"Perhaps indeed there was a cause for this Older in date than such a feat of Paul's. Long years before, when Paul and he were young, By chance they fared together on the way Damascus-ward out of Jerusalem, When, nigh Damascus, of a sudden, Paul On Sergius tried a novel magic trick. In broad noon, with unclouded sun ablaze Above him, burning all that tract of sand, He flashed a sheen of mimic lightning forth, With stage effect of thunder overhead Muttering words. Thereon as dead fell Paul, Yet to that unintelligible voice From heaven intelligible answer made, Pretending dialogue with some unseen High dweller in the upper air, with whom Colluding, he thenceforth his spells of power Might surer, deadlier, fling on whom he would. Sergius was then too full of youth to yield; The lusty blood in him fought off the spell; But somewhat wrought upon, no less, was he, And secretly, in mind and will, prepared To fall in weaker age a prey to Paul. A potent master Paul is in his kind, Owning some secret from us others hid, That makes our vaunts against him void and vain. I would not needlessly his curse provoke By too close quarters with him front to front. His spell on Felix I may hope to solve, Let me but have thy husband by himself, In privileged audience safe apart from Paul; I will see Felix, but Paul let me shun." So Simon to his moody master went, And, well dispensing with preamble, said: "What will mine excellent lord Felix please Command the service of his servant in?" "Unbidden thou art present," Felix frowned. "So bidden I retire," the mage replied. "Nay, tarry," with quick wanton veer of whim, Said Felix, "tarry and declare to me, If with exertion of thy skill thou canst, What is it that this hour perturbs my thought? Answer me that, pretender to be wise, Or own thy weird pretensions nothing worth. No paltering, no evasion, doubling none In ambiguity like oracle, But instant, honest, simple, true reply; Else, I have done with all thy trumpery tricks, Haply, too, with some certain fruits thereof That thee buy little thanks, as me small joy."