But less like one who hearkened as to weigh A counsel shown, Gamaliel now to Saul Seemed, than like one who sat behind a shield In opposition, a broad shield of brow Immobile, placid, large circumference, And orb of diamond proof, between them hung There on the housetop still in dim twilight, Ready to quench in darkness any ray Of word or sign from him that should aspire To reach an understanding guarded so-- Such to Saul seemed Gamaliel now, while yet, Despite, repressed but irrepressible, That strenuous strong spirit thus went on: "Deeply I have desired to know my time And not to waste my strength beating the air. Are not men's needs other with other times? No more perhaps in peaceful shelters now Sacred to sacred studies, synagogue Retirements, where our doctors of the law Propose in turn their sage conclusions, heard By questioning disciples--here perhaps No more is truth most truly taught to men. Some, it may be, might well go forth to stand Even at the corners of the streets and cry. Folly amain preaches to gaping crowds, And shall not wisdom cry? My heart is hot, Amid the multitude they make their prey, To meet these false proclaimers to their face, And stop their mouths, with Moses and with all The prophets and the Psalms, from uttering lies." Gamaliel heard, and like a lion stood, That shakes his dewy mane from slumber roused; The old man loomed in action nobly tall, As thus, with weighty gesture, in a voice Solid with will, he gently, sternly spoke: "Nay, Saul, my son, thy zeal misguides thee now-- Thy zeal, and peradventure some conceit Of wisdom wiser than thine elders. Thou, Consenting thus to parley with the fool According to his folly, like becomest. This is a time to answer otherwise Than with the wind of words against their words Of wind, as equal against equal matched. Those wresters of the law must feel the law Smiting their mouths shut with the heavy hand. With blows, not words, vain fools like these are taught. Go thou thy way, to-morrow shalt thou see Hap other far than that thou hast devised Befall those evil men of Galilee. Our chiefly prudent, watchful for our weal, Will stop their mouths profane and make an end." Saul chode his tongue to silence, but his heart Set stern in resolution touched with pride, As, after decent pause, he took farewell. The master and the pupil parted thus, And both were blind to that which was to be; For both would change, but change in converse ways Gamaliel gentle grow, and Saul grow hard.