As if one, from some poise of prospect high, Should overlook below a plain outspread And see a bright embattled host, in close Array of antique chivalry, supposed Invincible, advancing, panoplied, Horseman and horse, in steel, and with delight Of battle pricked to speed, he--while that host, Swift, like one man, across the field of war, With pennons gay astream upon the wind, And arms and armor flashing in the sun, Moved to the sound of martial music brave-- Might ask, "What strength set counter could withstand The multiplied momentum of such blow?" And yet, as, let a rock-built citadel Upspring before them in their conquering way, And, through embrasures in the frowning wall, Let enginery of carnage new and strange, Vomiting smoke and flame from hellish mouths-- Let cannon, with their noise like thunder, belch, Volleying, their bolts like thunderbolts amain Among those gallant columns, then would be Amazement seen, and ruinous overthrow; So, late, to Saul's superbly confident Assay of onset all seemed nigh to yield, Till that the wisdom of the Holy Ghost, Through Stephen speaking, made the utmost might Of eloquence ridiculous and vain, So was the duel all unequal, joined By Saul with Stephen on that fateful day. Though not ill matched the champions' native force And spirit, and not far from even their skill, Equipment disparate of weaponry-- Human against Divine, infinite odds!-- Made the conclusion of the strife foregone. Had mortal prowess against prowess been Between those twain the naked issue tried, Saul, with his sanguine dash of onset, might Perchance have won the day--through sheer surprise Of sudden and impetuous movement swift Beyond the other's readiness to oppose An instantaneous rally of quick thought And lightning-like alertness of stanch will Mustering and mastering his collected might. But the event and fortune of that hour Resolved no doubt which combatant excelled In wit or will or strength or exercise. Stephen was fortressed round impregnably, Saul stood in open field obvious to wound; Saul wielded weapons of the present world, Celestial weapons furnished Stephen--nay, Weapon himself, the Almighty wielded him.