and lowly hearts ,by ,monarch meek and lowly to be ruled2 ,a world-wide kingdom and a time-long reign4 ,this kingdom new of heaven on earth commenced ,will gather ,jew and ,gentile both in one1 ,whereso1 of high or low1 of rich or poor1 ,heart ready to receive it shall be found1 ,in time or clime however hence afar4 ,for hear ,him speak1 the ,high and ,lofty ,one ,who maketh ,his abode eternity3 ',lo1 in the high and holy place dwell ,i1 ,likewise with him of meek and contrite mind4' ,in those words were foreshown the things which are1 ,brethren1 and kingdom which we preach to you1 ,messiah here indeed1 ,his reign begun1 ,invisible but glorious1 on the earth4 ,he that hath ears to hear1 lo1 let him hear1 ,and hail the one right ,ruler come at last2 ,who rules not nations1 masses of mankind ,only1 with indiscriminate wide sway ,imperfect though to view magnificent1 ,by many an individual will unfelt2 ,but seeks ,his subjects singly1 soul by soul1 ,and over each1 through all within him1 reigns4 ,jew must with ,gentile1 heart by heart1 submit ,to own ,messiah thus his ,lord and ,king1 ,throning ,him sovereign in the realm of self1 ,the empire of a humble1 contrite mind4 ,no other rule is real than rule like this1 ,the true ,messiah's rule1 which well within ,the flying scouts and outposts of the man1 ,wins to the midmost seat and citadel ,of being1 where the soul itself resides1 ,and tames the master captive to its thrall4 ,then sings the soul unto herself and says1 ',bless thou1 ,jehovah1 ,o my soul1 and all ,that is within me1 bless ,his holy name6' ,filled is the hidden part with melody4 ,for joyfully the reason then consents1 ,the mind is full of light to see1 and says ',amen6' the will resolves the opposite ,of its old self1 won by the heart1 which1 more ,than mere obedience1 loves2 conscience the while ,delightedly infusing all delight1 ,and ,holy ,spirit breathing benison4 ,such subjugation is a state of peace2 ,but peace1 stagnation not1 nor death4 ,you live ,and move and have your being evermore ,fresher and deeper1 purer and more full1 ,drawn in an ether and an element ,instinct and vivid with ,god4 ,the appetites ,are subject servitors to will1 the will ,hearkens to reason and regards its voice-- ,reason which is the will of ,him who reigns1 ,your reason and ,his will insensibly ,blending to grow incorporate in one4 ,such is the kingdom of the ,christ of ,god4 ,you easily miss it--for it cometh not ,with observation2 you must look within ,to find it--pray that you may find it so4 ,a mien of something more than majesty ,in ,stephen as he spoke1 transfiguring him2 ,conscious authority loftier than pride2 ,deep calm which made intensity seem weak2 ,slow weight more insupportable than speed2 ,passion so pure that its effect was peace1 ,beatifying his face2 betokened power ,beneath him that supported him1 behind ,him that impelled1 above him and within ,that steadied him immovable1 supplied ,as from a fountain of omnipotence2 ,an air breathed round him of prophetic rapt ,solemnity oppressive beyond words ,and dread communication from the throne1 ,moved near1 of the ,most ,high1 which only not ,thundered and lightened1 as from the touched top ,of ,sinai once in witness of the law-- ,such might1 not ,stephen's1 wrought with ,stephen there ,and laid his hearers subject at his feet4 ,saul saw the grasp secure that he had laid ,upon his brethren's minds and hearts--to hold1 ,he proudly1 confidently deemed1 against ,whatever counter force of eloquence-- ,this tenure his he saw relaxed1 dissolved1 ,evanishd1 as it had never been4 ,perplexed1 astonished1 but impenetrable1 ,though dashed and damped in spirit and in hope1 ,angry he stood1 recoiled upon himself4 ,but ,rachel had a different history4 ,she felt her inmost conscience searched and known2 ,sharper than any sword of double edge1 ,the ,word of ,god through ,stephen pierced her heart1 ,and there asunder clove her self and self4 ,she heeded ,stephen's warning words2 she looked ,within1 she pressed her hand upon her heart ,and prayed1 ,o ,god1 my ,god1 my fathers' ,god1 ,thy kingdom--grant that ,i may find it here6 ,so praying she listened while farther ,stephen spoke3 ,that such a ,ruler should be such as ,he ,whom we proclaim1 the ,man of ,nazareth1 ,the ,carpenter1 the ,man of ,calvary1 ,affronts your reason1 tempts to disbelief-- ,doubtless2 but all the more shown absolute ,his sovereignty1 transcendent1 passing quite ,limit of precedent or parallel1 ,as nothing in ,him outwardly appears ,to soothe your pride in yielding to ,his claim4 ,always the more offended pride rebels1 ,is proved his triumph greater who subdues4 ,deep is our human heart1 and versatile ,exceedingly1 ingenious past our ken1 ,inventive of contrivances to save ,fond pride from hurt4 ,but here is no escape2 ,pride must be hurt and bleed1 unsalved her wounds4 ,she may not conquer crouching1 she must crouch ,conquered2 nor only so1 she must be glad ,to be the conquered1 not the conqueror2 ,thus deeply must the heart abjure itself1 ,thus deeply own the mastership of ,christ4 ,christ will not practise on your self-conceit ,and lure you to obey illusively4 ,obedience is not obedience ,save as1 obeying1 you love1 loving1 obey-- ,the chief of all obediences1 love4 ,such serene counter to his own superb ,disdain of ,jesus wrought on ,saul effect ,diverse from that meanwhile in ,rachel wrought4 ,she yielded to exchange her standing-ground1 ,and ceased to hold her centre in herself4 ,centred in ,god1 she all things new beheld ,translated by the mighty parallax4 ,open she threw the portals of her soul ,and gave the keys up to her new-found ,king4 ,but ,saul more stubbornly than ever clamped ,his feet to keep them standing where they stood4 ,haughty1 erect1 rebuffing--he alone-- ,he still stared on at ,stephen1 who ,saul's scorn ,felt subtly like a fierce oppugnant force ,resistlessly attractive to his aim1 ,as1 suddenly soon borne into a swift ,involuntary swerving of his speech-- ,himself1 with ,saul1 surprising--he went on3 ,such lord1 requiring such obedience1 ,in ,him of ,nazareth1 a man approved ,of ,god by many mighty works through ,him ,among you done1 this day ,i preach to you1 ,my brethren all--my brother ,saul1 to thee6 ,therewith full round on ,saul the speaker turned2 ,that self-same instant1 the seraphic sheen ,brightened to dazzling upon ,stephen's face2 ,saul standing there1 transfixed to listen1 blenched1 ,as if a lightning-flash had blinded him4 ,then1 prophet-wise1 like ,nathan come before ,king ,david sinner1 ,stephen1 his right hand ,and fixed forefinger flickering forth at ,saul1 ,an intense moment centred upon him1 ,sole1 the converging ardors of his speech-- ,as who1 with lens of cunning convex1 draws ,into one focus all the solar rays ,collected to engender burning heat4 ,rachel1 who saw ,saul blench1 and full well knew ,what pangs on pangs his pride could force him bear-- ,he smiling blithely while he inly bled-- ,watched1 with a heart divided in sore pain ,between the sister's pity of his case ,and sympathy against him for his sake1 ,as ,stephen thus his speech to ,saul addressed3 ,yea1 to thee1 ,saul my brother1 in thy flush ,and prime of youth and youthful hope1 thy joy1 ,thy pride1 of all-accomplished intellect1 ,and sense of self-sufficing righteousness-- ,to thee1 thou pupil of ,gamaliel1 thee1 ,thou ,hebrew of the ,hebrews1 ,pharisee1 ,against the gust and fury of thy zeal1 ,and in the teeth of thy repellent scorn1 ,jesus the crucified ,i preach thy lord4 ,blindly with bitter hate thou ragest now ,against ,him2 but hereafter1 and not long ,hereafter1 thou1 despite1 shalt lie prostrate ,before ,him and beneath ,him in the dust1 ,astonished with ,his glory sudden shown ,beyond thy power with open eye to see4 ,lo1 by the ,holy ,spirit bidden1 ,i ,this day plant pricks for thee to kick against4 ,cruel shall be the torture in thy breast1 ,and unto cruel deeds thou didst not dream ,the torture in thy breast will madden thee-- ,the anguish of a mind at strife with good1 ,a will self-blinded not to cease from sin4 ,nevertheless at length ,i see thee mild-- ,broken thy pride1 thy wisdom brought to naught1 ,to thyself hateful thy self righteousness1 ,worshipping at ,his feet whom late thou didst ,persecute in ,his members1 persecute ,in me4 ,lo1 with an everlasting love ,i long for thee1 ,o ,saul1 and draw thee1 love ,born of that love wherewith the ,lord loved me ,and gave ,himself for me to bitter death4 ,rachel her prayer and love and longing joins1 ,with tears1 to ,stephen's1 for her brother1 who1 ,conscious of many eyes upon him fixed1 ,far other thought1 the while1 and feeling1 broods4 ,as captain1 on the foremost imminent edge ,of battle1 leading there a storming van ,of soldiers in some perilous attack1 ,pregnant with fate to empire1 if he feel ,pierce to a vital part within his frame ,wound of invisible missile from the foe1 ,will hide his deadly hurt with mask of smile1 ,that he damp not his followers' gallant cheer2 ,thus1 though with motive other1 chiefly pride1 ,saul1 rallying sharply from that first surprise1 ,sternly shut up within his secret breast ,a poignant pang conceived from ,stephen's words1 ,resentment fated to bear bitter fruit1 ,but melt at last in gracious shame and tears4 ,with fixd look impassible1 he gazed ,at ,stephen1 while1 in altered phase1 that pure ,effulgence of apostleship burned on3 ,nor1 brethren1 let this word of mine become ,scandal before your feet to stumble you ,headlong to ruin--'gave ,himself for me ,to bitter death'--implying it the ,christ's ,to suffer death in sacrifice for sin4 ,this is that thing of wonder prophesied1 ,confounding to the wisdom of the wise2 ,a suffering ,saviour1 a ,messiah shamed1 ,monarch arrayed in purple robes of scorn1 ,with diadem of thorns pressed on ,his brow1 ,and in ,his hand for sceptre thrust a reed-- ,the ,lord of life and glory crucified6 ,dim saw perhaps our father ,abraham this1 ,through symbol and through prophecy contained ,in smoking furnace and in blazing torch ,beheld1 that evening1 when the sun went down ,and it was dark4 ,the smoking furnace meant ,the mystery of the ,messiah's shame ,to go before ,his glory typified ,in the clear shining of the torch ablaze4 ,of the same mystery of agony ,in sorrow1 shame1 and death1 forerunning dark ,the bright and brightening sequel without end ,of the ,messiah's work1 ,isaiah spake1 ,when he foresaw ,his coming day from far4 ,the eagle vision of that seer was dimmed ,with tears1 like ,jeremiah's1 to behold ,what he beheld--,messiah's visage so ,marred more than any man's1 and so ,his form ,more than befell the sons of men4 ,he read1 ,within the mirror of his prophecy1 ,astonishment depicted in the eyes ,of many--in the eyes of which of you1 ,my brethren8--at a spectacle so strange4 ,the melancholy prophet saw a gloom ,of unbelief darken the world4 ',what soul1' ,wails he1 'is found to credit our report8 ,to whom has been revealed ,jehovah's arm ,in such a wise outstretched to save8' ,heart-sick ,at what1 too clearly for his peace1 he sees1 ,isaiah1 turning from his vision1 cries ,in pain--consider1 brethren1 whether ye ,unwittingly fulfil what he portrays6-- ',he was despised1 rejected was of men1 ,a man of sorrows and acquainted well ,with grief2 as one from whom men hide their face1 ,despised was ,he1 and we esteemed ,him not4' ,now our own gospel hear ,isaiah preach1 ,the good news that such sufferings borne by ,him1 ,messiah1 were for you1 for us1 for all3 ',surely our griefs they were ,messiah bore1 ,he carried sorrows that were due to us4 ,yet we1 alas1 of ,him as stricken thought1 ,smitten of ,god1 and for affliction marked6' ,would ,god1 my brethren1 ye who hear these things1 ,this day1 were minded as the prophet was ,who thus from ,god reported them to you6 ,he but foresaw them1 and he saw them2 ye ,saw them1 and did not see6 ,and yet1 even yet1 ,look back1 as forward he2 lo1 touch your eyes ,with eyesalve that ye be not blind1 but see6 ,see1 with ,isaiah1 how ,messiah was ',wounded for your transgressions1 bruised so sore ,for your iniquities1 how chastisement ,on ,him was laid that peace should bring to you1 ,how stripes whereby ,he bled to you were health4' ,meekly and thankfully ,isaiah sinks ,himself1 one drop1 into the human sea1 ,and says 'we1' 'our1' and 'us'--do ye the same4 ,o brethren1 if this day ye hear ,his voice1 ,a whisper only in your ear from heaven1 ,i pray you1 harden not your heart4 ,confess ,your fault1 and say with your own prophet1 ',we1 ,all we1 like sheep1 have gone astray1 astray1 ,and ,god on ,him hath laid the sin of all4' ,at such expostulation and appeal ,ineffable1 found hidden in the words ,of prophecy1 ,rachel her heart felt fail ,into a pathos of repentance sweet ,with love and soft sense of forgiveness1 bought ,for her at cost so dear6--and she dissolved ,in sobs and tears of sorrow exquisite1 ,better than joy1 and uncontrollable4 ,the mastership of ,jesus now to her ,merged in the sweetness of ,his saviorship2 ,the duty of obedience to a ,lord ,all taken up1 transfigured1 glorified1 ,in the transcendent privilege of love4 ,never such grief in joy1 such joy in grief1 ,was hers before--for self was wholly slain ,and her whole life grew love unutterable4 ,yet longed she1 with a hope that half was pain1 ,for ,saul1 while ,stephen brokenly went on3 ,o ye to whom for the last time ,i speak1 ,my heart is large for you1 it breaks for you1 ,and melts to tears within me while ,i plead4 ,i pray you1 ,i beseech you1 in ,christ's stead1 ,be reconciled to ,god4 ,hearken this once ,and answer1 ,were it set your task1 in choice ,few words to frame the image and the lot ,of ,jesus whom ye slew1 how otherwise ,more fitly could ye do it than was done ,aforetime by ,isaiah when he wrote ,prophetically thus of ,christ to be3 ',oppressed ,he was1 yet ,he abased ,himself ,and opened not ,his mouth2 even as a lamb ,led to the slaughter1 as a sheep before ,her shearers speechless1 so ,he opened not ,his mouth4 ,his grave they with the wicked made1 ,and with the rich they laid ,him in ,his death4' ,say1 brethren1 was not ,jesus very ,christ8 ,but1 that ye err not1 ,messianic woe ,is not the end2 a glorious change succeeds4 ,isaiah chanted it in sequel glad ,and contrast of the sorrow-laden strain ,that mourned ,messiah's sufferings2 hear the song3 ',when thou1 ,jehovah1 shalt ,his soul have made ,an offering for sin1 ,messiah then ,the endless issue of ,his pain shall see2 ,still on and on ,he shall ,his days prolong1 ,and in ,his hand the pleasure of the ,lord ,shall prosper2 of the travail of ,his soul ,he shall see fruit and shall be satisfied4' ,so1 with rejoicing too serenely full ,for exultation1 sang ,isaiah then ,of ,messianic glory following shame4 ,and now1 concerning ,jesus whom ye slew1 ,know1 brethren1 that ,he burst the bands of death1 ,which could not hold the ,lord of life in thrall4 ,know that ,he1 having risen1 rose again1 ,ascending far above all height1 and led ,captive captivity2 attended so ,with retinue of deliverance numberless1 ,he entered heaven a ,conqueror and a ,king2 ,before ,him lifted up their heads the gates1 ,the everlasting doors admitted ,him4 ,there sits ,he now associate by the side ,of ,his ,almighty ,father1 ,lord of all4 ,for to ,him every knee shall bow1 in heaven1 ,on earth1 and every tongue confess that ,he1 ,jesus1 is ,lord2 ,jehovah wills it so4 ,fall1 brethren1 ,i adjure you1 haste to fall ,betimes upon this stone and bruise your pride2 ,wait but too long1 this stone will fall on you3 ,not then your pride1 but you1 not bruised will be1 ,but ground to undistinguishable dust4 ,so ,stephen spoke2 and ceased1 as loth to cease4 ,the moments of his speaking had been like ,a slow and dreadful imminence of storm4 ,with those august and awful opening words ,of his1 which were not his1 but ,god's1 it was ,as when an altered elemental mood ,usurps the atmosphere2 the winds are laid1 ,clouds gather1 mass to mass1 anon perchance ,roll back1 disclosing spaces of clear sky1 ,but close again1 deeper and darker1 full ,of thunder1 silent yet1 of lightning1 leashed ,from leaping forth1 but watchful for its prey4 ,such had been ,stephen's speaking1 boded storm2 ,his ceasing was the tempest burst at last-- ,a silent tempest1 silent and unseen1 ,rending the elements of the world of soul6 ,meanwhile the angels in attendance there1 ,watching with eyes that see the invisible ,things of the spirit of man within his breast1 ,the posture and behavior of the mind1 ,had seen exhibited amidst that late ,motionless multitude of souls suspense ,with supernatural awe1 a spectacle ,of consternation and precipitate flight ,to covert1 such as sometimes is beheld ,in nature1 when a mighty tempest lowers1 ,and man1 beast1 bird1 each conscious living thing1 ,shuddering1 hies to hiding from the wrack4 ,with wild inaudible outcry heard in heaven1 ,that shattered congregation1 soul by soul1 ,each soul its several way1 fled1 to find shroud ,from spiritual tempest hurtling on the head1 ,intolerably1 hailstones and coals of fire4 ,but one excepted spirit stood aloof1 ,scorning to join the fellowship of flight4 ,like a tall pine by whirlwind lonely left ,upon his mountain1 forest abject round1 ,this man dared lift1 though sole1 a helmless brow ,of stubborn hardihood to take the storm4 ,others1 dismayed1 might flee to refuge2 ,saul1 ,not undismayed1 fronted the wrath of ,god4 ,shimei alone there neither stood nor fell2 ,by habit grovelling1 on his belly prone1 ,already prostrate he had thither come4 ,incapable of awe from good inspired1 ,he1 abject1 but without humility1 ,ever1 by force of reptile nature1 crawled2 ,and now had crawled1 as1 dusty demon's-heart ,and vitreous eye of basilisk1 he still-- ,with equal1 though with different1 enmity1 ,devising death for ,stephen in his mind1 ,and studying slow prolonged revenge for ,saul-- ,watched all1 whatever chanced to either there2 ,but most1 malignantly delighted1 watched ,deepen the settled shadow on ,saul's face ,cast from the darkness of his inner mood4 ,,book ,v4 ,,saul ,,and ,,shimei4 ,saul1 sullen1 gloomy1 and chagrined1 over his discomfiture recently experienced1 is visited1 in his self-imposed seclusion at home1 by ,shimei1 who1 always by nature antipathetic to ,saul1 hates him virulently now for the affront from him received publicly in the late council4 ,shimei exasperates ,saul with sneering1 pretended sympathy for him over his defeat at ,stephen's hands2 at the same time disclosing the plot he has himself concocted1 involving subornation of perjury1 with alleged connivance on the part of the ,sanhedrim in general1 for the stoning of ,stephen4 ,shimei gone1 ,saul1 in the open court of his dwelling1 sits solitary1 brooding in the depths of dejection over the fallen state of his fortunes4 ,,saul ,,and ,,shimei4 ,as if one1 from some poise of prospect high1 ,should overlook below a plain outspread ,and see a bright embattled host1 in close ,array of antique chivalry1 supposed ,invincible1 advancing1 panoplied1 ,horseman and horse1 in steel1 and with delight ,of battle pricked to speed1 he--while that host1 ,swift1 like one man1 across the field of war1 ,with pennons gay astream upon the wind1 ,and arms and armor flashing in the sun1 ,moved to the sound of martial music brave-- ,might ask1 ,what strength set counter could withstand ,the multiplied momentum of such blow8 ,and yet1 as1 let a rock-built citadel ,upspring before them in their conquering way1 ,and1 through embrasures in the frowning wall1 ,let enginery of carnage new and strange1 ,vomiting smoke and flame from hellish mouths-- ,let cannon1 with their noise like thunder1 belch1 ,volleying1 their bolts like thunderbolts amain ,among those gallant columns1 then would be ,amazement seen1 and ruinous overthrow2 ,so1 late1 to ,saul's superbly confident ,assay of onset all seemed nigh to yield1 ,till that the wisdom of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,through ,stephen speaking1 made the utmost might ,of eloquence ridiculous and vain1 ,so was the duel all unequal1 joined ,by ,saul with ,stephen on that fateful day4 ,though not ill matched the champions' native force ,and spirit1 and not far from even their skill1 ,equipment disparate of weaponry-- ,human against ,divine1 infinite odds6-- ,made the conclusion of the strife foregone4 ,had mortal prowess against prowess been ,between those twain the naked issue tried1 ,saul1 with his sanguine dash of onset1 might ,perchance have won the day--through sheer surprise ,of sudden and impetuous movement swift ,beyond the other's readiness to oppose ,an instantaneous rally of quick thought ,and lightning-like alertness of stanch will ,mustering and mastering his collected might4 ,but the event and fortune of that hour ,resolved no doubt which combatant excelled ,in wit or will or strength or exercise4 ,stephen was fortressed round impregnably1 ,saul stood in open field obvious to wound2 ,saul wielded weapons of the present world1 ,celestial weapons furnished ,stephen--nay1 ,weapon himself1 the ,almighty wielded him4 ,saul knew himself defeated1 overwhelmed4 ,by how much he had purposed in his heart1 ,and buoyantly expected1 beyond doubt ,or possible peradventure1 to prevail1 ,more than prevail1 triumph1 abound1 redound1 ,and overflow1 with ample surplusage ,of prosperous fortune far transcending all ,public conjecture of his hoped success2 ,by so much now he found himself instead ,buried beneath discomfiture immense ,and boundless inundation of defeat4 ,for multitudes of new believers won ,to ,stephen's side from ,saul's thronged to the ,way1 ,storming the kingdom of heaven with violence4 ,it was a nation hastening to be born1 ,like ,israel out of ,egypt1 in a day4 ,as ,israel out of ,egypt were baptized ,to ,moses in the cloud and in the sea1 ,so ,israel out of ,israel ,saul now saw ,baptized obedient into ,jesus' name4 ,dissolving round about him seemed to ,saul ,the earth itself with its inhabitants1 ,and1 to bear up the pillars of it1 he ,a broken reed that could not stand alone6 ,but1 while thus worsted ,saul forlornly felt ,himself1 he by whom worsted missed to know4 ,his challenge was to ,stephen2 how should he ,guess that in ,stephen ,god would answer him8 ,unconsciously with ,god at enmity1 ,but with ,god's servant ,stephen consciously1 ,saul chafed and raged in proud and blindfold hate2 ,half yet1 the while1 despising too himself1 ,detected hating thus1 by his own heart ,detected hating1 his antagonist1 ,for the sole blame of visiting on him ,the fortune he had purposed to inflict4 ,saul in such mood of rancor and remorse ,commingled--both unhappy sentiments ,still mutually exasperating each ,the other--,shimei came to him4 ,now ,saul ,and ,shimei were two opposites intense ,in nature1 never toward each other drawn1 ,but violently ever sent asunder2 ,yet chiefly by repulsion lodged in ,saul1 ,spurning off ,shimei1 as the good the evil2 ,for ,saul instinctively was noble1 frank1 ,and true1 as ,shimei instinctively ,was false1 profound in guile1 to base inclined4 ,but strangely1 since that council wherein ,saul ,fulmined his shame on ,shimei's proffer vile1 ,shimei had felt the other's scorn of him ,a force importunate to tempt him nigh-- ,perverse attraction in repulsion found6-- ,as evil ever struggles toward the good1 ,not to be leavened with virtue issuing thence1 ,but leaven instead to likeness with itself4 ,so ,shimei came to ,saul1 as knowing ,saul ,spurned him avaunt with loathing2 in degree ,attracted as he was intensely spurned4 ,he fain would feast his malice on the pride1 ,seen writhing1 fain would make it writhe the more1 ,of ,saul in his discomfiture4 ,with mien ,demure of hypocritic sympathy1 ,the nauseating vehicle of sneer1 ,malignly studied to exacerbate ,the galled and angry feeling in ,saul's mind1 ,he thus addressed that haughty ,pharisee3 ,the outcome of your effort1 brother ,saul1 ,to vindicate the cause of truth and ,god-- ,and therewithal justly advance somewhat ,your individual profit and esteem ,as rising bulwark of the ,jewish state1 ,whereby so much the better you might hope ,hereafter to promote the general weal-- ,this spirited attempt1 ,i say1 of yours ,has in its issue disappointed you1 ,you1 and your friends no less1 who1 all of us1 ,together with yourself1 refused to dream ,aught but the most felicitous event ,to enterprise with so much stateliness ,of dignity impressively announced ,by you1 and show of lofty confidence4 ,by the way1 ,saul1 the grand air suits your style ,astonishingly well2 ,i should advise ,your cultivation of it4 ,why1 at times1 ,when you display that absolutely frank ,and unaffected lack of modesty ,which marks you1 really1 now1 the effect on me1 ,even me1 is almost irresistible2 ,i find myself well-nigh imposed upon ,to call it an effect of majesty4 ,but1 to sustain the impression1 ,saul1 it needs1 ,quite needs1 that you somehow contrive to shun ,these awkward misadventures2 the grand air ,is less impressive in a man well known ,to have made a bad miscarriage1 such as yours4 ,for in fact you--with sincere pain ,i say it-- ,but served to ,stephen as a sort of foil ,to set his talent off and heighten it4 ,you must yourself feel this to be the case2 ,for never since that windy ,pentecost ,in which we thought we saw the top and turn ,to this delirium of delusion touched1 ,never1 ,i say1 till now were seen so many ,new perverts to the ,nazarene as seems ,you two1 between you1 you and ,stephen1 ,saul1 ,managed1 that memorable day1 to make4 ,it is a pity1 and ,i grieve with you4 ,still1 ,saul1 let us consider that your case1 ,undoubtedly unfortunate1 presents ,this one alleviating circumstance1 ,at least1 that your defeat demonstrates past ,gainsaying what an arduous attempt ,yours was1 and thereby glorifies the more ,that admirable headiness of yours ,which egged you on to venture unadvised4 ,for my own part1 ,i like prodigiously ,to see your young man overflow with spirit2 ,age will bring wisdom fast enough2 but spirit1 ,like yours1 ,saul1 comes1 when come it does at all1 ,born with the man4 ,never regret that you ,dared nobly2 rather hug yourself for that ,with pride2 pride greater1 since1 through proof1 aware ,you really dared more nobly than you knew4 ,some increment too of wisdom you have won ,from your experience2 not to be despised1 ,though ornament rather of age than youth4 ,i may presume you now less indisposed ,than late you were1 to reinforce1 support1 ,and supplement mere obstinacy--fine1 ,of course1 as ,i have said1 yet attribute ,common to man with beast--by counsel ripe ,and scheme of well-considered policy1 ,adapted to secure your end with ease4 ,economy of effort well befits ,man1 the express image and counterpart ,of ,god1 who always works with parsimony1 ,compassing greatest ends with smallest means1 ,to waste no particle of omnipotence4 ,count now that you have rendered plain enough ,what single-eyed1 straightforward stubbornness ,can1 and cannot1 effect in this behalf2 ,so much is gained2 now be our conscience clear ,to cast about and find some other means1 ,than mere main strength in public controversy1 ,of dealing with these raw recalcitrants4 ,they lacked the grace to be discomfited ,in honorable combat fairly joined1 ,let them now look to it how much their gross ,effrontery in overthrowing you ,shall profit them at last4 ,i have a scheme-- ,your scheme1--so1 from the depths of his chagrin ,and anguish at the contact of the man1 ,spoke ,saul1 unwilling longer to endure ,the friction and abrasion of his words-- ,your scheme1 whatever it may be1 cannot ,concern my knowing2 nothing you should plan ,were likely to conciliate in me ,either my judgment1 or my taste1 or please ,my sense of what becoming is and right4 ,i pray you spare yourself the pains to unfold ,further to me your thought2 your work were waste4 ,but ,shimei1 naught abashed1 nay1 rather more ,set on1 imagining that he touched in ,saul ,the quick of suffering sensibility ,replied3 ,yea1 brother ,saul1 ,i did not fail ,in our late session to observe what you ,hinted of your unreadiness to accord ,your valuable support to my advice1 ,advanced on that occasion loyally ,however far outrunning what the most ,were then prepared frankly to act upon4 ,we weaker1 ,saul1 who may not hope to be ,athletes like you1 whose sole resource must lie ,in studying more profoundly than the rest1 ,are liable to be misunderstood ,not seldom1 when1 through meditation deep ,and painful1 we arrive to see somewhat ,beyond the common1 and propound advice ,startling1 because some stages in advance ,of the conclusions less laborious minds ,reach and stop at contented--for a while1 ,but which mere halting-places on the road ,prove in the end1 and not the final goal4 ,you probably remember1 when ,i told ,the council that some good judicious guile ,was what was needed1 not one voice spoke up ,to second my suggestion4 ,very well1 ,the lagging rear of wisdom has since then ,moved bravely up to step with me1 and now ,we walk along abreast harmoniously ,upon the very road ,i pointed out2 ',guile' is the word with all the ,sanhedrim4 ,but stay1 you may perhaps not be apprised ,exactly of the current state of things-- ,you have kept yourself1 you know1 a bit retired ,these few days past1 a natural thing to do1 ,under the circumstances1 all admit-- ,well1 we have made some progress2 ,i myself1 ,to imitate your lack of modesty ,and don the egotistic1 ,i myself ,have not been idle2 all in fact is now ,adjusted on a plan of compromise1 ,my own invention1 everybody pleased4 ,we shall dispose of ,stephen for you1 ,saul3 ,council2 ,stephen arrested and arraigned2 ,production of effective testimony2 ,a hearing of the accused2 commotion raised1 ,while he is speaking1 to help on his zeal2 ,then1 at the proper point1 some heated phrase ,of his let slip1 a sudden rush of all ,upon him with a cry of ',blasphemy6'-- ,impulse of passionate enthusiasm1 ,you know1 premeditated with much care-- ,and he is stoned2 which makes an end of him4 ,such is the outline2 not precisely what ,i could have wished1 a little too much noise1 ,the ,mattathias tinge in it too strong-- ,still1 everything considered1 fairly good4 ,the moment favors2 for the very fume ,and fury of the popular caprice ,has put it out of breath2 nay1 for the nonce1 ,the wind sits1 such at least my hope is1 veered ,and shifted points enough about to bear ,a touch of generous violence from us2 ,then1 as for those our rulers1 they connive4 ,you see ,i have been open to admit ,ideas the very opposite of my own4 ,i am not one to haggle for a point ,simply because it happened to be mine4 ,the end1 the end1 is what we seek2 the means ,signifies nothing to the wise4 ',let us ,be wise1' as our friend ,nicodemus said1 ,that day1 with so much gnomic wisdom couched ,in affable cohortative1 as who ,should say encouragingly1 ',go to1 good friends1 ,let us be gods'2 wisdom and godship come1 ,as everybody knows1 with equal ease ,indifferently1 through simple conative1 ',let us1' and so forth1 and the thing is done4 ,this voluble and festive cynicism1 ,taking fresh head again and yet again1 ,at intervals1 to flow an endless stream1 ,from ,shimei's mouth1 of bitter pleasantry2 ,his vulgarly-presumed familiar airs ,and leer of mutual understanding1 felt ,rather than seen1 upon his countenance2 ,the gurgling glee of self-complacency ,that purred1 one long susurrus1 through his talk2 ,the insufferable assumption tacitly ,implied that human virtue was a jest ,at which the wise between themselves might grin ,nor hide their grin with a decorous veil2 ,these things in his unwelcome guest1 traits all ,inseparably adhering to the man1 ,or fibre of his nature1 ,saul recoiled ,from1 and revolted at1 habitually3 ,they rendered ,shimei's very neighborhood ,an insupportable disgust to him4 ,still did some fascination ,shimei owned1 ,perhaps a show of wit in mockery1 ,playing upon a momentary mood ,of uncharacteristic helplessness in ,saul 7,a humor too of wilfulness and spite ,against himself displacent with himself ,that made him hold his sore and quivering pride ,hard to the goad that hurt it7 keep him mute1 ,if listless1 while thus ,shimei streamed on3 ,well1 as ,i said1 friend ,saul1 ,i had no pride ,to carry an opinion of my own2 ,the scheme ,i brooded was a compromise4 ,i plume myself upon a certain skill ,i have1 knack ,i should call it1 in this line4 ,i like a pretty piece of joinery ,in plot1 such match of motley odds and ends ,as tickles you with sense of happy hit1 ,and here you have it4 ,see1 ,i take a bit ,of magisterial statesmanship to start ,with--go to ,rome1 as ,caiaphas advised1 ,though not quite on his errand2 ,rome agrees ,to wink1 while we indulge ourselves in what ,to us will be self-rule resumed1 to her1 ,a spasm of our ,judan savagery4 ,thus is the way made eligibly clear ,for brother ,mattathias with those stones ,he raves about on all occasions--rubbed ,smooth1 they must be1 as ,david's from the brook1 ,with constant wear in ,mattathias' hands6 ,was it not grim to hear him talk that day8 ,his dream of ,maccaban blood aboil ,within his veins has been too much for him1 ,made him a monomaniac on this point2 ,he sees before him visionary stones1 ,imponderable stones torment his hands2 ,give him his chance1 have him at last let fly ,a real stone1 a hard one1 at somebody1 ,who knows8 it might bring ,mattathias round4 ,stephen at any rate shall be his man1 ,his corpus vile1 as our masters say-- ,fair game of turn and turn about for him1 ,dog1 to have handled you so roughly1 ,saul6 ,trick of ,beelzebub1 no manner of doubt4 ,but here ,i loiter1 while you burn of course ,to hear what figure you yourself may cut ,in my brave patchwork scheme of compromise4 ,i modestly adjoin myself to ,saul1 ,and so we two go in together1 paired-- ,a little of your logic let into ,a little of my guile1 and a fine fit4 ,shimei had counted for a master stroke ,of disagreeable humor sure to tell ,on ,saul1 the piecing of himself on him ,in plan1 conscious of ,saul's antipathy4 ,but ,shimei still misapprehended ,saul1 ,lacking the standard in himself wherewith ,to measure or assay the sentiment ,of such as ,saul for such as ,shimei4 ,saul simply and serenely so despised ,shimei1 that nothing he should do or say ,could change ,saul's sentiment to more1 or less1 ,or other1 than it constantly abode1 ,the absolute zero of indifference4 ,half absently1 through fits of alien thought1 ,and half with unconfessed concern to know ,what passed among his fellow-councillors ,abroad1 a little curious too withal ,wondering how any artifice of fraud ,could ,saul with ,shimei combine1 to make ,such twain seem partners of one policy-- ,so minded1 ,saul gave ear1 while ,shimei thus ,the acrid juices of his humor spilled3 ,here is the method of the joinery4 ,you know you put it strongly that the end ,of that pretended gospel which they preach1 ,would be to overturn the ,jewish state1 ,abolishing ,moses1 and extinguishing ,the glory of the temple1 and all that-- ,really sonorous rhetoric it was1 ,that passage1 ,saul1 and it deserved to win2 ,but who can win against ,beelzebub8 ,logic turned rhetoric is my idea ,of eloquence1 and my idea you ,realized2 but ,stephen1 without eloquence1 ,bore off from you the fruit of eloquence3 ,never mind1 ,saul1 it was ,beelzebub4 ,let rhetoric now go back to logic2 you ,demonstrated so inexpugnably ,the necessary inference contained ,in ,stephen's doctrine1 hardly were it guile-- ,though doubtless you will call it such1 you have ,your sublimated notions on these points-- ,to say outright that ,stephen taught the things ,you proved implicit in the things he taught2 ,at all events1 guile or no guile--in fact1 ,guile and no guile it is1 if closely scanned-- ,here is the scheme3--,we find some blunderheads1 ,who1 primed with method for their blundering1 ,will misremember and transfer from you ,to ,stephen what you stated on this point4 ,these worthies then shall roundly testify ,before our honorable body met ,to give the fellow his fair hearing ere ,his sentence--said fair hearing not of course ,eventually to affect said sentence due-- ,shall1 ,i say1 swear that they distinctly heard ,stephen set forth that ,jesus ,nazarene ,was going to destroy this place and change ,the customs ,moses gave us2 bring about ,in brief precisely what1 with so much force1 ,you showed would surely happen-- ,shimei-- ,saul interrupted ,shimei again1 ,surprised into expression by the shock ,to hear himself mixed up in any way1 ,of indirection even1 in fraud like this-- ,shimei1 ,i thought that nothing you could say ,would further tempt me into speech to you2 ,but you have broken my bond of self-restraint4 ,suborning perjury6 ,that well accords ,with what you slanted at in council once1 ,and what ,i trusted ,i had then and there ,made clear my scorn of4 ,shimei1 hear--,i set ,my heel upon this thing and once for all ,grind it into the dust4 ,in figure1 of course1 ,promptly leered ,shimei1 interrupting ,saul2 ,the thing goes forward just the same2 you set ,it under foot--in your rhetorical way2 ,i1 in my practical way1 set it on foot2 ,no mutual interference1 each well pleased4 ,but1 seriously1 ,saul1 you overwork ,the idea of conscience4 ,what is conscience8 ,mere ,self-will assuming virtuous airs4 ,a term ,cajoles you into making it a point ,of moral obligation to be stiff4 ,limber up1 ,saul1 and be adjustable4 ,capacity of taking several points ,of view at will is good4 ,for instance1 now1 ,probably ,stephen may1 at various times1 ,himself have stated quite explicitly ,what your rhetorical logic showed to be ,inextricably held as inference ,in his harangues4 ,take it so1 ,saul1 if so ,render your conscience easier2 ,i myself ,highly enjoy my easy conscience4 ,still1 ,nothing could be more natural than that some1 ,hearers non-critical1 you know1 should mix ,what you said with what ,stephen said1 and so ,quite honestly swear falsely--to the gain ,of truth4 ,and to whose loss8 ,stephen's1 perhaps1 ,but other's1 none4 ,so1 salve your conscience1 ,saul-- ,which somehow you must learn1 and soon1 to do2 ,unless you mean to play obstructionist1 ,instead of coadjutor1 in the work ,you1 with good motive1 but with scurvy luck1 ,set about doing late so lustily4 ,conscience itself is to be sacrificed1 ,at need1 to serve the cause of righteousness4 ,what is it but egregious egotism ,to obtrude1 forsooth1 a point of conscience1 when ,you jeopard general interests thereby8 ,one's conscience is a private matter2 let ,your conscience wince a little1 if need be1 ,in order that the public good be served4 ,that is true generosity4 ',let us ,be just1' said ,nicodemus2 good1 say ,i1 ,but in this matter of our consciences1 ,let us go further and be generous4 ,as one who turns a stopcock and arrests ,a flow of water that need never cease1 ,so ,shimei left off speaking1 not less full ,of matter than at first that might be speech4 ,with indescribable smirk1 and cynic sneer ,conveyed1 sirocco breath of blight to faith ,in virtue and in good1 he went away1 ,cheering himself that he had somewhat chilled ,within the breast of that young ,pharisee ,the ardor of conviction1 and of hope ,fed by conviction1--but still more that he ,had probed and hurt the festering wounds of pride4 ,saul's first relief to be alone again1 ,rid of that nauseous presence1 presently ,was followed by depression and relapse ,from his instinctive tension to resist ,the unnerving spell of ,shimei's influence4 ,saul found that in the teeth of his contempt ,for ,shimei1 absolute in measure1 nay1 ,by reason of that contempt1 he had conceived ,shame and chagrin beyond his strength to bear4 ,that ,shimei1 such as ,shimei1 should have dared ,to visit ,saul1 and drill and drill his ears1 ,with indefatigable screw of tongue ,sinking a shaft through which to drench and drown ,his soul with spew from out a source so vile-- ,this argued fall indeed for him from what ,he lately was1 from what he hoped to be1 ,far more1 in popular repute4 ,the sting ,that ,shimei purposed subtly to infix1 ,with that malicious irony and taunt ,recurrent1 the intentional affront1 ,all of it1 failed1 blunted and turned in point ,against the safe impenetrable mail ,of ,saul's contempt for ,shimei4 ,but that ,which ,shimei meant not1 nor dreamed1 but was1 ,went through and through ,saul's double panoply1 ,found permeable now1 of pride and scorn1 ,and wilted him with self-disparagement4 ,he marvelled at himself how he had not1 ,at first forthputting of that impudence1 ,stormed the wretch dumb1 with hurricane outburst ,of passionate scorn2 a quick revulsion then1 ,and ,saul was chafing that he had so far ,grace of rebuff vouchsafed1 and honest heat1 ,to creature lacking natural sense to feel ,repudiation4 ,comfort none he found1 ,no refuge from the persecuting though ,of his own fall4 ,he tried to brace himself ,with thinking1 ,if ,i failed1 ,i failed at least ,not for myself1 but ,god2 ,i strove for ,god4 ,but1 ceaselessly1 the image of himself1 ,humiliated1 swam between to blur ,his vision of ,god4 ,he could not cease to see ,saul ever1 in the mirror of his mind1 ,and ever ,stephen shadowing ,saul's fair fame4 ,,book ,,vi4 ,,saul ,,and ,,rachel4 ,to ,saul1 wrapt in his gloomy contemplations1 ,rachel unobtrusively presents herself4 ,conversation ensues between them1 and ,saul confides to his sister his own most secret purposes and hopes1 dashed now so cruelly4 ,the fact1 however1 at length comes out that ,rachel was herself converted to ,christianity as a result of ,stephen's reply to ,saul4 ,saul instantly hereon experiences a violent revulsion of feeling4 ,he breaks away from ,rachel1 spurning her1 and breathing out threatening and slaughter against the ,christian church4 ,,saul ,,and ,,rachel4 ,saul thus forlorn1 a voice smote on his ear1 ,voice other than of ,shimei1 clear and sweet2 ,the very sound was balsam to his pain4 ,rachel's the voice was1 who1 with deep distaste1 ,as jealous for her brother1 had perceived ,the entering in to ,saul of his late guest ,ill-favored1 and through all his stay had still1 ,impatiently awaiting1 wished him sped4 ,he now some moments gone1 she issued forth ,from out her curtained chamber glimpsing gay ,behind her1 through the hangings1 as she passed1 ,with color--stuff of scarlet1 linen fine ,embroidered1 weft of purple tapestry1 ,her handiwork--and sending after her ,sweet scent of herb and flower1 her husbandry-- ,forth issued1 and across the inner court ,open to heaven--small close of paradise1 ,a tall palm by a fountain1 bloomy shrubs1 ,and vines that clad with green the enclosing walls-- ,stepped lightly to ,saul's side4 ,saul sat beneath ,a tent-cloth canopy outspread1 his own ,tent-making skill--the high noon of the sun ,to fend1 if place perchance one then might wish ,in which free air to breathe safe from the heat-- ,there sat relapsed1 deep brooding gloomy thoughts1 ,when now his sister pausing stood by him4 ,a lovely vision6 ,moving1 or at rest1 ,ever a rapture ,rachel seemed of grace ,which but that moment that felicity ,of posture or of gesture had attained1 ,by accident1 yet kept it1 through all change1 ,inalienably hers1 by right divine ,of inward rhythm that swayed her heart in tune4 ,the sister had1 with love's observance1 watched ,some days the phases of her brother's mood1 ,biding her time to speak2 and now she spoke4 ,brother1 she murmured softly1 thou art sad4 ,thy brow is written over like a scroll ,with lines of trouble that ,i try to read4 ,unbind thy heart1 ,i pray1 to me1 who grieve ,to see thee grieve1 and fain at least would share ,such brother's sorrow as ,i may not soothe4 ,this suave appeal of sister's sympathy ,won upon ,saul to wean him from himself-- ,a moment1 and that moment he partook ,comfort of love1 nepenthe to his pain1 ,while thus he answered ,rachel3 ,nay1 but thou1 ,my sister1 thou thyself art to me rest ,and solace4 ,sit thee down1 ,i pray1 beside ,thy brother4 ,but to have thee nigh as now ,refreshes like the dew4 ,i bathe my heart ,in thee as in a fountain4 ,ask me not ,to ease its aching otherwise than so4 ,pillow me on thy love and let me rest ,in silence from the sound of my own voice4 ,i hate myself1 ,rachel4 ,but ,i love thee1 ,my own dear1 noble brother1 ,rachel said2 ,i love thee1 and ,i will not let thee hate ,thyself4 ,brother and sister should be one ,in love and hate4 ,hate what ,i hate1 and what ,i love1 love thou--that is true brotherhood4 ,safe law of brotherhood indeed for me1 ,with thee for sister1 ,rachel1 ,saul replied1 ,with fondness and self-pity1 as he kissed ,the pure young brow upturned toward him2 but me1 ,thou dost not know me as ,i know myself4 ,o nay1 but better1 brother1 ,rachel said2 ,right hate is good1 as good as love4 ,so1 hate1 ,but not thyself1 ,saul4 ,shall ,i tell thee one ,to hate8 ,i hate him1 and ,i counsel thee1 ,hate1 ,saul1 that evil man ,i saw but now ,steal from his too long privilege at thine ear4 ,him1 ,rachel1 ,saul replied1 ,i cannot hate2 ,hatred is made impossible by scorn4 ,thou scornest him1 she said1 but not too much ,to have been disturbed by him4 ,the cloudy brow1 ,so unlike my brother--,i have brought it back1 ,i see1 dear ,saul1 by only mentioning him4 ,hate him well1 ,saul1 and be at peace again4 ,to hate is safer1 better1 than to scorn4 ,we scorn with pride1 we must with conscience hate1 ,such hating as ,i mean4 ,thou art too proud1 ,saul4 ,saul answered1 ,for my pride ,i hate myself4 ,but she3 ,were it not wiselier done to hate ,one's pride1 than for one's pride to hate one's self8 ,whoever hates himself for his own pride ,still keeps the pride for which he hates himself4 ,hate and abjure thy pride1 and love thyself4 ,easy to say1 ,o ,rachel1 hard to do1 ,sighed ,saul1--at least for such as ,i1 who am ,too proud1 too proud6 ,thou seest that after all ,thou and myself know ,saul alike1 too proud1 ,albeit the too proud man we treat unlike1 ,thou loving and ,i hating him4 ,o ,saul1 ,thus spoke she1 gazing steadfastly at him1 ,but sudden-starting tears swam in her eyes1 ,o ,saul1 ,saul1 ,saul1 my brother1 whence is this8 ,thou wert not wont to talk thus4 ,changed art thou ,since when ,i heard thee speak in that dispute ,with ,stephen-- ,thou heard'st me8 asked ,saul4 ,yea1 ,saul1 ,rachel replied1 ,i heard both thee and him4 7,saul proudly hid an answering hurt of pride47 ,i heard thee1 brother1 and was proud for thee2 ,i never knew more masterful high speech ,fall from thy lips4 ,my heart leaped up for joy ,to listen4 ,when those men of ,israel ,shouted1 ,i shouted with them1 silently1 ,louder than all4 ,god heard the secret noise1 ,like thunder1 of the beating of my heart ,in sister's pride for brother's victory4 ,i crowned thee1 ,i anointed thee my king1 ,so glorious wast thou in thy conquering might6 ,and that effulgent pride upon thy brow6 ,but when1 said ,saul1 forestalling ruefully ,the expected and the dreaded change and fall ,from such a chanted pan to his praise-- ,but when-- ,but when1 ,o ,saul1 she said1 when he1 ,stephen1 stood forth to answer thee1 there was-- ,didst thou not feel it8-- ,sister1 yea1 ,i felt1 ,more than my sister even could feel1 that ,i ,was baffled1 put to shame4 ,nay1 nay1 she said2 ,not that1 ,o ,saul1 dear ,saul1 it was not that4 ,what1 then8 ,for ,i felt nothing else1 said ,saul2 ,that feeling filled me1 as sometimes the sound ,and stir of whirlwind fill the firmament4 ,my mind was one mad vortex swallowing up ,all other thought than this1 ',saul1 thou art shamed6' ,why1 ,saul1 cried she1 what canst thou mean8 ,thou shamed8 ,how shamed8 ,rachel1 ,i lost1 and ,stephen won4 ,what didst thou lose8 said ,rachel1 wonderingly2 ,and what did ,stephen win1 that also thou ,won'st not8 ,i cannot understand thee1 ,saul4 ,such crystal clearness of simplicity ,became a mirror1 wherein gazing1 ,saul ,beheld himself a double-minded man4 ,how should he deal with questioner like this8 ,why1 ,rachel1 canst thou then not understand1 ,he said1 how ,i should wish to conquer8 ,yea1 ,said she1 for truth's sake1 ,saul4 ,and still1 if truth ,conquered1 though not by thee1 thou wouldst be glad1 ,wouldst thou not1 ,saul8 ,here sad ,i see thee now1 ,as if truth's cause were fallen--which could not be1 ,since truth is ,god's--and yet thou sayest not that1 ,but1 ',saul is shamed6' and1 ',saul has lost6' ,not truth1 ,but ,saul4 ,i cannot understand4 ,thou hadst ,perhaps1 unknown to me1 some other end ,than only truth1 which also thou wouldst gain8 ,it was his sister's single-heartedness ,that helped her see so true and aim so fair4 ,saul was too noble not to meet her trust ,in him with trust in her as absolute4 ,rachel1 he said1 his reverence almost awe1 ,never did burnished metal give me back ,myself more truly1 outer face and form1 ,than the pure tranquil mirror of thy soul ,shows me the image of my inner self4 ,the truth ,i see by thee is justly thine1 ,and thou likewise shalt see it all in all4 ,the law of ,god was ever my delight1 ,as thou knowest1 sister1 who hast seen me pore ,daily from boyhood on the sacred scroll ,of ,scripture1 eager to transfer it whole ,unto the living tablets of my heart4 ,and ,i have sought1 how earnestly thou knowest ,to make my life a copy of the law4 ,no jot or tittle of it was too small ,for me to heed with scruple and obey4 ,with all my heart was ,i a ,pharisee1 ,born such1 bred such1 and such by deep belief4 ,but more1 my sister4 ,musing on the world1 ,i saw one nation among nations1 one ,alone1 no fellow1 worshipper of ,god1 ,the ,true1 the ,only1 and by ,him elect ,to be ,his people and receive ,his law2 ,that nation was my nation4 ,my heart burned1 ,beholding in the visions of my head1 ,the glory that should be1 and was not1 ours4 ,think of it1 sister1 ,god ,himself our ,king1 ,and bondmen we of the uncircumcised6 ,i brooded on the shame and mystery ,with anguish in the silences of night4 ,i saw the image of a mighty state ,loom possible before me4 ,her august ,and beautiful proportions1 builded tall ,and noble1 rested on foundation-stones ,of sapphire1 and in colors fair they rose2 ,her pinnacles were rubies1 and her gates ,carbuncles--,i beheld ,jerusalem1 ,the city of ,isaiah's prophecy2 ,her borders round about were pleasant stones4 ,she sat the queen and empress of the earth2 ,the tributary nations1 of their store1 ,poured wealth into her lap1 and vassal kings ,hasted in long procession to her feet4 ,the throne and majesty of ,god in her ,held capital seat1 or his vicegerent ,christ ,reigned with reflected splendor scarce less bright4 ,such1 sister1 was the dream in which ,i lived1 ,dream call it1 but it is the will of ,god1 ,more solid than the pillared firmament4 ,was it a fault of foolish pride in me1 ,did ,i aspire audaciously1 to hope ,that ,i1 by doing and by daring much1 ,beyond my equals1 might beyond them share ,fulfilments such as these8 ,i heard a voice ,saying1 ',prepare the ,lord ,his way4' ,i thought ,the ,lord was near1 and what ,i could1 ,i would ,do to make wide and smooth and straight ,his way ,before ,him1 ere ,he came4 ,i trusted ,him ,that1 when ,he came1 ,he in ,his hands would bring ,large recompense for servants faithful found1 ,and not forget even ,saul1 should haply ,saul ,not utterly in vain prove to have striven1 ,removing from the path of ,his approach ,the stone of stumbling4 ,sister1 these are thoughts ,such as men have1 but cherish secretly1 ,even from themselves1 and never speak aloud ,to any2 ,i have now not spoken these ,to thee2 thou hast but heard a few heart-beats ,rendered articulate breath by grace of right ,thine own to know the truth1 who hast the truth ,revealed to me4 ,o other conscience mine1 ,wherein have ,i gone wrong8 ,i felt the power1 ,asleep within me1 stirring half awake1 ,to take possession of the minds of men ,and sway their wills2 the world was not too wide ,to be the empire ,i could rule aright1 ,as chiefest minister1 were such ,his will1 ,of ,god's ,messiah4 ,some one needs must sit ,at ,his right hand to hear and execute ,his pleasure--why not ,saul8 ,who worthier8 ,but now1 alas6 less worthy who1 or who ,less likely8 ,i am fallen1 am shamed--past hope1 ,past hope6 ,i who aspired to greatest things ,am to least things by proof unequal found6 ,how shall ,i not hate ,stephen1 who has wrought ,on me this great despite--besides what he ,wrought on the suffering cause of truth divine8 ,rachel's heart heaved1 but in what words to speak ,she did not find4 ,saul into his dark mood ,retired1 and sat in silence for a while4 ,returning1 then1 for torture of himself1 ,to that which ,rachel brokenly began ,to say1 and left unsaid1 ,saul asked of her3 ,what was it1 sister1 thou beganst to tell1 ,when1 not thy brother1 but thy brother's spleen1 ,broke thy words off with interruption rude8 ,something it seemed of how1 at ,stephen's words1 ,a change fell on thee1 from thy first applause ,of me-- ,o ,saul6 ,a chasm of difference1 ,so to her brother1 ,rachel sad burst forth1 ,yawns betwixt thee and me this day1 how wide1 ,how wide6 ,i feel the bond of sisterhood1 ,stretching across1 not strained to break--for that ,shall never1 never be1 in any world1 ,o brother1 truest1 noblest1 best beloved6-- ,but strained to draw thee to me where ,i am ,from where thou art1 far off1 albeit so near6 ,a tragic riddle which ,i fail to read1 ,rachel1 said ,saul1 perplexed2 solve thou it me4 ,brother1 ,i fear ,i cannot1 ,rachel said2 ,but loyally ,i will try4 ,when ,stephen stood ,to answer thee that day1 a power not he ,oppressed my spirit with a sense of weight1 ,gentle but insupportable1 which grew ,instantly greater and greater1 until it seemed ,ready to crush1 unless ,i yielded2 ,saul1 ,i yielded1 and that weight became as might ,which passed to underneath me and upbore4 ,rachel1 be simpler1 ,saul severely said2 ,my soul refuses to be teased with words4 ,meanest thou this1 that ,stephen mastered thee8 ,nay1 ,saul1 my brother1 meekly ,rachel said1 ,meekly and firmly2 ,stephen not1 but ,god4 ,no man could master me away from ,saul4 ,proudly ,i was thy vassal sister1 ,saul1 ,until ,god summoned me with voice that ,i ,might not resist2 ,god's vassal am ,i now1 ,but sister still to thee1 and loyal1 ,saul1 ,beyond all measure of that loyalty ,i held before1 which made me proud of thee1 ,and glad of thee1 and spurred me on to praise ,my brother as the paragon of men4 ,o ,saul-- ,nay1 ,rachel1 ,saul said1 with a tone ,repressive more than the repressive words1 ,i will not hear thee further in this vein4 ,thou art a woman1 and ,i must not blame ,thy weakness2 sister too to me thou art1 ,and ,i will not misdoubt thy love2 but thou ,hast added the last drop of bitterness ,to the crowned cup of grief and shame poured out ,for me to drink4 ,go1 ,rachel1 muse on this3 ,a brother leaned an aching1 aching heart ,upon a sister's bosom to be eased1 ,and that one pillow out of all the world ,to me1 that trusted downy softness1 hid ,the cruelest subtle unsuspected thorn4 ,saul's sister a disciple and a dupe ,of those that preach the son of ,joseph1 ,christ6 ,and this1 forsooth1 the fruit that was to be ,of ,saul's aspiring trust to strike the stroke ,that in one day should crush the wretched creed6 ,rachel1 methinks thou mightst have spared me this6 ,but nay1 my sister1 better is it so4 ,haply no barb less keen had stung me back ,to my old self and made me ,saul again-- ,the weakling that ,i was1 to pule and weep1 ,as if the cause were lost and all were lost6 ,i thank thee1 sister1 thou hast done me good1 ,like medicine--like bitter medicine6 ,tell me true1 ,rachel1 thou didst feign me this1 ,to rouse me from my late unmanly swoon4 ,that is past now2 ,i rise refreshed and strong1 ,i see my path before me1 stretching straight1 ,i enter it to tread it to the end4 ,doubt not but ,i shall feel the wholesome hurt ,of the shrewd spur my sister1 with wise heart ,of hardness1 plunged full deep into my side ,betimes1 when ,i was drooping nigh to sink4 ,peace to thee1 sister1 cheer thee with this thought1 ',i saved my brother from the last disgrace ,by a disgrace next to the last--it was ,a hard way1 but the only1 and it sped6' ,such cruel irony from her brother cut ,the tender heart of ,rachel like a knife4 ,but more for ,saul she grieved than for herself2 ,she knew that naught but anguish of chagrin ,the sharpest could have tortured out from him1 ,so noble and so gentle1 any taunt4 ,from sheer compassion of his misery1 ,she wept1 and said3 ,o ,saul1 ,saul1 ,saul-- ,but he3 ,rachel1 no more2 already deep enough1 ,i judge1 for present use1 the iron has gone2 ,i shall not falter2 thou mayst safely spare ,to drive it deeper now--it rankles home4 ,and surely1 if hereafter ,i should feel1 ,at some weak woman's moment1 any touch ,of foolish tenderness to make me pause ,relaxing and relenting from my course-- ,a sad course1 ,rachel1 traced in blood and tears6-- ,should ever such a softness steal on me1 ,surely ,i should but need remember thee1 ,thou younger playmate of my boyhood6 thee1 ,mirror1 that was1 of saintly sisterhood6 ,loveliest among the daughters of thy race ,once1 to thy brother6 fountain flowing free ,of gladness1 never sadness1 unto him6-- ,never of sadness until now1 but now-- ,o ,rachel1 ,rachel1 sister1 changed this day ,from all thou wert to what ,i will not name-- ,surely ,i shall but need bring back this hour1 ,and let the image of my sister pass-- ,o broken image of all loveliness1 ,distained and broken6--pass before my eyes1 ,as here ,i see her1 separate from me ,forever1 and outcast from ,god--that thought1 ,that image1 shall make brass the heart of ,saul1 ,and his nerve iron1 to smite and smite again1 ,until no wily ,stephen shall remain ,for any silly ,rachel to obey6 ,fierce so outbreathing threat and slaughter1 ,saul ,in bitterness of spirit broke away4 ,,book ,,vii4 ,,stephen ,,and ,,ruth4 ,rachel in dismay soliloquizes4 ,she at length resolves on conveying to ,stephen1 through ,ruth1 his wife1 a warning of his danger4 ,ruth1 not a ,christian1 expostulates with her husband1 attempting to dissuade him from his course--a course certain1 she says1 to end fatally for him4 ,after a gentle1 long1 anguished effort on his part to bring ,ruth to sympathy with himself in his ,christian faith1 ,stephen parts from her with presentiment that it is never to return4 ,under the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 he takes his way from ,bethany1 where his home is1 to ,jerusalem4 ,his friends4 ,martha and ,mary1 with their brother ,lazarus1 see him going1 and follow4 ,,stephen ,,and ,,ruth4 ,rudely thus parted from his sister1 ,saul ,straightway sought certain of his synagogue-- ,the synagogue of the ,cilicians--men ,less alien from himself than ,shimei was ,in spirit1 while compatriot too by birth ,as was not ,shimei1 an ,asian he-- ,and these made privy to his changed resolve4 ,they1 glad of such adhesion1 opened free ,their counsel to him1 telling1 with grimace ,added1 and shrug of shoulder1 to attest ,their scorn of ,shimei1 ,shimei's scheme1 which they ,sourly1 as from compulsion1 now took up4 ,saul1 swallowing a great throe of innermost ,revolt that well-nigh mastered him1 subscribed ,himself1 by silence1 partner of their deed4 ,rachel1 spurned from him by her brother1 sat ,moveless a while1 the image of dismay1 ,her two ears caves of roaring sound1 her mind ,a whirling void of sheer astonishment4 ,when presently the storm a little calmed ,within her1 and she knew herself once more1 ,she cleared her thought by settling it in words-- ,words which through fluent mood and mood changed swift ,from passionate soliloquy to prayer1 ,and from prayer back to soft soliloquy3 ,my brother shall not excommunicate ,his sister6 ,while ,i love him he is mine1 ,and ,i shall not be 'separate' from him ',forever'--let him hate me as he will1 ,who hates himself1 and otherwise amiss ,hates liberally4 ,why did ,i let him go8 ,i should have held him1 should have told him ,i ,am of one blood with him1 as high as he ,in spirit2 though a 'woman1' not to be ,put down2 he gave me right1 with speech like that1 ,to equal him in stinging word for word4 ,i could have done it4 ,woman am ,i8 ,yea1 ,and ,deborah was a woman1 ,miriam too4 ,i feel my blood a-tingle in my veins ,with lust to have him back1 and make him know ,the lion with the lamb lies down in me ,together2 and ,i showed him but the lamb6 ,the lion rouses late1 occasion gone6 ,did he cow me8 ,so tamely ,i endured ,his contumely6 ,anger none till now1 ,nor shame not to be angry at such speech ,from him2 but now--anger with burning shame ,turns inward and incenses me like fire4 ,i scorn myself for that1 reed-like1 my head ,i bowed before the tempest of his scorn1 ,when blast for blast ,i should have blown him back ,his tempest4 ,rachel's indignation so ,like a sea wrought and was tempestuous4 ,but the recoil of her own violent speech ,first gave her pause1 then pierced her with remorse4 ,daily1 from when she1 hearing ,stephen speak1 ,heard ,god through ,stephen speaking1 and obeyed1 ,rachel1 first having in baptism testified ,her death to sin1 her birth to righteousness-- ,never her absent brother dreaming it-- ,gladsome had broken bread of fellowship ,with the disciples of the ,lord1 and learned1 ,both from their lips and from their lives beheld1 ,deep lessons in the lore of ,jesus1 apt ,by the tuition of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the better spirit1 for a moment lost1 ,so lately made her own1 came back to her4 ,sadly she mused1 recalling her hot words ,of passion3 ',tempest'8 ,tempest sure just now ,hummed in me4 ',scorn myself'8 ,what word was that8 ,rachel forsooth forbade ,saul saying1 ',i hate ,myself'--and scorn herself does she1 yea1 here ,sit impotently brooding scorn for scorn ,to rival him8 ,surely ,i missed my way4 ',scorn1' 'hate1' one spirit both these speak1 such scorn ,such hate1 in him1 in me4 ,one spirit both1 ,and that the spirit of this world1 not ,his1 ,not ,christ's1 no spirit of ,thine1 ,o ,crucified1 ,thou meek and lowly holy ,lamb of ,god6 ,forgive1 forgive me1 from ,thy cross of shame ,and passion1 ,o ,thou suffering ,son of ,god6 ,once prayedst ,thou thence for those that murdered ,thee1 ',father1 forgive them1 for they know not what ,they do4' ,i knew not what ,i did when so ,i crucified ,thee afresh through shameful pride4 ,my heart breaks with my sorrow for my sin1 ,a broken and a contrite heart1 ,o ,lord1 ,thou never wilt despise4 ,and now yet more ,my heart breaks with forgiveness poured on me4 ,o sweet and blessed flood1 pour on me still6 ,deliciously ,i tremble and rejoice4 ,to be thus broken is bliss more to me ,than to be whole4 ,i love to lie dissolved1 ,dissolving1 under this soft fall of peace ,distilled like dew from out ,thy bleeding heart6 ,lo1 here ,i wholly1 wholly1 wholly yield ,to ,thee1 ,o ,christ1 am fluid utterly1 ,to take whatever shape ,thee best may please4 ,remake me after ,thine own image1 ,lord6 ,i pray ,thee for my brother4 ,suffer not ,that he act out his purposed madness4 ,save1 ,o save him from that dreadful sin he means ,against ,thee and against ,thy holy cause4 ,i cannot bear it1 that my brother rage ,against ,thee like the heathen4 ,thou art strong1 ,o ,christ6 ,i pray ,thee--,thee ,i pray1 ,o ,christ1 ,thee only1 for none other can--meet ,thou ,and master ,saul6 ,his sister pleads with ,thee2 ,i plead for his sake1 he being dear to me1 ,but more for ,thine own name and glory's sake1 ,and for ,thy suffering cause6 ,i thank ,thee1 ,lord1 ,with joyful tears1 ,i thank ,thee1 gracious ,lord1 ,that ,thou restrainedst me dumb with silence then ,when ,saul spake evil of me--for ,thy sake4 ,through ,thee1 ,who1 when reviled1 reviledst not ,again1 through ,thee1 through ,thee1 ,i1 also ,i1 ,proud foolish ,rachel1 then refrained from words6 ,no taunt retorted1 no reproach1 no blame1 ,stung him from me to sin2 ,i thank ,thee1 ,lord1 ,for that6 ,now is there naught that ,i may do8 ,may ,i not warn that prophet ,stephen8 ,saul ,wildly foreshadowed harm himself might wreak ,on him2 and what meant ,shimei's visit here8 ,mischief1 no doubt of that2 collusion strange1 ,incredible1 impossible1 such twain1 ,that ,shimei and my brother6 ,i will go ,and talk with ,stephen's wife1 her1 what ,i can1 ,without disloyalty to ,saul1 stir up ,to fear for ,stephen's safety2 he need not1 ,surely1 dauntless high prophet of the ,lord ,although he be1 still ready-girt to die1 ,rush blindfold into danger unforewarned4 ,so to the house of ,stephen ,rachel went ,with haste1 and there1 in darkened words to ,ruth1 ,perturbed her woman's breast with vague alarms3 ',her husband must of stratagem beware1 ,and even of violence1 aimed against his life4' ,stephen1 by ,ruth his wife1 of all advised1 ,armed him his heart to face what must befall4 ,ruth shook him to the centre of his soul ,with storms of wife's complaints and love and tears3 ,nay1 ,stephen1 many a time1 bear witness thou1 ,my heart before she came misgave me sore2 ,but now1 since ,rachel's words1 no peace ,i find ,concerning thee1 in this thy wilful way ,wherein thou goest--whither1 ,i know not1 whence1 ,too well ,i know1 for from a home thou goest ,once happy1 ere this madness came on thee6 ,sharply so ,stephen's wife upbraided him4 ,gravely and gently he admonished her3 ,name it not madness1 woman1 lest thereby ,thou sin that sin against the ,holy ,ghost4 ,no madness is it when the soul of man ,is sovereignly usurped by the ,most ,high ,to be the organ of ,almighty ,will4 ,i yield myself1 nay1 ,ruth1 ,i join myself1 ,to ,god--no blind unsharing instrument1 ,but joyful partner of ,his purposes4 ,solemnly chided so1 ,ruth quick replied3 ,and what if of ,his purposes one be ,to let thee plunge1 as headstrong1 so headlong1 ,thy way to bloody death1 thou stiff-necked man8 ,thou hearest what ,rachel brings us1 doubtful hint ,indeed1 but therefore in itself to me ,only more fearful2 and how fearful joined ,to what thyself confessest thou of late1 ,with thine own ears1 hast1 from the public mouth1 ,heard--instigated whisper1 ,shimei's brew1 ,accusing thee of treason to the hope ,of ,israel1 and purpose to destroy ,the temple1 and the customs do away ,which ,moses left us6 ,stephen1 all these signs ,singly1 much more together1 point one way-- ,they threaten death to thee1 if thou persist ,to preach things hateful to the wise and good4 ,ruth intermitted1 and her husband said3 ,the danger1 ,ruth1 ,i know1 but ,i must not1 ,for danger1 slack obedience to my ,lord4 ,then ,ruth said3 ,but ,i only ask that thou ,now1 for a little1 prudently abide ,in hiding till this storm be overpast4 ,he1 with a glance of irony1 replied3 ,and always run to covert at the first ,bluster of opposition8 ,yea1 to some ,that is permitted2 but to other some1 ,whereof am ,i1 only to stand foursquare ,and take the buffet of whatever storm4 ,and the best prudence is obeying1 ,ruth4 ,high answered ,stephen thus1 but ,ruth rejoined3 ,stephen1 thou ever wert a stubborn will1 ,and overweening of the wisdom thine1 ,hard-hearted and unloving never yet1 ,never1 till now4 ,how canst thou bide thus calm1 ,and ,i1 thine erst loved wife1 beheld by thee ,so tossed with tempest and not comforted8 ,wherewith self-pity broke her words to sobs3 ,she fell on ,stephen's neck and wept aloud4 ,with both his arms he folded her about1 ,while his heart1 hugely swelling in his breast1 ,forced to his eye the slow1 large1 rounding tear4 ,it was as if a cloud that wished to rain ,strongly held back its drooping weight of shower4 ,his melting voice at last he fixed in words3 ,what meanest thou to weep and break my heart1 ,o thou1 mine own1 most loving and most loved ,of women8 ,flesh cries out to flesh in me ,against the purpose of my spirit set ,to crucify the flesh with its desires6 ,ruth caught her sobs and held them while she spoke3 ,flesh of thy flesh am ,i2 thou slayest me ,in slaying thyself2 ,i will not have it so4 ,not ready yet am ,i to die in thee2 ,and thee ,god surely needs alive1 not dead3 ,the dead cannot praise ,god nor serve ,his cause4 ,who will so preach that gospel that thou lovest ,when thou art gone8 ,who then will silence ,saul8 ,i tell thee1 ,stephen1 this is ,satan's guile-- ,to get thee slain--and overmatch mightst thou ,the arch-deceiver1 easily1 if thou wouldst1 ,so easily--only live4 ,conclusive seemed ,her argument to ,ruth and stanched her tears4 ,she gently disengaged the fond embrace ,that held her to her husband's heart1 and1 drawn ,a little backward from his face her face1 ,she smiled on him like sunshine after rain4 ,smiling pathetically back1 he kissed1 ,with kisses that she felt like sacraments1 ,then1 and forever after till she died1 ,his wife's brow beautiful with hope1 and said3 ,ruth1 thou hast said2 it is1 be sure1 his guile1 ,satan's1 whereby ,i presently shall die2 ,if so to die indeed be mine1 who feel ,too young still1 and too strong1 too full of hope1 ,too full of--shall ,i name it1 ,ruth8--too full ,of ,god ,himself1 the ,holy ,ghost1 to die6 ,for ,he within me lives such life and power1 ,death seems impossible1 all weakness seems ,far off1 an alien thing1 and not for me2 ,i am immortal and omnipotent4 ,that1 ,ruth1 is when ,i stand to speak for ,god1 ,preaching to men the gospel of ,his ,son4 ,but when1 as now1 ,i sit with thee and talk1 ,or when my children cluster round my knees1 ,and ,i hear husband1 father1 from fond lips ,pressed to these lips so oft1 and with such joy1 ,when all the dearness that is meant by home1 ,and all the drawing lodged in kindred blood1 ,and all that sense1 unutterably deep1 ,of oneness1 soul in soul1 with those we love-- ,o ,ruth6--but1 ,ruth1 our tears commingled flow1 ',tis our hearts flow together in those tears6 ,o wife and life1 when all that ,i have said1 ,and that far more which never tongue could say1 ,surges upon me1 surge on surge of thought ,and feeling1 like an overflowing flood1 ,belovd1 then1 how weak ,i am1 how frail1 ,how low and like to die6 ,i lean toward thee1 ,as if the oak should lean upon his vine4 ,ruth took his word from him and made reply3 ,so lean on me1 my love1 and be at rest2 ,lean1 and make proof how vines at need are strong4 ,in me no faltering purpose weakens will4 ,thou speakest of flesh within thee crying out ,to flesh against the spirit--warfare strange ,of elements that dwell in me at one4 ,my nature moves straightforward all one way4 ,rebellion none1 no mutiny1 ,i find ,only resolve to thwart thy mad resolve1 ,thy half resolve1 say rather1 half and mad-- ,so proved by these compunctious visitings ,thou hast1 these gracious sweet remorses wise1 ,relentings toward thy children and toward me2 ,divine presages1 ,stephen1 scorn them not1 ,sent to forewarn thee ere it be too late6 ,bethink thee1 ,stephen1 when didst thou before1 ,ever1 thus will and straight unwill1 thus halt1 ,thus parley with thyself1 thus stand in doubt ,like a reed shaken with the wind1 as now ,i see thee here8 ,thou art not like thyself2 ,not like that ,stephen1 ready1 combative1 ,thy stature still elastically tall ,to tower and overtop and overfrown ,whatever front of menace challenged thee4 ,by thy changed state1 ,i pray thee1 be advised4 ,god teaches thee hereby4 ,he does not wish ,thy will with thy desire to be at war4 ,give up thy heady will1 and let desire1 ,divinely wise1 the wisdom of the heart1 ,guide thee2 her ways are ways of pleasantness1 ,and all her paths are peace4 ,again well pleased ,with her own argument1 ,ruth tearful smiled ,a smile that1 tenfold tender through those tears1 ,was argument to ,stephen more than words4 ,from deep within he heaved a sigh and said3 ,oh6 ,woman6 ,woman6 ,ruth1 thou teachest me ,how ,adam could1 by ,eve's enticement drawn1 ,be even beguiled to die4 ,and now1 to live1 ,not die1 my ,eve entices me4 ,o ,ruth1 ,i feel1 ,i feel1 doubt not but that ,i feel1 ,the sweet1 the subtly sweet1 dissolving spell ,of wish infused by thee1 with thee to live1 ,with thee and for thee1 nay1 in thee1 as thou ,in me--this twain one life1 how dear1 how dear6 ,o wife1 what is there that ,i could not bear ,and dare of hard and high1 wert thou1 with smiles ,and tears and love1 for ,christ but eloquent1 ,as all too well ,i feel thee eloquent ,for our sweet selves8 ,ruth's heart sank1 but she said3 ,o ,stephen1 for our children6 ,then she threw ,her head upon his bosom1 there in tears1 ,with passionate sobs and throbs1 poured out her heart4 ,he mightily a mighty swell that yearned ,to be a storm within him1 ruled1 and said3 ,nay1 ,ruth1 but we forget4 ,life beyond life ,remains to us and to our children4 ,we1 ,forgetfully1 desire and hope and fear ,as if death bounded all4 ,a little while ,and ,christ will come again4 ,then they that sleep ,in ,him will wake to ,him1 and they that still ,wake when ,he comes1 but love ,him1 will1 with those ,late sleeping in ,him now awake1 ascend ,to meet the ,lord descending1 in the air3 ,thenceforward all that love ,him1 loved of ,him1 ,will be forever with ,him where ,he is1 ,beholding there ,his glory4 ,blessed state6 ,no tears1 no fears1 no hearts that break1 no hearts ,that will not break1 although they ache the more1 ,perhaps1 ,god knows1 not breaking--naught of these1 ,and naught of any ill1 but only peace1 ,joy1 love1 security of peace and joy ,and love1 and fellowship in peace and joy ,and love1 forever1 perfect1 more and more1 ,with vision beatific still of ,him ,who washed us in ,his blood and made us kings ,and priests to ,god4 ,ruth1 here is hope indeed ,for us that will not make ashamed4 ,but ,ruth ,unhearing heard and was not comforted4 ,she raised her head from ,stephen's breast1 with act ,as if to part herself in hope from him1 ,and1 with regard made almost alien1 said3 ,hug thou thy hope1 thy hope is not for me4 ,he could not save himself1 thy ,christ1 but died ,as the fool dieth--and as die wilt thou1 ,if thou despise my counsel6 ,stephen1 ,i ,would rather take my lot a little less1 ,less large1 less perfect1 and less durable1 ,than that thou figurest in thy fantasy1 ,so ,i might have it something different ,from that1 real1 substantial1 palpable ,to sense1 something whereof one could be sure4 ,i am no visionary4 ,take1 say ,i1 ,with thanks the good ,god gives us now and here2 ,not spurn ,his bounty back into ,his face1 ,and reach out emptied hands of wanton greed ,to grasp at more ,he has not offered us4 ,we have no right to throw our life away6-- ,in hope of life hereafter1 only ours ,then when with patience our appointed time-- ',all' our appointed time1 ,stephen--we wait1 ,till our change come4 ,ruth's chill repellent tone1 ,her mask of manner hard1 could not deceive ,her husband1 who1 through such disguise with pain ,put on1 well recognized a new device ,of wife's love1 versatile as resolute1 ,constraining tenderness to play severe4 ,yet not the less for that1 more rather1 he ,felt at her words a dull weight of despair ,oppress his spirit2 he could only pray1 ,in silent sorrow not to be expressed1 ,o ,holy ,ghost of ,god1 pity and save6 ,a hundred times so praying for his wife1 ,in anguished iteration o'er and o'er1 ,stephen not speaking sat1 and speechless she4 ,at last1 as if one bound with green withes rose ,rending the withes to rise1 rose ,stephen1 sweat ,of supreme agony victorious ,at dreadful cost dewing his brow2 he took ,his wife's hand solemnly and tenderly1 ,his port majestical compelling awe1 ,and1 with tense speech1 in tones that strangely mixed ,the husband with the prophet1 slowly said3 ,farewell1 ,ruth1 for the hour is fully come ,that ,i must hence4 ,the burden of the ,lord ,is instant and oppresses me4 ,i go1 ,whither ,i know not1 but ,he knows1 to bear ,witness once more to ,his most worthy name4 ,i thought that ,i should never preach again ,his gospel in those temple courts1 but now ,perhaps ,he wills even that2 whatever be ,his purpose1 unforeshown1 ,i welcome it4 ,lo1 ,ruth1 this is the last time1 for full well ,i know ,i never shall come back to thee6 ,come thou to me1 ,i charge thee that1 and bring ,our children to their father4 ,always think ,hereafter1 ',he1 that last time1 charged me that6' ,i think my ,god in this has heard my prayer1 ,and ,i go hence in comfort of some hope4 ,our children6 ,oh6 ,my children6 ,god in heaven1 ,have mercy6 ,how a father pitieth ,his children1 think of that1 and pity me6 ,a father lays them on a ,father's heart2 ,father1 ,i charge ,thee1 by ,thy father's-heart1 ,not one be plucked from out ,his ,father's hand6 ,lord ,christ1 see ,thou to this1 in session there ,forever1 interceding for ,thine own6 ,ruth1 give their father's blessing to our babes2 ,i trust that they will cheer their mother well1 ,when ,i am gone1 and cheer thee to the end4 ,their sweet unconscious voices now ,i hear ,in laugh and prattle of pathetic glee6 ,i fain would see their faces once again1 ,kiss them once more1 and take a last caress6 ,but nay1 ,i spare myself one pang2 sweet babes1 ,they are too young to know6 ,but by and by1 ,when they are older and will understand1 ,then tell them thou what ,i now cannot1 say1 ',your father loved you1 loves you1 and will love ,forever--that was his last word to me ,for you4' ,so1 ,ruth1 farewell6 ,with first his hands1 ,both1 placed in solemn blessing on her head1 ,she kneeling by his knees1 forth from his house ,therewith went ,stephen all as in a trance4 ,with open eyes that saw not1 yet with steps ,guided--how1 he well knew1 but whither not-- ,in simple rapt obedience1 he his way ,took absently like one that walks in sleep4 ,stephen his home had fixed in ,bethany-- ,sequestered hamlet on the slope behind ,the ,mount of ,olives from ,jerusalem4 ,mary and ,martha1 here1 and ,lazarus1 ,he knew and loved2 and with them oft1 their guest1 ,held converse sweet of what ,he said and did1 ,and was1 the ,friend ,who wept when ,lazarus died1 ,the ,lord of life through ,whom he lived again3 ,but ,ruth1 self-sundered from this fellowship1 ,abode apart1 or only with them bound ,in bonds of kindly common neighborhood4 ,these marked when ,stephen1 marking not1 passed by1 ,that day1 steps toward the holy city bent1 ,and to each other said3 ',he goes once more ,bound in the spirit to ,jerusalem ,to preach the gospel of the grace of ,god4 ,behold the lit look on the forward face6 ,behold the gait half-buoyed as if with wings6 ,it is like ,jesus hastening to ,his cross6 ,lo1 let us follow6' and they followed him4 ,but he went ever onward1 slacking not ,his steps1 nor heeding when the brow he reached ,of ,olivet and thence1 across the deep ,ravine of ,kedron worn with rushing floods1 ,before him and beneath him saw outspread ,the city of ,david with its palaces4 ,,book ,,viii4 ,,stephen ,,martyr4 ,as ,stephen approaches the temple1 he is suddenly arrested and brought before the ,sanhedrim4 ,there making his defence1 he is interrupted with hostile demonstrations1 instigated by ,shimei4 ,on this1 he bursts out with noble indignation1 which furnishes the desired occasion for a cry against him of ,blasphemy6 from all1 and for a violent hurrying forth of the prisoner without the walls to be stoned4 ,a file of ,roman soldiers confronts and stays the tumultuous crowd2 but1 after parley conducted by ,shimei with the centurion1 their leader1 the rout is suffered to proceed4 ,meantime1 however1 a little company of sympathizing ,christians1 including ,rachel with the three from ,bethany1 have gathered round ,stephen and listened to cheerful1 tranquillizing words from him4 ,after the stoning1 these friends carry the body of ,stephen for laving to the pool of ,siloam1 whence by moonlight up ,olivet to ,bethany4 ,here they lay it in a room of ,martha and ,mary's house until morning4 ,,stephen ,,martyr4 ,the sun of ,syrian afternoon1 declined ,half-way betwixt the zenith and the west1 ,burned blinding in the cloudless blue of heaven ,and fired a conflagration in the copes ,of beaten gold hung over the august ,house of ,jehovah1 whither ,stephen now ,tended unconsciously with wonted feet4 ,that spectacle of splendor he1 agaze ,with holden unbeholding eyes1 saw not1 ,or1 as but with his heart beholding1 saw ,only as goal of his obedience due4 ,down the abrupt declivity with speed1 ,the westward-slanting slope of ,olivet1 ,descending by a path stony and steep-- ,the same whereon full often to and fro ,had fared the ,blessed ,feet1 between the dust ,and din and fever of ,jerusalem1 ,and the sweet purity and peace1 the cool1 ,the quiet1 of that home in ,bethany1 ,his refuge6--so descending1 ,stephen passed ,on his right hand ,gethsemane1 that moved ,muse of the ,master's agony for men1 ,crossed ,kedron1 and thence upward pressing gained ,gate ,susan1 whence the temple nigh in view4 ',perhaps1' thought he1 'perhaps1 once more1 against ,my expectation1 ,i am thither brought ,to preach as when ,i answered ,saul that day4 ,the ,lord will show me1 in full time1 alike ,what ,i must speak1 and when1 and where4' ,so wrapt ,in welcome of the will unknown of ,god1 ,and full of faith and of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,stephen with no amazement was afraid ,when1 suddenly and rudely1 in the street1 ,a band in service of the ,sanhedrim ,set on him1 and1 by their authority1 ,seized him and brought him prisoner accused ,of blasphemy before their council1 there ,to be examined for his words and deeds4 ,captive in body1 he in soul was free1 ,exulting in that glorious liberty1 ,the sense of sonship to ,almighty ,god4 ,false witnesses1 by ,shimei suborned1 ,and well their lesson taught by ,shimei1 ,stood forth1 who1 to the teeth of ,stephen1 swore3 ,this person never ceases speaking words ,against this holy place and ,moses' law2 ,we heard him say that ,jesus ,nazarene ,is going to destroy this place1 and change ,the customs ,moses handed down to us4 ,all the assessors in the ,sanhedrim1 ,fastening their eyes on ,stephen1 saw his face1 ,as it had been an angel's1 kindling shine4 ,saul marked it1 and remembered how that day ,the lightning of that face had blinded him6 ,the high priest now1 accosting ,stephen1 asked1 ,are these things so8 and ,stephen thus replied3 ,brethren and fathers1 hearken to my words4 ,with ears that tingle to the echoes yet1 ,perchance1 of that high passionate harangue ,which late from ,saul ye heard concerning wounds ,intended to this ,jewish commonwealth1 ,ye now have heard forsooth again from these-- ,how temple1 law1 and well-belovd ways ,bequeathed us by our fathers from of old ,are threatened in the message that ,i preach4 ,but1 brethren1 he mistakes who deems that ,god ,is to one place1 one race1 one time1 one clime1 ,one mode of showing forth ,himself1 shut up4 ,consider through what phases manifold ,has passed already heretofore ,god's way ,with men2 thence learn how lightly reckons ,god ,of place or method4 ,unto ,abraham first ,before he came to ,charan1 while he yet ,dwelt in the land between the rivers1 ,god ,appeared4 ,nor in a place thus holy made1 ,and glorious1 by theophany1 was he1 ,our father1 suffered to abide4 ',arise1' ,jehovah said1 'and get thee hence and come ,into the land which ,i will show thee4' ,then ,to ,charan that obedient pilgrim passed4 ,nor there found he a settled rest4 ,again ,he journeyed and in ,canaan1 this fair land ,wherein ye dwell1 a sojourner became2 ,for here ,god gave him no inheritance1 ,promising only that in after times ,that childless father's children here should dwell4 ,meanwhile another change1 and now what seems ,a long postponement of the purposed grace4 ,four hundred years should ,abraham's seed sojourn ,as strangers in an alien land where they ,should suffer bondage and an evil lot3 ,delivered thence with judgment on their foes1 ,they then should hither come and here serve ,god4 ,yet when the ripeness of the time was full1 ,and ,moses offered to deliver them1 ,our fathers doubted and refused his hand3 ,but ,moses notwithstanding led them out4 ,and that same ,moses prophesied of ,one ,to follow him as ,prophet ,whom must all ,obey4 ,yet ,moses1 mouth of ,god to men1 ,obeyed our fathers not1 but1 in their hearts ,gone back to ,egypt1 spurned him far aloof ,from them4 ,then followed that apostasy ,to idols1 by ,jehovah ,god chastised1 ,on those offending1 with captivity ,which beyond ,babylon carried them away4 ,albeit ,jehovah gave to ,moses such ,honor as never yet to man was given1 ,still much that ,moses wrought was cast aside4 ,that tabernacle1 made by him express ,as ,god ,himself had shown him in the mount1 ,and so inwove with ,hebrew history1 ,god suffered this to pass1 and in its place ,preferred the temple built by ,solomon4 ,yet not in houses built with human hands ,dwells the ,most ,high2 as1 by ,his prophet1 ,god ,says1 ',on the heaven sit ,i as on a throne1 ,and the earth make a footstool for ,my feet4' ',what house will ye build ,me1' the ,lord inquires1 ',or what shall be the place of ,mine abode8' ,so far a loth penurious decent heed ,the council had grudged out to ,stephen2 here ,the scowl of curious incredulity1 ,wherewith they listened while as yet in doubt ,whither might tend his drift of argument1 ,changed to a frown of deadly hate1 as they ,conclusion from his use of ,scripture drew ,that ,stephen glanced at overthrow indeed ,meant for the temple4 ,instantly1 alert ,to seize occasion1 ,shimei the sig ,gave to prepared conspirators1 who now ,obediently framed a menace grim ,of gesture to denounce the speaker's aim2 ,and all the council1 as one man1 astir ,with insurrection1 frowned a vehement ,refusal to receive the word of ,god4 ,stephen beheld their aspect1 and his soul1 ,dilating to a seraph's measure1 filled ,with sudden prophet's zeal aflame for ,god4 ,he forged his indignation into words ,which1 like bolts kindling1 now he launched at them4 ,he said3 ,stiff-necked ye1 and uncircumcised ,in heart and ears6 ,always do ye resist ,the ,holy ,ghost2 as did your fathers1 so ,do ye4 ,which of the prophets did they not1 ,your fathers1 persecute8 ,who showed before ,the coming of the ,just ,one1 those they slew2 ,and of ,him now have ye betrayers been ,and murderers4 ,ye who the law1 received ,at angels' disposition1 have not kept6 ,cut to the heart at this1 those councillors ,gnashed with their teeth on ,stephen4 ,but that sight ,stephen1 his eyes rapt elsewhere1 did not see4 ,full of the ,holy ,ghost1 his face he raised1 ,gazing with sense undazzled into heaven1 ,and saw the glory of ,god1 and ,jesus there1 ,not sitting1 as at ease1 but1 as in act ,to help1 standing1 on the right hand of ,god4 ,he testified that vision thus to men3 ,opened see ,i the heavens and standing there ,the ,son of ,man on the right hand of ,god4 ,thereat a loud acclaim of hatred forth ,burst in one voice from all the ,sanhedrim4 ,full come was ,shimei's opportunity4 ,as started ,mattathias to his feet ,in honest wrath instinctive1 ,shimei too ,rose1 counterfeiting wrath1 sign understood ,by his complotters1 who now likewise rose ,in simultaneous second and support1 ,setting the council in a wild turmoil4 ,they stopped their ears1 and all together ran ,on ,stephen with tumultuary rage ,to thrust him forth without the city walls4 ,the rush of such commotion through the streets1 ,a torrent madness raging on its way1 ,raging and roaring1 every moment more1 ,roused a wide wind of rumor and surmise ,troubling the air of all ,jerusalem4 ,tremor of this reached ,rachel's jealous sense1 ,on edge--she knowing that the ,sanhedrim ,would that day summon ,stephen to its bar-- ,to fear the worst for ,stephen and for ,saul4 ,but ,ruth1 her home more distant1 she at home ,urged by importunate cares which for her wrought ,some present respite from the strain and pain ,of that farewell with ,stephen--vexing thought6 ,too certain to return insistently1 ,in waking and in sleeping vision1 soon1 ,at night upon her bed1 unbidden guest1 ,and haunt her bosom with sad memories1 ,and vague1 unhappy1 beckoning shapes of fears6-- ,ruth1 so precluded1 nothing knew of all4 ,rachel1 with other women of the ,way ,like-minded with herself1 pathetic group6 ,drew timorous nigh the ragged rushing rim ,of that confusion pouring toward the gate ,which northward opened on ,damascus road4 ,the self-same path it was whereby had walked ,a little while before1 bearing ,his cross1 ,the ,saviour of mankind toward ,calvary4 ,stephen remembered1 and1 remembering1 went ,both meekly more1 and more triumphantly1 ,to suffer like his ,lord without the gate4 ,he said within himself1 ',i follow ,him2 ,i feel ,his footprints underneath my feet4' ,those women watched the martyr every step1 ,and with hands waved signalled him sympathy4 ,such helpless help was help the more to him-- ,who had no need1 but gave them back again ,their sympathy in looks of strength and cheer ,which bade them too be faithful unto death1 ,as they saw him that day4 ,the peace of ,god1 ,lodged in his heart--a trust from ,christ1 ,whose word ,was1 ,peace ,i leave with you1 ,my peace to you ,i give2 not as the world gives give ,i you3 ,let not your heart be troubled1 neither let ,it be afraid--that peace steadfast he bore ,amid the tumult round him1 the one thing ,not shaken in a shaken universe1 ,like the earth's axle sleeping and the earth ,whirling from centre to circumference6 ,not yet the rout had reached the city gate1 ,when1 lo6 a sudden halt1 a sudden hush1 ,arrested and becalmed the multitude4 ,a file of ,roman soldiers from the fort1 ,with swift1 straight1 sure lock-step1 steel-clad1 that clanged1 ,flowed like a rill of flowing mercury1 ,heavy yet nimble1 through a street that crossed ,the course of that mad progress1 and1 athwart ,its head abutting1 stayed2 the clang of pause ,rang sharper than the clang of the advance4 ,the leader1 a centurion1 sternly spoke3 ,what means this uproar8 ,seek ye to provoke ,your rulers8 ,love ye1 then1 your yoke so well ,ye fain would feel it heavier on your necks8 ,sedition into insurrection grows ,full easily1 and this sedition seems4 ,speak1 who can tell1 and say1 ,what would ye8 ,prompt1 ,then1 ,shimei1 of the foremost1 stepping forth ,said2 ,this is no sedition as might seem2 ,a crushing of sedition rather4 ,we1 ,the ,sanhedrim--wherewith a smirk and bow ,from ,shimei1 with wave of hand swept round ,upon his colleagues in their sorry plight ,dishevelled1 seemed1 in sneering cynic sort1 ,to introduce them with mock dignity-- ,we ,sanhedrim this fellow caught employed ,in stirring up sedition1 and our zeal ,for peace and order under ,roman rule ,inflamed us1 following our forefathers' way1 ,to visit death on him without the gate4 ,we beg you will allow us to proceed ,and put to proof of act our loyalty-- ,hot breath1 half hiss1 from ,mattathias here-- ,this script perhaps will help determine you4 ,and ,shimei handed up a tablet writ4 ,the ,roman read3 ,let this disorder pass2 ,it may be useful4 ,watch it well4 ,the seal ,once more with care examined1 parley had ,with ,shimei1 whose crafty answers meet ,each wary scruple of the officer1 ,and sign is given to let the rout proceed4 ,meantime a different scene has quietly ,been passing unperceived4 ,that company ,of ministering women ,rachel found1 ,salom1 and the ,marys1 blessed name6 ,with others who had followed and bewailed ,when ,jesus suffered--these1 joined now by those ,from ,bethany1 with ,lazarus1 prevailed ,to edge their way ungrudged through the close ranks ,of idle gazers round not undisposed ,themselves to sympathize1 until they stood ,nigh ,stephen1 and in undertones could speak ,with him1 and hear his words4 ,weep not for me1 ,he said1 ye blessd6 ,i am well content4 ,i think how short the way is1 not how sharp1 ,to ,jesus where just now ,i saw ,him4 ,there ,he stood in heaven on the right hand of ,god4 ,he seemed to lean toward me with arms outstretched ,as if at once to take me to ,himself6 ,i spring toward ,him with joy unutterable4 ,i shall not feel the pain1 which will but speed ,me thither4 ,he hath overcome the world4 ,be of good cheer1 belovd1 ye who wait ,a little longer to behold ,his face4 ,for you too ,he hath overcome the world4 ,be strong1 be faithful1 be obedient1 ,a little while--and we shall meet again ,safe1 happy1 in the ,new ,jerusalem1 ,forever and forever with the ,lord4 ,but ,ruth1 my wife1 yet unbelieving--care ,for her and for my children6 ,god will give ,all to our prayers4 ,and ,husband ,he will be ,to her1 and ,father to the fatherless4 ,rachel to ,lazarus whispered3 ,tell him ,i1 ,rachel1 ,saul's sister1 would do something4 ,ask ,what ,i may do for ,ruth1 to testify ,a sister's sorrow for a brother's fault4 ,and let him not think hardly1 not too hardly1 ,of ,saul who wrongs him so6 ,and ,lazarus ,told ,stephen1 who1 with look benign addressed ,to ,rachel1 said3 ,thou1 ,rachel1 thou thyself1 ,no other1 shalt to ,ruth my wife convey ,her husband's very last farewell2 good-night ,call it1 and bid her meet me there to say ,good-morning4 ,comfort her with words4 ,to ,saul ,say--when the time comes he will hear1 not now-- ,that all is well1 is wholly well4 ,i go-- ,and that is well--perhaps in part through him1 ,which seems not well1 but is1 by grace of ,christ1 ,who thus1 in part through me--and surely that ,likewise is well--erelong will make of ,saul1 ,in ,stephen's room1 a more than ,stephen both ,to preach and suffer for ,his name4 ,this hope ,be thine1 ,rachel1 and ,god be with thee1 child6 ,martha1 her hand as ready as her heart1 ,had other cheer provided than of words4 ',the willing spirit1 if the flesh be weak1 ,may faint1' she thought1 'and angels strengthening ,him ,brought ,jesus succor in ,gethsemane4 ,may ,i not be his angel1 ,stephen's1 now1 ,and his flesh brace to bear his agony8' ,she said to ,stephen3 ,i have brought thee here ,a cake of barley and a honeycomb4 ,i pray thee eat and cheer therewith thy heart4 ,god bless thee1 ,martha1 for thy loving thought6 ,said ,stephen2 and he took the food from her ,and ate it1 giving thanks before them all4 ,and all with him gave thanks1 for nothing else ,could so have cheered them in their sad estate ,as thus to see their friend at such an hour ,cheering himself with food1 his appetite ,not troubled by least trouble of the mind1 ,and he approved superior to his lot1 ,not by a strain of high heroic pride1 ,not by access of transient ecstasy1 ,but simply by the sober confidence1 ,well-grounded1 of the soul enduring all ,as seeing ,him ,who is invisible4 ,besides1 had any deemed that ,martha erred1 ,inopportunely ministering to the flesh1 ,when spirit unsupported by the flesh ,as well had conquered1 and more gloriously1 ,haply1 too1 letting this their thought escape1 ,unmeant1 in look or gesture1 to her pain-- ,such might1 in ,stephen's gracious act1 have heard ,as if a silent echo of those words-- ,ineffably persuasive sweet reproof ,at once and soft assuagement of unease-- ,why trouble ye the woman8 ,she hath wrought ,a good work for ,me4 ,but the ,sanhedrim1 ,permitted by the ,roman to resume ,their way with ,stephen1 now to him once more ,their notice turned4 ,within their heart enraged1 ,first1 to have met with such a check1 and then1 ,scarce less1 so to have had the check removed-- ,both this and that their sense of bondage chafed-- ,ill brooked it they to see what now they saw1 ,their prisoner in calm converse with his friends4 ,begone6 to these they cried4 ,for shame to show ,untimely softness thus to whom ye see ,your rulers judge worthy of death4 ,begone6 ,one churl among those councillors was found1 ,when ,stephen gently bade his friends give way1 ,even for his own sake1 who could least endure ,to see them suffer roughness1 most unmeet ,for such as they--one graceless churl was found ,to raise his hand at ,stephen speaking so ,and smite him on the mouth4 ,a wail at this ,broke from those women1 and their hair they tore ,in passion of compassion and of wrath ,holy as love4 ,but ,stephen was most meek1 ,and only in a shadowed look expressed ,pain at such painful sympathy with pain4 ,this seen by those1 they soon responsively ,resumed composure like his own1 and walked1 ,following1 molested not1 at small remove ,from the belovd martyr1 cheering him1 ,and cheered1 with sense of some society4 ,so1 on1 with going less precipitate1 ,and less vociferous rage1 but not less fell1 ,moved the infatuate multitude1 repressed ,and maddened1 both at once1 to feel themselves ,only by sufferance masters of the fate ,of ,stephen1 and their very footsteps timed ,to regular and slow behind those few ,austere1 impassive1 automatic men ,armed1 who1 though few they might be1 yet meant ,rome4 ,arrived at length at the accursd spot1 ,they stay4 ,the ground about was strewn with stones1 ,rejected fragments from the quarry cleft1 ,flakes from the mason's chisel1 interspersed ,dilapidations from the city walls ,twice overthrown and razed1 or missiles thence ,once by defenders on assailants hurled4 ,they stay1 and1 ,stephen stationed in the midst ,where1 first1 a circle of spectators round ,was ordered in disorderly array1 ,prepare to act their dreadful blasphemy4 ,within1 opposed to ,stephen1 ,saul stood1 pale1 ,blanched with resolve1 anguished1 and tremulous1 ,but in nerve shaken1 not in will1 to take ,his part4 ,saul's part was only to consent4 ,perhaps the eyes1 the beautiful sad eyes1 ,of ,rachel1 dark and liquid ever1 now ,unfathomably deep with unshed tears-- ,perhaps such eyes1 his sister's1 fixed on him1 ,he seeing not because he would not see1 ,wrought yet some holy spell that charmed him back ,insensibly from part more active there4 ,but his consent ,saul testified with sign ,open to all to see1 and understood4 ,he held the outer robes thrown off of those ,who1 disencumbered so1 might1 with main strength1 ,and aim made sure1 the better speed to fling ,at that meek heavenly man the murderous stone4 ,those witnesses malign who had forsworn ,stephen to this1 were first to cast at him ,the stone to slay4 ,there ,stephen stood1 his face1 ,his glory-smitten face1 upturned to heaven1 ,and his arms thither raised as if to meet ,the down-stretched arms of ,jesus from on high4 ,it was a sight both beautiful to see ,and piteous4 ,the angels might have wept1 ,who saw it1 but that they more deeply saw1 ,and saw the pity in the beauty lost1 ,like a few drops of water on a fire ,that only serve to feed the flames more bright4 ,at the first shower of stones at him with cry ,of self-exciting execration flung1 ,stephen1 with answering cry1 as if of one ,running to refuge and to sanctuary1 ,betook him to the covert of the ,wings ,that trembled with desire to be outstretched ,once over doomed ,jerusalem unfain1 ,and1 ,jesus1 ,lord1 receive my spirit6 said4 ,that his friends heard and echoing said ,amen6 ,but they the flying stones saw not1 nor saw ,alight the flying stones upon their friend2 ,for they too turned their faces upward all1 ,and1 gazing unimaginable depths ,beyond the seen1 beheld the glory there1 ,wherein the scandal and the mystery ,of visible things vanished1 like shadows plunged ,in the exceeding brightness of the sun1 ,or were transformed to make the glory more1 ,like discords conquered heightening harmony4 ,with the next flight of stones1 unwatched likewise1 ,stephen1 raised far above the fierce effect1 ,stinging or stunning1 of the cruel blows1 ,spoke heavenward once again1 not for himself ,petitioning now1 but pleading for his foes4 ,his foes already had prevailed to bring ,the martyr to his knees1 and1 on his knees1 ,with loud last voice from lips inviolate yet-- ,as if that angel chant at ,bethlehem ,still sounded1 ,peace on earth1 good will to men1 ,or that diviner tone from ,calvary1 ,forgive them1 for they know not what they do-- ,one ransomed pure and perfect human note ,threading the dissonant noise with melody-- ,he prayed1 ,lord ,jesus1 lay not ,thou this sin ,to their account4 ,therewith he fell asleep4 ,that holy prayer exhaled his breath away1 ,and on his breath exhaled to heaven in prayer ,his spirit thither aspired and was with ,christ4 ,as ,stephen fell asleep1 the sun went down2 ,but over ,olivet the great full moon ,rose brightening4 ',so1' thought ,stephen's friends of him1 ',his life has been extinguished to our eyes1 ,only elsewhere to shine1 but while we wait ,for the new day to dawn that lingers1 lo1 ,his memory instead shall give us light1 ,not splendid like the sun1 yet like the moon ,lovely6' ,thus comforting themselves1 they saw ,the murderers of their friend above his corse ,build roughly of the stones that smote him dead ,a kind of cairn in mockery of a tomb4 ,melted away meanwhile the multitude ,in silence1 and1 soon after1 all were gone ,save the true lovers of the man4 ,then these ,gathered together round the accursd spot1 ,now hallowed1 where he stood to suffer1 where ,he prayed1 and where he fell1 and whence he rose ,deathless1 leaving the sacred body there1 ,dead1 desolate of the spirit1 but still dear1 ,most dear to them4 ,and so1 with many tears ,fast falling that nigh blinded them1 they took ,from off the body1 one by one1 the stones-- ,almost as if they loved them1 with such care6-- ,until his face1 his fair disfeatured face1 ,and his form marred and broken1 open lay ,to the mild moon that seemed to sympathize1 ,and touched and softened all with healing beams4 ,let us bear hence the sacred clay1 they said1 ,and wash it from the pool of ,siloam4 ,then ,lazarus1 with three fellow-helpers more-- ,nathanael1 ,israelite indeed1 was there1 ,joseph of ,arimatha too had come1 ,later1 and ,nicodemus1 by nightfall1 ,these were the chosen four1 with ,lazarus-- ,making a litter of their robes1 took up ,the noble form that lately ,stephen wore1 ,and gently carried it to ,siloam4 ,with soft lustration there at loving hands1 ,the dust and blood were wholly washed away2 ,the hair and beard then decently arranged1 ,with skill that hid the wounds on cheek or brow1 ,the eyelids closed on eyes that saw no more1 ,the scarce cold palms folded upon the breast1 ,stephen it seemed indeed just fallen asleep4 ,then they were glad that ,ruth would see him so1 ,so peaceful and so beautiful asleep1 ,expecting soon to waken satisfied6 ,to-morrow will be time enough1 they said1 ,to tell ,ruth--let her sleep to-night4 ,but ,ruth ,slept not1 or if she slept1 slept but to dream ,of ,stephen and his last hands on her head4 ,under the balmy moon1 up ,olivet ,to ,bethany they bore the holy dust1 ,and there1 beneath the roof that sheltered oft ,the ,man who had not where to rest ,his head1 ,they laid the body down to dreamless sleep2 ,and slept themselves until the morrow morn4 ,,book ,,ix4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,rachel4 ,very early in the morning1 ,rachel1 charged with this office by ,stephen1 breaks to ,ruth the news of her husband's death4 ,the two then go together to the place where the body of ,stephen is laid4 ,there1 ,ruth1 kneeling in prayer beside her martyred husband1 repentantly accepts his ,lord for hers1 becoming a ,christian4 ,rachel1 having hastily visited her home1 to find ,saul gone thence with purpose not to return1 leaves the house in her maid's care and goes back to ,ruth1 to whom1 being requested to do so1 she tells the story of ,stephen's stoning4 ,then the funeral of ,stephen takes place1 with a memorial discourse pronounced1 and an elegy recited1 at the tomb4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,rachel4 ,the morrow morn broke fair in ,bethany1 ,and ,ruth rose early from unquiet sleep2 ,rachel likewise1 who slept in ,mary's house4 ,the sun had not yet risen1 but in the west ,the moon hung whitening opposite the dawn1 ,when ,ruth1 her children left asleep1 went forth ,to feel the freshness of the morning air ,without1 and water from the village well ,to draw1 both for the slaking of her thirst ,and for the cooling of her brow that burned ,and of her throbbing temples4 ,at the well ,rachel she met who earlier still was forth ,on the like errand4 ,the two women hailed ,and kissed each other4 ,ruth to ,rachel then ,said3 ,thou art not1 ,i trow1 this morning come ,hither the long way from ,jerusalem8 ,nay1 ,ruth1 said ,rachel1 here the yesternight ,with ,mary and ,martha ,i abode a guest4 ,how fresh the wind is1 ,ruth said1 hither blown ,from off the western sea6 ,us1 underneath ,the crest of ,olivet1 it lights upon ,descending1 broken1 like a breath from heaven4 ,what a delicious balm6 ,about my brow1 ,said ,rachel1 gratefully ,i feel the air1 ,attempered so1 soft flowing1 as if one ,that loved me like a mother gently stroked ,my temples to undo a band of pain ,bound round them4 ,and1 in sooth1 the other said1 ,now looking narrowly at ,rachel's face1 ,thou seemest sad of favor1 ,rachel4 ,thou1 ,thou too1 so young1 hast then thy cause to grieve6 ,it is a sad world and a weary4 ,but-- ,forgive me if such quick instinctive fears ,be selfish1 ,i am wife and mother--aught ,of evil tidings bringest thou me8 ,spare not ,to speak4 ,thou wilt but answer to the dreams ,i had this night1 portending nameless ill4 ,stephen--,i fear for him4 ,he yesterday ,left me beyond his wont oppressed in spirit1 ,and has not since returned4 ,strange--yet not strange2 ,sometimes the livelong night he spends in prayer ,alone upon the top of ,olivet ,or in the shadows of ,gethsemane4 ,ruth1 ,rachel said1 the ,angel of the ,lord ,round ,his belovd1 like the mountains round ,jerusalem1 encampeth ever2 he ,of ,god's belovd is1 and guarded well6 ,but ,ruth scarce listened2 she insisting said3 ,perhaps of ,stephen some report thou bringest1 ,hint doubtless of new danger threatening him6 ,nay1 ,ruth1 no longer danger threatens now ,thy husband2 that is past1 and he is safe4 ,thank ,god1 said ,ruth2 but stay1 ,i dare not yet ,thank ,god4 ,tell me1 have then our rulers ceased ,to frown on ,stephen preaching ,jesus ,christ8 ,or ,stephen1 will he cease and preach no more8 ,this cannot be1 for ,stephen is such stuff ,as never yet did bend to mortal beck2 ,and that--our rulers surely have not changed ,thus suddenly their mind4 ,thou art deceived1 ,they have deceived thee--,stephen is not safe2 ,it is their guile to make us think him safe1 ,he off his guard will fall an easier prey ,into their hands4 ,rachel1 it was not kind1 ,not faithful in thee so to be deceived4 ,more love had made thee more suspicious4 ,i ,suspect forever everybody2 thee ,now ,i suspect4 ,thou keepest something back1 ,or haply palterest with a double sense4 ,rachel1 ,i charge thee1 ,i adjure thee1 speak ,and tell me all4 ,stephen is dead6 ,say that-- ,is dead6 ,thou meantest that by1 ',he is safe4' ,they have stoned him1 stoned my husband1 stoned the man ,that was the truest ,hebrew of them all6 ,though by her words ,ruth challenged frank reply1 ,yet by her tones and by her eager looks ,she deprecated more what she invoked4 ,this ,rachel saw1 and answered not a word4 ,then ,ruth gainsaid what ,rachel would not say3 ,they have not done it1 could not do it1 he-- ,rachel1 it is not true1 unsay it1 quick1 ,it was a cruel jest to tease me so1 ,thou art not a wife1 thou art not a mother1 else ,thou never hadst conceived so ill a jest6 ,rachel was tortured1 but she could not speak1 ,and ,ruth1 secure in sense of respite yet1 ,went on invoking what she would not hear3 ,why art thou silent8 ,speak1 and keep not back ,the truth1 whatever it may be2 there's naught ,so soothing and so healing as the truth4 ,but ,i will not believe that he is dead4 ,thou didst not know my husband4 ,dead6 dead6 dead6 ,i tell thee1 ,rachel1 that is something past ,imagining dreadful1 hopeless4 ,to be dead ,is--not to love1 and not to speak to those ,who loved and love thee1 not to hear them speak1 ,saying they loved and love thee and lament ,they ever gave thee cause of grief and now ,are different and would die a thousand deaths ,to have been different then when thou couldst know-- ,death1 ,rachel1--but of death what canst thou learn1 ,for thou art but a child and never wast1 ,never1 to such a husband such a wife-- ,to vex the noblest heart that ever broke6 ,rachel at first had listened with dismay1 ,and nothing found to answer to ,ruth's words1 ,whose words indeed flowed on and made no pause ,for answer1 as if she in truest truth ,sought not the answer that she seemed to seek1 ,would fain postpone it rather1 or avert4 ,but when at length the utterance of ,ruth's thought ,from converse passed into soliloquy ,and the deep secret of her soul revealed1 ,then ,rachel caught a welcome gleam of hope4 ,a sign of grace she saw or seemed to see ,at work for ,ruth within her heart of grief1 ,transmuting human sorrow to divine ,repentance1 and for pain preparing peace4 ,let us go in together1 ,rachel said1 ,for they by this were nigh to ,ruth's abode1 ,let us go in where we may be withdrawn ,from note of such as here might mark our speech ,or action2 ,i have word from him to thee4 ,then they went in1 and ,ruth bestirred herself ,to make a cheer of welcome for her guest4 ,that momentary truce to troubled thought ,for ,ruth1 and interspace of quietness ,from her own words which could not choose but flow ,with helpless importunity till then1 ,gave ,rachel needed chance to speak4 ,she said3 ,o ,ruth1 thy husband fell asleep last night1 ,and slept a sweeter sleep than thine or mine1 ,a deep sweet sleep1 a happy sleep1 a blest4 ,thou wouldst not wake him thence for worlds on worlds4 ,he felt before he slept that he should sleep1 ,and me1 whom ,god our ,father let be nigh1 ,stephen bade bear a last good-night to thee4 ,he did not think the night was very long ,before him for his sleeping1 and his wish ,was thou shouldst meet him presently to say ,good-morning4 ,this was his true message1 ,ruth4 ,the ineffably serene steadfast regard ,of ,rachel's eyes1 that1 out of liquid depths ,unsounded1 looked angelic love and truth1 ,with pity mingled1 equal measure--tears ,orbing them large1 shot through and through with light ,of heavenly hope for ,ruth--but1 more than all ,a subtly sweet insinuating tone1 ,most musical1 of softness in the voice1 ,that gently wound into the listener's heart-- ,these1 with what else1 who knows8 of help from ,heaven1 ,wrought a bright miracle of change in ,ruth4 ,she had been hard and dry1 a desert rock2 ,the rock was smitten now with ,moses' rod4 ,ruth gushed in gracious tears1 she veiled herself ,with weeping1 as sometimes a precipice ,veils itself dim with mist of cataract4 ,and ,rachel wept with ,ruth1 until ,ruth said3 ,but where is ,stephen1 ,rachel8 ,it might be ,they1 meaning death1 yet did not compass death4 ,such things have been2 haste1 let us go and see4 ,monstrous it were1 if he should need me--,i ,the while here sitting weeping idle tears6 ,come1 ,rachel said1 and took her by the hand4 ,so hand in hand they went to ,mary's house1 ,the elder guided as the younger led1 ,and neither speaking1 stilled with solemn thought4 ,mary and ,martha met the twain1 with mute1 ,subdued1 affectionate greeting1 at the door1 ,and1 understanding without word their wish1 ,straight led them inward1 with a quietude ,of gesture that spoke peace and peace infused1 ,to the place where in quietude reposed ,that slumberer late so violently lulled ,to this so placid sleep4 ,the room was flushed ,with hue of gold in hangings round the walls ,and rugs of russet muffling deep the floor1 ,that made a kind of inner light diffused1 ,like sunshine without sun and shadowless4 ,a golden-curtained window opened east1 ,and east the upturned face of ,stephen looked1 ,lying there motionless in that fast sleep-- ,so lying that1 had he his eyelids raised1 ,he without moving might have seen the morn4 ,the rest1 with one accord not entering1 stood ,about the door without1 silent1 and saw ,while the wife sole went to the husband's side4 ,that instant1 lo1 from out the breaking dawn ,a level sunbeam through the curtain slipped ,and touched the fair translucent face with light4 ,ruth marked it and she testified and said1 ,falling upon her knees beside the couch3 ,i take it as a token1 ,lord1 from ,thee2 ,even so send ,thou ,thy light into my heart6 ,lo1 by the side of him made beautiful ,in death1 of whom ,i was unworthy1 here ,i give myself--alas1 that it should be ,too late for him to have known it6--to his ,lord4 ,i trust to be forgiven for my sin6 ,i thank ,thee that ,i was not weight enough ,upon him to prevail against ,thy might ,within him and prevent this sacrifice-- ,accomplished all without my help1 nay1 all ,in spite of my resistance6 ,o my ,god1 ,how hast ,thou humbled me6 ,to have had no part1 ,wife with her husband to have borne no part-- ,save hindering what she could6--when such a deed ,of martyrdom for ,christ was possible6 ,behold1 ,o ,lord1 thus late ,i take my part6 ,this now is also mine1 as well as his1 ,this sacrifice4 ,i have offered him to ,thee6 ,and if my share be heavier even than his-- ,to live bereaved more grievous martyrdom ,than to have died--this too is my desert1 ,accept the witness of my widowhood6 ,ruth ceased1 but rose not from her knees1 still fixed ,in posture as if grown a pillar of prayer4 ,then those three women came and knelt with her ,beside her dead1 a silent fellowship ,of sympathy in sacrifice2 but soon ,rachel and ,mary1 one on either side ,of ,ruth1 borne by the self-same impulse each1 ,each at the self-same instant borne1 unto ,the self-same beautiful appeal1 pure love's ,pure touch1 stole softly each a hand in hers4 ,each plighting hand so proffered ,ruth upraised ,slowly and solemnly as with a kind ,of consecrating gesture to her lips1 ,and kissing seemed to seal a sacrament4 ,then she arose1 and all arose with her1 ,when ,martha1 not forgotten1 likewise shared1 ,she too1 with ,ruth the kiss of sisterhood4 ,so1 never a word between them spoken1 all ,went backward and withdrew1 ,ruth last1 who saw ,that sunshine glorifying ,stephen's brow1 ,and bore it thence1 ,shekinah in her heart4 ,her countenance thus illumined from within1 ,the mother to her orphan children went1 ,and moved1 a light1 about her household ways4 ,she knew that others would with holy heed ,prepare that holy dust for burial4 ,but ,rachel was more comfortless than ,ruth4 ,rest in her spirit found she none--until1 ,first having broken fast1 but sparingly1 ,she hastened with winged footsteps to her home4 ,there her maid told her ,saul went early forth ,leaving this message for his sister3 ,here ,bide1 if thou wilt2 this house be still thy home4 ,but ,i go hence1 whither ,i cannot tell1 ,nor yet for how long absence2 to what end-- ,thou knowest4 ,cheer thee well6 ,the little maid ,looked rueful and perplexed1 but nothing asked1 ,as nothing ,rachel told her1 save to say3 ,quick1 bring thine elder sister1 thou and she ,shall keep the house together for a time4 ,i also go1 my little maid--wherewith ,her little maid1 now weeping1 ,rachel kissed-- ,i also go1 but weep not1 ,i shall come ,again1 ,i trust1 in happier times4 ,farewell6 ,then ,rachel straight to ,ruth's abode returned4 ,glad am ,i thou hast come once more1 said ,ruth1 ,for ,i have wished to ask thee many things4 ,how came his dreadful chance of martyrdom ,on ,stephen8 ,i can bear to hear it all1 ,since all is done and past and--',he is safe1' ,as thou saidst1 ,rachel6 ,tenderly ,ruth smiled1 ,with tears behind her smiles that did not fall4 ,then ,rachel said3 ,i cannot tell thee all ,as having all beheld1 but this ,i heard1 ,that ,stephen gave a noble testimony ,before the council who had cited him2 ,that there his face shone like an angel's1 ,god ,himself so swearing for ,his servant1 while ,against him swore false witnesses suborned ,by ,shimei2 that his enemies could not bear ,the fierceness of the love with which in wrath ,he burned for ,god against their wickedness1 ,and so they rushed upon him violently ,and thrust him forth without the city walls4 ,but ,god beheld their threatening1 and ,he sent ,his ,romans to withstand them for a while4 ,then we that loved and honored him drew nigh1 ,and would have spoken words of cheer to him1 ,but he--,o ,ruth1 thou shouldst have seen him then6 ,i never can describe to thee how fair ,thy husband was to look upon1 while he1 ,as steadfast as a star and as serene1 ,and not less lovely-luminous to our eyes1 ,stood there amid the angry ,sanhedrim ,and to us spake such heavenly words of cheer6 ,he spake of thee1 ,ruth1 and ,i think ,god gave ,his spirit comfort in good hope for thee4 ,for1 ',god will give all to our prayers1' said he1 ,and added1 ',husband ,he will be to her1 ,and ,father to the fatherless4' ,thereat ,ruth's tears as from a fresh-oped fountain flowed1 ,and eased her aching heart1 too full before ,of love1 remorseful love1 for perfect peace4 ,rachel with ,ruth wept tears of sympathy2 ,but with the sweet and wholesome in her tears ,mixed salt and bitter1 for she thought of ,saul4 ,ruth at length ceased to weep and yearning said3 ,and then those ,romans let them work their will6 ,on ,stephen's body1 yea1 ,ruth1 ,rachel said1 ,but on his spirit they could have no power4 ,the stones1 said ,ruth-- ,the stones1 ,ruth1 ,rachel said1 ,god gave ,his angels charge concerning them-- ,so verily ,i believe--and strictly bade1 ',lo1 let these slay1 but see ye that they do ,no harm unto ,my prophet4' ,so the stones1 ,they slew1 but hurt not4 ,god translated him2 ,he rose triumphant in meek majesty4 ,i should have told thee1 ,ruth1 that while he stood ,before the council1 he looked up and saw ,jesus in heaven on the right hand of ,god-- ,there standing2 this he testified to all4 ,it was as if his faithful ,lord had risen ,to side with ,stephen in his agony4 ,so1 when they stoned him1 ,stephen upward spoke1 ',lord ,jesus1 take my spirit'2 then once more1 ',lord1 lay not ,thou this sin unto their charge4' ,this he said kneeling and so fell asleep4 ,the two some space sat musing silently2 ,then ,ruth3 ,i feel that thou hast told me all ,most truly1 ,rachel1 as most tenderly4 ,thus1 then1 ,god giveth ,his belovd sleep1 ,thus also6 ,and ,he doeth all things well6 ,amen6 ,silence once more1 that seemed surcharged ,with deepening inarticulate amen ,from both1 and ,ruth1 regarding ,rachel1 said3 ,even so6 ,but1 ,rachel1 us not yet doth ,god ,will thus to sleep4 ,still1 otherwise to sleep-- ,for ,his belovd are not also we8-- ,may be ,god's gift to us4 ,thou surely needest1 ,body and spirit1 rest4 ,and ,rachel said3 ,the words of ,stephen leap unto my lips ,for answering thee2 and these were ,stephen's words3 ',god bless thee1 ,martha1 for thy loving thought6' ,and this makes me remember that one thing ,done yesterday ,i missed to tell thee of4 ,for ,martha1 faithful heart1 forecasting well1 ,brought food for ,stephen that might hearten him ,to bear whatever he had need to bear1 ,a cake of barley and a honeycomb4 ',god bless thee1 ,martha1 for thy loving thought6' ,said ,stephen1 and so took the food from her1 ,and ate it giving thanks before us all4 ,he ate it with such look of appetite1 ,it cheered us with a sense of freedom his ,from any discomposure of the mind4 ,o ,ruth1 in ,his pavilion ,god did hide ,thy husband1 and his soul had perfect peace6 ,was it not done like ,martha8 ,ruth replied2 ,and done like ,stephen too4 ,for courtesy ,bloomed like a flower to grace his daily life4 ,i used to wonder at it--and ,i now ,wonder ,i did not see where such a flower1 ,where1 and where only1 such a flower could find ,rooting to flourish in a world like this6 ,he always told me that the heart of ,christ ,nourished what good in him1 or beautiful1 ,i found--or fancied1 as he smiled and said4 ,but ,i--,oh1 holden heart6--,i did not see4 ,and now it is too late1 too late1 for him ,to have known6 ,it may be that he knows it1 yea1 ,but now to know it is not wholly such ,as to have known it then1 to have known it then6 ,alas1 there is not any chance of hope ,behind us1 ,rachel2 hope is all before4 ,let us look onward2 we in hope were saved1 ,so ,stephen used to say1 and1 ',i go hence ,in comfort of some hope1' were his last words1 ,or of his last1 to me--concerning me1 ,spoken with a sad cheerfulness that now ,breaks me with such a surge of memory6 ,but this is endless1 let it here have end4 ,come1 ,rachel1 see1 the sun rides high1 come thou1 ,and ,i will bring thee to a quiet room1 ,safe from the sun1 where thou shalt rest a while4 ,so ,rachel followed ,ruth1 not ill content ,to be alone for thought if not for sleep4 ,her will was not to sleep2 but weariness1 ,with youth and health1 was stronger1 and she slept4 ,already1 when she woke1 the sun halfway ,from his high noon had down the western slope ,of sky descended1 and she hearkening heard ,a rumorous noise without upon the ways1 ,the stir of movement1 steps of many feet1 ,with sound1 muffled1 of many voices nigh1 ,that startled her from sweet forgetfulness ,to sudden sad remembrance of the things ,that had been1 and that were1 and were to be4 ,instinctive up she sprang1 for1 ,lo1 she said1 ,they gather unto ,stephen's funeral2 ,behooves that ,i be ready with all speed4 ,therewith upon her knees she sank and prayed ,a prayer for ,ruth and for ,ruth's little ones1 ,widowed and orphaned by so dear a death1 ,and for herself--and for her brother ,saul6 ,then her heart swelled to a capacious wish1 ,and1 anguished in one swift vicarious throe ,of great desire for help and grace divine1 ,she embraced the total church of ,jesus ,christ-- ,of such a guide1 of such a stay1 bereaved6 ,then ,rachel1 with the ,everlasting ,arms ,invisibly1 nigh visibly1 around ,her to sustain her steps1 came forth1 as one ,that meekly walks leaning on her beloved1 ,and begged of ,ruth that she might sister be ,to her1 that day1 and thenceforth ever1 mourn ,as sister with her in the eyes of all4 ,for ,i am lonely1 ,rachel said1 ,o ,ruth1 ,as thou art2 lonely let us be1 we twain1 ,together1 widows both1 and mix our tears4 ,for also ,i am widow1 as thou art1 ,yet not as thou--since me a heavier stroke ,makes widow1 who have never been a wife6 ,ruth answered1 though she did not understand1 ,and kissed her friend in plight of sisterhood4 ,so they two1 clad alike from out ,ruth's store ,of raiment1 clad in sad attire alike1 ,as sisters walked together side by side-- ,ruth's children with them1 grieved1 not knowing why-- ,to where1 from ,mary's house and ,martha's borne1 ,with grievous lamentation1 by good men ,devout1 the flower and choice of ,israel1 ,was laid the sacred dust of ,stephen down ,and sealed within a rock-hewn sepulchre4 ,joseph of ,arimatha1 he who sought ,and gained from ,pilate leave to take away ,the body of ,jesus crucified1 had sent ,to ,bethany1 betimes1 before the hour ,of burial1 rich spices1 a great weight1 ,aloes and myrrh1 with linen pure and fine1 ,to wrap the body of ,stephen for his tomb4 ,mary1 the mother of the ,lord1 with ,john ,beloved of ,jesus1 loving her as son1 ,came to that feast of sorrow bringing tears1 ,to ,ruth medicinal more than any1 wept ,by one who had so learned to weep4 ,so there ,with sackcloth worn and ashes on the head1 ,they wailed aloud1 that ,hebrew company1 ,women and men1 they beat the breast1 they rent ,their raiment1 until one stood forth who said3 ,enough already has to grief been given4 ,us it befits not here1 for ,stephen dead1 ,to mourn as mourn others who have no hope4 ,he was a burning and a shining light1 ,and we a season in his beams were glad4 ,glory to ,god who kindled him for us6 ,glory to ,god who hath from us withdrawn ,his shining1 and now hides him in ,himself6 ,we thought we could not spare him1 but ,god knew4 ,let all be as ,god wills ,who knows4 ,amen6 ,amen6 they solemnly responded all1 ,and he who spake these things went on and said3 ,the ,lord anointed ,stephen with the oil ,of gladness in the gift of speech above ,his fellows4 ,how he flamed insufferably1 ,in words that leapt out of his mouth1 like swords ,out of their sheaths1 enkindled to devour ,the wicked6 ,when he spoke1 flew seraphim ,and bore from off the altar living coals ,of ,god which1 laid upon his lips1 purged them ,to utter those pure words that purified4 ,what zeal1 what wisdom1 what fixed faith1 what power6 ,he stood our bulwark1 he advanced our sword1 ,and single seemed an insupportable host4 ,yet this puissant soldier of the truth1 ,to disobedience so implacable1 ,how gentle and how placable he was ,to all obedience6 ,he was like his ,lord1 ,that ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 named ,also the ,lamb of ,god4 ,no words had he ,save words of vivid flame1 sudden and swift ,and deadly like the lightning1 for ,god's foes2 ,but for the little flock of ,jesus1 balm ,his speech--into those lips such grace was poured6 ,nor less in him for mighty work than word ,the ,holy ,ghost a fountain was of power4 ,from him or through him what a plenteous stream ,flowed like the river of ,god in miracle6 ,signs1 wonders1 gifts of healing1 heavenly powers1 ,innumerable flocked about his hand1 ,like doves unto their windows flying home1 ,waiting there eager to perform his will4 ,a prophet of the elder time1 reborn ,into the spirit of this latter age1 ,was ,stephen4 ,thanking ,god for him1 let us ,together and steadfastly pray that ,he ,who made the great ,elijah live again ,in ,john the ,baptist1 give us ,stephen back ,in resurrection from his tomb with power4 ,thus shall we pray as himself prophesied-- ,for ,stephen1 you remember1 glanced at this ,in prophecy2 unless not prophecy ,it were1 but only generous hope1 with wish ,to comfort ,rachel1 when he spake to her ,of grace to come upon her brother yet-- ,we shall so seek what seems it he foresaw1 ,if we ask ,jesus to make captive ,saul6 ,that speaker ceased1 and then a prophetess ,among the women there took up a wail1 ,which triumphed into gladness as it grew3 ,is fallen1 is fallen1 a prince in ,israel6 ,woe1 while it yet was day1 his sun went down6 ,daughters of ,judah1 mourn for ,stephen slain6 ,mourn for a candle of the ,lord put out1 ,a torch of noble witness quenched in blood2 ,wear sackcloth of thick darkness and bewail6 ,repent1 ,o daughters of ,jerusalem1 ,repent1 forsake your wickedness of woe2 ,look up1 look up1 the quenched torch burns a star6 ,is risen1 is risen2 behold1 at the right hand ,on high sits he of his ascended ,lord2 ,rejoice1 rejoice1 for ,stephen could not die6 ,comfort ye ,ruth2 thrice among women she ,lives blessd1 who1 from wife to him1 became1 ,widowed1 partaker of his martyrdom6 ,hosanna to the ,son of ,david1 ,who1 ,beheld of ,stephen standing in the heavens1 ,received ,his servant's spirit to ,himself6 ,the ,resurrection and the ,life is ,he2 ,he will not leave this body in its tomb2 ,stephen and we shall meet ,him in the air4 ,descending with the sound that wakes the dead1 ,ten thousand of ,his saints attending ,him1 ,he comes6 ,he comes6 ,even so1 ,lord ,jesus1 come6 ,salvation1 worship1 blessing1 glory1 power1 ,forever and forever unto ,god1 ,our ,god2 ,he never will forsake ,his own4 ,uplifted high in heart1 they went away4 ,,book ,x4 ,,saul ,,at ,,bethany4 ,at the funeral service for ,stephen1 ,shimei was a skulking attendant4 ,he catches at a mention there overheard by him of the name of ,saul in connection with that of ,stephen1 to plot an instigated persecuting visit on ,saul's part to ,bethany2 ,shimei hoping that ,saul will thus encounter his own sister identified as a ,christian4 ,saul takes a band of men and makes the visit4 ,he finds his intended victims all together at the house of ,ruth condoling with her--,rachel indeed among them4 ,after sharp inward conflict1 and much effort put forth without success to make his victims abjure their faith1 ,saul finally takes them to prison4 ,but ,rachel1 she vainly entreating to share her companions' fate1 he leaves behind4 ,she takes upon herself the charge of ,ruth's children in their own home1 where ,saul1 month after month1 secretly sends to her supply of every need4 ,,saul ,,at ,,bethany4 ,among the sons of ,god1 when these one day ,came to present themselves before the ,lord1 ,satan came also2 and so ,shimei1 ,amid the throng that mourned at ,stephen's death1 ,intruded4 ,with smooth face of sanctimony1 ,skulking to be unseen or heeded not1 ,he hovered furtive on the outer edge ,of audience1 when those words of praise were said ,to hearten--eye and ear alert to mark ,all that befell4 ,his thought was1 ',here perhaps ,i shall learn something to the true behoof ,and profit of our cause--right aim secure ,for the next blow of vengeance to be struck4' ,the name of ,saul mysteriously conjoined ,with ,rachel's1 in abhorrent prophecy ,as seemed--this1 ,shimei caught at eagerly ,and said1 ',aha6' ,then1 as the throng dispersed ,all to their several homes1 straight ,shimei ,went to seek ,saul4 ,him found that spy malign ,with the chief priests in council1 plotting deep ,to hunt the sect of ,jesus to the death4 ,these had armed ,saul with writ and warrant sealed ,empowering him to enter where he would1 ,house after house1 and whomsoever found1 ,man be it or woman1 guilty of belief ,in ,jesus as ,messiah1 such to seize ,and drag to prison4 ,instantly conceived ,shimei a subtle snare to enmesh the feet ,of ,saul4 ,the proud young zealot ,pharisee ,should be set on to visit first in search ,those homes of ,bethany2 where1 unadvised ,perhaps1 so ,shimei guessed1 the brother might1 ,to his dismay1 find his own sister one ,with the disciples of the ,nazarene4 ,then to make prisoner his own flesh and blood1 ,or openly spare ,rachel for kin's sake-- ,this1 scandal against scandal doubtful weighed1 ,would be the hard alternative to ,saul4 ,belovd brother ,saul1 so ,shimei spoke1 ,i mourned at ,stephen's funeral to-day4 ,not loud1 you know1 but deep1 my mourning was2 ,not loud1 for ,i am modest1 and my wish ,was less to be seen than to see2 but deep1 ,for there was cause1 to one that loved you1 ,saul1 ,to be sincerely sad on your behalf4 ,incredible it seems1 they spoke your name1 ,not1 as might honor it1 with hate and dread1 ,but very ambiguously1 to say the least4 ,in fact1 ,i fear you may be compromised1 ,unless you take prompt measures in the matter4 ,hark you1 a certain orator stood up ,who1 after praising ,stephen to his worth1 ,distinctly hinted ,saul was looked upon ,as hopeful future pervert to their cause ,predestined to fill ,stephen's vacant room4 ,the fellow founded on some prophecy ,which1 as ,i gathered1 ,stephen had put forth4 ,now this preposterous notion1 with such folk1 ,is far more like to prosper1 and thus be ,noised undesirably1 than you might guess1 ,as a report injurious to your name4 ,you will be tainted with disloyalty1 ,in general esteem--to our great loss4 ,what ,i propose is that you strike a stroke ,so sudden and so ringing and so aimed ,as shall decisively and neatly nip ,this precious piece of prophecy in the bud1 ,and put you out of reach of calumny4 ,you have your warrant and commission2 good1 ,use them at once1 sleep not upon them2 now1 ,this very night--for domiciliary work ,like what you purpose1 night is the best time1 ,birds to their nests1 you know1 at night come home-- ,this very night1 take you a trusty band ,and make a bold foray at ,bethany4 ,there ,stephen lived1 and there a hotbed yet ,thrives of this pestilent heresy4 ,no place ,fitter than the abode and vicinage ,of your late overmatch in controversy ,to make first theatre of the exploits ,you aim at in this different field--field where1 ,with odds so in your favor1 you should win4 ,easier far1 given the right support1 to drag ,to dungeon and to death a hundred men ,or praying women1 all as tame as sheep1 ,than one impracticable fellow like ,that ,stephen manage in fair controversy6 ,you have my best kind hopes and all good men's4 ,ask for the house that harbored ,stephen's corpse ,and whence the funeral issued--quarry there ,you cannot fail to find4 ,the widow too ,of ,stephen1 ,i watched her1 and what ,i saw ,makes me misdoubt her ,hebrew orthodoxy4 ,sound her--an ounce of thorough work done now1 ,unquestionably thorough1 will be worth ,a hundred weight of paltering by and by4 ,despise the fear that now and then a man ,may call you cruel2 the worst cruelty1 ,as you and ,i well know1 is ill-timed softness4 ,this thing must be stamped out2 it is a plague1 ,it creeps from house to house1 no house is safe4 ,your house1 ,saul1 mine--that sister fair of yours1 ,yes1 treat the thought with scorn1 but some fine day1 ,why not8 ,saul wakes to find his sister lost4 ,how far unconsciously1 ,saul could not guess1 ,but ,shimei1 in that last home thrust of his1 ,either by pure fortuity1 or else ,with malice the most exquisitely wise1 ,had hit the quivering quick of ,saul's sore pride4 ,saul winced visibly1 and ,shimei1 satisfied1 ,left him alone the prey of his own thoughts4 ,saul's thoughts were visions rather2 first1 he saw ,his sister as in that farewell with her ,bowed beautiful beneath a brother's scorn1 ,like a meek flower broken with tempest2 then1 ,stephen he saw1 his face with ,god in him ,afire1 before the council2 next1 that face ,toward heaven upturned1 he1 far within the veil ,agaze1 beholding there the glory of ,god2 ,once more1 the martyr lifting holy hands ,on high1 with his last breath praying for those ,that slew him1 praying also then for ,saul6 ,rachel the while--she rather felt than seen-- ,with tears that did not gather1 but that made ,her deep eyes deeper than the soundless sea1 ,looking at him4 ,swift then the vision changed1 ,and he saw ,stephen in the temple court ,turn suddenly round on ,saul his blinding face ,to threaten him with promise that1 one day1 ,he1 ,saul himself1 should grovel in the dust ,before the feet of ,jesus crucified6 ,those visions were as when the lightning-flash1 ,by night1 fast following lightning-flash1 reveals1 ,one instant and no more1 the world1 but prints ,its image on the eye intensely bright4 ,the final vision wrought a fierce revolt ,in ,saul from that relenting which1 before1 ,the earlier visions almost made him feel4 ,as with a mortal gripe1 his vise-like will ,clutched at his heart and held it fast and hard4 ,scorning to be diverted from his path ,because1 forsooth1 the meddling ,shimei ,pointed it out to him offensively1 ,saul moved at once to go to ,bethany4 ,seven servitors he chose1 strong men whom use ,had1 hand and heart1 seasoned to such employ-- ,with these a guide--and started on his way4 ,again the moon shone1 as the yesternight1 ,and flooded heaven and earth with glory mild4 ,but her mild glory now was a rebuke ,to human passion1 not a balm to pain4 ,with swords and staves armed1 as that night came they ,who looked for ,jesus in ,gethsemane-- ,the needless lamps and torches in their hands ,with flare and smoke affronting the moonlight-- ,they marched1 those seven1 following the guide with ,saul4 ,at first these chattered lightly as they walked1 ,but soon the stern1 stark1 wordless mood of ,saul1 ,and his grim purpose in his pace expressed1 ,urgent and swift1 taxing their utmost strength ,to follow and not fall behind1 quite quelled ,the social spirit in all1 and on all went ,in sullen silence like their chief4 ,like him1 ,insensibly each moment more and more1 ,while thought and feeling they shut strictly up ,within them from all vent in speech1 they these ,changed to brute instinct of vindictiveness2 ,insensibly1 like him1 with every step ,of vehement ongoing1 vehement ,propulsion gathered they in mind and will ,to reach and grapple with their task4 ,so on ,and up with speed they pressed toward ,bethany4 ,at ,bethany1 meanwhile1 the flock in fold ,abode the coming of those prowler wolves-- ,unweeting1 in sad sense of safety lulled4 ,the sisters1 with the brother ,lazarus1 ,had to ,ruth's house at eve repaired2 they there ,with ,rachel sat together1 in the court ,under the open sky1 and spake with ,ruth1 ,or spake for ,ruth to hear1 comforting her4 ',i am the ,resurrection and the ,life'-- ,thus ,martha--how the very words to me ,were spirit of life1 were resurrection power1 ,so spoken1 from such lips1 at such a time1 ,when ,lazarus lay sleeping in that swoon ,which we call death6 ,i did not need to wait ,until my brother should indeed again ,arise1 obedient1 at ,his word1 to feel ,the utterer of that saying was the ,christ4 ,but when ,he wept1 when ,jesus with us wept1 ,said ,mary1 ,i felt solace in ,his tears ,such that almost ,i would have always grieved1 ,to be always so comforted4 ,a pause1 ,then eyes on ,lazarus turned1 and he3 ,from where ,i was--but where ,i was1 although ,i seem ,well to remember1 yet could not ,i tell ,in any words1 or show by any signs1 ,however ,i might try--,i heard ,his voice ,say1 ',lazarus1 come forth4' ,those round me heard1 ,i thought they heard1 with me1 that potent voice1 ,and they were not surprised1 as was not ,i1 ,seeming to know it and to understand4 ,that voice goes everywhere and is obeyed1 ,to all the perfect law of liberty1 ,and ,i obeyed as naturally as ,i breathe2 ,and ,i am here1 in witness of ,his power1 ,whose power is universal through all worlds4 ,his power is great1 said ,ruth1 and wide ,his sway1 ,yet seems ,his grace the sovereign of ,his power4 ,yea1 ,rachel said1 for doth not power in ,him ,bend to the yoke and service of ,his grace8 ,we easily err1 said ,lazarus1 seeking here ,to comprehend the incomprehensible4 ,all difference is in us1 for all in ,him ,one and the same is2 power is grace and grace ,is power1 in ,him1 nay1 power and grace is ,he4 ,and ,he is ours and we are ,his1 and one ,are we with ,him and in ,him one likewise ,each with the other1 all4 ,how blest6 they said1 ,and the whole family in heaven and earth ,are one1 and ,stephen is with us or we ,with him1 and heaven is here or here is heaven6 ,a little while in silence and deep muse1 ,and1 by the ,holy ,spirit1 fellowship ,with the ,almighty ,father and ,his ,son4 ,then1 ,lo1 let us join hands1 they said1 and sing ,that psalm which breathes of unity like this4 ,with braided tones1 in unison they sang3 ',behold1 how good it is for brethren here1 ',how pleasant1 thus in unity to dwell ',together6 ,it is like that costly chrism ',upon the head which overflowing ran ',down ,aaron's beard and down his garment's folds1 ',abundant as the dew of ,hermon drops1 ',distilled1 upon the heights of ,sion where ',jehovah fixed the blessing1 life1 even life ',forevermore4' ,a sweet strain and a rich1 ,said ,lazarus2 ,david touched it to his harp1 ,taught by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,nevertheless1 ,something it lacks to fill the measure up ,to that deep sense of oneness which we feel ,in ,jesus1 since ,he came1 since ,jesus came ,and spake1 then went1 but came again1 in us ,forever to abide4 ,cannot we sing ,some words of ,his1 as tunable1 more deep8 ,such words ,he spake in a celestial rhythm ,that night before ,he sought ,gethsemane4 ,they sat as in the ,holy of holies with ,him1 ,and ,john leaned on ,his bosom where ,he sat4 ,i have heard ,john rehearse the heavenly words ,until at length ,i too have them by heart4 ,then ,lazarus gave them sentences1 which all ,chanted in simple measure low and sweet3 ',let not your heart be troubled1 ye believe ',in ,god1 also in ,me believe4 ,within ',my ,father's house there many mansions are4 ',i should have told you1 had it not been so1 ',because ,i go to fit a place for you4 ',and if ,i go and fit for you a place1 ',i shall return and take you to ,myself1 ',that where ,i am there ye may also be4' ,was it a premonition1 or did grief ,surge up through peace and joy to claim its own8 ,said ,lazarus3 ,yet ,he told us1 ',in the world ,ye will have tribulation1 though in ,me ,ye shall have peace4' ,with tribulation1 peace6 ,his closing words they took from ,lazarus' lips1 ,with tribulation1 peace6 and of them made ,a musical refrain half sad1 half glad1 ,or wholly glad in sadness1 which they sang4 ,when ever were there cadences more sweet1 ,more sweet or more pathetic8 ,thrice sang they ,those words together2 but1 at the fourth time1 ,just in that breath between the rise and fall1 ,before from 'tribulation' they touched 'peace'-- ,a shock as of a mace struck on the door1 ,which yielded1 and abrupt there strode in--,saul6 ,saul was alone2 his men he left without4 ,the band had first the sisters' dwelling sought1 ,to find the inmates gone--fled1 as ,saul guessed4 ,without delay1 they came to ,ruth's abode1 ,fiercer from disappointment ,saul4 ,but though ,ruthless he came1 he now1 arrested there1 ,ruthful a moment stood at gaze4 ,he saw ,four women and one man in simple sort ,sitting together in communion still4 ,they did not look like culprits1 nay1 a light ,purer than purest moonlight seemed to shine ,from out their faces underneath the moon4 ,it was a feast of comfort that they kept1 ,those four1 with ,ruth the widowed--this ,saul saw1 ,and his heart thawed to pity and sheer shame4 ,he would have turned and left them1 but--his men ,without6 ,the chief priests and the ,sanhedrim6 ,and ,shimei6 ,and ,saul1 with all ,saul owed ,to ,saul's fair fame1 his conscience1 and his ,god6 ,this all was in an instant1 while he yet ,only the group and not the persons saw ,who made the group1 and so before he knew ,his sister in her sombre different garb ,disguised and in the half light of the moon4 ,as ,rachel now he fully recognized1 ,dismay almost unmanned him once again4 ,then anger to dismay succeeding made ,his brother's heart in him against her burn ,the hotter that it was a brother's heart4 ,speechless he hung1 because he could not speak ,for anger2 but when she1 adventuring1 drew ,near him and said1 ,brother1 ,i pray thee let ,me speak with thee apart a moment1 then ,the vials of his speech he broke on her3 ',brother'6 ,thou shalt not 'brother' me4 ,thou hast ,no brother more1 no sister ,i4 ,once1 yea-- ,but that is long ago1 and she is dead1 ,my sister1 and in her name will ,i hear ,no woman speak henceforth4 ,thou hast missed thy mark ,in that appeal4 ,better hadst thou bode dumb4 ,go1 woman6 ,thither6 ,sit thee with thine own6 ,saul1 with his finger pointing to her seat1 ,just left1 in added scorn1 spurned her from him4 ,then ,lazarus spoke3 ,with me do what thou wilt2 ,but these are women1 let me stand for them4 ,stand for thyself1 said ,saul1 and answer me4 ,thou art called ,lazarus1 ,i trow8 ,thou hast said1 ,lazarus replied4 ,well1 friend1 with thee1 said ,saul1 ,i have to speak4 ,disciple art thou1 then1 ,of ,jesus ,nazarene1 late crucified8 ,of ,jesus1 full confessing1 ,lazarus said1 ,of ,jesus1 whom1 not knowing what they did1 ,men crucified1 but whom ,god glorified1 ,raising ,him from the dead and seating ,him ,at the right hand of glory in the heavens-- ,of ,him ,i am disciple4 ,bless ,his name6 ,thou art young to utter blasphemy1 said ,saul2 ,sure unadvisedly thou hast spoken this4 ,unsay it instantly1 and swear it false1 ,or1 by the warrant of the ,sanhedrim1 ,thou goest with me to prison1 perhaps to death1 ,the way of ,stephen and all heretics6 ,thou speakest idly1 ,lazarus said to ,saul2 ,prison and death no terrors have for me4 ,the ,lord ,i serve is ,lord of life and death4 ,yea1 ,i have heard1 said ,saul to ,lazarus1 ,thou boastest to have been from death itself ,called back to life by whom thou namest ,christ4 ,let him1 once more1 call thee from out the tomb ,to which ,i shall consign thee--if he can4 ,saul then perhaps will his disciple be6 ,poor fool1 fanatic1 what shall ,i call thee8 ,persist not in this folly4 ,be a ,jew1 ,a ,jew indeed1 nor fling thy life away4 ,anathema be ,jesus6' say but that1 ,thou1 ,lazarus1 and all the rest1 with thee1 ,and ,i go hence taking the sword away1 ,the sword of just authority1 undrawn1 ,asleep within its scabbard1 ye all safe1 ,all ,jews indeed1 and ,i given back again ,a sister1 ,rachel mine1 won from the dead6 ',anathema be ,jesus6' say those words4 ,saul ceased1 awaiting what those five would do4 ,they did not look at one another2 all1 ,as with one will to all--their eyes upraised1 ,and their hands clasped in ecstasy of awe-- ,together ,alleluia ,jesus6 said4 ,on ,saul a power like lightning fallen from heaven ,fell1 at that adoration from their lips4 ,a moment he stood stupefied1 and then1 ,with a great wrench of scornful will1 he freed ,himself and summoned his retainers in4 ,these entered rudely1 but abashed they hung1 ,and wondering saw their master half abashed1 ,before that little company clothed on ,with virtue like a dreadful panoply4 ,half with the air of one subdued1 or one ,feeling he acts by sufferance not by power1 ,saul bids bind all--save ,rachel--and forthwith ,lead them to prison4 ,also me1 bind me1 ,so ,rachel to the men said eagerly1 ,and offered her fair wrists4 ,they looked at ,saul1 ,but ,saul vouchsafed to them nor word nor sign4 ,still1 ',no1' they gathered from that cold aspect ,in him which seemed to say1 ',that which ,i bid1 ,do1 further1 naught4' ,rachel to ,saul himself ,beseechingly then turned and said3 ,o ,saul1 ,full well ,i know thou doest this1 constrained ,by conscience4 ,then by conscience be constrained ,to let thy men bind also me1 who am ,as guilty as these are and with them should share ,one lot4 ,i did not come here to be taught ,my duty1 ,saul said1 least of all by thee4 ,and least of all from thee will ,i abide ,to be adjured as by my conscience4 ,once ,i had a sister1 she was conscience to me1 ,but1 as ,i told thee1 that was long ago1 ,and she is dead1 my sister6 ,sadness mixed1 ,unmeant1 resisted1 irresistible1 ,with ,saul's enforced hardheartedness1 which broke ,his tone to pathos1 and1 despite himself ,with those last words he burst in tears4 ,he shook ,in shudders of strong agony1 while all ,wondered1 but ,rachel did not wonder1 she ,knew far too well her brother1 far too well ,knew their joint past1 the two pasts they had had ,together1 long and happy one1 and one ,so brief1 so bitter1--and she pitied ,saul4 ,she pitied him1 but strongly did not weep-- ,though afterward1 alone1 remembering1 ,she wept as if her eyes were fountains of tears-- ,with him now ,rachel would not weep1 for she ,knew far too well her brother1 that he scorned ,himself for weeping those hot tears1 and would ,be vexed to see tears wept in sympathy ,as if with will he let his mood relent4 ,so ,rachel held her pity hard shut up ,within her heart1 which ached the more denied ,its wished-for vent in tears1 and ,saul soon curbed ,his passion and in other passion veiled4 ,haste1 there6 he said1 sharp turning on his men1 ,the night flies1 while ye loiter4 ,now the men ,already had bound ,lazarus4 ,he1 ere yet ,the shameful needless bonds upon the wrists ,of those four gentle women were made fast1 ,said3 ,saul1 what evil have these women done ,that they deserve roughness like this8 ,i go ,willingly with thee1 albeit innocent1 ,for ,i a man am and can well endure ,bonds1 stripes1 dungeon1 or death1 having such hope ,within me as makes all afflictions light1 ,whatever they may be1 compared with that ,eternal weight of glory nigh at hand4 ,like hope have also these1 and they will bear1 ,doubtless1 supported1 whatsoever ill ,unmerited thou choosest to inflict4 ,but wilt thou choose to inflict indignity ,and pain on such as these8 ,i do not choose1 ,said ,saul2 ,i without choosing do1 not what ,i would1 but what ,i must4 ,i too wear chains1 ,am bond of conscience1 heavier chains wear ,i ,than these light manacles that bind the hands ,but leave the heart free and one's will one's own4 ,chained am ,i and driven4 ,conscience drives me on1 ,both will and heart in me under the lash ,cower1 and ,i here as but a galley-slave ,do what my conscience bids1 joyless1 and fierce ,from lack of joy1 more miserable far1 ,binding1 than ye are bound1 with your fool's joy ,of windy hope6 ,for me1 ,i only know ,that1 in whatever way1 this thing accursed1 ,this craze to think that man the ,christ1 must be ,curbed1 checked1 stopped1 crushed1 brought to an utter end1 ,forever4 ,all the future of our race ,hangs on it4 ,woman1 tempted1 fell1 she first1 ,in ,eden1 whence is all our woe1 and now ,women it seems are the peculiar prey ,of this new trick of devilish subtlety2 ,and1 as of old1 woman deceived becomes ,deceiver1 and through her the mischief spreads ,ungovernably4 ,so women1 too--the cause ,in part of the disease--must in part pay ,the price of cure4 ,for remedy this is1 ,not punishment4 ,ye for the general health ,suffer--for your own health not less1 if ye ,yield wisely1 and not foolishly resist4 ,yield wisely now1 and let me hence depart ,cheered to have healed a little here the hurt ,with which the daughter of ,god's people bleeds6 ,how little prospered this his new appeal1 ,saul learned1 when ,ruth1 as not having heard even1 said3 ,at least let me1 if ,i indeed must leave ,my children double orphans so1 let me ,now go and see them in their helpless sleep1 ,and take a farewell of them with my eyes4 ,but who will care for them when ,i am gone8 ,i cannot1 will not1 go away from them4 ,nay1 ye may bind me1 ye may slay me1 drag ,me hence may ye1 alive or dead1 but make ,me go with my own feet away from them1 ,my children1 in their innocent infancy1 ,and leave them to pine motherless1 forlorn1 ,and perish in their innocent infancy-- ,that is beyond your strength--,i will not go-- ,a mother may defy the ,sanhedrim6 ,ruth spoke dry-eyed1 with holy mother's wrath1 ,sublime in her indignant eloquence4 ,saul1 not unmoved1 although inexorable1 ,said3 ,woman1 as thy wish is1 thou shalt go ,freely to see thy children4 ,may the sight ,dispose thee to a better mind6 ,come back ,ready to say1 ',for their sake1 ,i renounce ,my folly1 ,i will be true ,jewish mother ,to them1 so let me stay1'--and thou shalt stay4 ,ruth going1 ,rachel thought1 ',shall ,i too go ,with her1 that ,i may help her bear to part ,from her dear babes8' ,quickly resolved behind ,to tarry1 she1 ,ruth gone1 went up to ,saul1 ,and said3 ,i pray thee1 ,saul1 let ,rachel go ,instead of ,ruth to prison4 ,let ,ruth bide ,to nurse her children4 ,i will take her place ,gladly in her captivity1 and be ,a surety for her4 ,young and strong am ,i1 ,and ,i will be a firm good surety1 ,saul1 ,not fleeing and not complaining1 always there1-- ,and if1 hereafter ever1 it should seem ,needful to have ,ruth come herself to prison1 ,why1 she will still be here1 under thy hand1 ,as now1 so then1 to be hence thither led4 ,be kind1 and have me bound straightway1 before ,ruth comes again1 that she be left no choice ,but to let ,rachel have her wilful way1 ,perceiving that ,i have my bonds on me ,to go to prison with her1 if not without1 ,while much ,i wish to go without her--wish1 ,and1 by thy kind permission1 have the power4 ,dost thou not think1 ,saul--wherewith ,rachel smiled ,on ,saul a starlight smile1 which made him feel ,how high she was above him in her sphere ,unconsciously--,dost thou not think that ,i ,will make as good a prisoner as ,ruth8 ,had she not smiled that smile1 ,saul might have thought1 ',infatuated child6' and thought aloud4 ,but that bright smile of almost humor sad ,showed him how sanely her true self she was1 ,and he was baffled1 sudden-smitten dumb4 ,he could not answer her2 much less could he ,bid bind those slender wrists with manacles ,and send his sister to imprisonment6 ,so there ,saul stood before her1 marble-mute4 ,not long--for ,ruth soon now came back1 more calm1 ,she having prayed beside her sleeping babes1 ,and trusted them again to the ,most ,high ,as ,father1 and from the ,most ,high received ,grace to bear graciously her testimony1 ,even by imprisonment1 and children reft1 ,for ,stephen's ,lord and hers4 ,the others marked ,ruth's placid changed demeanor1 and gave thanks ,silent to ,god who thus their prayer had heard4 ,i go1 she said to ,saul1 for ,jesus' sake ,wherever thou mayst lead4 ,my babes ,i trust1 ,as ,stephen trusted them before he suffered1 ,unto the ,father of the fatherless4 ,lo1 ,i am ready--bind me--for ,his sake6 ,never so ruefully had those hard men ,bound any hands for prison as they bound hers2 ,and scarcely ,saul found steady voice to say3 ,thy children shall be cared for tenderly1 ,till thou return to them in sounder mind2 ,the fathers of our tribes will see to this4 ,then ,rachel said1 and saying it wept at last3 ,they would not bind me1 ,ruth1 to take thy place1 ,though ,i entreated them while thou wert gone4 ,i shall be left1 unworthy to be left1 ,if ye1 beloved1 are worthy to be taken6 ,but1 ,ruth1 if thou wilt let me1 ,i shall stay ,and myself be a mother to thy babes1 ,nurturing them most lovingly1 alike ,for thine1 their father's1 and their own sweet sakes4 ,and ,i will daily bring thee word of them1 ,treasuring for thee each little syllable ,they lisp from day to day of loving speech ,concerning father or mother gone away4 ,they shall not lack whatever ,i can give ,of mother's tendance1 so as yet to feel ,that ,i am not their mother1 only one ,less wise1 less good1 less loving1 and less fair ,than she1 who for their mother's sake loves them6 ,all this1 ,i trust1 will not last very long1 ,this motherlessness for them1 this childlessness ,for thee--thou wilt come back--but1 ,o ,ruth1 pray-- ,thus ,rachel softly for ,ruth sole to hear-- ,for surely now thou understandest well1 ,too well6 what then ,i meant when once ,i told thee1 ',i too am widow as thou art1 yet not ,as thou1 since me stroke heavier has bereaved6'-- ,o ,ruth1 pray thou and never cease to pray ,for ,saul1 my brother6 ,so they went away1 ,and1 lodged in prison1 those four captives sang1 ,a silent melody making in their hearts1 ,with tribulation1 peace6 until they slept4 ,but ,rachel having followed at remove ,behind them1 saw where they were put in hold1 ,then1 hedged about meanwhile with purity1 ,with convoy doubtless too of angels hedged1 ,gladly on such an errand earthward come1 ,invisible bright legion hovering round6-- ,safely returned to sleep in ,stephen's house4 ,there she abode1 and thence1 an angel she6 ,went daily to and fro between ,ruth's house ,and ,ruth in prison1 bearing messages1 ,refections often bearing1 food or drink1 ,her own housewifely skill and instinct nice1 ,with other comforts portable1 sometimes1 ,pillow or cushion1 rug or robe or shawl1 ,such as might serve to cheer the homesick heart ,in any there imprisoned1 with sweet sense ,at least of loving thought from one for those ,in bonds1 as herself with them bound2 the while ,that for the orphaned children she made home4 ,nor ever failed to ,rachel full supply ,of all whatever need there was to her4 ,month after month1 her cruse was brim with oil1 ,with meal her measure1 large replenishment4 ,god put it in the heart of ,saul to send1 ,diverted like an irrigating rill ,full all its season from the affluent ,nile1 ,a secret stream of various providence ,for ,rachel and for ,rachel's fosterlings ,fed from the fountain of his patrimony4 ,,book ,,xi4 ,,saul ,,and ,,hirani4 ,saul1 ill-content with his own prosperity in persecution1 retires gloomily1 late at night1 to his desolated home4 ,he vainly tries to sleep1 and1 rising very early1 goes to consult ,gamaliel4 ,returning1 he encounters ,shimei1 who1 with gibes1 instigates a further act of persecution on ,saul's part1 cunningly contriving it to make refusal impossible4 ,saul attempting the arrest proposed by ,shimei meets with opposition1 which the latter has secretly inspired4 ,the persecutor in consequence narrowly escapes violent death1 being rescued at the critical moment by ,shimei2 who himself1 with a band of servitors1 makes the arrest unsuccessfully attempted by ,saul alone4 ,the man arrested confesses ,jesus before the ,sanhedrim1 constant against every inducement to deny his ,lord4 ,he is scourged1 at the instance of ,shimei1 and finally1 at the instance of ,mattathias1 stoned2 ,saul in both cases giving his vote against the man4 ,,saul ,,and ,,hirani4 ,with large prosperity and little joy1 ,thus the first stage of that 'straight path' foreseen ,by him to ,rachel1 'traced in blood and tears1' ,saul had accomplished1 and the night was late2 ,he parted from his men and was alone4 ,alone and moody1 by the westering moon1 ,his face downcast turned absently toward what ,late was his home1 home longer not to him1 ,with footstep slow suspended by sad thought-- ,which had no goal1 but ever round and round ,on one fixed centre hopelessly revolved-- ,saul paced the still streets of ,jerusalem1 ,like a soul seeking rest and finding none4 ,before the door at length he finds himself ,of his own house forsaken yesterday4 ,for an uncertain absence1 but for long ,as he supposed1 ,saul thence that morn had fled ,in haste and bitterness4 ,he could not bear ,to think of meeting ,rachel day by day1 ,and that great gulf impassable between ,her and himself yawning6 he hands imbrued ,perhaps in blood of those she counted dear ,but he most hateful counted bringing home1 ,her innocent white hands to touch1 and feel ,the difference6 ,therefore he fled because ',rachel1' thought he1 'must bide1 and bide we twain ,cannot4' ,but now ,rachel was gone1 and ,saul1 ,alone and lonely1 sojourner might be ,where brother and sister late had shared a home4 ,he enters noiselessly1 and unperceived ,steals to his chamber2 there upon his couch ,to restless thought1 he1 not to rest1 lies down4 ,restless and fruitless1 save that1 morning yet ,pearl-white1 untinted with that ruddy flush ,of color in the east before the sun1 ,saul rose1 and1 after joyless orisons1 ,went to ,gamaliel's house1 sure him to find ,already on his roof to greet the dawn4 ,in anguish sore and sore perplexity ,of spirit1 master1 ,saul said1 lo1 ,i come ,to thee1 not knowing whither else to go1 ,for solace1 and the solving of my doubt4 ,welcome thou comest ever1 even or morn1 ,gamaliel said2 but what disquiets thee8 ,when in the council last ,i heard thee speak1 ,thou wert all firmness1 as one wholly clear ,in purpose1 and thou hadst that glad aspect1 ,though serious1 which befits the mind resolved4 ,whence1 ,saul1 the change in thee8 ,thou knowest1 said ,saul ,how prospered my attempt1 ventured upon ,without thy counsel1 in that issue joined ,with ,stephen4 ,yea1 my son1 ,gamaliel said2 ,but ,i1 meantime1 after my counsel given ,dissuading thee1 had learned myself to feel ,how failed the hand of brute authority ,against this strange faith of the ,nazarene4 ,thine undertaking ,i less disapproved ,after our hearing of the ,galilans4 ,something perceived in them1 or through them felt1 ,disturbed me with a strange solicitude1 ,which the ill fortune of thine own assay ,did not relieve4 ,but thou1 thou still wert clear1 ,wert thou not1 ,saul8 ,thine action did not halt2 ,promptly in ,stephen's stoning thou took'st part4 ,i acted promptly1 that ,i might be clear ,in thought1 said ,saul2 this1 rather than because ,i was so clear4 ,my halting urged me on4 ,yet now1 ,o master mine1 ,i might perhaps ,be clear1 but that my coadjutorship ,offends me so1 torments me with such doubt4 ,in the right way how can ,i be1 and be ,in the same way with ,shimei8 ,my soul ,sickens at him1 at all his words and ways ,sickens1 and still he dogs me every step1 ,clings to me like my shadow1 whispers me ,over my shoulder1 pointing me out my way1 ,until ,i hardly can do that which else ,freely ,i should1 because he bids me do it6 ,yea1 ,saul1 my son1 trust thou thine instinct there1 ,gravely ,gamaliel said1 with slow reserve ,that warned how more than he would say was meant2 ,our brother ,shimei is a dark man1 ,whose public zeal is edged with private spite2 ,him well1 son ,saul1 it thee behooves beware4 ,since when thou scornedst him in those high words ,before the council1 ,shimei hates thee1 ,saul1 ,and hate like his is sleepless till revenge4 ,ill for a cause that must be served by him6 ,but some are tools1 and others ministers1 ,of ,god1 ,who works ,his holy will with all6 ,unwarned by warning1 but in conscience pricked1 ,and following his own tyrannous thought1 ,saul spoke3 ,those infamous false witnesses of his-- ,say1 master1 did ,i on my conscience take ,the guilt of their suborning1 when consent ,i gave to ,stephen's death thereby procured8 ,my conscience like a scorpion stings me on1 ,but whether a good conscience before ,god ,it be1 or rather a conscience violated1 ,which ,i must quiet by not heeding it1 ,and by confusing it with din of deeds ,forever doing--this ,i cannot well ,resolve me1 and--but1 nay1 for that were false1 ,i do not wish thou shouldst resolve me it4 ,forgive me1 and farewell6 ,but pray for ,saul6 ,therewith1 and pausing not1 like one distraught1 ,or one goaded1 and wildly seeking fast ,enough before the goad to fly1 which flies ,only the faster1 following1 for his speed1 ,and pricks the harder--so ,saul broke away ,and left ,gamaliel on his roof alone ,astonished4 ,swiftly now1 yet with a haste ,as of one wishing to leave far behind ,some spot abhorred1 much more than as of one ,eager a goal before him to attain1 ,say rather as of one insanely fierce ,somewhither1 anywhither1 from himself ,pursuing hard himself1 to fly1 ,saul flew ,back toward his dwelling4 ,at the door arrived1 ,he well-nigh stumbled--for his hasting feet ,against some shapeless heap struck that alive ,seemed1 for it moved1 and from the threshold1 where ,he in a kind of ambush crouching lay1 ,slowly into the semblance of a man1 ,under ,saul's eyes down bent1 upgrew--,shimei6 ',sin coucheth at the door6' thought ,saul2 he thought ,half of himself1 as half of ,shimei1 ,for1 ',if thou doest not well1 thou ,saul6' thought he1 ,then1 ,reptile6 ,how beneath my heel should ,i ,his serpent head have bruised6 hissed hotly out ,between his set teeth1 and perused the man4 ,half under breath this1 then to him aloud3 ,what art thou8 ,imp of hell spawned hither new ,up from the pit8 ,avaunt6 ,i loathe thee hence6 ,nay1 brother ,saul1 grinned ,shimei1 therefore pleased ,thus spurned to be1 because the spurning was ,with anguish of disgust to him who spurned1 ,malevolently yet storing reserve ,of hatred and revenge therefor1 to be ,afterward feasted when the time should come1 ,nay1 brother ,saul1 you look with eyesight dazed ,from undersleeping1 and from rash surprise ,at this encounter4 ,i am ,shimei1 ,your special coadjutor tried and true4 ,i am a little early1 ,i confess-- ,or late1 which shall ,i call it8 early and late-- ,like moral good and evil1 ,saul--ofttimes ,change places with your point of view--become ,the one the other1 as you look at them4 ,you see ,i hardly slept myself this night1 ,thinking of you1 and pleasuring my mind ,with fancies of the odd coincidences ,that might be happening you at ,bethany4 ,i got prompt information how it all ,fell out1 and hastened hither to advise ,with you4 ,upon your sleep1 already much ,cut short1 ,i would not thoughtlessly break in1 ,and so ,i dropped me at your threshold here1 ,to wait a proper hour for seeing you1 ,and yet not let you pass out hence unseen4 ,i must have fallen asleep1 and1 brother ,saul ,be sure ,i was no less surprised than you1 ,when you just now came on me unaware4 ,ha6 ha6 ,how naturally you mistook your friend ,for something not so pleasant from the pit ,vomited suddenly up under your feet6 ,another might have taken it amiss ,to be so little courteously greeted1 ,but ,i--why1 give and take1 say ,i1 in joke1 ,you have bravely evened up the score between us6 ,i do not bandy jokes with such as you1 ,suborner of false witnesses6 gnashed ,saul4 ,saul's look1 his tone1 had withered any man ,save ,shimei1 who grew blithe in sultry heats ,of human scorn as in his element4 ,so ,shimei flourished lustier hearing ,saul ,despise him with the question further asked3 ,what is there common between you and me8 ,oh6 ,ah6 sneered ,shimei2 ,i had thought you dazed ,in eyesight only1 but distempered mind ,you show now1 taking this high strain with me4 ',what common 'twixt us8' ,yea1 yea1 very good6 ',suborner of false witnesses'--hence base1 ,shimei1 but very1 very virtuous1 ,saul1 ,who1 with much flourish of disdain1 his hands1 ,his lily hands1 washes1 for all to see1 ,quite white and fair of all complicity ,with 'lies1' 'devilish lies1' 'lies damnable1' ,you know1 and so forth1 and in due course then1 ,his moral indignation unabated1 ,takes profit of said lies to make away ,with ,stephen1 through more weighty argument ,in stones found than conveniently to hand ,came when he crossed words with that heretic6 ,the mordant sneer corrosive of such speech ,ate through the thin mail of ,saul's scornful pride1 ,and bit him in his wincing sense of truth4 ,against these thrusts in no wise could he fence1 ,having the foothold lost whereon he stood ,firm in the conscience of integrity4 ,unbidden would those words of ,stephen1 ,pricks ,to kick against6 returning come to him ,in memory1 while ever1 with each return1 ,fiercer waxed ,saul's resistance1 fiercer wound ,infixing in his secret-suffering mind-- ,as should the bullock battle with the goads ,behind him1 shrinking flesh on sharpened steel4 ,so now his wild heart ,saul pressed sternly up ,against the cruel points of ,shimei's jeer1 ,and suffered them in silence4 ,shimei ,felt his own triumph1 and at feline ease ,leisurely played with his proud captive4 ,saul1 ,he added1 you and ,i are men too wise ,to waste strength here in mutual blame4 ,forgive ,me that ,i was so far led on to speak ,as if retorting word for word unkind4 ,i should have made allowance for your state1 ,devoid of that just self-complacency ,so needful to a happy health of mind4 ,now you and ,i at bottom are such twins1 ,we ought to understand each other well2 ,it is a shame that this has not been so4 ,here we are one in aim1 and unity ,in aim--what deeper unity than that ,joins ever man and man8 ,let us strike hands ,together1 since our hearts beat unison4 ,not less revolted at these words was ,saul1 ,more1 rather1 that he knew how insincere ,they were1 how hollow1 as how void of truth1 ,spoken in pure malicious irony4 ,the sense of difference his from ,shimei1 ,browbeaten in him1 badgered1 stunned1 ashamed1 ,could not rejoice in thought1 in speech far less1 ,against that flourished claim of unity4 ,he stood silent1 ignobly helpless1 while ,maliciously his pastime further took ,with him his captor1 who then1 sated1 said3 ,well1 ,saul1 ,i shall excuse it to a mind ,in you disordered through late loss of sleep1 ,that you do not invite me in to sit ,a little at my ease while ,i disclose ,the thought ,i had in coming to you now4 ,nay1 nay--for ,saul1 broken in self-command ,false shame to feel1 and false self-blame1 as found ,defaulting dues of hospitality1 ,instinctive moved toward making ,shimei guest-- ,permit me to decline the courtesy4 ,you are tired1 you are very tired1 and you should rest4 ,once within1 seated1 ,i might stay too long1 ,bound by the charms of your society4 ,i pray you be not overmuch disturbed1 ,but really you should know it1 ,saul1 the chance ,you fell in with this night at ,bethany-- ,i mean your meeting of your sister there ,confessed a bold disciple of the ,way-- ,is likely to engender consequence4 ,it was a noble chance1 ,saul1 from the ,lord1 ,pushed to your hand--would you had used it nobly6 ,alas1 at the extreme pinch1 your virtue failed6 ,i can excuse it1 while regretting it1 ,i myself1 ,saul4 ,not every one1 ,i fear1 ,is naturally so lenient as ,i am4 ,my sympathy is facile1 but the most ,will say1 ',why did not ,saul send her to prison8' ,now what you need is1 to forestall such talk ,by giving people something else to say4 ,fill their mouth full with daily fresh report ,of other1 and still other1 great exploits ,achieved by you in the same line1 and then ,they either will forget that one lapse yours1 ,or cease1 from the perversion of a sister1 ,connived at or colluded with by you1 ,to accuse a taint and pravity of blood ,inclining you yourself to heresy4 ,i give myself no end of trouble for you1 ,and ,i have made discovery of the man ,you must not fail to move for as next prize4 ,he is a notable fellow1 full of quip1 ,quaint turn of phrase1 and ready repartee1 ,each trick of tongue to catch the common ear1 ,and mischievous accordingly2 for he ,boasts everywhere how1 having been born blind ,and grown to forty years of age in blindness1 ,he one day met ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,when that deceiver spat upon the ground ,and mixed an unguent of the clay1 therewith ,smearing his sightless balls1 and bidding him ,go wash them in the pool of ,siloam2 ,he went and washed1 and came a seeing man4 ,such is his story1 and so plausibly ,he tells it that a wide belief he wins4 ',hirani' is the name by which he goes2 ,name self-assumed since his pretended cure1 ,a kind of label that he boldly thrusts ,in people's faces to placard his lie4 ',he made me see'--he1 to wit1 ,jesus1 mind-- ,as were no other 'he' in all the world6 ,well1 this ,hirani to be weaver feigns1 ,mere cover to that other trade he drives-- ,a famous flourishing one with him1 they say-- ,proselyte-making for the ,nazarene4 ,clap him in prison1 ,saul1 let him repeat ,his marvel to the unbelieving walls4 ,at present1 many of the ,way are fled ,hither and thither through the countryside1 ,but this man tarries to rehearse his tale4 ,so there your plan is1 ready-wrought for you2 ,now1 ,saul1 go sleep upon it1 and farewell4 ,man through malicious mind more miserable1 ,more miserable man from every cause ,of inward sorrow save malicious mind1 ,never were met and parted than when there ,shimei found ,saul and left him thus that morn4 ,once more ,saul visited his couch in vain2 ,sleep could he not1 could not but round and round ,tread the treadmill of painful barren thought1 ,on this fixed only1 with resentful will1 ,not to do that which ,shimei pressed him to4 ,so1 having eaten1 without appetite1 ,he flung forth in the street dispirited-- ,aimless1 nor on the way through hope to aim1 ,hopeless1 nor on the way through aim to hope-- ,irresolute1 deject1 energiless1 ,therefore the destined prey of whatso snare ,should sudden first waylay his nerveless foot-- ,forth in the street flung1 at his door to meet ,an ambushed messenger of ,shimei's1 ,who from his master gave him written word3 ,the ,sanhedrim to sit this afternoon ,in council on the case you will present4 ,all feel the utmost flattering confidence ,that ,saul will promptly bring his prisoner in4 ,the bearer of this can guide you to your man4 ',himself false witness now become1 the wretch6' ,thought ,saul4 ',this buyer of false witnesses ,has falsely told my brethren that ,i put ,myself in pledge to do a special task1 ,his bidding1 and has got the council called ,in expectation on their part from me ,that ,i will bring them in this man to judge-- ,death doubtless meant1 instead of prison1 for him6 ,the wretch1 the perjured wretch1 and damnable6 ,yet for me what escape8 ,alternative ,none offers4 ,yea1 denounce might ,i the man ,even to his teeth before them all a liar-- ,but to what profit8 ,he could truly say ,i listened1 not demurring1 when he broached ,this his new plan1 as ,i had done before ,concerning the arrests at ,bethany ,by him projected1 meekly made by me6 ,i should seem caviller1 than he more false1 ,and trifler with the ancient majesty ,prescriptive of the ,sanhedrim4' ,saul writhed ,with all the frail remainder of his force1 ,writhed--and submitted4 ,with the guide he went1 ,and the man found whom he1 under duress ,resented1 sought4 ,the invisible chains which then ,that captive captor wore1 far worse galled him ,than those whereof he plained at ,bethany4 ,master more cruel yet the devil can be ,than vehement conscience blinded by self-will4 ,pride driving makes an intimate misery1 ,but a more intimate misery pride driven6 ,at his loom seated--there his handicraft1 ,late learned by him after sight given him late1 ,busily plying--,saul's intended prey1 ,with his hands weaving1 as the shuttle flew1 ,a fabric of coarse cloth1 wove with his tongue1 ,that subtler shuttle in the loom of thought1 ,discourse simple yet sage1 for those to hear1 ,a goodly audience1 who had gathered round ,him in his place of labor out-of-doors ,under an awning stretched that fenced the sun-- ,drawn thither by the fame of what he told1 ,a strange experience never man's before4 ,thou art disciple of the ,nazarene8 ,abruptly so1 intruding1 ,saul inquired4 ,the accent of authority that spoke ,in him1 the masterful demeanor his1 ,all felt1 and of the listeners some1 afraid1 ,withdrew in silence2 but the sifted more ,who stayed clouded their aspect1 and1 with grim ,mutter in undertone exchanged between ,them1 each with other1 asked or answered who ,this was that rudely thus and threateningly ,broke in upon them4 ,saul6 the ,sanhedrim6 ,were dreaded names1 but red runs ,jewish blood1 ,and hot1 and quick1 and those affronted men ,scarce waited for their neighbor seen thus scorned ,to answer yea to his stern challenger1 ,ere they together moved in mass about ,saul unattended1 naked of all arms ,save his authority1 and1 hustling him1 ,seemed on the verge of using violent hands ,to thrust him forth--nay1 to ,saul's ears there came ,that pregnant word1 ready on ,jewish tongues1 ,yet readier hardly than to ,jewish hands ,the deed1 word full of instant menace1 ,stones6 ,saul knew his danger and his helplessness2 ,but1 far from terror1 though not void of fear1 ,blanching not blenching1 he a tonic breath ,drew1 in an air that to another man ,had softened all his fibre or dissolved4 ,vanished that mood of feebleness he brought1 ,and in its place a resolute1 alert1 ,defiant sense of self-sufficing strength ,supported him1 nay1 buoyed him almost gay1 ,as thus1 with bitter words1 he taunted them3 ,yea1 now ye show what lessons ye have learned ,of unresisting meekness at the feet ,of this your teacher--then not to resist ,when ye are certain to be overpowered6 ,but twenty of you to one man are brave6 ,nay1 but one man may twenty of you scorn4 ,back1 there6 ,stand back6 ,this man my prisoner is4 ,i1 ,saul1 commissioned by the ,sanhedrim1 ,summon and seize him to appear this day ,before their just tribunal to be judged ,as self-confessed disciple of the ,way4 ,follow me thou6 ,make way before me there6 ,the peremptory tone1 the audacity1 ,the prompt aggressive movement1 with the proud1 ,high1 lordly speech disdainful1 the assured ,serene assumption of authority ,enforced by personal will as strong as power-- ,these for a moment's space surrounded ,saul ,with that inviolable immunity1 ,the nameless spell which perfect courage casts2 ,nay1 so far gave him full ascendant there ,that he quite to his man his way had made ,and on a shoulder laid the arresting hand4 ,but stay6 not quelled1 suspended only1 seems ,the indignant angry humor of the crowd4 ,scarce has ,saul uttered his last scornful words ,and turned to front the men about him massed-- ,not doubting but1 with only the drawn sword ,of his fixed forward countenance1 he shall ,this side and that before him cleave a way ,wide from amid them forth to pass--upon ,such hinging-point scarce poises ,saul1 when they1 ,with many-handed violence1 seize him ,and1 irresistibly uplifting1 bear ,helpless1 headforemost1 ignominiously1 ,whither they will4 ,in vain ,hirani cries1 ,by turns rebuking and beseeching them2 ,in vain he follows1 warning them beware ,to involve themselves in risk fruitless for him2 ,in vain implores them even for ,jesus' sake1 ,whose name will be dishonored by their deed2 ,presents himself in vain a prisoner ,willing to go with ,saul unmanacled2 ,in vain avouches he1 in any case1 ,shall yield his person to the ,sanhedrim1 ,doubtless to suffer but the heavier doom ,for what is doing1 unless they refrain4 ,hirani had adjured them by the name ,of ,jesus1 but those heady men1 that name1 ,that mastership1 owned not1 ,jews only still1 ,still in the changed new spirit all unschooled4 ,so by their own mad motion ever mad ,growing1 they hurtle ,saul along the way-- ,he the while musing1 with mind strangely clear1 ,how like to ,stephen's lot his own is now6-- ,till chance unlooked-for their wild turbulence stays4 ,all had been teemed from ,shimei's fruitful brain4 ,first1 he had mixed the listening crowd around ,the weaver at that moment with base men1 ,his creatures1 who1 for hirelings' pay1 should stir ,their neighbors up to wreak indignity ,upon ,saul's person1 wounding to his pride1 ,and in the public view disparaging4 ,then1 at the point of need1 to succor ,saul1 ,bringing his haughty colleague under debt ,to himself1 ,shimei1 for his very life-- ,this was that crafty plotter's next concern4 ,a band accordingly of men-at-arms1 ,sworn in the service of the ,sanhedrim1 ,he had made ready2 and these now appeared ,confronting that tumultuary crowd4 ,saul rescued--not without some disarray ,and soil of rent apparel1 hair and beard ,dishevelled1 and disfigured countenance1 ,his person thus disparaged to the eye1 ,hirani1 as ringleader of the rout1 ,chained and brought forward1 while go free1 but blamed ,for being misled1 the others--,shimei then ,to view emerges4 ,he addresses ,saul3 ,well met6 ,that fellow1 with his crew of like1 ,treated you badly1 ,saul4 ,you might have prayed ,to be delivered into ,stephen's hands ,from tender mercies such as theirs6 ,i trust ,you have not suffered worse than what ,i see1 ,some slight derangement of apparel shown1 ,your hair and beard less sleek than might beseem1 ,with here and there a scratch scored on your face-- ,nothing more serious1 let me trust8 ,our men ,were at the nick of time in coming up4 ,it was not pure coincidence4 ,you see1 ,both knowing your mettle and the vicious ways ,these sanctimonious ruffians have at times1 ,i had misgivings that you might be rash1 ,and suffer disadvantage at their hands4 ,so1 as in like case you would do by me1 ,i1 with these faithful servitors of ours1 ,run to your rescue here1 and not too soon6 ,a little later would have been too late4 ,you were well started down the steep incline1 ,which1 very happily1 as ,i learn1 you styled ',the way of ,stephen and all heretics4' ,droll1 very1 with of course its serious side1 ,queer irony1 you know1 of will ,divine1 ,supposing they had really stoned you1 ,saul6 ,well1 well1 it turns out better than your fears4 ,you will not1 true1 and ,i lament it1 make ,quite a triumphal entry with your man ,before the ,sanhedrim1 leading him in1 ,with air of captain fresh from glorious war1 ,who brings proud trophy of his single spear ,redoubtable2 but the main point is ours1 ,the man we want is safe in custody4 ,thus ,shimei with his devilish sneering glee ,nettled the heart of ,saul and cheered his own4 ,before the council ,shimei stood forth1 ,instead of ,saul1 to accuse the prisoner4 ,with plausible glib mendacity1 he said3 ,not only is this fellow heretic ,after the manner of those ,galilans1 ,but myself saw with mine own eyes just now ,how he the idlers in the street stirred up ,to most unseemly act of violence ,against our brother ,saul1 worthy of death1 ,as being aimed at death1 unless that ,i ,had ready been at hand with force enough ,to rescue one of our own number thus ,to the most imminent brink of stoning brought4 ,saul1 if he would1 might show himself to you ,in lively witness of the things ,i say4 ,hereon to ,saul he signed with hand and eye2 ,but ,saul arose and calmly1 with disdain1 ,thus spoke3 ,the man here present prisoner ,is1 out of his own mouth1 disciple proved ,of ,jesus ,nazarene4 ,as such ,i sought ,to bring him hither before you to be judged4 ,this my attempt1 most unexpectedly1 ,a crowd of idlers round about him drawn ,vacantly listening to discourse from him1 ,resented2 they1 resisting1 thrust me back-- ,i had ventured single-handed and alone-- ,and1 borne to madness1 might perhaps have wrought ,some harm to me--,i know not2 but one thing ,i know1 and that ,i freely testify1 ,this man1 our prisoner1 did nought of all1 ,contrariwise1 with all his eloquence ,endeavored to dissuade those violent1 ,constantly saying and averring he1 ,in any case1 should1 of his own free will1 ,give himself up to you--thereby to clear ,the ,name he sought to honor of reproach ,for wild deeds done as in defence of him4 ,a moment1 having heard ,saul testify1 ,the ,sanhedrim sat silent in fixed thought4 ,then ,shimei1 ever easily equal found ,to his occasion1 when need seemed to him ,of whatsoever fraud in word or act1 ,said that of course from brother ,saul was heard ,never aught other than he deemed was true2 ,but the fact was1 as would by witnesses ,be amply proved1 that all this culprit's show ,of zeal to stay those rioters back was show ,merely1 dust in the eyes of ,saul to cast1 ,or rather sport to make of him1 the prey ,secure supposed of his1 the prisoner's1 ,malicious machination through the hands ,of his confederates1 or tools1 who knew ,better their master's purposes1 his real ,purposes1 than his feigned dissuasive words ,to heed1 and let his victim go4 ,saul's state ,was at the moment such1 so ill at ease ,his mind--why1 even his body in that vile ,duress was hardly to be called his own-- ,saul--and without offence would ,shimei say it-- ,might be regarded as not competent ,on this particular point to testify4 ,at all events1 here were good witnesses ,who1 from a safer1 steadier point of view ,than ,saul's1 and longer occupied1 could tell ,both what the prisoner's wont had been to teach1 ,and what he instigated in this case4 ,with such preamble to prepare their minds1 ,minds used to guess the drift of ,shimei's wish1 ,this arch-artificer of fraud produced ,as witnesses the men whom he had late ,mixed with ,hirani's audience to foment ,that lawlessness4 ,such serviceable tongues ,failed not to swear1 in all1 as ,shimei wished4 ,saul1 in his secret mind with anguish torn1 ,gazed at the man forsworn against1 maligned1 ,and almost envied him4 ,a look of peace ,was on him like a light of fixd stars1 ,so constant1 and so inaccessible ,of change through jar1 through stain1 so clear1 so fair6 ,he listened to the voices round him loud1 ,as if some softer voice from farther sent ,made ever an inner music to his mind ,charming him with a melody unheard4 ,he saw the things1 the faces1 and the forms1 ,about him nigh1 as if he looked beyond ,or through them1 and beheld far1 far away ,or whom or what to others was unseen4 ,so when the high-priest1 from his middle seat ,among the councillors1 accosted him1 ,asking1 ,to all these things what sayest thou8 ,the prisoner1 like one absent-minded brought ,to sudden sense of present things1 replied3 ,i hardly understand what 'these things' are1 ,for otherwhither ,i was drawn in thought4 ,but if it be inquired concerning ,him ,whom lately they not knowing crucified1 ,why1 this ,i answer for my testimony3 ',let there be light1' said ,god1 and light there was4 ,almost thus did that ,man of ,nazareth1 ,creative1 speak for me1 and changed my world ,of native darkness to this cheerful scene ,above1 beneath1 about me1 sudden spread1 ,and sun and moon and stars for me ordained4 ,i praise ,him as the ,lord of life and light1 ,and ,giver of light and life to dead and blind4 ,all glory to ,his ever-blessd ,name6 ,the simple ecstasy from which he spoke1 ,illuminated1 and the holy power ,of truth1 in witness such1 meekly so borne1 ,wrought even upon the jealous ,sanhedrim ,an influence which they could not resist1 ,and a pang shot to the inmost heart of ,saul4 ,a faltering of compunction close on shame ,made the high-priest half-tenderly1 with tone ,as of a father toward a child in fault1 ,say3 ,nay1 my son1 deceived art thou2 of will ,surely thou dost not utter blasphemy4 ,if so be demon power had leave from ,god ,to give thee back one day what demon power ,had erst one day from ,god had leave to take ,away1 thy sight--be glad indeed1 but fear ,to yield wrongly thy praise to demon power ,permitted2 all to ,god permissive yield4 ,glory belongs to ,god alone4 ,my son1 ,bethink thee now betimes and save thy soul4 ',jesus of ,nazareth anathema6' ,those words repeat for all to hear1 and go ,acquitted hence of that thy blasphemy4 ,so the high-priest to him1 but he replied3 ,blinded again ,i should expect to be1 ,my eyeballs blasted to the roots of sight1 ,nay1 worse1 my inner seeing quenched in dark1 ,forever and forevermore past cure1 ,were ,i to speak that ,name except to praise4 ,glory to ,god and glory to ,his ,son1 ,forever and forever in the heavens1 ,the heaven of heavens1 seated at ,his right hand6 ,a bold blasphemer6 so1 discordant1 shrieked ,suddenly ,shimei1 the spell to break ,he feared those simple1 solemn1 holy words ,again might cast upon the ,sanhedrim4 ,the chance for heaven precarious is on earth ,ever1 and now the heavenly chance was lost1 ,such counter breath unable to withstand4 ,those half-rapt souls reverted to themselves1 ,and brooked to listen--nay1 assent gave they1 ,even ,saul too gave assent wrung out6--when1 next1 ,stripes for his back6 sharply shrilled ,shimei2 ,good forty stripes less one may save his soul6 ,he loves his blasphemy1 give him his fill1 ,whet him his appetite1 make him blaspheme ,his own ,lord ,god1 the man of ,nazareth4 ,for that thrice damnd name require from him1 ,at every lash1 an imprecation loud1 ,on pain of instant death should one curse fail6 ,so there with cruel blows was scourged the man1 ,at every blow he crying out aloud ,joy that he might thus suffer for that ,name1 ,and1 baffled1 they gnashing their teeth on him4 ,his madness has infected all his flesh1 ,screamed ,mattathias2 cure there is but one4 ,destroy his flesh with stones1 let his flesh rot6 ,this also they1 beside themselves with rage1 ,rage rabid from the sight of bloodshed vain1 ,resolved--resolving with them likewise ,saul6 ,without the gate they thrust their victim forth1 ,and there stoned him calling upon the name ,of ,jesus to his last expiring breath4 ,that night1 the violated body1 left ,there where it fell by those his murderers ,to be of ravening beast or bird the prey1 ,was thence1 with reverent rite1 by unseen hands ,borne to a sepulchre1 with spices wrapt ,in linen pure and fine1 and laid away ,in secret1 not unwept or unbewailed ,of such as loved him for the love he bore1 ,quenchless by death1 to the ,belovd ,name4 ,,book ,,xii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,apostles4 ,again deeply distressed in heart1 ,saul at set of sun withdraws to the top of ,olivet for solitary thought4 ,there falling asleep1 after pensive soliloquy1 he dreams that ,shimei has followed him thither1 and that he now pours a characteristic strain of sneer and instigation into his ear4 ,this rouses him1 and he goes moodily home4 ,after a long1 deep slumber there1 he resolves on undertaking what he dreamed that ,shimei proposed1 namely1 the arrest of the apostles4 ,his men fail him at the pinch1 and ,saul bitterly upbraids them1 declaring strongly that their renegade behavior only determines him the more sternly to root utterly out the pestilent ,galilan heresy1 at whatever cost of exertion and blood and tears4 ,,saul ,,and ,,the ,,apostles4 ,so one day more of bitterness had spent ,saul1 and the night1 the solemn night1 came on1 ,grateful to him1 for he would be alone4 ,whether the thought of home1 no home1 repelled1 ,or longing toward his sister unconfessed ,there in that banishment at ,bethany ,bright with her presence in it--whether this ,drew him1 or wish of lonely room and height ,where more he might from human kind be far-- ,however listing1 ,saul to ,olivet ,turned him1 and slowly to the summit climbed4 ,the moon not risen yet1 the hemisphere ,of heaven above him was with clustered stars ,glittering1 and awful with the glory of ,god4 ,upward into those lucid azure deeps1 ,withdrawn1 deep beyond deep1 immeasurably1 ,gazing1 ,saul said3 ,deep calleth unto deep6 ,those deeps above me unto deeps within ,me cry1 as infinite to infinite4 ,the spaces of my spirit answer back2 ,i feel them1 empty but capacious1 vast ,and void abysses of unfed desire1 ,hunger eternal and eternal thirst6 ,upward ,i gaze1 and see the steadfast stars ,unshaken in their station calmly shine1 ,i listen to the silence of the skies ,and yearn1 with what desire6 for peace like that1 ,vainly1 with what desire6 for peace like that6 ,beneath the pure calm of the holy heaven1 ,so nigh6 here am ,i seething like the sea1 ,that cannot rest1 casting up mire and dirt ,continually6 ,o state forlorn6 ,where1 where1 ,my ,god1 for me is rest8 ,for me1 for me6 ',great peace have they1' so sang that psalmist taught ,by ,thee1 ',great peace have they that love ,thy law ,and nothing shall offend them4' ,answer me1 ,lord ,god1 do ,i not love ,thy law8 ,then why ,this opposite of peace within my breast8 ,am ,i deceived8 ,do not ,i love ,thy law8 ,answer me ,thou6 ,but answer came there none1 ,or ,saul was deaf1 and the great sky looked down1 ,with all its multitude of starry eyes1 ,impassible1 upon a human soul ,wretched1 unrespited from long unrest4 ,the weary man upon a spot of ground ,bare to the heaven had thrown himself supine2 ,lying diffuse1 his wistful face upturned1 ,and poring on the starry-scriptured scroll ,above him1 he such thoughts breathed out in words4 ,he had deemed himself alone1 aloof from men2 ,but seemed had scarce his murmurous monotone ,died on his lips1 he skyward gazing still1 ,when he was conscious of approaching feet1 ,feet all at once so nigh1 they in the dark ,touched him ere he could rouse himself to stand4 ',why1 brother ,saul6 ,i stumble on you here1 ,much as this morn you stumbled over me6' ,such1 to the sleeping man1 a voice seemed borne4 ',those odious false-cheery tones once more6 ,shimei has watched1 and1 hither following me1 ,lurked overhearing my soliloquy2 ,then1 stealthily retiring a few steps1 ,comes back1 as with the brisk and frank advance ,of one somewhither walking at full speed1 ,and stumbles against me of purpose rude6' ,so ,saul divined dissembling ,shimei1 ,who said1 or to ,saul1 dreaming1 seemed to say-- ,vision as life-like as reality3 ,how naturally appear our paths to cross6 ,i thought that ,i would take a casual stroll ,alone1 and you the same thought had1 it seems1 ,at the same time1 directed both1 odd too1 ,the self-same way--another proof1 you see1 ,what kindred spirits we are6 ,you must have marked ,how fine the night is6 ,what a wealth of stars6 ,do you not sometimes wish1 ,saul1 you could be ,as comfortably calm at heart as stars8 ,how wonderfully quiet all is there1 ,up in the region of the firmament6 ,probably stars have nothing else to do ,than to be calm like that1 and smile at us ,fretting ourselves down here with worry and work4 ,worry is worse than work to wear us out4 ,but worst of all is having huge desires ,that nothing in the world can satisfy4 ,some men moon sighing for they know not what1 ,mainly great hollow hungry mouths and maws1 ,like void sea-beds2 abysses of desire1 ,you know1 that not the world itself could fill4 ,better close up your heart than stretch it wide ,and never get enough to make it full4 ,adjust yourself1 say ,i1 to circumstance1 ,hard work adjusting circumstance to you6 ,there's nothing better than to go right on ,doing the obvious duty next to hand1 ,and let the stars pursue their peaceful way1 ,as hindered not1 so envied not1 by you4 ,the sky is calm1 no doubt--the upper sky-- ,but happens we do not live in the sky1 ,but on the earth1 a very different place1 ,and man's work we1 not star's work1 have to do2 ,so let us be about it while we may4 ,for instance now1 to bring the matter home 7,i trust ,i shall not seem officious1 ,saul1 ,i really must make one suggestion more71 ,your pristine prestige has been much impaired ,through slips and ill-successes on your part4 ,no mean advantage to a man1 repute ,for what the godless ,romans call 'good luck1' ,piously we1 'the favor of the ,lord'2 ,this is forsaking you1 ,i grieve to find1 ,on all sides round1 wherever ,i inquire4 ,up1 and recover it with one bold push1 ,push that dares hazard all upon a cast4 ,you know twelve men there are in special sort ,dubbed the 'apostles' of the ,nazarene1 ,who play a part assigned as witnesses ,to testify that ,jesus rose again1 ,after his crucifixion1 from the dead4 ,these fellows boldly in ,jerusalem ,stay1 while the rest run scattering far and wide4 ,some kind of superstitious charm or awe ,surrounds them--that is1 in their own conceit ,and fond illusion of impunity4 ,boldly arrest them1 ,saul1 and spoil the spell4 ,thus far1 as oft in dreams will chance1 ,saul lay ,and helpless heard what irked him sore to hear2 ,but now1 the loathing irrepressible ,excited by such hateful speech1 roused him ,to spurning that asunder broke the bonds1 ,the nightmare bonds1 of sleep4 ,he1 full awake1 ,groped with his hands about1 dreading to feel ,shimei indeed couched nigh1 as he had dreamed1 ,breathing into his ear4 ,no ,shimei there6 ,he sprang upon his feet1 and in the light ,of the waned moon1 now risen1 still large and fair1 ,looked round and round--to find himself alone4 ,a dream1 then1 ,saul said1 only a hideous dream6 ,thank ,god6 ,how horribly real it seemed6 ,how like ,must ,i have grown to him1 to have had his thoughts6 ,what demon's doom only to have such thoughts6 ,perhaps a demon whispered these now to me6 ,i could even pity ,shimei1 to be haunt ,and harbor of his ceaseless evil thoughts-- ,could pity1 save that ,i detest too much4 ,i cannot be like him and loathe him so2 ,or does he haply also loathe himself8 ,then were ,i like1 for sure ,i loathe myself6 ,what travesty it was of those my thoughts6 ,and not ignoble thoughts1 though vain1 they were4 ,the mad pranks that our dreaming brains will play6 ,so musing1 there ,saul1 on the mountain's brow1 ,statue-like stood some moments in suspense2 ,then slow descending to his house repaired4 ,a deep1 deep draught of pure oblivion ,in sleep drowned him until the morrow noon4 ,prayer then1 and then fast broken1 and calmly ,saul ,the ill dream of his yesternight revolved4 ,what better project for fresh act than that ,which1 gladly now he pondered1 ,shimei ,did not propose1 but only ,shimei's ,false lively mimic counterfeit in sleep8 ,yea1 he would next1 with prompt but circumspect ,audacity1 the audacious head and front ,smite of this growing mischief1 in those men ,styled the apostles of the ,nazarene4 ,saul knew within his heart that secretly ,he dreaded this adventure2 therefore he1 ,with will sardonically set1 moved on ,to undertake it4 ,twenty men of tried ,true mettle1 men with muscle iron-firm1 ,and mind seasoned1 through many hazards run1 ,and long wont of impunity1 to scorn ,all danger--such a score of men chose ,saul1 ,and1 from them veiling yet his purpose1 took1 ,with indirection intricate1 his way ,toward where1 as he1 by diligent quest1 had learned1 ,the twelve apostles used each day to meet ,in secret from their prowling enemies2 ,but to the common people1 loving them ,for manifold miracles of beneficence1 ,their secret meeting-place was not unknown4 ,as1 gradually1 ,saul with his retinue ,drew near the spot1 so large a following ,of armd men1 led by a chief whose fame ,was rife now through ,jerusalem for deeds ,and purposes of uttermost revenge ,against the ,galilan heresy1 ,gathered about their course a growing crowd1 ,who1 urged by various thought and feeling1 watched ,what might that minatory march intend4 ,reached thus at length the place1 ,saul stays his steps1 ,and1 turning to his men in halt to hear1 ,speaks1 with that dense clear voice which tense will breeds3 ,here hide the twelve arch-heretics of all4 ,ye come to take them hence bond prisoners1 ,for lodgment in a hold whence no escape1 ,that they may cease sedition to foment4 ,duly the fathers of the ,sanhedrim1 ,wise warders of our ,hebrew commonwealth1 ,will thence adjudge them to their doom of death4 ,no waste of words in parley now1 leave asked1 ,terms offered1 naught of that1 no paltering pause1 ,instantly1 stroke on stroke1 down with the door6 ,but pause they did1 those picked1 use-hardened men2 ,they stood as struck with palsy or with fear4 ,traitors be ye1 or cravens1 which8 cried ,saul-- ,amazement1 indignation1 ire1 disdain1 ,effacing exhortation in his tone4 ,then1 mastering himself1 less fiercely he ,chode them3 ,whence and whereto is this8 ,mean ye1 ,ye surely mean not1 mutiny8 ,rouse1 then1 ,with will2 obey1 your loyalty retrieve6 ,but still they hung there moveless1 until one1 ,seeming the spokesman of his fellows1 said3 ,no mutineers1 no traitors1 cravens none1 ,are we4 ,but look around1 and judge what means ,this concourse of beholders--',look around'8 ,around look8 thundered ,saul4 ,nay1 straight-on looks1 ,these sole1 become stout hearts1 staunch wills4 ',around' ,cease looking ye1 and all right forward stare ,to where yon door fronts you and you affronts4 ,batter it down1 and1 staring forward1 on6 ,the vehement1 vindictive1 dense onslaught ,of that impatient1 proud1 imperious will ,smote like the missile of a catapult ,against the clamped immovable dead wall ,of fixed inert resistance to ,saul's wish1 ,which strangely1 as one man1 those men opposed4 ,that impact did not shake that stubborn strength1 ,nor shiver back in staggering recoil-- ,absorbed1 annulled1 annihilated1 waste6 ,one infinitesimal instant1 ,saul a blind ,mad impulse felt--which1 that same instant1 he ,quenched in a simultaneous saner thought-- ,to rush single upon the door1 with blank ,ridiculous demonstration of balked will ,indignant4 ,me1 then1 seize1 your chief contemned1 ,said ,saul1 contemned1 since not obeyed1 and me ,deliver captive to the ,sanhedrim1 ,denounced unworthy of your trust1 and theirs6 ,as1 saying this1 around he glanced1 he saw1 ,with unintending eyes1 a spectacle ,which well had awed him1 but that he was ,saul4 ,the frequence of spectators serried nigh ,had armed themselves with stones1 and imminent stood1 ,a thunder-cloud of menace on each brow1 ,ready those bolts of vengeance to let fly1 ,in hail-storm that no mortal might withstand1 ,at whoso dared defy their angry mood2 ,portent so dire ,saul could not but peruse4 ,it was but question which should overawe1 ,ye1 or this rabble of sedition here1 ,and ye have solved it like the cowards ye are6 ,so1 with his passion humored to its height1 ,and javelin looks shot at his men in shower1 ,cried ,saul2 ,i had deemed otherwise of you4 ,and yet1 even yet1 once wake the dormant man ,within you1 and1 from hands through fear relaxed1 ,harmless will drop those miscreant stones which now1 ,with your poltroonery1 ye invoke to fall ,in well-deservd doom upon your heads6 ,upbraided thus1 they1 by that spokesman1 said3 ,stoning may lightly be despised by men ,like us1 whose trade it is at need to die2 ,and bloody death were meet for men of blood4 ,but we are of the people1 as are these ,whom here thou seest around us1 stone in hand2 ,and we1 the people1 love for cause those men1 ,our benefactors1 whom thou seekest to slay-- ,wherefore1 we know not1 save perhaps it be ,some ill persuasion thine that slanders them ,as enemies of our race1 seditious men1 ,conspiring to do evil and not good4 ,but1 if we should as lief1 as we should loth1 ,offer them violence1 and if we could1 ,as we could not1 hope then to escape the stones ,here seen uneasy in so many hands ,at only brandished threat of harm to them1 ,know1 there is more than mail enduing these ,inviolate against what human touch ,might mean them wrong4 ,something intangible1 ,invisible1 inaudible1 unknown1 ,a might as irresistible as strange1 ,not only arms them proof against assault1 ,but issues from them in dread strokes of doom1 ,silent like lightning1 and like lightning swift1 ,and instantaneous deadly more than that4 ,what prison-walls can prisoners hold these men8 ,hast thou not heard how ,ananias fell1 ,sapphira too1 his wife1 dead at their feet1 ,fell at their feet stone-dead1 when they but charged ,a lie unto the ,spirit of the ,lord ,on those twain twinned in judgment as in crime8 ,a dreadful visitation1 as from ,god2 ,but1 whencesoever issuing1 dreadful yet6 ,no panoply have we against such stroke1 ,against the authors of such stroke1 no power4 ,slay us1 or get us slain1 we can but die2 ,but die like ,ananias will we not6 ,saul listened with illimitable scorn2 ,and scorn incensed his rage thus crossed to be1 ,hopelessly crossed1 by crass perversity4 ,in rage and scorn1 he scourged those men with words3 ,there is no reasoning with minds like you6-- ,too ignorant to guess how ignorant ,ye are1 and self-conceited in degree ,to match4 ,such ignorance1 with self-conceit ,such1 renders blind indeed4 ,what boots it ,i ,should tell you superstition clouds your brain8 ,your superstition would not let you hear4 ,your very senses1 given by ,god to be ,the avenues of knowledge to your mind1 ,satan has clogged to truth1 and made of them ,but open thoroughfares for lies from him ,to enter by and capture you his own4 ,mere ,satan's lies those tales are that ye tell1 ,of prison-doors thrown wide mysteriously ,to let these men go free1 and of deaths dealt ,by magic sentence weaponless from them-- ,mere ,satan's lies those tales1 or1 were they true1 ,yet tokens only of ,satanic power ,and craft permitted to disport them here ,for their destruction who to be destroyed ,prove themselves greedy by such act as yours4 ,dupes of the devil1 go1 ,i pity you6 ,this is your weakness1 not your villainy4 ,i thought to make you helpers in my strife ,to save the souls of others1 but your souls ,themselves need saving first and most of all-- ,if souls like yours of saving worthy be1 ,or capable6 ,some different make of men ,from you1 seems ,i must seek1 to serve my need4 ,yet you ,i thank at least for this1 that ye ,by your behavior show me what a sore1 ,how seated1 and how wide1 into the heart ,eats of my nation6 ,lo1 ,i take the cup1 ,the full1 the overflowing cup of shame ,which ye this day wring out for me1 that cup ,take ,i with thanks from you1 and to the dregs ,drain it1 in pledge1 in pledge and sacrament1 ,that ,i hereafter give myself more whole1 ,more absolute1 more consecrate1 to one1 ,one only1 pure endeavor and desire1 ,the utter rooting out--at cost how dear1 ,no reckoning1 mine or other's1 toil1 and tears1 ,and blood--wherever ,jewish name be found1 ,of this foul creeping rot and leprosy1 ,this blight1 this blast1 this mildew1 on our fame6 ,saul1 in the light of luminous wrath1 foresaw ,nigh1 and saluted1 that career1 which thence1 ,after ,judan cities overrun ,with havoc at his hand to ,jesus' name1 ,will bear him ravening on ,damascus road6 ,,book ,,xiii4 ,,saul ,,and ,,sergius4 ,after further persecution accomplished by him in ,juda1 ,saul1 with spirits recovered1 sets out for ,damascus to carry thither the persecuting sword4 ,pausing on the brow of hill ,scopus to survey ,jerusalem just left1 he soliloquizes4 ,at the same moment1 there rides up a troop of ,roman horse escorting a man who turns out to be ,sergius ,paulus1 an old-time acquaintance of ,saul's1 also bound to ,damascus4 ,the two pursue their journey together1 highly enjoying their ride in that charming season of spring weather1 and delightedly conversing on the way4 ,they talk over ,greek literature1 and in particular by starlight at the close of the first day's journey1 ,sergius ,paulus having by occasion recited an apposite passage of ,homer1 ,saul matches and contrasts this first with a psalm of ,david1 and then additionally with a strain from the prophet ,isaiah4 ,this gives rise to conversation on ensuing days1 in which religious questions are discussed4 ,sergius declares himself an atheist of the ,epicurean sort1 and he plies ,saul with incredulous inquiries about the religion of the ,jews--,saul answering with ,hebrew conviction and earnestness4 ,the two part company at ,neapolis 7,shechem7 because ,sergius ,paulus halts there1 and ,saul1 in the spirit of true ,jewish strictness1 will for his part not rest till he has quite passed the bounds of ,samaria4 ,,saul ,,and ,,sergius4 ,not yet his fill of slaughter supped1 though forth ,afar the timorous flock of ,jesus now ,were from before his restless1 ravening1 fierce1 ,rapacious sword out of ,juda fled ,to alien lands remote1 beyond the heights ,of ,hermon with their everlasting snows1 ,and farther to the islands of the sea-- ,not yet1 even so1 his fill of slaughter supped1 ,saul had from the high-priest commission sought ,to search among the ,hebrew synagogues ,of ,syrian ,damascus1 and thence bring ,bound to ,jerusalem whomever found1 ,woman or man1 confessing ,jesus ,christ4 ,the season was fresh flowering spring2 the earth ,was glad with universal green to greet ,the sun once more1 returned in his blue heaven ,after his winter's sojourn in the south4 ,how blithe the welcome of the morning was1 ,forth looking from his east across the ,hills ,of ,moab on the just awakening world6 ,saul met it with a sense as if of spring ,and morning linking hand in hand for dance ,together in the courses of his blood1 ,as1 mounted on a palfrey fresh and fleet1 ,with servitors attendant following him1 ,he issued jocund from ,damascus gate4 ,the animal spirits of youth and health in him1 ,the joy of new adventure1 the fine pulse ,of life felt in the buoyant1 bounding step ,with which his steed advanced him on the road1 ,the secret pleasure of release at last1 ,release and long secure removal1 won1 ,through growing leagues of distance interposed1 ,from the abhorred access of ,shimei-- ,these1 with the season and the hour so bright1 ,brightened the darkling heart of ,saul to cheer4 ,he was a radiant aspect1 fair to see1 ,fronting his future with that sanguine smile6 ,the acclivity surmounted of a hill1 ,whence downward dipped his road1 declining north1 ,and farewell glimpse gave of ,jerusalem1 ,saul rein drew on his foamy-flankd steed1 ,and1 about winding him1 paused1 looking back4 ,his retinue1 far otherwise than he ,mounted1 part even on foot1 with sumpter beasts ,bearing camp equipage1 behind were fallen4 ,these1 presently come up1 he lets pass on ,before him in the way1 while still at gaze1 ,there on the back of his indignant steed ,resentful to be curbed in mid-career-- ,companion hoofs heard leaving him behind-- ,saul sits1 perusing1 with an inner eye1 ,yet more than with his outer1 what he sees4 ,half-shadow and half-light1 ,jerusalem ,he sees1 smitten athwart her level roofs ,with sunshine from the horizontal sun1 ,the temple of ,jehovah in the midst1 ,as if itself a sun1 so dazzling bright ,with its refulgence of reflected beams2 ,while1 round about1 the warder mountains stand1 ,bathing their sacred brows in sacred light4 ,saul's heart distends immense with patriot's joy1 ,yet joy pierced through and through with patriot's pain4 ,o beautiful for situation1 thou1 ,jerusalem6 he fervently bursts forth4 ,peace be within thy walls1 prosperity ,within thy palaces6 ,yea1 yet again1 ,now for my brethren and companions' sakes1 ,say ,i1 ',within thee1 peace6' ,lo1 my vow hear3 ,for that the temple of the ,lord my ,god ,is in thee1 ,i henceforth thy good will seek4 ,and ,thou1 ,jehovah in the heavens6 behold1 ,saul for himself that ancient promise claims3 ',prosper shall he ,jerusalem who loves4' ,for love not ,i ,jerusalem1 with love ,to anguish1 for her anguish and her tears8 ,take pleasure in her stones1 favor her dust1 ,o ,god1 my ,god6 ,is not the set time come8 ,do ,i not hear ,thee say3 ',awake1 awake1 ,put on thy strength1 ,o ,zion1 long forlorn1 ,and beautiful thy garments put thou on1 ,jerusalem6 ,henceforth no more shall come ,the uncircumcised into thee1 nor the unclean6' ,amen6 ,saul added1 with a gush of tears1 ,the light mercurial feeling in his heart ,less to sad sinking1 weighted down1 than all1 ,with fluent lapse1 to pleasing pathos changed4 ,into that strain1 so ardent and so true1 ,of patriot prayer1 deeply had braided been1 ,half to himself unknown1 a silent strand ,of subtle self-regard1 vague personal hope ,that would have spurned to be imprisoned in words3 ',the new ,jerusalem that was to be1 ,should she not ,saul her chief deliverer hail6' ,musing1 and praying1 and beholding1 so1 ,saul suddenly a sound of clanging hoofs ,heard1 and1 his eyes quick thither turning1 saw1 ,between hill ,scopus1 on whose top he stood1 ,and the ,damascus gate through which he came1 ,advancing toward him on the ,roman road-- ,cemented solid with its rutted stones1 ,like an original stratum of the sphere-- ,a turm of horse1 large not1 but formidable1 ,caparison and armor gleaming bright1 ,and with a nameless air forerunning them ,of wide-renownd might invincible ,expressed in that momentous rhythmic tread ,four-footed1 underneath which from afar ,with pulse on pulse now rock to iron rang4 ,the cavalcade1 by slow degrees more slow1 ,moved up the acclivity till1 reached the brow1 ,sank to a walk their pace1 when ,saul perceived ,an armd escort was convoying one ,thereby betokened an ambassador1 ,somewhither posting on affair of state1 ,or haply citizen of high degree ,honored with ceremonious retinue4 ,this man regarded ,saul with curious look ,respectful1 which almost admiring grew2 ,and gravely1 as their mutual glances met1 ,the youthful ,roman to the youthful ,jew ,inclined in distant salutation meant ,for natural courtesy due from peer to peer4 ,saul1 in like wise1 his greeting gave him back2 ,whereon the ,roman1 reining to one side ,his horse1 and halting1 said3 ,peace1 but methinks ,i saw thee late1 months since it may have been1 ,where that fanatic ,stephen suffered death ,with stoning at your angry elders' hands4 ,i1 in that act of punishment1 said ,saul1 ,as loyal ,jew befitted1 took my part4 ,nay1 but as now ,i read thy features nigh1 ,sudden more earnest grown1 the ,roman said1 ,labors my brain with yet a different thought4 ,somewhere we twain must earlier still have met4 ,in ,tarsus ,i some boyish seasons spent2 ,i there1 by chance full well-remembered1 knew ,a ,hebrew-,roman boy whose name was ,saul4 ,then ,sergius ,paulus is thy name1 said ,saul1 ,and ,saul am ,i--and ,saul to ,sergius1 peace6 ,who but as man and man just now had met ,greeted again in sense of comradeship4 ,thy face is toward ,jerusalem1 to ,saul ,said ,sergius2 but thy look is less of one ,arriving1 journey finished1 than of one ,forth setting on adventure planned abroad4 ,i journey to ,damascus1 ,saul replied3 ,and thither also ,i1 said ,sergius4 ,damascus-ward turned ,saul his horse's head1 ,and slowly1 with the ,roman1 now resumed ,his onward way1 while further ,sergius said3 ,having a brief apprenticeship at arms ,accomplished1 to ,jerusalem ,i came1 ,centurion still1 urged by desire to see ,thy capital city1 famed throughout the world4 ,since witnessing--by lucky hap it fell ,my military duty to be there-- ,since witnessing that spectacle so strange ,of ,stephen's stoning--strange to ,roman eyes1 ,yet to eyes ,jewish doubtless quite as strange ,our ,roman fashion1 hanging on the cross-- ,all various ways of various tribes of men ,from clime to clime1 delights me to observe-- ,what comedy to the gods must we present6-- ,since ,i saw ,stephen slain with stones1 ,i say1 ,good fortune1 and some interest made for me ,at ,rome1 have given me this my welcome chance ,to travel and more widely see the world4 ,now to ,damascus ,i as legate go4 ,and of our ,sanhedrim as legate1 ,i1 ,said ,saul1 if so without offence ,i may ,from ,jewish mode to ,gentile dare my speech ,conform--legate1 or hand executive1 ,say rather1 in some certain offices ,deemed needful1 to consult my nation's weal4 ,with mutual question asked and answered1 vein ,of old-time boyish reminiscence shared ,between them as together on they rode-- ,their horses pricking each the other's speed-- ,the two soon overtook their retinues1 ,who1 seeing their chiefs adjoined in comradeship1 ,themselves in comradeship dissolved their sense ,of race and race to mix as men and men4 ,so all day long together1 side by side1 ,riding1 or resting in the noontide shade1 ,sergius and ,saul1 a frank companionship1 ,immixed their minds in speech of many things4 ,young life1 young health1 glad sense of fair emprise1 ,high-hearted hope of boundless futures theirs1 ,delicious weather and blithe season bland1 ,blue cloudless heaven forever overhead-- ,by the sole sun usurped his tabernacle ,whence sovran virtue beaming into all-- ,sweet voice of singing-bird1 sweet smile of flower1 ,sweet breath exhaled from tender-fruited vine1 ,joy1 a full feast1 through every flooded sense-- ,and1 heightening all1 that billowy onward sway ,of motion without effort on their steeds1 ,made1 to those lord possessors of the world1 ,their talking like the coursing of their blood1 ,self-moved1 or like the running of a brook ,that laughs and sparkles on its downward way1 ,as ceasing never from its hope to drain ,the fountain1 brimming ever1 whence it flows4 ,of arms1 of art1 and of philosophy1 ,they spoke1 and letters2 spoke1 too1 of the fame ,of ancient ,grecian masters of the mind1 ,who ruled1 and rule1 by charm of prose or verse4 ,first1 ,homer1 hoar with immemorial eld1 ,pouring his epics in that profluent stream ,which1 like his ocean1 wandered round the world2 ,bold ,pindar1 with his lyric ecstasies1 ,on throbbing wings of exultation borne ,into the empyrean1 whence his song ,broken descends in showers of melody2 ,father of history1 ,herodotus1 ,half poet1 epic1 or idyllic1 he-- ,so1 ,saul thereto assenting1 ,sergius said-- ,with his ,ionic strain mellifluous ,of wonder-loving artless narrative2 ,thucydides1 the soul of energy2 schylus1 ,titan2 happy ,sophocles2 ,with soft ,euripides unfortunate2 ,then ,socrates1 ,who wrote no books1 said ,saul1 ,or wrote most living books in living men2 ,plato1 the chiefest book of ,socrates1 ,yet mind so large and so original ,that1 in him reading what his teacher taught1 ,one knows not whether ,socrates it be1 ,or ,socrates's pupil1 that one reads-- ,knows not1 and1 for delight1 cares not to know1 ,full-sated with the feast of such discourse1 ,so wealthy1 wise1 urbane1 harmonious6-- ,stung to enthusiasm1 thus ,sergius1 ,continuing what from ,saul ceased incomplete4 ,our ,tully1 added he1 from ,plato's well ,deepest his draughts drank of philosophy1 ,and1 thence inspired1 wrote such sweet dialogue1 ,latin half seemed delectable as ,greek4 ,yea1 and a man of fine civility ,in manners as in mind1 your ,tully was1 ,said ,saul2 ,cilicia keeps his memory green ,for virtues long in ,roman rulers rare4 ,his too a sounding1 stately eloquence1 ,and copious2 but ,greek ,demosthenes ,pleases me better1 with that stormy stress ,of passion in him1 reason on fire with love ,or hatred1 that indignant vehemence ,which overwhelms us like a torrent flood1 ,or1 like a torrent flood1 upon its breast ,lifts us1 and tosses us1 and bears us on6 ,he is more like our ,hebrew prophets rapt ,above themselves in sympathy with ,god4 ,in talk like this the livelong day was spent2 ,hardly the talkers heeding when they passed ,meadows of flowers pied rich in colors gay1 ,poppy1 anemone1 convolvulus1 ,bright marigold wide yellowing belts of green ,into a vivid gold that dazed the eye2 ,and heeding hardly if upsprang the lark ,from almost underneath their horses' hoofs1 ,startled to leave her humble hiding nest1 ,and1 soaring1 better hide her otherwise ,amid the blinding lightnings of the sun2 ,such sights and sounds and glancing motions swift ,scarce heeded--yet1 as subtle influence1 ,admitted1 each1 to infuse insensibly ,into their mood an added joyousness-- ,the afternoon declined into the eve4 ,passed now a fountain on the wayside cliff1 ,coyly1 through ferny leafage1 shedding down ,its weeping waters shown in fresher green1 ,up a long glen they mounted to a crest ,of hill where opened a soft grassy plain-- ,inviting1 should one wish his tent to spread-- ,and here they twain their double camp bid pitch4 ,supper soon ended1 ,saul and ,sergius1 ,ere sleep they seek1 a hill1 not far1 ascend1 ,the highest neighboring seen1 less thence to view ,the landscape round them in the deepening dark ,glooming1 or even the heavens above their heads ,brightening each moment in the deepening dark1 ,than youth's unused excess of strength to ease ,with exercise1 and to achieve the highest4 ,but there the splendors of the firmament1 ,enlarged so lustrous through that ,syrian sky1 ,hailed such a storm of vertical starlight ,downward upon their sense as through their sense ,inward into their soul beat1 and a while ,mute held them1 hushed with wonder and with awe1 ,awe to the ,hebrew1 to the ,roman1 joy4 ,then said the ,roman3 ,this is like that place ,of glorious ,homer where he hangs the sky ,innumerably bright with moon and stars ,over the ,trojan host and their camp-fires3 ',holding high thoughts1 they on the bridge of war ',sat all night long1 and many blazed their fires4 ',as when in heaven stars round the glittering moon ',shine forth exceeding beautiful1 and when ',breathlessly tranquil is the upper air1 ',and in their places all the stars are seen1 ',and glad at heart the watching shepherd is2 ',so many1 'twixt the ships and ,xanthus' streams1 ',shone fires by ,trojans kindled fronting ,troy4' ,the spirit of ,greece1 with ,greek simplicity1 ,a nobleness all of ,homer1 there ,i feel1 ,concession checking with reserve1 said ,saul2 ,our ,hebrew1 to us ,hebrews1 rises higher4 ,homer1 unconscious of sublimity1 ,down all its dreadful height above our sphere ,brings the august encampment of the skies-- ,to count the number of the ,trojan fires6 ,our poet ,david otherwise beholds ,the brilliance of the nightly firmament1 ,seeing it mirror of the majesty ,of ,him who spread it arching over earth1 ,and who yet stoops ,his awful thought to think ,kindly of us as ,father to our race1 ,nay1 kingdom gives us1 glory1 honor1 power1 ,and all things subjugates beneath our feet4 ,let me some echoes from that harp awake ,to which1 with solemn touches1 this his theme ,our psalmist ,david chanted long ago3 ',jehovah1 our dread ,sovereign1 how ,thy ,name ',is excellent in glory through the earth6 ',upon the heavens ,thy glory hast ,thou set2 ',the heart of babe and suckling reads it there1 ',and1 raised to rapture1 utters forth ,thy praise1 ',that mute may be the adversary mouth ',which would the ever-living ,god gainsay4 ',when ,i survey ,thy heavens1 ,thy handiwork1 ',the moon1 the stars1 ,thou didst of old ordain1 ',man1 what is he8 that ,thou for him shouldst care1 ',the son of man1 that ,thou shouldst visit him4 ',for ,thou hast made him hardly lower than ,god1 ',and dost with glory him and honor crown4 ',dominion over all ,thy works to wield ',thou madest him1 and underneath his feet ',put'st all things1 sheep and oxen1 roaming beast1 ',and winging fowl1 and swimming fish1 and all ',that passes through the pathways of the seas4 ',jehovah1 our dread ,sovereign1 how ,thy ,name ',is excellent in glory through the earth6' ,recited in slow solemn monotone1 ,as with an inward voice muffled by awe1 ,those new and strange barbaric-sounding notes ,of ,hebrew music shut in measured words ,smote on some deeper chord in ,sergius' ear ,that1 trembling1 tranced him silent for a while4 ,then he said1 rousing3 ,what a sombre strain6 ,from the light-hearted ,greek how different6 ,sombre thou callest it1 and solemn ,i1 ,who find in such solemnity a joy2 ,but different1 yea1 from the light-thoughted ,greek4 ,less as in converse than soliloquy ,deep-musing so to ,sergius ,saul replied4 ,our bard ,isaiah modulates the strain ,into another mood less pastoral4 ,he pours divine contempt on idol gods1 ,on idol gods and on their worshippers2 ,and then majestically hymns ,his praise ,who made yon host of heaven and leads them out4 ',to whom then will ye liken ,god8' he cries1 ',or what similitude to ,him compare8 ',the skilled artificer an image forms1 ',and this the goldsmith overlays with gold1 ',and tricks it smartly out with silver chains3 ',or haply one too poor for cost like this ',chooseth him out a tree judged sound and good1 ',and seeks a cunning workman who shall thence ',grave him an image that may shift to stand6 ',but nay1 ye foolish1 have ye then not known8 ',not heard have ye8 ,you hath it not been told ',from the remote beginning of the world8 ',from the foundations of the ancient earth ',have ye indeed so missed to understand8 ',he sits upon the circle of the earth ',and they that dwell therein are grasshoppers2 ',he as a curtain doth the heavens outspread1 ',and makes a blue pavilion of the sky4 ',to whom then will ye liken ,me8 saith ,god2 ',whom shall ,i equal8 saith the ,holy ,one4 ',lift up your eyes on high1 the heavens behold-- ',who hath these things created8 who their host ',by number bringeth out1 and all by names ',calls8 ,by the greatness of ,his might1 for that ',so strong in power is ,he1 not one star fails4' ,the deep tones ceased1 and once more silence fell ,between those two amid the silent night4 ,but ,sergius1 lightly rallying soon to speech1 ,said1 with a ready1 easy sympathy3 ,there seems indeed to breathe in such a strain ,some solemn joy1 but the solemnity ,is greater1 and my spirit is oppressed4 ,not less your poets differ from the ,greek ,in matter than in manner1 when they sing4 ,how high you make your deity to be1 ,beyond the stature of the gods of ,greece6 ,homer has ,zeus compel the clouds1 forth flash ,the lightnings1 and the thunderbolts down hurl2 ,the mightiest meddler with the world1 his ,zeus1 ,yet of the world the mighty maker not4 ,but your ,jehovah reaches even to that1 ,as with his fingers fashioning yonder heaven1 ,and fixing in their station moon and stars4 ,and he in human things concerns himself6 ,the ,epicurean gods are cold and calm2 ,on high ,olympus far withdrawn they sit1 ,and smile1 and either not at all regard ,our case1 or1 if so be regarding1 smile ,still1 unconcerned1 our case however hard4 ,your ,hebrew ,god is much more amiable1 ,but much more probable that ,olympian crew2 ,nay1 probable not at all is either2 dream1 ,fond dream1 the fable of divinities ,who either care1 or care not1 for our case4 ,we are the creatures and the sport of chance1 ,puppets tossed hither and thither in idle play1 ,a while1 a little while1 fooled to suppose ,we do the dancing we are jerked to do-- ,and then1 resolved from our compacture brief ,into the atoms which once on a time ,together chanced and so were we1 we drop ,plumb down again into the great inane ,abyss1 and recommence the eternal whirl6 ,there is that ,epicurean cosmogony1 ,an endless cycle of evolution turned ,upon itself1 in worlds forevermore ,becoming1 out of worlds forevermore ,merging in their original elements3 ,no god1 or gods1 to tangle worse the skein ,inextricably tangled by blind chance6 ,saul was affronted1 but he held his peace1 ,brooding the while his jealousy for ,god4 ,at length1 with intense calm1 he spoke and said3 ,the ,hebrew spirit is severe and says1 ',the fool it is who in his secret heart1 ,rebelling1 wills no ,god4' ',the ,hebrew spirit1' ,said ,i8 ,forget those unadvisd words2 ,for to speak so is not the ,hebrew spirit4 ,god is a jealous ,god2 ,his glory ,he ,will to another not divide2 and ,god ,himself it is1 the ,living ,god1 and not ,what1 ,gentile fashion1 my rash lips miscalled ',the ,hebrew spirit1' that charges atheism ,with folly4 ,god ,his prophet psalmist bade ,write with a diamond pen on adamant ,that stern damnation of the atheous soul3 ',the fool hath in his heart said1 ,god is not4' ,this tell ,i thee my conscience so to cleanse ,of sin in saying ',the ,hebrew spirit' for ,god4 ,with tolerant wonder1 ,sergius heard and said3 ,a strangely serious race you ,hebrews are2 ,i do not think ,i understand you yet4 ,i shall be glad to-morrow1 if so please ,thee likewise1 to renew this night's discourse4 ,so they descended from the hill and slept4 ,the herald ,dawn1 white-fingered1 from the east ,had signalled to the stars1 ',he comes6 ,he comes6' ,and these1 veiling themselves from view with light1 ,had all into the unapparent deep ,retired1 and left the hemisphere of heaven1 ,late glowing with their fixed or wandering fires1 ,one crystal hollow of pure space made void ,to be a fit pavilion for the sun1 ,when forth from their encampment rode the twain1 ,fresh as the morning from the baths of sleep1 ,and keen with hunger for the forward road4 ,the allotment of my tribe1 said ,saul--my tribe ,is ,benjamin--in measure such1 bare rock ,and rugged hill1 hardly through age-long toil ,of tilth so clothed as we have seen them clothed1 ,in terrace above terrace of won soil1 ,with verdure--that1 we leave behind1 to cross ,this day the fatter fields of ,ephraim4 ,then ,saul to ,sergius rehearsed in short ,the tale of ,hebrew history1 how ,god1 ,having his fathers out of ,egypt brought1 ,with sign and wonder thence delivering them ,and hither led them through the parted sea1 ,and past the smoking top of ,sinai-- ,touched by the finger of ,god to burn with fire ,and thunder and lighten more than man could bear ,to see or hear1 in sanction of ,his law-- ,had lastly parcelled out this land to them ,in portions by their tribes to be their rest4 ,while ,saul to ,sergius so discoursing spoke1 ,over their right the sun1 long since uprisen1 ,climbed the steep slope of morning in the sky4 ,and now the summit of a ridge those twain ,reach1 whence1 straightforward looking1 they behold1 ,in light so bright1 through air so fair1 a scene ,of the most choice the eye can rest upon4 ,a wide and long champaign of fruitful green1 ,on either side hemmed in with skirting hill1 ,stretches before them to the bounding sky1 ,where ,hermon1 scarce descried through distance dim1 ,silvers with frost each morn his crown of snows4 ,descended1 they therein1 through billowing wheat ,wind-swayed1 might1 to a watcher from the hill1 ,seem laboring like two swimmers in the surf1 ,and hardly1 in the fluctuation1 way ,making whither they went2 yet swiftly borne ,were they1 and easily1 onward4 ,soon ,saul said-- ,and therewith pointed to two mountain peaks1 ,seen towering on the left to lordly height1 ,twin warders of a lesser vale between1 ,in stature twin and twin in symmetry-- ,ebal and ,gerizim yon mountains are1 ,and these between the vale of ,shechem lies1 ,theatre once of oath and sacrament ,enacted by my nation with dread rite4 ',a strangely serious race'1 thou yesterday ,calledst us ,hebrews1 strangely frivolous race ,surely were we1 if somewhat serious not1 ,for we are heirs of serious history4 ,yon natural amphitheatre thou seest1 ,circled and sloped against those mountain sides ,with spacious interval of plain enclosed2 ,there was the oath of our obedience sworn4 ,on ,ebal half our tribes1 and half our tribes ,on ,gerizim1 stood opposite1 and midst1 ,the tribe of ,levi1 ,god's peculiar tribe1 ,stood in the vale about the ark of ,god1 ,whence ,joshua1 our great captain1 read the law-- ,he and the ,levites1 ocean-like the sound-- ,with blessing or with curse by ,god adjoined ,as disobedient or obedient we4 ,this was when scarce our fathers had set foot ,hitherside ,jordan in the promised land2 ,they from their stronghold camp came here express ,to swear such solemn covenant with ,god4 ,six hundred thousand souls of fighting-men1 ,with women and with children fourfold more1 ,ranged on the one side or the other1 joined ,to them that mustered in the middle vale1 ,all heard the threatening or the gracious words1 ,and all1 in multitudinous answer1 said ',amen6'--the tribes on ,ebal to the curse1 ,and to the blessing1 those on ,gerizim1 ,replying--choral imprecation dire ,upon themselves of every human ill1 ,if disobedient found1 of promised good ,acceptance at the price1 acknowledged just1 ,of whole obedience to ,god's holy law4 ,it was as if ,jehovah had adjured ,all things1 above1 below1 ,his witnesses1 ',hear1 ,o ye heavens1 and thou1 ,o earth1 give ear1 ,while thus ,my people covenant swear with ,me4' ,the host of ,israel1 though such numbers1 heard-- ,these mountain-sides redouble so the voice4 ,theatric sacramental rite most weird1 ,said ,sergius1 thou hast described to me4 ,sure never elsewhere did lawgiver yet1 ,with ceremony such1 a people swear ,to obedience of his laws4 ,the laws1 ,i trow1 ,subscribed and sealed with signature so strange1 ,strange must have been4 ,example couldst thou give8 ,of all those laws1 said ,saul1 doubtless the law ,to ,gentile ears the strangest1 is the first2 ,that law it is which makes the ,jew a ,jew3 ',other than ,me no god shalt thou confess2 ',image1 resemblance1 none1 molten or carved1 ',of whatsoever thing in heaven1 or earth1 ',or hidden region underneath the earth1 ',fashion to thee shalt thou1 or bow thee down ',in service or in worship unto them2 ',for ,i the ,lord thy ,god a jealous ,god ',am1 and ,i visit the iniquity ',of fathers upon children1 chastisement1 ',in long entail1 on generation linked ',to generation1 following hard the line ',of such as hate ,me1 endless mercy shown ',to such as love ,me and observe ,my law4 ',cursd be he who dares to disobey'2 ,and ,ebal1 with its countless multitude1 ,thundered to ,gerizim a loud ',amen6' ,while heaven above and the wide world around ,hearkened in witness of the dreadful oath4 ,saul ceased as mute with awe of memory2 ,and something of a sympathetic sense1 ,communicated1 also ,sergius made ,silent in presence of such history4 ,not long1 for1 rousing from his reverie1 ,and looking up before him nigh1 he sees ,a city with its walls and roofs and towers4 ,neapolis6 exclaims the ,roman voice1 ,the ,jewish1 in tone different1 ,sychar6 said4 ,neapolis6 ,and here ,i halt1 said ,sergius2 ,sychar6 ,and forward through ,samaria1 ,i1 ,not pausing till this hateful soil be passed1 ,said ,saul2 perchance to-morrow met again1 ,beyond1 we may together forward fare4 ,so there they parted with such slight farewell2 ,nor after met1 until1 two morrows more ,now spent in separate travel1 they had reached ,the bursting fountain of the ,jordan1 where1 ,forth from between the feet of ,hermon born ,forever--in the joy and anguish born1 ,the certain anguish and the doubtful joy ,tumultuous of an everlasting birth-- ,leaps to the light of life that famous stream1 ,like many another child--from ,adam sprung-- ,to run his heedless1 headlong1 downward course ,and lose himself at last in the ,dead ,sea6 ,here was what life1 all-welcoming1 lusty life1 ,doom of what deadly worse than death was there6 ,a city here the tetrarch ,philip built1 ,or raised to more magnificent1 which then1 ,in honor of dishonorable name ,imperial1 ,tiberius ,csar1 he ,called ,csarea1 and ,philippi too ,eponymous therewith for surname joined2 ,but ,paneas1 earlier name1 clung to the place1 ,as to this day it clings in ,banias4 ,,book ,,xiv4 ,,for ,,damascus4 ,coming together again at ,csarea ,philippi 7,paneas1 ,banias7 after an interval of days1 ,saul and ,sergius cross the southern spur of ,hermon4 ,a violent thunderstorm comes slowly up during the afternoon1 which gives ,sergius occasion1 by way of mask to his own secret disquietude1 to quote his ,epicurean poet ,lucretius on the subject of ,jupiter's control of thunderbolts4 ,as the storm increases in violence1 the fears of ,sergius overpower him1 and he breaks down at last into a deprecatory prayer and vow to ,jupiter4 ,saul then1 the storm still raging1 rehearses from ,scripture appropriate fragments of psalm1 timing them to the various successive bursts of tempest4 ,the sound of a tranquil human voice has a quieting effect on ,sergius1 and even on the frightened steeds of the two travellers4 ,the storm ceases1 and they pass the night under a serene sky1 ready to set out the next morning for the last stage of their journey to ,damascus4 ,,for ,,damascus4 ,the splendor of the morning yet once more ,was a theophany in ,syria1 ,when ,saul and ,sergius1 met1 from ,paneas ,started1 with mind to overpass that day ,the spur of ,hermon interposed between ,them and ,damascus4 ,strange the human bent1 ,said ,saul1 the universal human bent1 ,toward worship of unreal divinities6 ',paneas6' ,the very sound insults the name ,and solitary majesty of ,god1 ,jehovah1 ,ever-living1 ,only ,true4 ,think of it6 ',pan'1 forsooth6 ,and ,god1 who made ,these things which we behold1 these waters1 woods1 ,and mountains1 glens1 and rocky cliffs1 and caves1 ,who these things made1 and made the mind of man ,capacious of ,himself1 or capable ,at least of knowing ,him ,creator1 such ,a ,god thrust from ,his own creation forth1 ,by ,his own noblest creature thus thrust forth1 ,that a rough1 rustic1 gross1 grotesque1 burlesque1 ,goat-footed1 and goat-bearded1 horned and tailed ,divinity like ,pan1 foul caricature ,at best of man himself who fashions him1 ,and out of wanton fancy furnishes him ,his meet appendages of brute wild beast-- ,that this deform abortion of the brain ,might take the room1 made void1 of ,god outcast1 ,and1 with his ramping1 reeling1 riotous rout ,of fauns and satyrs1 claim to be adored6 ,i feel the ,hebrew blood within me boil ,at outrage such from man on ,god and man6 ,phoebus ,apollo seems an upward reach ,of human fancy in theogony2 ,some height1 some aspiration1 there at least1 ,toward what in man1 if not the noblest1 yet ,is nobler than the beasts that browse1 or graze4 ,apollo1 too1 ,i hate1 but ,i loathe ,pan6 ,we ,romans are more catholic than you ,hebrews1 said ,sergius1 more hospitable ,to different peoples' different gods4 ,our own ,synod of native deities we have1 ,but we make room for others than our own4 ,from ,greece we have adopted all her gods1 ,and all the gods of ,egypt and the ,east ,are domiciled at ,rome--all save your god1 ,jehovah1 his pretensions overleap ,the bounds of even our hospitality1 ,who not on any terms of fellowship ,will sit a fellow with his fellow-gods4 ,him sole except1 it is our policy ,to entertain with wise indifference ,in brotherly equality all gods ,of whatsoever nations of the earth4 ,a temple at ,rome have we1 ,pantheon called1 ,so called as to this end expressly built ,that there no human god might lack a home4 ,such is our ,roman way2 your ,hebrew way ,is different2 different races1 different ways4 ,sergius so spoke as if concluding all ,with the last word of wisdom to be said2 ,he paused1 and ,saul mused whether wise it were ,to answer1 when thus ,sergius further spoke3 ,i marked late1 when ',neapolis6' ,i said1 ',sychar6' saidst thou1 in tone as if of scorn2 ',hateful1' thou also calledst ,samarian soil-- ,wherefore8 if ,i may know4 ',sychar1' said ,saul1 ,imports deceit1 and there deceit abounds4 ,from the ,samaritans we ,jews refrain2 ,corrupters they of the right ways of ,god4 ,across their soil we either shun to go1 ,or1 going1 hasten with unpausing feet4 ,those also have their ways6 said ,sergius2 ,such humors of the blood thou wilt not cure4 ,worship ,jehovah ye1 it is your way1 ,and let us ,gentiles serve our several gods1 ,or serve them not1 be atheists if we choose-- ,i1 as thou knowest1 an atheist choose to be-- ,of comity and peace the sole safe rule4 ,this therefore is the sum--,i say it again-- ,ways diverse worship men1 or worship not1 ,all as our natural bents may us incline4 ,keep your ,jehovah1 you1 ,he is your ,god1 ,chosen1 or feigned and fashioned to your mind-- ,keep ,him1 but not impose your ethnic dream1 ,or guess1 of deity on all mankind4 ,no dream of ours1 said ,saul1 ,jehovah is4 ,nay1 nay1 alas1 far otherwise than so1 ,our ,hebrew dreams of ,god have1 like the dreams ,dreamed by all races of mankind besides1 ,grovelled to low and lower1 have bestial been1 ,or reptile1 nay1 to insensate wood and stone ,descended2 we have loved idolatry1 ,we1 with the rest1 and hardly healed have been1 ,though purged with hyssop of dire history1 ,constrained--against the subtly treacherous soft ,relentings of our heart1 oft yielded to1 ,then punished oft full sore1 which bade us spare ,whom ,god to spare forbade--constrained to slay ,with our own swords1 abolish utterly1 ,the idolatrous possessors of this land1 ,in judgment just on their idolatry1 ,and lest we too be tainted with their sin2 ,yet foul relapse despite1 and after1 stripes1 ,stripes upon stripes again and yet again1 ,suffered from the right hand of ,god incensed1 ,defeat1 captivity1 long servitude1 ,with the probe searched1 with the knife carved until ,scarce left was life to bear the cautery ,wherewith a holy and a jealous ,god ,out of our quivering soul throughly would burn ,that clinging1 deep1 inveterate human plague ,inherited from ,adam in his fall1 ,that devil-taught depravity which prompts ,apostasy to other gods no gods-- ,hardly so healed1 with dreadful chastisement1 ,has been my nation of her dreadful crime4 ,loth1 slow1 ingrate1 rebellious pupils1 we ,taught have been thus to worship only ,god-- ,jehovah1 only ,god of the whole earth6 ,those last words as he spoke1 ,saul his right hand ,swept round in waving gesture--for they now ,a height of goodly prospect had attained1 ,wherefrom1 pausing to breathe their laboring steeds1 ,they backward looked beneath them far abroad-- ,swept round his hand1 as if the circuit wide ,of the whole earth might there his words attest2 ,their fill they gazed1 then upward strained once more4 ,at length a stage of smoother going reached1 ,sergius1 abreast of ,saul1 took up the word3 ,yea1 might one deem thy ,hebrew race indeed ,had been the subjects of such history1 ,so purposed1 then sound were thine argument ,and thy ,jehovah would be very ,god1 ,and ,god alone1 and ,god of the whole earth4 ,but other races too besides thine own ,have had their chances1 their vicissitudes2 ,fortune to all has served her whirling wheel1 ,and every several race has had its turn ,of rising now1 now sinking in the dust4 ,wherefore should we you ,hebrews sole of all ,reckon divinely taught by history1 ,taught to be theists in an atheist world1 ,or in a world idolatrous1 of ,god ,the ,true1 the ,only1 only worshippers8 ,the other nations all1 so ,saul rejoined1 ,followed the bent of nature1 had their will1 ,what they chose did1 and were idolatrous1 ,god gave them up to their apostasy2 ,us ,god withstood1 ,his ,hebrews ,he forbade2 ,with the same bent as others1 as headstrong1 ,we ,hebrews strangely went a different way1 ,and upward moved against a downward bent4 ,a fiery flaming sword turned every way ,forever met us on the errant track1 ,and forced us right though still found facing wrong4 ,god's prophets did not fail1 age after age-- ,until for that we needed them no more-- ,to warn us1 chide us1 threaten1 plead1 conjure1 ,against our passion for idolatry4 ,yet1 as defying all that ,god could do1 ,such was the force of that infatuate love ,fast-rooted in the sottish ,hebrew heart ,for idol-worship1 that ,king ,solomon1 ,the greatest1 wisest1 wealthiest of our kings1 ,mightiest1 most famous1 most magnificent1 ,the glory and the crown of ,israel1 ,the wonder and the proverb of the ,east-- ,this king1 at point of culmination highest ,to the far-shining splendor of our race1 ,the son of ,david1 ,solomon1 turned back ,from ,god who gave him his pre-eminence1 ,from ,god1 the ,living ,god1 turned back1 and sold ,his heart1 his spacious1 all-experienced heart1 ,to gods that were no gods4 ,against a will1 ,a set of nature1 a prime pravity ,stubborn like this1 and tenfold impulse given ,through such example in our first of kings1 ,that1 conflagration of infection round1 ,we should escape and not idolatrous be1 ,we only of all nations on the earth1 ,this1 without miracle1 were miracle1 ,a miracle of chance1 confounding chance1 ,monstrous1 incredible1 impossible6 ,nay1 miracles on miracles were for us wrought1 ,the manifest finger of ,god unquestionable1 ,yet to ourselves ourselves1 to all men we1 ,wisely looked on1 are chiefest miracle1 ,witness from age to age that ,god is ,god4 ,with ,hebrew heat1 thus ,saul to ,sergius2 ,the frequent steep ascents meanwhile1 the halts ,for rest1 for prospect1 or for dalliance ,under some cooling shade of rock or tree-- ,shield from the waxing fervors of the sun-- ,slack pace1 due to the humors of their steeds ,unchidden while their masters held discourse1 ,left the twain still below the topmost crest ,of ,hermon when the noontide hour was on4 ,large leisure to refection and repose ,allowed1 with converse1 and mid-afternoon ,it was1 before to horse again were got ,the horsemen1 and their forward way resumed4 ,as1 lightly1 they into the saddle sprang1 ,out of a purple-dark dense cloud that slept ,wakefully now along the horizon's rim ,under the flaming sun in the deep west1 ,there came a roll of thunder to their ears1 ,remote1 and mellow with remoteness1 rich ,bass music in long rumbling monotone2 ,they listened with delight to hear the sound4 ,then ,sergius1 as the vibration died ,in low delicious tremble from their sense1 ,said1 coupling this with that in ,saul's discourse1 ,fresh1 or remembered from the days before3 ,that thunder and this mountain bring to me1 ,imagined1 the wild scene on ,sinai ,when your lawgiver gave his laws to you4 ,he schemed it well to have a thunder-storm ,chime in and be a brave accompaniment ,to enforce his ordinances upon the awe ,of the unthinking timorous multitude4 ,popular leaders and lawgivers have ,always and everywhere their tricks of trade1 ,to impress1 hoodwink1 and wheedle vulgar minds4 ,our ,sabine ,numa1 he ,pompilius named1 ,had his mysterious nymph ,egeria ,to bring him statutes for all men to heed2 ,and that ,lycurgus got an oracle ,from famous ,delphi to approve his laws1 ,which having sworn his ,spartans to observe ,at least till he returned from whither he went ,abroad1 he1 after1 masked in such disguise ,that never thence to have returned he seemed4 ,the herd of men still love to be cajoled1 ,trolled hither and thither about with baited lies2 ,frighten them now with brandished empty threat1 ,and now with laud as empty tickle them4 ,augustus taught the art to tyrannize ,through forms of ancient freedom false and vain1 ,the stale trick since of all our emperors4 ,your ,hebrew ,moses in his rude grand way ,well plied his shifts of lead and government4 ,thunder1 a rising mutter1 broke again1 ,and ,sergius in his saddle turned to look2 ,but ,saul1 with forward face intent1 replied3 ,nay1 but our ,moses thou dost misconceive4 ,all was to lose and naught to gain for him ,then when he left the ease1 the pomp1 the power1 ,of ,pharaoh's court--of ,pharaoh's daughter son ,esteemed1 and to imperial futures heir-- ,this left1 and loth his brethren led1 slaves they1 ,out of the realm of ,egypt to the sea-- ,for such a multitude impassable1 ,yet passed1 through mighty miracle1 by all-- ,beyond the sea1 into that wilderness ,led them1 where neither food nor water was1 ,yet food found they1 and water1 in the waste1 ,full forty years of error till they came ,next to a land set thick with bristling spears ,against them--though land promised them for theirs-- ,and land that ,moses never was to see1 ,save as afar in prospect from the mount1 ,because unworthy judged to enter there1 ,who unadvisd words in haste let slip1 ,unworthy judged1 and meekly by himself ,recorded judged unworthy--such a man1 ,to such a people1 so long led by him1 ,through such straits of extremity1 not once ,spake words to humor or to flatter them2 ,thwarted them rather1 balked them of their wish1 ,upbraided1 blamed1 rebuked1 and punished them1 ,each art of selfish demagogue eschewed4 ,to rule and leadership like his1 nowhere ,wilt thou find precedent or parallel2 ,one key alone unlocks the mystery--,god6 ,at that last word from ,saul1 like answer1 came ,a deep-mouthed boom of thunder from the west1 ,after a sword of lightning sudden drawn ,then sheathed within the scabbard of the cloud1 ,which now1 spread wide1 had blotted out the sun4 ,a vagrant breath of tempest shook the trees1 ,and the scared birds flew homeward to their nests4 ,sergius remarked the stir of elements ,uneasily the more that he alone ,remarked it1 ,saul1 involved in his own thought1 ,seeming unconscious of the outward world4 ,the ,roman1 groping in his secret mind ,vainly to find support of sympathy1 ,faltered to feel himself thus fronted sole ,with danger he could neither ward nor shun1 ,in presence yet forbidding sign of fear4 ,in this distress he buoyed himself with words1 ,cheer seeking in the sound of his own voice3 ,a merry place that in ,lucretius ,where this bold poet rallies ,jupiter-- ,the whole ,olympian crew1 ,jupiter most-- ,in such a rattling vein of pleasantry1 ,on his plenipotence with thunderbolts6 ,lucretius1 thou shouldst know1 interpreter ,of ,epicurus is to ,roman minds2 ,from whom we moderns learn the truth of things ,and generation of the universe4 ',if ,jupiter1' ,lucretius sings and says1 ',if ,jupiter it be1 and other gods1 ',that with terrific sound the temple shake1 ',shake the resplendent temple of the skies1 ',and launch the lightning whither each one wills1 ',why is it that the strokes transfix not those ',guilty of some abominable crime1 ',as these within their breast the flames inhale1 ',instruction sharp to mortals--why not this1 ',rather than that the man of no base thing ',to himself conscious should be wrapt about ',innocent in the flames1 and suddenly ',with whirlwind and with fire from heaven consumed8 ',also1 why seek they out1 the gods1 for work ',like this1 deserted spots1 and waste their pains8 ',or haply do they then just exercise ',their muscles1 that thereby their arms be strong8' ,sergius so far1 from his ,lucretius1 ,when the cloud1 cloven1 let out an arrowy flash1 ,and1 following soon1 a muffled muttering threat ,prolonged1 that ended in a ragged roar-- ,as if1 with angry rupture1 violent hands ,atwain had torn the fabric of the sky4 ,a shuddering pause1 but again ,sergius1 ,flying his poet's gibes at ,jupiter3 ',why never from a sky clear everywhere ',does ,jupiter upon the lands hurl down ',his thunderbolts1 and thunder-booms outpour8 ',or1 when the clouds have come1 does he descend ',then into them that nigh at hand he thence ',the striking of his weapon may direct8' ,one sheet of flame the bending welkin wrapt1 ,and a broadside of thunder roared amain4 ,with mortal strife against a mortal fear1 ,hidden1 the ,roman struggled1 not in vain-- ,as1 faltering yet from his feigned gayety1 ,he1 in a forced voice almost grim1 went on ,with that ,lucretian blasphemy of ,jove3 ',why lofty places seeks out ,jupiter1 ',and why most numerous vestiges find we ',traced of his fires on lonely mountain-tops8' ,no farther--flash on flash and crash on crash1 ,chaos of light and universe of sound6-- ,for the wind roared a tumult like the sea ,which the gulfs filled between the thunder-peals4 ,one mighty blast1 frantic as battle-charge ,when1 mad with last despair1 ten thousand horse ,headlong into the hell at cannon-mouth ,plunge--such a blast rushed down the rent ravine ,whereby1 along a shaggy side1 the twain1 ,now nigh the utmost mountain summit1 climbed4 ,the glacial air1 as in a torrent rolled ,precipitous or vertical sheer down ,some dizzy height in cataract1 so swift6 ,unhorsed them both2 but1 crouching1 man and steed1 ,with one wise instinct instantly to all1 ,which equalled all--supreme desire of life-- ,they huddling crept transverse to where a rock ,on their right hand lifted its moveless brow ,and1 safely founded in the mountain's base1 ,made1 leaning1 an impendent roof which now ,proffered a dreadful shelter from the storm4 ,hardly this refuge gained1 the tempest1 loosed1 ,hailstones and coals of fire commingled1 fell4 ,the wind1 with such a weight oppressed1 went down1 ,and1 with the sinking wind1 a water-spout1 ,whirled roaring in its spiral from on high1 ,those watchers saw peel off1 with one steep swoop ,descending1 a whole mountain-top and roll ,its shattered forest into the ravine ,suddenly thus with foaming torrent filled4 ,therewith1 as weary were the storm1 a lull2 ,lull only1 for the welkin seemed to sink ,collapsed about them1 and what was the sky ,became the nether atmosphere on fire1 ,enrobing them with lightning fold on fold ,and thunder detonating at their ears4 ,sergius1 ere shut had seared his eyes the glare1 ,saw a gigantic cedar nigh at hand1 ,under a flaming wedge of thunderbolt1 ,riven in parted halves from head to foot1 ,fall burning down the frightful precipice4 ,spite of himself1 his terror turned to prayer3 ,o ,jupiter1 he said1 it was not meant1 ,what ,i spoke late against thy majesty6 ,spare me yet this once more1 and ,i a vow1 ,a pledged rich vow1 will in thy temple hang1 ,then when ,i first shall safe reach ,rome1 inscribed ',from ,sergius ,paulus to ,king ,jupiter1 ,lord of the lightning and the thunderbolt4' ',give ye unto ,jehovah1' so at last1 ,fragments of psalm responsive to the storm-- ,as in antiphony of worship joined1 ,he and the elements6--chanting1 ,saul burst forth1 ,at intervals1 between the swells of sound1 ,and varying to the tempest's varying phase1 ',give ye unto ,jehovah1 lo1 all ye ',sons of the mighty1 to ,jehovah give ',glory and strength2 unto ,jehovah give ',the equal glory due unto ,his name2 ',worship ,jehovah in fair robes of praise6' ',deep calleth unto deep at the dread noise ',made by ,thy waterspouts4 ,the earth1 it shook ',and trembled2 the foundations of the hills ',moved and were shaken for that ,he was wroth4 ',the heavens moreover bowed ,he1 and came down1 ',he ,his pavilion round about ,him made ',dark waters and the thick clouds of the skies4 ',jehovah also thundered in the heavens1 ',and therein the ,most ,high gave forth ,his voice1 ',hailstones and coals of fire6 ',jehovah's voice ',in power6 ',jehovah's voice in majesty6 ',jehovah's voice is on the waters6 ,god1 ',the ,god of glory thunders6 ',lo1 ,his voice1 ',jehovah's voice1 the mighty cedar breaks1 ',jehovah's voice divides the flames of fire6 ',praise ye ,jehovah1 heavens of heavens1 and ye ',waters that be above the heavens1 ,him praise6 ',praise ye ,jehovah1 from the earth beneath1 ',thou fire1 thou hail1 thou snow1 and vapors ye1 ',thou1 stormy wind that dost fulfil ,his word6' ,so ,saul1 in dialogue with the elements1 ,that heard him1 and responded voice for voice4 ,sublimity into sublimity ,other1 immeasurable heights more high1 ,was lifted and transformed1 the terror gone1 ,gone or exalted to ennobling awe-- ,in converse such1 ,god1 with ,his image man6 ,the thunder1 and the lightning1 and the hail ,falling in power1 the pomp of moving clouds1 ,the sound of torrent and of cataract1 ,the multitudinous orchestra of winds-- ,trumpet and pipe1 resounding cymbal loud1 ,timbrel and harp1 sackbut and psaltery-- ,the majesty of cedars prostrate strewn ,in utmost adoration1 the veiled sun1 ,the kneeling heavens1 face downward on the earth1 ,in act of penitence as found unclean ,by the white-burning holiness of ,god-- ,all this wild gesture of the elements ,and deep convulsion of the frame of things1 ,appalling only erst1 interpreted ,by interjections such from ,saul of phrase ,inspired1 seemed from confusion and turmoil ,transposed and harmonized to an august ,service and symphony of prayer and praise ,and solemn liturgy of the universe4 ,sergius was charmed insensibly to peace1 ,and a calm human voice had subtle power ,to soothe to breathing rest the trembling steeds4 ,and now began the cadence of the storm2 ,lifted the sky was from the burdened earth1 ,the lightnings flashed less imminent1 less thick4 ,the thunder dulled his stroke1 retired to far ,and farther in the muffling firmament1 ,the hail ceased falling in a fall of rain1 ,through which at last the low descending sun ,smiled in a rainbow on the opposite cloud4 ,god's sign1 said ,saul1 ,his seal of promise set ,oft on the clouds of heaven when storm is past1 ,in radiant curve of blended colors fair1 ,that ,he with flood no more will drown the world4 ,therewith they got them to their path again1 ,and1 forward hastening1 on the farther slope ,of ,hermon overpassed1 were met by some ,returning of their escort companies ,who sought their laggard masters left behind4 ,these had crossed earlier1 and1 before the storm1 ,housed them in covert1 where all now with joy ,welcomed their chiefs from threatened scath escaped4 ,they slept that night beneath a starry sky ,fair as if wrinkled never by a frown2 ,to-morrow they would see that paradise1 ,renowned ,damascus1 pearl of all the ,east4 ,this their sleep filled with dream of things to be1 ,until the morning breaking radiant made ,the desert seem to blossom as the rose ,wherein ,damascus sat an oasis4 ,,book ,,xv4 ,,saul ,,and ,,jesus4 ,the scene of the poem changes1 being transferred to ,paradise4 ,here a group composed of those who had come to their death by the hands of ,saul assemble1 privileged by special grace to witness from their celestial station the happy overthrow and conversion of their late persecutor4 ,sergius applies his interpretation of the occurrence1 and ,saul finishes his journey on foot1 blind1 led by the hand into ,damascus4 ,,saul ,,and ,,jesus4 ,without the limits of this earthly sphere1 ,immeasurable distances beyond ,the region of the utmost fixd stars1 ,nay1 high above all height1 transcending space1 ,transcending time1 subsists a different world1 ,invisible1 inapprehensible ,to whatsoever power of human sense1 ,all unimaginable even--so far ,removed from aught that ever we on earth ,have seen1 or heard1 or felt1 or known1 or guessed4 ,believed in only1 and not otherwise ,than to the vision of meek ,faith revealed 7,though indefeasible inheritance ,reserved for her fruition after death71 ,yet is that world unknown substantial more ,than all this solid-seeming universe ,of matter round about us that assaults ,our senses daily with its imminence1 ,its impact1 as if nothing else were real6 ,but till the destined moment1 we must deem1 ,much more1 must speak1 of that transcendent world1 ,and of our human brethren there insphered1 ,in figure borrowed of our mortal state4 ,while those things nigh ,damascus so befell1 ,and now the night was almost waned to morn1 ,its different morning in that different world ,dawned to the saints forever summering there ,in bliss and glory with their glorious ,lord4 ,morning in the celestial ,paradise ,is not as morning here1 new-springing day ,crescent the same out of eclipsing night3 ,no night is there1 and therefore no vicissitude ,of dark and bright to separate the days4 ,yet condescends our ,father to their frame1 ,still finite though immortal1 still in need ,of changes to diversify their state1 ,and punctuate into periods the smooth lapse1 ,else cloying with prolonged beatitude1 ,of that eternal dateless life serene ,lived by the happy souls in ,paradise2 ,our ,father condescends and gives them days ,and days1 with difference of each from each1 ,that they may reckon up and date their bliss2 ,no night is there1 but without night a morn4 ,morning in ,paradise is perfect light ,ineffably more fair become to-day ,than yesterday1 forever1 through more fair ,disclosure1 dawn on dawn1 eternally ,made of the glory of the face of ,him ,in whom to ,his belovd ,god still shines4 ,morn such had risen once more in ,paradise1 ,when there a group elect together drawn1 ,wearing a brow of expectation each1 ,stood on a flowery hill enringed around ,to be almost an island with a loop ,of river1 the river of life1 that lucent flowed ,mirroring ranks of trees along its banks ,ruddy or gold in gleams of fruitage seen ,glimpsing against the rich green of their leaves-- ,here stood a chosen group who waited now ,tidings a messenger to come should bring4 ,these were those all who lately on the earth ,had suffered death for ,jesus' sake through ,saul-- ,all saving ,stephen2 he1 at point of dawn ,that morning1 had been summoned by his ,lord ,to bear from ,him some embassy of grace4 ,the man born blind was there whom ,jesus healed ,to double seeing1 seeing of the soul1 ,as of the body1 and whom not the threat ,of stripes1 of stones1 and not the blandishment ,of gentle words from lips with power of death ,could bribe to live at cost of least unfaith ,toward his ,light-giver and ,redeemer ,lord-- ,he1 and a little company besides1 ,women with men1 who like him lightly recked ,of loss but for a moment then and there ,compared with that far more exceeding weight ,of glory now1 in over-recompense1 ,forever and forever sealed their own4 ,this little group1 beyond their happy wont ,beatified with hope that heavenly morn1 ,soon greet one coming whose irradiate brow ,bespeaks him fresh from audience with the ,king2 ,stephen it was1 whose earthly-shining face ,was shadow to the brightness now it wore4 ,the martyr to his fellow-martyrs brought ,glad tidings2 they were all that day to see ,break forth in power the glory of the ,lord4 ,saul1 ,stephen said1 still breathes his threatening out ,and slaughter aimed against the church of ,christ2 ,he journeys to ,damascus in this mind4 ,but the ,lord ,christ will meet him in the way ,and overthrow him with resistless light4 ,ours is to tarry on this pleasant hill ,of prospect1 and1 hence gazing1 all behold1 ,tasting a sweet revenge of ,paradise1 ,to see our prayers fulfilled1 in ,saul become ,from persecutor brother well-beloved1 ,and builder from destroyer of the church4 ,so these there sat them down upon the mount4 ,here1 gaze turned ever earthward1 they in talk ,of earthly things that still were dear to them ,consumed the happy heavenly hours1 until1 ,to those their native ,syrian climes1 drew nigh ,noontide2 then1 in a new theophany1 ,the transit of a shadow6--seldom seen ,there where was neither sun1 nor moon1 nor star1 ,but all was equal universal light-- ,came sudden notice to their eyes to watch ,the ,messianic dread procession forth1 ,christ in the majesty of solitude1 ,swifter than meteor's fall1 from ,paradise4 ,,he1 purposed not to slay1 only cast down ,saul from the top of his presumptuous pride1 ,and break him from his disobedient will1 ,would not in ,his essential glory meet ,his creature1 lest he be abolished quite1 ,but dimmed ,himself with splendor which1 more bright ,than the supreme effulgence of the sun ,at mid-day in a crystal firmament1 ,fixed1 but more vivid than the fleeting flash ,of lightning when its beam burns most intense1 ,was splendor yet of ray less luminous ,than the accustomed radiance of ,his face1 ,and showed as cloud against that shining sky4 ,for1 in that unimaginable world ,of perfect1 purged from sin and sin's defect1 ,the senses of the blest inhabitants1 ,their organs and their faculties1 are all ,inured to bear with ease1 with pleasure bear1 ,continuance and intensity of light ,that mortal frames like ours would quite consume4 ,those there from light need neither change nor rest1 ,their proper substance is illuminate1 ,and their bliss is to bathe themselves in light1 ,and light1 more light1 drunk in at every pore ,from the bright omnipresence of the ,lord1 ,revealed each day brighter forevermore1 ,makes their eternal life eternal joy4 ,but on this day select of many days1 ,the happy people all of ,paradise ,saw ,jesus as a darkness of less light1 ,a glancing shadow1 pass from out their sphere-- ,the most unweeting whither or why ,he went2 ,but those knew who kept vigil on the mount4 ,these had their sense for sight and sound that day ,exalted to seraphic keen and clear ,beyond the glorious wont of ,paradise2 ,while a circumfluous ether interfused ,for their behoof between where thus they stood ,and where they earthward looked1 a subtile air1 ,a discontinuous element rare like space1 ,was now such vehicle1 so voluble1 ,for lightest appulse to both eye and ear ,supernal1 thrice sevenfold refined1 as made ,seem nigh things seen or heard1 however far4 ,fixed to behold and hearken thus at ease1 ,they saw afar two pilgrim companies1 ,where1 near ,damascus1 these a shady tuft ,of grove or thicket1 in the arid waste ,of burning sand1 at noontide hour had found1 ,for rest and coolness ere their goal they gained4 ,those pilgrims just in act1 as seemed1 to start ,anew upon the way for their last stage ,of going1 one1 well recognized for ,saul-- ,remounted not from halt1 but some few steps ,leading his horse with bridle-rein remiss ,along his destined path--comrade beside1 ,was by this comrade asked1 as in discourse ,after suspense renewed3 ,how was it1 then1 ,through what offence1 that he deserved his death8 ,since atheist not1 and not idolater1 ,nor yet of those ,samaritan heretics1 ,wherein did ,stephen fail of loyalty8 ,traitor was he1 said ,saul1 to our chief hope1 ,he taught that ,jesus ,nazarene was ,christ2 ,nay1 that impostor1 he1 blaspheming1 made ,coequal partner of the eternal throne ,and solitary majesty of ,god2 ,worst of idolatry such blasphemy6 ,jesus of ,nazareth anathema6 ,almost1 at this1 a shudder of horror ran ,chill through the spiritual pure corporeal frames ,wherein were housed those blessed essences1 ,hearing from earth such words in ,paradise6 ,they then considered at what cost were bought ,perpetual consciousness of things terrene6 ,watched they meanwhile that cloud of glory go ,darkened wherein the ,lord of light was hid4 ,incredibly though swift its far descent1 ,yet answerably swift their vision was1 ,as swift likewise the motion of their mind2 ,and so they plainly saw how1 by degrees1 ,what shadow was1 in the celestial sphere1 ,became a growing brightness as it went1 ,until1 within the bounds of sunshine come1 ,that mild beclouded glory1 still unchanged1 ,paled with its bright the brilliance of the sun4 ,hardly those watchers dare keep looking1 pierced ,with a redeemed fine sympathy for ,saul1 ,and marvelling1 ,such light can he bear and live8 ,to ,saul himself no interval there seemed2 ,instant1 with his anathema1 down smote ,that awful light on him1 and straight to earth ,prostrate as dead he fell1 yet heard a ,voice1 ,awful not less1 speak twice his name1 ,saul1 ,saul1 ,and1 ,wherefore dost thou persecute ,me8 ask4 ,then further these deep searching words to him3 ,hard findst it thou to kick against the pricks6 ,who art ,thou1 ,lord8 came trembling forth from ,saul1 ,whereby their brother yet alive those knew4 ,jesus ,i am1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,the crucified1 whom thou dost persecute1 ,they heard ,messiah say1 and thrilled with joy ,of gratitude to feel afresh that ,he ,suffered when any suffered for ,his sake1 ,and bled in wounds that made ,his brethren bleed1 ,joining ,himself to them1 by fellowship ,of passion1 they in ,him and ,he in them1 ,the living members with the living ,head ,mysteriously incorporate in one4 ,thus a sweet thrill of grateful love to ,him1 ,their ,saviour1 trembled in those heavenly breasts1 ,while in suspense of balanced hope and fear-- ,the fear but such as made the hope more bliss-- ,they waited what their brother next would say4 ,but in the prostrate man1 at such reply1 ,felt from amidst that imminent light descend1 ,i ,jesus am whom thou dost persecute1 ,thought following thought1 a fleet succession1 flew ,the boundless blank astonishment was brief ,which1 as with wing world-wide of hurricane1 ,shadowy1 his mind bewildering overswept4 ',such power of splendor his1 the ,nazarene's6 ,jesus had launched that thunderbolt of light6 ,the ,lord of ,glory then the crucified6' ,the momentary hurricane was past1 ,but passing it had overturned the world4 ,saul vividly saw ,stephen as that day ,he shone ,shekinah in the temple court ,effulgent with a milder light like this2 ',and this was that which ,stephen prophesied6 ,how madly had he kicked against the pricks6' ,next1 ,stephen martyr stood before his eyes ,uplifting holy hands to heaven in prayer1 ,on poise for that translation to his ,lord ,wherein his1 ,saul's1 the murderer's part had been6 ,and ,rachel flashed in vision on his mind1 ,pathetically beautiful1 once more1 ,as on that moonlit eve at ,bethany6 ,the sisters there1 and ,lazarus--with ,ruth ,exalted in her mother-majesty6 ,hirani1 then1 in his simplicity ,perplexed before the ,sanhedrim1 but borne ,in ecstasy above them far away1 ,thence looking down upon them all1 a light ,fair on his forehead like the light of stars2 ,all these things in his past1 with many more-- ,instant1 at sudden summons of his mind1 ,to swear against him his own blasphemy-- ,shot through ,saul's spirit1 as the lightning leaps1 ,rapid1 one leap1 from end to end of heaven4 ',this dreadful splendor was not vengeance all1 ,it had not slain him1 he was thinking still6 ,a grace was in the glory1 oh1 how fair6' ,the features of a ,face began to dawn ,upon him in the darkness of that light2 ,as the sun shineth in his strength1 it shone1 ,an awful ,meekness mild with ,majesty6 ,the outward light light to his soul became-- ,a light of knowledge of the glory of ,god ,to ,saul1 seen in the face of ,jesus ,christ6 ',it would be freedom to serve such a ,lord6' ,the passion of rebellion all was gone1 ,a passion of obedience in its place2 ,the will that hated had dissolved away1 ,and will no more was left1 but only love4 ,this love which was obedience spoke and asked1 ,lord ,jesus1 what wilt thou have me to do8 ,the ,brightness of the ,father's ,glory said3 ,rise thou1 and stand upon thy feet1 for ,i ,have to this end appeared to thee1 to make ,thee minister and witness both of what ,this day thou hast beheld and of those things ,wherein ,i after will appear to thee1 ,delivering thee from ,jewish enemies ,and from the ,gentiles unto whom ,i now ,send thee1 their eyes to unseal and them to turn ,from darkness unto light1 and from the power ,of ,satan unto ,god1 that they of sins ,forgiveness may receive1 and heirs become ,among those sanctified through faith in ,me4 ,saul heard1 and in his heart of hearts obeyed2 ,and his whole life thenceforth obedience was-- ,whereof the greater song remains to sing1 ,if so be ,god vouchsafe such grace to me4 ,but ,jesus to ,his servant further said1 ,hence now into ,damascus city go2 ,there fully shall be shown thee all thy way4 ,a way indeed stain-traced in blood and tears1 ,as ,saul foresaw to ,rachel2 but in tears ,and blood his own thereafter to the end1 ,even to the end of that apostleship4 ,yet glorious end6 ,already then afar ,will kindle the dark earth with many a ray1 ,never to be extinguished1 of heaven's light ,caught from the torch that this world-wandering man1 ,this flying angel fledged with wingd feet ,tireless1 this heart of love unquenchable1 ,has borne abroad1 when1 now the good fight fought1 ,finished his course1 the faith full kept1 he1 last1 ,with aged eagle eyes strained forward1 sees ,the crown of righteousness laid up for him ,which ,christ1 the ,righteous ,judge1 will give him then1 ,give him in that forever-imminent ,day-- ,nor him alone1 as his vicarious soul ,swells to remember1 but all them likewise ,who shall have loved the appearing of the ,lord4 ,the transit of a thought athwart the brain-- ,what computation for such speed in flight6 ,what reckoning of the number of the thoughts ,that in an individual instant will ,chase one another through a human mind ,in never-sundered continuity ,of change6 ,the measureless diameters ,of being that a mortal man may cross ,from one pulse to another of the blood6 ,how1 in the twinkling of an eye1 become ,the spirit its own polar opposite6 ,between his ,lord's reply1 ,i ,jesus am1 ,and his own further question instant asked1 ,lord ,jesus1 what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,that prostrate proud young ,hebrew penitent ,the utmost stretch of longitude traversed ,that can divide two different selves in man-- ,he from rebellious to obedient passed1 ,blasphemer was adoring worshipper1 ,the ,pharisee was ,christian1 ,saul was ,paul4 ,at witness of the wondrous change1 the joy1 ,the grateful joy1 within those friendly minds ,above who saw it1 borne to ecstasy ,of gladness1 was triumphal1 and broke forth ,in singing such as heard in ,paradise3 ,glory to ,god1 and to our ,saviour ,lord1 ,for one more captive to the heavenly thrall2 ,for one more human soul to heaven reclaimed ,from hell1 and star set in ,christ's diadem6 ,for one more witness1 an apostle new1 ,like angel flying through mid-heaven1 to fly ,and wing the ,gospel wide throughout the world6 ,thanks to thee1 ,christ1 for that his name is ,,saul6 ,heard was this quiring song afar1 and heaven ,her other joy suspended at the sound3 ,and every echoing hill of ,paradise1 ,each grove1 each grotto1 every fountain-side1 ,with every bank of river1 every glen1 ,and every bowery1 flowery wide champaign ,where angels bask in bliss1 took up the strain ,and rang it swelling to the highest heaven2 ,while harpers harped it to their harps1 and palms ,were rhythmic waved in music to the eye1 ,and the trees clapped their hands1 and ,god was pleased4 ,so they in ,paradise1 who saw and heard ,truly2 ,saul's fellow-pilgrims nigh at hand ,vacantly wondered1 who1 though they the light ,beheld1 and heard the voice speak1 missed the sense4 ,sergius1 recovered from his first surprise ,and terror1 mused within himself1 and found1 ,remembering words from ,saul against the gods1 ,easy solution of the mystery2 ',pan roared at him from out the copse-wood nigh1 ,with wholesome punishment of fear infused ,avenging his despised divinity2 ,while lord ,apollo twanged his silver bow ,and shot at him a shaft of blinding light2 ,the gods of right are wroth to be reviled6' ,saul from the ground arose a sightless man2 ,the glory that not slew had blinded him4 ,his steed he would not mount again to ride1 ,but chose1 humbly1 and guided by the hand1 ,footing to go among his followers4 ,who1 that blithe morning1 as the morning blithe1 ,forth for ,damascus from ,jerusalem ,rode breathing threat and slaughter quenchless sworn ,against the church of ,jesus ,nazarene1 ,entered the city walking1 led and blind1 ,bondslave thenceforth to the ,one ,worthy ,name4 ,,the ,,end4 ,transcriber's note3 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,small capital text has been replaced with all capitals4 ,variations in spelling1 punctuation and hyphenation have been retained except in obvious cases of typographical error4