This suave appeal of sister's sympathy Won upon Saul to wean him from himself-- A moment, and that moment he partook Comfort of love, nepenthe to his pain, While thus he answered Rachel: "Nay, but thou, My sister, thou thyself art to me rest And solace. Sit thee down, I pray, beside Thy brother. But to have thee nigh as now Refreshes like the dew. I bathe my heart In thee as in a fountain. Ask me not To ease its aching otherwise than so. Pillow me on thy love and let me rest In silence from the sound of my own voice. I hate myself, Rachel." "But I love thee, My own dear, noble brother," Rachel said; "I love thee, and I will not let thee hate Thyself. Brother and sister should be one In love and hate. Hate what I hate, and what I love, love thou--that is true brotherhood." "Safe law of brotherhood indeed for me, With thee for sister, Rachel," Saul replied, With fondness and self-pity, as he kissed The pure young brow upturned toward him; "but me, Thou dost not know me as I know myself." "O nay, but better, brother," Rachel said; "Right hate is good, as good as love. So, hate, But not thyself, Saul. Shall I tell thee one To hate? I hate him, and I counsel thee, Hate, Saul, that evil man I saw but now Steal from his too long privilege at thine ear." "Him, Rachel," Saul replied, "I cannot hate; Hatred is made impossible by scorn." "Thou scornest him," she said, "but not too much To have been disturbed by him. The cloudy brow, So unlike my brother--I have brought it back, I see, dear Saul, by only mentioning him. Hate him well, Saul, and be at peace again. To hate is safer, better, than to scorn. We scorn with pride, we must with conscience hate, Such hating as I mean. Thou art too proud, Saul." Saul answered, "For my pride I hate myself." But she: "Were it not wiselier done to hate One's pride, than for one's pride to hate one's self? Whoever hates himself for his own pride Still keeps the pride for which he hates himself. Hate and abjure thy pride, and love thyself." "Easy to say, O Rachel, hard to do," Sighed Saul,--"at least for such as I, who am Too proud, too proud! Thou seest that after all Thou and myself know Saul alike, too proud, Albeit the too proud man we treat unlike, Thou loving and I hating him." "O Saul," Thus spoke she, gazing steadfastly at him, But sudden-starting tears swam in her eyes, "O Saul, Saul, Saul, my brother, whence is this? Thou wert not wont to talk thus. Changed art thou Since when I heard thee speak in that dispute With Stephen--" "Thou heard'st me?" asked Saul.