As loyal lover of his nation, Paul Invited to give audience to his cause First his compatriots judged the chief in Rome. He told them that, albeit he had appealed To Cæsar from his fellow-countrymen, Yet had he naught to accuse his nation of. Paul's hearers on their part had had, they said, No word against him from Jerusalem. They added: "We would hear thee speak thy mind; As for this party of the Nazarene, That everywhere we know is spoken against." So they appointed Paul a day to speak, And in full frequence to his lodgings came. All the day long from morn to evenfall He held discourse to them, and testified The kingdom come on earth of God, and Him, The King, Christ Jesus; with persuasions drawn From Moses and from all the prophets old. Divided were his hearers; some elect Believed, but others disbelieved. To these Paul solemnly denounced the prophecy Of sad Isaiah to his countrymen That seeing they should see and not perceive; Then added: "Witness now, I make you know That the salvation sent by God in vain To you turns to the Gentiles; they will hear." Thenceforward daily, streams of concourse flowed Unhindered, bondmen, freemen, to Paul's doors, And heard while God's ambassador in chains Besought them to be reconciled to God. The million slaves of the metropolis Were as a subterranean city Rome, Substruction to the mighty capital. Here undercurrent rumor to and fro From mouth to mouth or haply in dumb sign Transmitted--cipher unintelligible Save to the dwellers of that underworld-- Ran swift and secret as by telegraph And everywhither messages conveyed. Onesimus thus learned where Paul abode, And what a tide set daily toward him there Of eager audience for the things he taught: The bondman threw himself upon the tide, And was borne by it whither he would go. Hearing good tidings meant for such as he, Decree of manumission for the slave, He joyful freeman of the Lord became. Freeman and bondman both at once was he-- Free from the hateful service of himself, And bond of love to serve his Savior Lord.