"But I perhaps will toss a die and see What chance will say; chance is a prudent god, And, in his seeming-random way, is right As oft as wisdom with his reasons weighed: Besides I can keep on throwing, till the turn Pleases my fancy of the moment. Go, Solemn ambassador from court to court, Report what I have said, but give a wink At end to mean thou guessest all is well." Simon, retiring, soon Poppæa sought, And, with dark hint and indirection, told How he had dropped into the emperor's ear A seed of such suggestion as, he thought, Would quickly spring and blossom and bear fruit To the advantage of her dearest wish: It would but need attaint Octavia's faith As consort of the emperor, and so, By open operation of the law, Set her aside and leave him lorn of wife. The acclamation of the people then Would join the emperor's own desire to fill Octavia's vacant room with--whom but one? But would Poppæa help him in one thing? He greatly wished to give the emperor proof Of what he could accomplish in his art Of conjuring with weird supernatural powers; He thought his weight as intermediary In her behalf would be increased thereby. Poppæa, promising to stir up the mind Of Nero to a proper appetite For Simon's thaumaturgy, let him go. While such fruits in the dark were growing ripe, Things in the open looked the self-same way. Stephen, who daily scouted in the world Without of Rome, its rumor, its event, Brought thence one day to Paul ill-boding word: "Burrus is dead, that just man; how he died, Whether of sickness, poison, suicide, No man can say--or rather all men say, Some, one thing, some, another; doubtful all. But two men take his place in prefecture, One, Tigellinus--baser none than he: I doubt thou wilt come to feel his heavy hand. Then that vile woman Poppæa, so they say, Has become Jewish proselyte, forsooth. Wherefore? No doubt, colluding with Drusilla-- The wicked Simon with his sorcery, And with his office low of go-between, Egging them on--to be Jews good enough, The three together, to act in Shimei's place As thine accusers to the emperor. O, my heart sinks in doubt and fear for thee!" "It need not, Stephen; my heart is buoyant," Paul Said to his nephew in calm and firm reply. "Nothing can fall out from the order fair Of God's will for His chosen and well-beloved; All things together work for good to them." "All things?" said Stephen; "Lord, increase my faith!" For he hung staggered at the paradox. "O, yea, all things, exception none," said Paul.