To this word The throng to Paul gave patient ear, but now-- At sign and instigation, ambushed erst In waiting for the moment meet to spring, And springing pregnant from the ready wit Of Shimei, when that hateful hint was heard Of mission to the Gentiles through a Jew-- Rose an uproar of voices from the crowd, As when winds mingle sea and sky in storm. "Away with such a fellow from the earth!" They cried; "it is not fit that he should live." A wild scene, for with outcry wild was mixed Wild gesture; the whole madding multitude Rent off their raiment, and into the air Dust flung in cloud as where a whirlwind roars. Astonished stood the chiliarch at the sight, Nor doubted that some monster was the man Against whom such a storm of clamor raged. He bade bring Paul within the castle, there Bade scourge him that he might his crime confess. Already they had bound him for the thongs, When Paul to the centurion standing by Said, "Is it lawful for you then to scourge A man that is a Roman--uncondemned?" This the centurion hearing, straightway he Went to the chiliarch and abrupt exclaimed: "What is it thou art on the point to do? For this man is a Roman." Then to Paul Hastens the chiliarch and, perturbed, inquires: "Tell me, art thou a Roman?" "Yea," said Paul. Surprised, incredulous half, the chiliarch cried: "I with an ample sum that franchise bought." "But I," calmly said Paul, "was thereto born." At that word from their prisoner, the men Who ready round him stood the lash to ply Instantly vanished, and the chiliarch too Was panic-stricken--now in doubt no more That Paul a Roman was, whom he had bound For stripes, against a law greater than he, Nay, sacred as the sacred majesty Itself of the Republic--ancient name Disguising empire!--law forbidding stripes On any flesh that Roman title owned.