At Cæsarea, in the judgment hall That day, a solemn crisis of his life, To Felix, he not knowing, there had passed. Successfully, with sad success! he had Resisted conscience in her last attempt, Her last and greatest, to alarm a soul Sufficiently to save it from itself. At length, with the still process of the days Dulled, and besides with opiate medicines drugged, That conscience, so resisted, sank asleep, Sank dead asleep in Felix, to awake Never again. He indeed sent for Paul Afterward oft, and talked with him at large; But always only in that sordid hope-- Blown to fresh flame with seasonable breath, That never failed, from Shimei, prompt in watch To play on his cupidity--the hope Of princely ransom from his prisoner won. Such hope, so kept alive, led this bad man-- Although he hated Paul for shaking him To terror, and to open shameful show Of terror, in his very pitch of pride-- To palter with his prisoner, month by month, Until the end came of his long misrule. Then, hope deferred, defeated hope at last, Let loose the hatred that in leash had lain Of avarice, in the kennel of that breast, And Felix found a sullen feast for it In leaving Paul at Cæsarea bound. BOOK VII. "TO CÆSAR." Paul, in preferred alternative to being judged, as was proposed, by his murderous fellow-countrymen, appeals to Cæsar. He is in consequence embarked on a ship for Rome. With him sail certain kindred and friends of his, young Stephen among them. Fellow-voyagers with him are also Felix and Drusilla, fallen now from power and under cloud at Rome. Shimei and Simon the sorcerer are of the company. The voyage is described, together with some of the notable prospects of the coasts along which the vessel sails. Shimei plots against the life of Paul. His plot is thwarted by young Stephen, and the culprit is thrown into dungeon in the hold under chains. "TO CÆSAR." During the years of his captivity Under that wanton hand at Cæsarea, Paul's sister, with her Stephen, brought their home Thither, and there abode, for love of Paul; That they might minister to him, and be Ministered to by him in overflow Of his far more exceeding rich reward. Thither came also others of the Way, Drawn by like love, to serve the same desire.