Prayer then, and then fast broken, and calmly Saul The ill dream of his yesternight revolved. What better project for fresh act than that Which, gladly now he pondered, Shimei Did not propose, but only Shimei's False lively mimic counterfeit in sleep? Yea, he would next, with prompt but circumspect Audacity, the audacious head and front Smite of this growing mischief, in those men Styled the apostles of the Nazarene. Saul knew within his heart that secretly He dreaded this adventure; therefore he, With will sardonically set, moved on To undertake it. Twenty men of tried True mettle, men with muscle iron-firm, And mind seasoned, through many hazards run, And long wont of impunity, to scorn All danger--such a score of men chose Saul, And, from them veiling yet his purpose, took, With indirection intricate, his way Toward where, as he, by diligent quest, had learned, The twelve apostles used each day to meet In secret from their prowling enemies; But to the common people, loving them For manifold miracles of beneficence, Their secret meeting-place was not unknown. As, gradually, Saul with his retinue Drew near the spot, so large a following Of arméd men, led by a chief whose fame Was rife now through Jerusalem for deeds And purposes of uttermost revenge Against the Galilæan heresy, Gathered about their course a growing crowd, Who, urged by various thought and feeling, watched What might that minatory march intend. Reached thus at length the place, Saul stays his steps, And, turning to his men in halt to hear, Speaks, with that dense clear voice which tense will breeds: "Here hide the twelve arch-heretics of all. Ye come to take them hence bond prisoners, For lodgment in a hold whence no escape, That they may cease sedition to foment. Duly the fathers of the Sanhedrim, Wise warders of our Hebrew commonwealth, Will thence adjudge them to their doom of death. No waste of words in parley now, leave asked, Terms offered, naught of that, no paltering pause, Instantly, stroke on stroke, down with the door!" But pause they did, those picked, use-hardened men; They stood as struck with palsy or with fear. "Traitors be ye, or cravens, which?" cried Saul-- Amazement, indignation, ire, disdain, Effacing exhortation in his tone. Then, mastering himself, less fiercely he Chode them: "Whence and whereto is this? Mean ye, Ye surely mean not, mutiny? Rouse, then, With will; obey, your loyalty retrieve!"