Young Stephen's purpose, not revealed, had been To move some action against Shimei. This gentle Hebrew youth inherited Large measure of the wilful spirit high That in the blood of all his kindred ran. Of his own motion he, without advice, Nay, headstrong, in the teeth of thwart advice, Which, though he sought it not, he full well felt In current counter to his wish--self-moved Thus, and self-willed, Paul's nephew had resolved To try what might to him be possible-- By putting in the place of the accused Instead of the accuser's, that base man, His uncle's foe--to free his uncle's state, Once and for all, from danger and annoy Due to the restless hate of Shimei. The friendly chiliarch was his first resort. In one swift glance, which more was of the mind Itself, perceiving as it were without Organ, than of the eye with which it saw, Stephen that night, upon the point of time When Shimei was arrested and brought in, A glimpse had caught of two receding forms Of men upon the street, flying as seemed; Whom instantly he knew to be the same With that pair of conspirators to slay, Whose whispers had revealed their plot to him: These were the stout young fellows Shimei set To lie in wait for the escaping Paul. The moment they beheld their master seized, They quickly had betaken them to flight; But Stephen's mind flew faster than their feet, And with intangible tether had them bound. This his new observation of the twain Made him secure of recognizing them Whenever or wherever seen again. With so much clue as this, no more, in hand, To guide him in the quest of testimony That might his crimes bring home to Shimei-- Supposed still safe in keeping at the fort-- Stephen his audience with the chiliarch sought.