Drusilla, to her discomposure, found Her husband strangely alien from his spouse; The blandishments so potent with him late Lost on an absent or repellent mind. The awe of Felix under Paul's discourse She had remarked with unconcerned surprise. She now recalled it with a doubt, a fear. The jealous thought woke in her: 'If my lord Should, overwrought in conscience, cast me off! What byword and what hissing then were I, Stranded and branded an adulteress! I, who the scion of a kingly house, Haughty Antiochus Epiphanes, Haughtily spurned as suitor for my hand, Because he would not for my sake be Jew; Who wedded then Azizus, eastern king, Willing to win me at the price I fixed; Who next with scandal parted from his bed, To snatch this dazzle of a Roman spouse-- _I_ to be now by him flung to the dogs! All at the beck of an apostate Jew, Arraigned a culprit at his judgment-bar! Drusilla, rouse thee, say, It must not be! Drusilla, arm thee, swear, It shall not be!' She summoned straight that Cyprian sorcerer who Had played the pander's part between herself And Felix, when they twain at first were brought In guilt together. "Simon, know," she said, "I with cause hate this Jewish prisoner Paul. He, insolence intolerable, is fain To come between my Roman lord and me. Withstand him, and undo his hateful spell." "His hateful spell, O stately queen, my liege," Said Simon, "I far rather would assay Unbinding from thy spouse's soul enthralled, Than him withstand, the binder of that spell, Meeting him face to face. At Paphos once, Of Cyprus, Elymas, a master mind In magic--at the court proconsular Of Sergius Paulus, regent of the isle, Wielding great power--withstood this self-same Paul. But Paul denounced a curse deipotent Against him, and forthwith upon his eyes A mist fell and a darkness, that he walked Wandering in quest of one to lead him, late Redoubtable magician, by the hand. This conjuration on the conjurer, Himself proconsul Sergius Paulus saw, And, overpowered with wonder and with fear, Roman and governor as he was, became Fast docile dupe and devotee to Paul.