Julius said this with look on Shimei fixed, Full of the scorn he felt, each moment more. Like the skilled slinger toying with his stone Swung round and round in air, full length of sway, Through circles viewless swift, but in its pouch Uneasy, at his leisure still delayed For surer aim and fiercer flight at last, And that, the while, the wielder may prolong Both his delight of vengeance tasted so, And his foe's fear accenting his delight; Thus Julius, dallying, teased to wrath his scorn, More threatening as in luxury of reserve Suspended from the outbreak yet to fall. The while the scornful Roman's wroth regard Fixed as if caustic fangs upon the Jew, The Jew, with stoic endurance, steeled himself To take it without blenching. Full well felt Through all his members was that branding look; Though his eyes still were downward bent, as when He dropped them to refuse Paul's sweet good will. But suddenly now, he one first furtive glance Lifting, as if unwillingly, to Paul, Shimei takes on a violent change reverse. A wave of abjectness swept over him That drenched, that drowned, his evil hardihood And wrecked him to a ruin of himself. Julius who saw this change had also seen Shimei's stolen glance at Paul; he himself now Turned toward the apostle with inquiring eye. What he saw seized him and usurped his mind-- His passion with a mightier passion quelled, Or to another, higher, key transposed: The wrathful scorn that had toward Shimei blazed Became a rapt admiring awe of Paul. For there Paul stood, the meek and lowly mien, The sadness and the patience, not laid by, But an unconscious air of majesty Enduing him like a clear transpicuous veil, Self-luminous so with cleansed indignant zeal For God and truth and righteousness outraged, That he was fair and fearful to behold. God had made him a Sinai round whose top A silent thunder boomed and lightnings played. White holiness burned on his brow, a flame The like whereof the Roman never saw Glorifying and making terrible, Beyond all fabled gods, the front of man.