"Thou speakest idly," Lazarus said to Saul; "Prison and death no terrors have for me. The Lord I serve is Lord of life and death." "Yea, I have heard," said Saul to Lazarus, "Thou boastest to have been from death itself Called back to life by whom thou namest Christ. Let him, once more, call thee from out the tomb To which I shall consign thee--if he can. Saul then perhaps will his disciple be! Poor fool, fanatic, what shall I call thee? Persist not in this folly. Be a Jew, A Jew indeed, nor fling thy life away. Anathema be Jesus!' say but that, Thou, Lazarus, and all the rest, with thee, And I go hence taking the sword away, The sword of just authority, undrawn, Asleep within its scabbard, ye all safe, All Jews indeed, and I given back again A sister, Rachel mine, won from the dead! 'Anathema be Jesus!' say those words." Saul ceased, awaiting what those five would do. They did not look at one another; all, As with one will to all--their eyes upraised, And their hands clasped in ecstasy of awe-- Together "Alleluia Jesus!" said. On Saul a power like lightning fallen from heaven Fell, at that adoration from their lips. A moment he stood stupefied, and then, With a great wrench of scornful will, he freed Himself and summoned his retainers in. These entered rudely, but abashed they hung, And wondering saw their master half abashed, Before that little company clothed on With virtue like a dreadful panoply. Half with the air of one subdued, or one Feeling he acts by sufferance not by power, Saul bids bind all--save Rachel--and forthwith Lead them to prison. "Also me, bind me," So Rachel to the men said eagerly, And offered her fair wrists. They looked at Saul, But Saul vouchsafed to them nor word nor sign. Still, 'No,' they gathered from that cold aspect In him which seemed to say, 'That which I bid, Do, further, naught.' Rachel to Saul himself Beseechingly then turned and said: "O Saul, Full well I know thou doest this, constrained By conscience. Then by conscience be constrained To let thy men bind also me, who am As guilty as these are and with them should share One lot." "I did not come here to be taught My duty," Saul said, "least of all by thee. And least of all from thee will I abide To be adjured as by my conscience. Once I had a sister, she was conscience to me, But, as I told thee, that was long ago, And she is dead, my sister!" Sadness mixed, Unmeant, resisted, irresistible, With Saul's enforced hardheartedness, which broke His tone to pathos, and, despite himself With those last words he burst in tears. He shook In shudders of strong agony, while all Wondered, but Rachel did not wonder, she