Paul, at remove with Stephen, beholding all, Felt a great pang and passion of desire To bear some part and render a testimony Of love and of forgiveness toward this man, Yea, of sweet will to be forgiven and loved By him in turn, that Shimei needs must trust. He thought of how the Lord, that extreme night In which He was betrayed, He knowing well The Father had given all things into His hands, And He was come from God and went to God, Rose from the supper, disarrayed Himself-- As if so laying His majesty aside To clothe Himself in mightier majesty Of meekness, with the servant's towel girded!-- Then, pouring water in the basin, kneeled, Girded in fashion as a menial, kneeled. The Lord Himself of life and glory kneeled, Washing and wiping his disciples' feet! And Judas, Paul remembered, was among them! "This is my time," said he, "my time at last; Shimei will not resist nor say me nay, And I, with mine own hands, will wash his feet." But Stephen said: "Lo, I have hated him More wickedly than any, I beseech Mine uncle let me do this thing to him. Shimei will know I do it for thy sake, And it will be to him as if thou didst it." So, Paul allowing it for his nephew's sake, Glad to confirm him in that gentleness, Stephen a ewer of water made haste to bring, And there amid them all admiring him Known to have hated Shimei so, he stooped, With a most beautiful behavior stooped-- Not without qualms of lothness overcome, Considering he how swift those feet had been, How swift those agéd feet, how long, had been, To shed blood, and what blood to shed how swift!-- And dutifully washed and wiped them clean. The old man now lay utterly relapsed, Exhausted his capacity to feel, Resistance therefore, and even reaction, none, A state suspended between life and death; So had the vehemence of his passion wrought On Shimei's weakness to disable him. The women with sure instinct knew his need; They lightly on him laid one covering more, For now the coolness of the night was nigh, And again wished for him the gift of sleep. And again Shimei slept, to wake refreshed Then when the moonless sky was bright with stars, Stars that not more intently over all Watched, than those faithful had watched over him. Refection from their hands, both heedful meet And choicest possible to case like theirs, Strengthened the faster for a night-long sleep, Which with the morning brought him back himself, A self with pity and terror purified, But better purified with thanks and love.