Paul's answer turned Gamaliel's sentiment Into pure wonder, pity purged away. Deeper and deeper in perplexity Sank the old man, the more in thought he strove; As when the swallow of a quicksand sucks Downward but faster one who writhes in vain. Silent he listening lay, and Paul went on: "I have thus counted as the vain world counts, Summing the gains of my apostleship. I myself reckon otherwise than thus. For, what was gain to me, in that old state Wherein thou knewest thy disciple Saul, This count I now but only loss and dross, Yea, all things count but dross, all things save one, To know Christ Jesus, and be known of Him. That knowledge is the one true treasure mine; True, for eternal; mine, for not the world, Nor life, nor death, nor present things, nor things To come, nor height, nor depth, nor aught beside Created in the universe of God, Can from me wrest this one true good away. I have had sorrow, but amid it joy; Pain has been mine, but hidden in it peace; Rest, deeper than the weariness, has still My much-abounding weariness beguiled; Immortal food my hunger has assuaged, And drink of everlasting life, my thirst. I have sung praises in imprisonment, At midnight, with my feet fast in the stocks, And my back bleeding raw from Roman rods; So much the spirit of glory and of power Prevailed to make me conqueror of ill. Tossed in whatever sea of bitterness, Wide as the world, and weltering with waves, A fountain of sweet water still I find Fresh as from Elim rising to my lips. A parable in paradox, sayest thou, But--"