"Yea, stoning gratifies the pious mind Profoundly--grant the stoning be by you; By you, not to you; being stoned, I judge, Is less satisfactory. On this point who doubt Or differ, have their opportunity To clear their minds by prompt experiment-- They need but act upon the last advice; For--grant our gracious masters smiled and pleased To let us play a prank of self-misrule, This once, wilful, but harmless, in their view, Which might even turn out comedy for them-- Yet, stoning these, we should ourselves get stoned, With expedition--past all chance of doubt. Our friend, the vehement adviser here, Might peradventure go himself as blithe To be stoned by the people, as to stone These pestilent fellows--for the glory of God. But, then, more clearly how the glory of God Would be subserved thereby, the rest of us, Colder in heart perhaps, but certainly Cooler in head, would wish to be advised, Before we take our lives into our hands To wreak the righteous judgment of the law On favorites of a fierce and fickle mob Whose palms, unless I much misread the signs, Already itch for stones to throw at us, While we sit here and talk of throwing stones At whom they love and honor. "Give them line This wild Jerusalem mob, and they will change Their mood. Remember how it chanced but late With Jesus Nazarene. Hailed yesterday Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords, Ovation of hosannas greeting him From thousand times a thousand throats--to-day, A malefactor hooted through the streets, With 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' cried In multitudinous chorus like one voice-- The mouths to-day and yesterday the same. Their second tune indeed we set for them And sang precentors--but how well they joined! In due time pitch them the like tune again, And doubt not they will sing it with full breath. "Not that I hence advise to wait remiss; My counsel is no less from sloth removed Than hostile to crude, hasty violence. Only, shun public note; with proper quest, Ways may be found, ways pregnant too, that make No noise. The nail that went so shrewdly through Sisera's temples made no noise. It sped Softly, but sped surely, and found the quick Secret of life. Are there not Jaels yet? You have guessed what I advise. The end you seek Is holy; holy hold whatever means Shall lead thereto. Let us commit this thing To those the wisest found among us, few Better than many, charging them to choose Some suitable silent means of silencing These praters, without stir or scandal made, Likest the ways of nature, hint, perhaps, Conveyed of overruling providence At work through nature for revenging crime.