'Why, aye,' Drusilla thought, 'one that involves Sergius Paulus, renegade, and that Too complaisant centurion, the whole crew Indeed present to be spectators there And not protesting, hence accomplices All of a crime they might have stayed in act. As to the matter of a sudden death With circumstance attending such and such, Surplus of testimony was to hand For that; as to the matter of the means Employed, magic--Simon magician was, And he, as expert witness, should suffice. If any question as to _him_ arose, Drusilla should be equal to the need; _I_ would vouch for him to the emperor. Nothing would please me better than to try On him the virtue of my sponsorship!' So the proud woman swiftly in mute muse Slid to the goal she wished. Nay, scarce a pause Seeming to have occurred before she spoke, Already had her formless thought forecast The triumphs over Nero she would win With her voluptuous beauty wielded so As she could wield it through her equal wit, When she to Simon answered absently: "True, worthy Simon; something such might chance; Be ready to make good at need thy part." This as dismissal; and the sorcerer went. Felix had moody sat with never a word. And now the cloudless splendor of the day Was softly toward a cloudless sunset waned, When round an open grave upon that hill Were gathered those who mourned for Mary dead; Publius was there, and Julius, with the rest. They with all reverence lifted the fair form, Wrapped round about with linen clean and white, And laid it like a seed within the ground; They spread it with a coverlet of soil Which falling through the farewell sunset beams Seemed leavened to lie more lightly on the dead: The earth with such a treasure in her breast Was sweeter, and they almost yearned toward it. Yet upward rather soon they turn their eyes As once those upward gazed in Galilee Seeing their Lord ascend in cloud to heaven-- While thus Paul, he too thither looking, said: "Concerning her who sleeps here, think aright; For we must sorrow not as others do Who have no hope. We have a hope. Our hope Is, that if Jesus died and rose again, Even so them likewise who in Jesus sleep Will God bring with Him. Yea, I say to you By the command and promise of the Lord If we survive to see the Lord return We shall not so forestall our sleeping friend In springing toward Him as He hither comes. For with a shout the Lord Himself from heaven Will hither come descending with the voice Of the archangel and the trump of God. First shall those dead in Christ arise, and then We, if we linger living till He come, (Transfigured in the twinkling of an eye When the trump sounded to our heavenly guise) Will be with them together in the clouds