Such words of weight spoke Caiaphas, and ceased Those words, not idle, fell as falls the steel Smiting the flint; a sparkle keen of fire Flew forth, found tinder ready, and flashed up In instant flame. A patriot malcontent, Fiercely, irreconcilably, a Jew, Was Mattathias; Mattathias said: "Yoke by whom hated? Surely not by him Who tamely brooks to talk of earning praise For loyalty from Rome! Nor more by those Who patient sit to hear such counsel broached! Nay, men my brethren, that I did not hear! Sure, son of Abraham never have I heard Own himself slave, and meekly speak of Rome, As of a master! This I will not hear! I could not hear it! Speech of such a strain Were like a river of molten metal poured Red-hot into my ear to quench the sense! Stone-deaf am I to craven treachery From one of my own fellow-councillors here! I only heard my brother say, 'Let us Arise and stand for God!' Lo, I arise And stand, with him, with all! There is a law, Ancient and unrepealed, wholesome and good, To stone for blasphemy. Blasphemers these, What wait we? We have hands, and there are stones, Let us this instant forth and stone them, stone Unto the death!" The clenched hands, and the fierce Menace of husky tones, half-choked, and teeth Gnashing, and brow braided with swollen knots, Were more than words to speak the murderous will. The prisoners listened with suspended breath; They deemed a dreadful doom indeed was nigh. Instinctive instant fear, forestalling faith, With sudden loud alarum startled them, And for one moment violently shook, In them, all save the basis of the soul-- One moment--then they sped themselves with prayer, Ran to the shelter of the promises, And were at peace! In that secure retreat Withdrawn, the secret place of the Most High, The angel of the Lord encamping round, Composédly at leisure they looked out And saw the wicked plot against the just, Vainly, and gnash upon him with his teeth! Within their hearts they knew his day would come.