"Thou art a superserviceable Jew," The chiliarch frowned and said. A choleric man, He choleric now, through self-expression, grew. Exasperate thus, he added: "'Ruler' thou Of thine accurséd nation--as I hear-- Me too thou fain wouldst rule, with thy advice Officiously advanced unsought. Know, then, That I confound thee with thy race, and curse Ye all together, pestilent brood--not less Thee than thy fellows, whom thou rulest, forsooth, Worthy to rule those worthily so ruled! Like ruler to like people, vipers all! If I believe thee of thy brother Paul, It is no wise that I suppose thee true Rather than him; but only that I reckon One rascal feels another by mere kin, And can, and, if so be he hates him, will, Into his own soul look and paint him _that_-- Making a likeness apt to two at once! Nay, nay, thou wretched, reptile Jew, all thanks! I would not have Paul back upon my hands. I am well rid of _him_, and now hence thou! Go tell thy fellow-elders of the Jews That here Gamaliel lies, dead or aswoon, And bid them haste to bear him hence away. Go, not one further word from thy foul mouth, Lest whole thou never go!" Red with his wrath, Abruptly on his heel turned the wroth man And disappeared within. The Jew so spurned-- Though disappointed, imperturbable-- With wry grimace hugging himself, made speed To use the freedom thus in overplus Thrust on him, and incontinently went. Scarce was he well without the castle gate, When a brusque message from the chiliarch Summoned him back. He came, with supple knee Cringing his thanks and deprecations dumb. "So act thy abject language, if thou will, But no word speak, edging thine ear to hear," The chiliarch, from his heat of passion passed To a grim mood of resolution, said; "I will that--no delay--thou hither bring Large satisfaction from thy countrymen-- Just measure of their estimate of thee!-- That thou wilt duly bide within command The suddenest from this castle, and appear, Whenever I may call for thee, to go Whithersoever I shall bid thee hence, Whether to Cæsarea or to Rome, Whether now presently or hereafter long, Accuser meet and witness against Paul. Count it that thou thus much at least hast gained, Through thy this night's adventure, chance, to wit, Assuréd chance, thy famished grudge to glut Upon thy brother rogue and countryman-- Be he, that is, the wretch thou paintest him, _And_, mark it well, be thou his overmatch In lying eloquence to make appear Likeliest whatever best thy turn shall serve. Perhaps twin rascals, of each other worthy, Will, both at once, and each the other, prove Just to be what they are, and earn their doom!" "Send with this worthy," thus the chiliarch,