"Yea, my son," Gamaliel said; "But I, meantime, after my counsel given Dissuading thee, had learned myself to feel How failed the hand of brute authority Against this strange faith of the Nazarene. Thine undertaking I less disapproved After our hearing of the Galilæans. Something perceived in them, or through them felt, Disturbed me with a strange solicitude, Which the ill fortune of thine own assay Did not relieve. But thou, thou still wert clear, Wert thou not, Saul? Thine action did not halt; Promptly in Stephen's stoning thou took'st part." "I acted promptly, that I might be clear In thought," said Saul; "this, rather than because I was so clear. My halting urged me on. Yet now, O master mine, I might perhaps Be clear, but that my coadjutorship Offends me so, torments me with such doubt. In the right way how can I be, and be In the same way with Shimei? My soul Sickens at him, at all his words and ways Sickens, and still he dogs me every step, Clings to me like my shadow, whispers me Over my shoulder, pointing me out my way, Until I hardly can do that which else Freely I should, because he bids me do it!" "Yea, Saul, my son, trust thou thine instinct there," Gravely Gamaliel said, with slow reserve That warned how more than he would say was meant; "Our brother Shimei is a dark man, Whose public zeal is edged with private spite; Him well, son Saul, it thee behooves beware. Since when thou scornedst him in those high words Before the council, Shimei hates thee, Saul, And hate like his is sleepless till revenge. Ill for a cause that must be served by him! But some are tools, and others ministers, Of God, Who works His holy will with all!" Unwarned by warning, but in conscience pricked, And following his own tyrannous thought, Saul spoke: "Those infamous false witnesses of his-- Say, master, did I on my conscience take The guilt of their suborning, when consent I gave to Stephen's death thereby procured? My conscience like a scorpion stings me on, But whether a good conscience before God It be, or rather a conscience violated, Which I must quiet by not heeding it, And by confusing it with din of deeds Forever doing--this I cannot well Resolve me, and--but, nay, for that were false, I do not wish thou shouldst resolve me it. Forgive me, and farewell! But pray for Saul!"