Inmost, save one reserve. He never yet Had shown to any, scarce himself had seen, The true deep master motive of his soul, That fountain darkling in the depths of self Whence into light all streams of being flowed. Saul daily, nightly, waking, sleeping, dreamed Of a new nation, his belovéd own, Resurgent from the dust consummate fair, And, for chief corner-stone, with shoutings reared To station in the stately edifice-- Whom but himself? Who worthier than Saul? This beckoning image bright of things to be-- Audacious-lovelier far than might be shown To any, yea, than he himself dared look, With his own eyes, steadfast and frank upon-- Was interblent so closely in his mind With what should be the fortune and effect Of his intended controversy nigh, That, though his settled purpose to dispute He had for public reasons publicly Declared, he yet in private, of that strife, Still future, everywhere to speak abstained, Abiding even unto his sister dumb. Rachel from Tarsus to Jerusalem Had borne her brother company, her heart One heart with his to cheer him toward the goal Of his high purpose, which she knew, to be Beyond his equals master in the law. Alone they dwelt together, their abode Between Gamaliel's and the synagogue Of the Cilicians. Beautiful and bright His home she made to him, with housewife ways Neat-handed, and with fair companionship. The sister, with that quick intelligence The woman's, first divined, for secret cause Of this her brother's travailing silentness, That he some pregnant enterprise revolved; Then, having, with the woman's wit, found means To advise herself what enterprise it was, She, with the woman's tact of sympathy, In watchful quiet reverent of his mood, Strove with him and strove for him, in her thought, Her wish, her hope, her prayer; nor failed sometimes A word to drop, unconsciously as seemed, By lucky chance, that might perhaps convey A timely help of apt suggestion wise To Saul her brother for his purpose, he All undisturbed to guess that aught was meant. At home, abroad, reserved, Saul not the less All places of men's frequence and resort Still visited, and mixed with crowds to catch The whisper of the people; active not, But not supine, observing unobserved As if alone amid the multitude. The brave apostles of the Nazarene He heard proclaim their master Lord and Christ, And marked their method in the Scriptures; not With open mind obedient toward the truth, But ever only with shut heart and hard, Intent on knowing how to contradict.