"But, to sustain the impression, Saul, it needs, Quite needs, that you somehow contrive to shun These awkward misadventures; the grand air Is less impressive in a man well known To have made a bad miscarriage, such as yours. For in fact you--with sincere pain I say it-- But served to Stephen as a sort of foil To set his talent off and heighten it. You must yourself feel this to be the case; For never since that windy Pentecost In which we thought we saw the top and turn To this delirium of delusion touched, Never, I say, till now were seen so many New perverts to the Nazarene as seems You two, between you, you and Stephen, Saul, Managed, that memorable day, to make. It is a pity, and I grieve with you. Still, Saul, let us consider that your case, Undoubtedly unfortunate, presents This one alleviating circumstance, At least, that your defeat demonstrates past Gainsaying what an arduous attempt Yours was, and thereby glorifies the more That admirable headiness of yours Which egged you on to venture unadvised. For my own part, I like prodigiously To see your young man overflow with spirit; Age will bring wisdom fast enough; but spirit, Like yours, Saul, comes, when come it does at all, Born with the man. Never regret that you Dared nobly; rather hug yourself for that With pride; pride greater, since, through proof, aware You really dared more nobly than you knew. "Some increment too of wisdom you have won From your experience; not to be despised, Though ornament rather of age than youth. I may presume you now less indisposed Than late you were, to reinforce, support, And supplement mere obstinacy--fine, Of course, as I have said, yet attribute Common to man with beast--by counsel ripe And scheme of well-considered policy, Adapted to secure your end with ease. Economy of effort well befits Man, the express image and counterpart Of God, who always works with parsimony, Compassing greatest ends with smallest means, To waste no particle of omnipotence. "Count now that you have rendered plain enough What single-eyed, straightforward stubbornness Can, and cannot, effect in this behalf; So much is gained; now be our conscience clear To cast about and find some other means, Than mere main strength in public controversy, Of dealing with these raw recalcitrants. They lacked the grace to be discomfited In honorable combat fairly joined, Let them now look to it how much their gross Effrontery in overthrowing you Shall profit them at last. I have a scheme"--