"Rachel my mother sends Gamaliel hail, And bids me haste to bring thee instant word!" So Stephen, with quick-beating heart that broke His words to pulses of sobbed sound, began: "She says--but I, in hither coming, learned More than my mother charged me with to thee. Lo, wicked men of our own nation plot This day to shed my mother's brother's blood. They will desire the Roman to send down Mine uncle Saul before the Sanhedrim, To be by these examined once again; But they will set upon him while he comes, And so, or ever he can rescued be, Make of mine uncle Saul a bloody corpse. O Rabbi, master of mine uncle Saul, Beseech thee, speak, bid me, what must I do?" The old man bent upon the boy his brow, And, slowly rousing without motion, said: "The world grows gray in wickedness, my son; What the Lord God of all intends, who knows? Most wise is He, but deep, in many ways, Past human finding out. Thine uncle Saul Is hated for himself by Shimei Yet more than for his cause. And Shimei Is doubtless the artificer of this." With inward adjuration then, a hand Uplifted as in gesture to repel, Gamaliel deeply added, "O my soul, Into the secret of such man come not!" Wherewith the aged tremulous lips were mute, Though mutely moving still, as if the words Said themselves over, again and yet again, Within him, of that ancient fending spell. Stephen, well-schooled in awe of the hoar head, Stood an uneasy instant silent, then Yielded to his untamable desire Of action and impatience of delay. "O Rabban," he importunately cried, "But thy young servant's soul already God Into the secret of this man has brought-- Doubtless to baffle him--knew I but how!" "Yea, verily, Stephen; also that might chance," Gamaliel answered with benignity; He almost let grave admiration breathe, Through softly-lighted look and gentle tone, A kind of benediction on the boy, As he, unhastened, felt the youthful haste That made the stripling Stephen beautiful; "For David was a shepherd lad, when he Was chosen of God to lay Goliath low. Who knows but thou shalt save thine uncle Saul? I loved him long ago--when thou wast not; He went his way, and I abode in mine, Ways widely parting, but I love him still. And I would see him yet before I die. Tell him, Gamaliel would see Saul once more. Perhaps, perhaps, I might dissuade him yet. Thine uncle, lad, was ever from a youth Headstrong to think his thought and will his will. No man might bend him from his own fixed bent; If any man, then I; he honored me, And hearkened reason from Gamaliel's lips. Yea, send Saul hither, I would prove if I Have not still left some saving power for him."