Rachel had barely to her brother's words Breathed fervently her low amen, when he, The passion of doxology unspent Yet quivering in his tones, went on and said: "But, Rachel, all amid this strain of joy Exulting like a fountain in my heart-- Unspeakable and full of glory indeed, As Peter matched it with his mighty phrase!-- Yea, in it, as if of it and the same, I feel a sense of pathos and of pain And hint of earthly with the heavenly mixed. I cannot but of Shimei think, and grieve-- The grief indeed a paradox of joy, Such pity and such anguish of desire To help and save! Can we not succor him? Can we not have him forth of his duress In dungeon into this fair light of day? I feel it must be possible. Pray thou, And I will pray, and haply God may touch The heart of Julius to such act of grace That at our suit and intercession he Will bid the wretched bondman up again Out of the noisome darkness where he pines, If to full freedom not, at least to breathe The freshness of the unpolluted air And feel the force of the reviving sun. Sick he may be, in prison is, we know, And neighbor let us count him, taught of Christ To hold for neighbor any who in need Is nigh enough to us for us to help. Sick and in prison Jesus we might find In Shimei, if for Jesus' sake we go And carry him the solaces of love!" "But he, will he receive what we should bring?" Said Rachel; "would not bitter-making thought Welling up in him like a secret spring Of brackish issue gushing from beneath A crystal runlet pure as Siloa's brook, Turn for him all our sweetness into gall?" "Perhaps, perhaps," said Paul; "we cannot know. That were for thee and me defeat indeed-- To be of evil overcome! But, nay, Nay, Rachel, let us hope, and overcome Evil with good. What is impossible? Is this, even this, impossible--through Christ? Love, if love perfect be, hopeth all things. There is in love, as John delights to say, No fear; for perfect love casteth out fear. Perfect our love, be faithless outcast fear No counsellor of ours; but hope instead Far-seeing, with her forward-looking eyes Reflecting hither light from that beyond. Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love Of God is poured forth in our hearts a stream, An overflowing, like the river of God, Fed from the fulness of the Holy Ghost! O, how omnipotent I feel in him! But, behold, Julius! Let me speak straightway!"