So far a loth penurious decent heed The council had grudged out to Stephen; here The scowl of curious incredulity, Wherewith they listened while as yet in doubt Whither might tend his drift of argument, Changed to a frown of deadly hate, as they Conclusion from his use of Scripture drew That Stephen glanced at overthrow indeed Meant for the temple. Instantly, alert To seize occasion, Shimei the sig Gave to prepared conspirators, who now Obediently framed a menace grim Of gesture to denounce the speaker's aim; And all the council, as one man, astir With insurrection, frowned a vehement Refusal to receive the word of God. Stephen beheld their aspect, and his soul, Dilating to a seraph's measure, filled With sudden prophet's zeal aflame for God. He forged his indignation into words Which, like bolts kindling, now he launched at them. He said: "Stiff-necked ye, and uncircumcised In heart and ears! Always do ye resist The Holy Ghost; as did your fathers, so Do ye. Which of the prophets did they not, Your fathers, persecute? Who showed before The coming of the Just One, those they slew; And of Him now have ye betrayers been And murderers. Ye who the law, received At angels' disposition, have not kept!" Cut to the heart at this, those councillors Gnashed with their teeth on Stephen. But that sight Stephen, his eyes rapt elsewhere, did not see. Full of the Holy Ghost, his face he raised, Gazing with sense undazzled into heaven, And saw the glory of God, and Jesus there, Not sitting, as at ease, but, as in act To help, standing, on the right hand of God. He testified that vision thus to men: "Opened see I the heavens and standing there The Son of Man on the right hand of God." Thereat a loud acclaim of hatred forth Burst in one voice from all the Sanhedrim. Full come was Shimei's opportunity. As started Mattathias to his feet In honest wrath instinctive, Shimei too Rose, counterfeiting wrath, sign understood By his complotters, who now likewise rose In simultaneous second and support, Setting the council in a wild turmoil. They stopped their ears, and all together ran On Stephen with tumultuary rage To thrust him forth without the city walls.