In simple helpless wonder and amaze More than in wroth rejection scorn-inspired, Gamaliel thus had uttered forth his heart. Paul had his answer, but he held it back, Respectfully awaiting further word Seen ripe and ready on Gamaliel's lips. A question, still of wonder, soon it came: "Tell me, what hast thou gained, in all these years Of thy most strange discipleship, my son?" A pathos of compassion tuned the tone With which Gamaliel so appealed to Paul. Paul, with a pathos of sweet cheerfulness, In dark and bright of paradox replied: "Gained? I have gained of many things great store; Much hatred from my erring countrymen; Much chance of thankless service for their sake; Stripes many, manacles, imprisonments, Beatings with rods, bruisings with stones, shipwrecks, A night and day of tossing in the deep; Far homeless wanderings up and down the world; Perils on perils multiplied, no end, Perils of water--wave and torrent flood-- Perils by mine own countrymen enraged, Perils from heathen hands, perils pursued Upon me, ceasing not, wherever men In city gather, or in wilderness; In the waste sea, still perils; perils still Among false brethren; these, and weariness With painfulness, long watchings without sleep, Hunger and thirst endured, oft fastings fierce, Cold to the marrow, shuddering nakedness. Such things without, to wear and waste the flesh, And then beside, the suffering of the spirit In care that comes upon me day by day For all the scattered churches of the Lord. I have not missed good wages duly paid; Gain has been mine in every kind of loss."