Nor we alone, for with us witnesseth God's Spirit bestowed on whoso Him obeys." Something not earthly in those prisoners' mien A tone of more than human in their words, A majesty, as of omnipotence Patient within them, ready to break forth, But patient still, to brook how much was need-- So much, no more!--this awed one watchful heart Prepared amid that council now to heed; Gamaliel inly pondered, 'Is it God?' The clear simplicity, the perfect faith, The steady, prompt obedience, the serene Courage that dared, without defying, all The terrors brandished by the Sanhedrim-- This spirit, strange in those despiséd men, As with a soft and subtle atmosphere Enfolding and suffusing him, subdued The solid temper of his mind, the strong Set of his resolution grim relaxed, Undid the hard contortions of his nerves, And supple made the will so firm before. His steadfast poise of confidence perturbed, Gamaliel trembled with uncertainty. Otherwise Saul; he, merged in different thought, Eluded quite that penetrative spell. Unconscious of the Holy Ghost, he strove Blindly against Him, like the rest, though not Yet, like the rest, with zeal of violence To do the prisoners harm or shed their blood; With such zeal not, but with ambitious pride Of wisdom unawares puffed up to show His prowess in the Scriptures, and to earn A high degree surpassing all his peers. His fellow-councillors concerting how To quench this propagandist fire in blood, Saul said within his heart: 'Nay, nay, instead, Might I but once these bold presumers face Amid the idling crowds they feed with lies, How, from the law itself, whereof, untaught Therein, they prate, would I, in open test Of argument, confute them to their teeth! Their own ill-wielded weapons from their hands Seen wrenched and turned against them, surely then Not only would these brawlers cease, but all Would laud and magnify the glorious Word Of God, thus shown, well wielded, capable Of wreaking its own vengeance on its foes.' These twain such counsel in their secret breast Held diverse, while that strife of words went on. Not what, in present need, behooved to do-- A full and fell accord conjoined them there!-- Was doubt or question to the Sanhedrim; But in what chosen way their chosen goal, The doom of death for those accurséd men, With safe sure speed, most prudently, to reach-- This doubt embroiled a vehement debate.