  Saul, ill-content with his own prosperity in persecution, retires gloomily, late at night, to his desolated home. He vainly tries to sleep, and, rising very early, goes to consult Gamaliel. Returning, he encounters Shimei, who, with gibes, instigates a further act of persecution on Saul's part, cunningly contriving it to make refusal impossible. Saul attempting the arrest proposed by Shimei meets with opposition, which the latter has secretly inspired. The persecutor in consequence narrowly escapes violent death, being rescued at the critical moment by Shimei; who himself, with a band of servitors, makes the arrest unsuccessfully attempted by Saul alone. The man arrested confesses Jesus before the Sanhedrim, constant against every inducement to deny his Lord. He is scourged, at the instance of Shimei, and finally, at the instance of Mattathias, stoned; Saul in both cases giving his vote against the man. SAUL AND HIRANI.tand back! This man my prisoner is.I, Saul, commissioned by the Sanhedrim, Summon and seize him to appear this day Before their just tribunal to be judged As self-confessed disciple of the Way. Follow me thou! Make way before me there!" The peremptory tone, the audacity, The prompt aggressive movement, with the proud, High, lordly speech disdainful, the assured Enforced by personal will as strong as power— These for a moment's space surrounded Saul With that inviolable immunity, The nameless spell which perfect courage casts; Nay, so far gave him full ascendant there That he quite to his man his way had made And on a shoulder laid the arresting hand. But stay! not quelled, suspended only, seems The indignant angry humor of the crowd. Scarce has Saul uttered his last scornful words And turned to front the men about him massed— Not doubting but, with only the drawn sword Of his fixed forward countenance, he shall This side and that before him cleave a way Wide from amid them forth to pass—upon Such hinging-point scarce poises Saul, when they, With many-handed violence, seize him And, irresistibly uplifting, bear Helpless, headforemost, ignominiously, Whither they will. In vain Hirani cries, By turns rebuking and beseeching them; To involve themselves in risk fruitless for him; In vain implores them even for Jesus' sake, Whose name will be dishonored by their deed; Presents himself in vain a prisoner Willing to go with Saul unmanacled; In vain avouches he, in any case, Shall yield his person to the Sanhedrim, Doubtless to suffer but the heavier doom For what is doing, unless they refrain. Hirani had adjured them by the name Of Jesus, but those heady men, that name, That mastership, owned not, Jews only still, Still in the changed new spirit all unschooled. So by their own mad motion ever mad Growing, they hurtle Saul along the way— He the while musing, with mind strangely clear, How like to Stephen's lot his own is now!— Till chance unlooked-for their wild turbulence stays. All had been teemed from Shimei's fruitful brain. First, he had mixed the listening crowd around The weaver at that moment with base men, His creatures, who, for hirelings' pay, should stir Upon Saul's person, wounding to his pride, And in the public view disparaging. Then, at the point of need, to succor Saul, Bringing his haughty colleague under debt To himself, Shimei, for his very life— This was that crafty plotter's next concern. A band accordingly of men-at-arms, Sworn in the service of the Sanhedrim, He had made ready; and these now appeared Confronting that tumultuary crowd. Saul rescued—not without some disarray And soil of rent apparel, hair and beard Dishevelled, and disfigured countenance, His person thus disparaged to the eye, Hirani, as ringleader of the rout, Chained and brought forward, while go free, but blamed For being misled, the others—Shimei then To view emerges. He addresses Saul: "Well met! That fellow, with his crew of like, Treated you badly, Saul. You might have prayed To be delivered into Stephen's hands From tender mercies such as theirs! I trust Some slight derangement of apparel shown, Your hair and beard less sleek than might beseem, With here and there a scratch scored on your face— Nothing more serious, let me trust? Our men Were at the nick of time in coming up. It was not pure coincidence. You see, Both knowing your mettle and the vicious ways These sanctimonious ruffians have at times, I had misgivings that you might be rash, And suffer disadvantage at their hands. So, as in like case you would do by me, I, with these faithful servitors of ours, Run to your rescue here, and not too soon! A little later would have been too late. You were well started down the steep incline, Which, very happily, as I learn, you styled 'The way of Stephen and all heretics.' Droll, very, with of course its serious side, Queer irony, you know, of will Divine, Supposing they had really stoned you, Saul! Well, well, it turns out better than your fears. You will not, true, and I lament it, make Quite a triumphal entry with your man With air of captain fresh from glorious war, Who brings proud trophy of his single spear Redoubtable; but the main point is ours, The man we want is safe in custody." Thus Shimei with his devilish sneering glee Nettled the heart of Saul and cheered his own. Before the council Shimei stood forth, Instead of Saul, to accuse the prisoner. With plausible glib mendacity, he said: "Not only is this fellow heretic After the manner of those GalilÆans, 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 Saul, worthy of death, As being aimed at death, unless that I Had ready been at hand with force enough To rescue one of our own number thus |
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