When Syrus heard such things, the skeptic heart That had resisted all Paul's eloquence Was overcome at last through works to faith. BOOK XXII. DRUSILLA AND NERO. While Paul in chains is writing to Christian churches letters characterized at once by the sublimest reaches of spiritual vision and by the most painstaking condescension to details of practical precept, Simon the sorcerer, with Felix and Drusilla, plots the apostle's death. Simon proceeds by indirection, having it in mind to bring about the death of Felix also. This he accomplishes, with the collusion and complicity of Drusilla. But first, at Drusilla's instance, he procures for her in company with her husband an audience with Nero, of which Poppæa, the emperor's favorite, is secretly an observer. Poppæa notices the impression made on her sovereign by Drusilla, and she is openly present at a subsequent hearing granted by Nero to the beautiful Jewess, during which the latter accuses Paul, together with other crimes, of instigating the murder by poison of Felix. Nero throughout displays, with much license, his reckless and frivolous character. DRUSILLA AND NERO. That Phrygian slave did not companionless His way Colossæ-ward pursue; he went By Tychicus accompanied, who bore Another letter written from the lips Of Paul to the Colossian church at large. This gloried and exulted in sublime Prophetic visions of far future things-- Things future far and other quite than these. Paul's hand was manacled, but not his soul; That, given the freedom of the universe, Ranged as at will on wing omnipotent Through all the heights and depths of space and time, And saw unutterable things, which he Seeking to lade upon expression made The very pillars of expression bend And sway and totter, like to sink, beneath The burden insupportable they bore.