es, when he raised 11
His look to heaven, and stood sublime in light.
But see, with vitis[173] of command, and plume
And crest, in momentary sunshine bright,
The praefect of the Roman guard approach,
Hail, father, hail! he cried.
And hail to thee,
The old man answered, mildly. Art thou come
With tidings from the Mistress of the World?

ROMAN COMMANDER.

The world's great sun is set--Caesar is dead! 20

JOHN.

Caesar! Ah! in my dream did I not see
His shadow stern and sad; the purple robe
Dropping with blood!

ROMAN COMMANDER.

Why, was he not a god?--
So he proclaimed himself--a god on earth!
Giving command that altars to his name
Should blaze, as to great Jupiter! Old man,
Art thou not prisoner for gainsaying this?[174]
But, father, if a soldier might pronounce,
With all respect to thy gray hairs, I deem 30
The sole, imperial master of the world
Might worthier claim that title, than a man
Mocked, scourged--ay, scourged!--and crucified with thieves!

Rose and ascended into heaven! replied
The meek old man--a hectic on his cheek--
Rose, and ascended into heaven, to sit 36
At the right hand of God, from thence to come,
Judge of the quick and dead! Proud soldier, hear--
Hear how a prisoner for Jesus Christ
Can answer thee!
When King Agrippa sat
Upon his throne, in oriental state,
Surrounded by the Roman soldiery,
With axe and fasces of imperial sway,
Fair Berenice seated on his right,
And on his left Festus the governor,
Paul, a poor prisoner of Jesus Christ,
Before him stood, in chains; and as he spoke
Of "resurrection," and the world to come,
He cried, King of the Jews, dost thou believe 50
The prophets! Yes! I know thou dost believe.
The king, with faltering voice, tremblingly cried,
Paul, Paul, thou dost persuade even me, almost--
To be a Christian! Paul, with lifted hand
And steadfast look, thus answered him, Almost!
Oh! would that the whole world were not "almost,"
But "altogether" such as I am now,
Except these bonds.
Soldier, I say the same.
But hie thee to thy eagle; I am here,