This man regarded Saul with curious look Respectful, which almost admiring grew; And gravely, as their mutual glances met, The youthful Roman to the youthful Jew Inclined in distant salutation meant For natural courtesy due from peer to peer. Saul, in like wise, his greeting gave him back; Whereon the Roman, reining to one side His horse, and halting, said: "Peace, but methinks I saw thee late, months since it may have been, Where that fanatic Stephen suffered death With stoning at your angry elders' hands." "I, in that act of punishment," said Saul, "As loyal Jew befitted, took my part." "Nay, but as now I read thy features nigh," Sudden more earnest grown, the Roman said, "Labors my brain with yet a different thought. Somewhere we twain must earlier still have met. In Tarsus I some boyish seasons spent; I there, by chance full well-remembered, knew A Hebrew-Roman boy whose name was Saul." "Then Sergius Paulus is thy name," said Saul, "And Saul am I--and Saul to Sergius, peace!" Who but as man and man just now had met Greeted again in sense of comradeship. "Thy face is toward Jerusalem," to Saul Said Sergius; "but thy look is less of one Arriving, journey finished, than of one Forth setting on adventure planned abroad." "I journey to Damascus," Saul replied: "And thither also I," said Sergius. Damascus-ward turned Saul his horse's head, And slowly, with the Roman, now resumed His onward way, while further Sergius said: "Having a brief apprenticeship at arms Accomplished, to Jerusalem I came, Centurion still, urged by desire to see Thy capital city, famed throughout the world. Since witnessing--by lucky hap it fell My military duty to be there-- Since witnessing that spectacle so strange Of Stephen's stoning--strange to Roman eyes, Yet to eyes Jewish doubtless quite as strange Our Roman fashion, hanging on the cross-- All various ways of various tribes of men From clime to clime, delights me to observe-- What comedy to the gods must we present!-- Since I saw Stephen slain with stones, I say, Good fortune, and some interest made for me At Rome, have given me this my welcome chance To travel and more widely see the world. Now to Damascus I as legate go." "And of our Sanhedrim as legate, I," Said Saul, "if so without offence I may From Jewish mode to Gentile dare my speech Conform--legate, or hand executive, Say rather, in some certain offices Deemed needful, to consult my nation's weal."