The sleight of tone with which was uttered "swoon"-- No emphasis, insinuation all, Subtle suggestion, naught to be gainsaid, Since naught was really said, however much Without the saying got itself conveyed-- This well subserved the wish of Shimei. For, like a sovereign solvent, that, with soft Assiduous chemistry insensible, Some solid to a fluid form breaks down, There stole from Shimei's speech an influence in, Which, by degrees not slow, dissolved the charm Shed from the solemn spectacle of death Upon the chiliarch's mind; his childlike mood Vanished, his simple wise credulity! Lysias reverted to his cynicism, And, unawares lured on by Shimei, Followed false lights to a conclusion vain. Once more he overweened to be astute, And, with astuteness recommencing, fell From the brief wisdom reverence brief had brought. His faith in human virtue undermined, He doubted and believed exactly wrong; There where he ought to have believed, he doubted, And where he should have doubted, there believed-- The captor fallen into the captive's snare. Lysias resumed to do what Shimei wished; The tissue of sophistication set Already well aweaving in the loom Of fancy and false reason and unfaith, Which had before been humming in his brain-- This to piece out, and make a finished web. "'Swoon,' sayest thou?" To Shimei, Lysias thus; "That is not death, thou thinkest, but a swoon?" "It looks indeed like death," the crafty Jew Responded; "yea, it looks like death indeed. It was not meant, but death it sure must be." "What wilt thou say?" said Lysias. "'Was not meant!'-- Thy words conceal thy meaning; speak it out." "Why, sir, I have no meaning to conceal," The Jew replied, "no meaning to conceal. I only thought, I could but only think-- Why, see, Paul was Gamaliel's pupil once, And loved his master, so as such can love; At least I thought so. Paul, for sure I know, Gamaliel like a doting father loved." "Thou dost not thus explain, 'It was not meant'; Out with thy thought, sir Jew," the chiliarch said. "What was not meant? By whom not meant? Forsooth, Not by Gamaliel meant that he should die? Except the suicide, none means to die; And death like this is not the suicide's."