Saul in such mood of rancor and remorse Commingled--both unhappy sentiments Still mutually exasperating each The other--Shimei came to him. Now Saul And Shimei were two opposites intense In nature, never toward each other drawn, But violently ever sent asunder; Yet chiefly by repulsion lodged in Saul, Spurning off Shimei, as the good the evil; For Saul instinctively was noble, frank, And true, as Shimei instinctively Was false, profound in guile, to base inclined. But strangely, since that council wherein Saul Fulmined his shame on Shimei's proffer vile, Shimei had felt the other's scorn of him A force importunate to tempt him nigh-- Perverse attraction in repulsion found!-- As evil ever struggles toward the good, Not to be leavened with virtue issuing thence, But leaven instead to likeness with itself. So Shimei came to Saul, as knowing Saul Spurned him avaunt with loathing; in degree Attracted as he was intensely spurned. He fain would feast his malice on the pride, Seen writhing, fain would make it writhe the more, Of Saul in his discomfiture. With mien Demure of hypocritic sympathy, The nauseating vehicle of sneer, Malignly studied to exacerbate The galled and angry feeling in Saul's mind, He thus addressed that haughty Pharisee: "The outcome of your effort, brother Saul, To vindicate the cause of truth and God-- And therewithal justly advance somewhat Your individual profit and esteem As rising bulwark of the Jewish state, Whereby so much the better you might hope Hereafter to promote the general weal-- This spirited attempt, I say, of yours Has in its issue disappointed you, You, and your friends no less, who, all of us, Together with yourself, refused to dream Aught but the most felicitous event To enterprise with so much stateliness Of dignity impressively announced By you, and show of lofty confidence. By the way, Saul, the grand air suits your style Astonishingly well; I should advise Your cultivation of it. Why, at times, When you display that absolutely frank And unaffected lack of modesty Which marks you, really, now, the effect on me, Even me, is almost irresistible; I find myself well-nigh imposed upon To call it an effect of majesty.