All had been teemed from Shimei's fruitful brain. First, he had mixed the listening crowd around The weaver at that moment with base men, His creatures, who, for hirelings' pay, should stir Their neighbors up to wreak indignity Upon Saul's person, wounding to his pride, And in the public view disparaging. Then, at the point of need, to succor Saul, Bringing his haughty colleague under debt To himself, Shimei, for his very life-- This was that crafty plotter's next concern. A band accordingly of men-at-arms, Sworn in the service of the Sanhedrim, He had made ready; and these now appeared Confronting that tumultuary crowd. Saul rescued--not without some disarray And soil of rent apparel, hair and beard Dishevelled, and disfigured countenance, His person thus disparaged to the eye, Hirani, as ringleader of the rout, Chained and brought forward, while go free, but blamed For being misled, the others--Shimei then To view emerges. He addresses Saul: "Well met! That fellow, with his crew of like, Treated you badly, Saul. You might have prayed To be delivered into Stephen's hands From tender mercies such as theirs! I trust You have not suffered worse than what I see, Some slight derangement of apparel shown, Your hair and beard less sleek than might beseem, With here and there a scratch scored on your face-- Nothing more serious, let me trust? Our men Were at the nick of time in coming up. It was not pure coincidence. You see, Both knowing your mettle and the vicious ways These sanctimonious ruffians have at times, I had misgivings that you might be rash, And suffer disadvantage at their hands. So, as in like case you would do by me, I, with these faithful servitors of ours, Run to your rescue here, and not too soon! A little later would have been too late. You were well started down the steep incline, Which, very happily, as I learn, you styled 'The way of Stephen and all heretics.' Droll, very, with of course its serious side, Queer irony, you know, of will Divine, Supposing they had really stoned you, Saul! Well, well, it turns out better than your fears. You will not, true, and I lament it, make Quite a triumphal entry with your man Before the Sanhedrim, leading him in, With air of captain fresh from glorious war, Who brings proud trophy of his single spear Redoubtable; but the main point is ours, The man we want is safe in custody." Thus Shimei with his devilish sneering glee Nettled the heart of Saul and cheered his own.