The sweetness of the pensiveness of this, From such an one as Paul the aged, smote On Stephen with a stroke as of reproof-- Unmeant, to him the less resistible-- And touched to recollection and remorse. He said: "O uncle, be my fault forgiven, That I so lightly thought but of myself! This ride to thee is added weariness, Which to me were exhilaration pure, Could I forget again, as I cannot, The need my uncle has of rest instead. I slept, while thou wert waking, through that long Farewell talk with thy friend, and I am fresh From slumber, as thou art with waking worn-- Besides that I am young and thou art old." "Nay, thou wert right, my lad," said Paul to him; "'Rejoice thou,' so that ancient preacher cried, And so cries God Himself within the blood, 'Rejoice thou, O young man, in thy fair youth, And let thy heart in thy young days cheer thee.' I were myself the egotist thou blamest, Were I to hang my heavy age on thee And with it weigh thy blithesome spirits down; Besides that I should suffer loss deserved, Who, in the midmost of my spirit, spring With answering pulse to pulse of youth from thee. Go on, my Stephen, for Paul's sake be glad, Thou canst not be more glad than gladdens me. Now glad we both are surely in one thing, That thou hast saved thine uncle from that death. Let us together sing a gladsome psalm." Then softly they in unison began, Softly, with yet their accent jubilant: "'Had it not been Jehovah on our side, Let Israel now'--let us as Israel--'say, Had it not been Jehovah on our side, When men, together sworn, against us rose, Then had they truly swallowed us alive, When sore their wrath against us kindled was; The waters then had overwhelmed us quite, Over our soul the rushing stream had gone, Over our soul the proud exulting waters. Forever blesséd be Jehovah Lord, Who did not give us to their teeth a prey! Escaped our soul is, like unto a bird That is escaped from out the fowler's snare; The snare is broken, and escaped are we. Our help is in the Lord Jehovah's name, In His name is, who fashioned heaven and earth.'"