Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. * * * * * THE EPIC OF PAUL WILLIAM CLEAVER WILKINSON _Author of "The Epic of Saul"_ FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON 1898 Copyright, 1897, by FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY [Registered at Stationers' Hall, London, England] PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONTENTS. PAGE Book I. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 9 Book II. PAUL AND GAMALIEL 43 Book III. SHIMEI AND THE CHILIARCH 77 Book IV. BY NIGHT FOR CÆSAREA 115 Book V. SHIMEI AND YOUNG STEPHEN 147 Book VI. PAUL BEFORE FELIX 167 Book VII. "TO CÆSAR" 193 Book VIII. SHIMEI BEFORE JULIUS 227 Book IX. PAUL AND YOUNG STEPHEN 257 Book X. RE-EMBARKED 291 Book XI. THE LAST OF SHIMEI 315 Book XII. PAUL AND KRISHNA 339 Book XIII. SHIPWRECK 363 Book XIV. MARY MAGDALENE 395 Book XV. YOUNG STEPHEN AND FELIX 425 Book XVI. INTERLUDE OF KRISHNA 453 Book XVII. THE STORY OF THE CROSS 485 Book XVIII. KRISHNA 507 Book XIX. BAPTISM OF KRISHNA 537 Book XX. EUTHANASY 569 Book XXI. ARRIVAL 597 Book XXII. DRUSILLA AND NERO 625 Book XXIII. NERO AND SIMON 661 Book XXIV. THE END 691 THE EPIC OF PAUL. The action of THE EPIC OF PAUL begins with that conspiracy formed at Jerusalem against the life of the apostle which in the sequel led to a prolonged suspension of his free missionary career. It embraces the incidents of his removal from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, of his imprisonment at the latter place, of his journey to Rome for trial before Cæsar, and of his final martyrdom. The design of the poem as a whole is to present, through conduct on Paul's part and through speech from him, a living portrait of the man that he was, together with a reflex of his most central and most characteristic teaching. PROEM. Paul, the new man, retrieved from perished Saul, Unequalled good and fair, from such unfair, Such evil, orient, miracle unguessed!-- 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 Forever, blooming in celestial youth, Were well despair to purer power than mine; Help me Thou, Author of the miracle! BOOK I. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.