To Paul and Stephen sharp the contrast was Between that quietude and this turmoil, Sleeping Gamaliel and these urgent men! But Paul his peace held fast amid it all, Peace, yet a posture girded and alert; While Stephen, hanging on his uncle's eye, Caught the contagion of that heedful calm. The natural pathos of one fond regret Ached in the heart of Paul, a hoarded pain-- His wish, denied him, to have given in charge, Before he went, Gamaliel's lifeless form, If to the keeping of his kindred not, At least to Roman care and piety; Amid the hurly-burly of the hour, No chance of speech, with any that would heed, For Jewish prisoner hurried thence by night! But Paul's reveréd friend, safe fallen asleep In Jesus, beyond care or want was blest; Yea, and the human reverence of great death, Toward one in death so reverend great as he, Well might be trusted, for such clay to win, Through kindred care, the sepulture most meet. Yet Paul, come to Antipatris, and there Left with the horsemen only thence to ride, A needless careful message touching this Gave to the chief of the returning foot. When to the chiliarch's ear such word was brought, That captain deeply mused it in his mind-- To find it throw a most unlooked-for light On certain dark alternatives of doubt That had meanwhile his judgment sore perplexed. Lowly upon an ass they seated Paul, And Stephen, likewise mounted, ranged beside. Then those appointed to prick forth before, Out through the two-leaved gate at sign withdrawn, Were issuing on the street in order due, When the proud prudent steed that led the way Swerved, and, with mighty surge of rash recoil, Had nigh his rider from the saddle thrown. He, his fine nostril wide distended, snuffed Suspicion on the tainted wind, and, dazed His eyes with darkness from the glare just left Of torchlight in the court, uncertain saw, To the right hand beside the open port, There on the ground, as ambushed at his feet, A motion, or a shadow, or a shape, Which to his careful mind portended ill. "Halt!" rang abrupt the startling stern command; "Seize him!" the leader of the vanguard cried, And pointed to the skulking figure near. Darted three soldiers from the rank of foot, With instant light celerity--a flash Of movement from the serried column sent Inerrant to its aim, like lever-arm Of long bright steel by some machine flung forth To do prehensile office and fetch home-- Darted upon the man in hiding there, And brought him prisoner to the chiliarch.