BOOK IX. PAUL AND YOUNG STEPHEN. In sequel of the tragic crime and doom that had just been witnessed by him in the case of Shimei, young Stephen is drawn to resume with his kinsman Paul the topic of the imprecatory psalms, which they had previously discussed on their night ride from Jerusalem toward Cæsarea. Paul gently lets his nephew unbosom all his heart, and, point by point, meets the young man's difficulties with senior counsel and instruction. PAUL AND YOUNG STEPHEN. The brilliant weather, with the sparkling sea Blue under the blue heaven above it bowed, There the great sun, his solitary state Making his own pomp as it moved along In that imperial progress through the skies, The blithe wind blowing in the singing sails, And the gay answer of the bounding bark, On either hand bright glimpses of the shore-- All these things to enliven were not enough For that day's need to Paul and those with him: They could not rally to their customed cheer, Serious, not sad, although light-hearted never. The deed of Shimei and scarce less his doom Still damped their spirits, so strung to sympathy, Till sunny day wore on to starry night. Then, Paul and Stephen by themselves apart Resting, the younger to the elder said: "Much, O mine uncle, have I pondered, since, The deep things that I heard from thee, that night, Already now so many months ago, By thy side riding, thou by Lysias sent (Safeguarded by his Romans from the Jews!) To wear out thy duress at Cæsarea. Thou wert then as now escaped from Shimei's snare! We spake, thou wilt remember, of those psalms Which breathe, or seem to breathe, such breath of hate. I had recited one aloud to thee-- To myself rather, bold, for thee to hear-- Vent to the feeling fierce that in my breast Boiled into tempest against Shimei. Thou chidedst me with a most sweet rebuke That drew the tumor all, out of my heart; Thou taughtst me then that the good Spirit of God, Who breathed the inspiration into men To utter such dire words, seeming of hate, Hated not any as I to hate had dared. I understood thee that God only so Revealed in forms of vivid human speech The implacable resentment--but I pause, Pause startled at the word I use; I would, Could I, find other than such words as these, 'Resentment,' 'indignation,' 'hatred,' 'wrath,' To speak my thought of holy God aflame With infinite displacency at sin-- Once more! Another word I fain would shun! For by some tether that I cannot break, Bound, I revolve in the same circle still."