Rebuke like this Saul brooked it ill to hear; With filial sweet resentment he replied: "And cherish other dreams, I pray thee, father! No man-at-arms am I to challenge Rome; Though not even Rome should daunt me, called of God To front her with but pebble from the brook, Like David, in her plenitude of power. Rome rules us, and I grieve, but I rejoice: I grieve that we are such as must be ruled, And cannot rule ourselves; but I rejoice, Since such we are, that we are ruled by Rome. The strongest and the wisest is the best To serve, if one must serve. Alas, my country! Her face is in the dust because her heart Grovels, and therefore on her neck the heel. So, not to rid us of the Roman, I Labor with this desire, but to erect The dustward spirit of my countrymen. This people knowing not the law are cursed!" By instinct wise of policy unmeant, Saul, in his last half-maledictory words Of vehement passion edged with bitterness, Had struck a chord that answered in the breast Of the habitual teacher of the law. "Yea," said Gamaliel, "now art thou true son And utterest wisdom. Make them know the law. With both my hands I bless thee speaking thus. The law shall save them, if they know the law." Saul knew it was Gamaliel's wont that spoke, His life-long wont of reverence for the law And trust in its omnipotence to serve Whatever need befell his nation--this, Rather than any fresh, fair-springing sense Of hope in him auxiliar to his own. Yet, in despair of better heartening now, And self-impelled to ease his laboring mind, He, fixed and faltering both, with courteous phrase Premised of teachable assent sincere To smooth somewhat thereto his doubtful way, Frankly a hearing for his counsel sought: "I ever heard thee, father, teaching that, And I believe it wholly, mind and heart; But something now I did not learn from thee, Hearken, I pray, and weigh if it be wise."