13-THE PRAETORIAN AND THE APOSTLE
THE PRAETORIAN AND THE APOSTLE Acts 28:16; Acts 28:31
"Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. . . . preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ."
(THE SOLDIER loquitur.) Father, the dawn is near! the shield Of Luna sinks remote and pale O’er Tiber and the Martial field; The breeze awakes; the cressets fail: This livelong night from set of sun Here have we talk’d: thy task is done. But yesterday I smil’d or frown’d To watch thy audience, soon and late, With scroll and style embattl’d round In barbarous accents ply debate;
While this would chide, and that would start Sudden, as sword-struck in the heart.
I laugh’d aside, or, tir’d, withdrew From the strange sound in waking dreams To Umbrian hills-the home I knew- The cottage by Mevania’s streams:
’Twas hush’d at length: the guests were flown, And thou wast left and I alone.
Thou hast forgiven (I know thee now) The insults of this heathen tongue; The taunting questions why and how; The songs (oh madness!) that I sung:
Thou hast forgiv’n the hateful strain Of dull defiance and disdain.
Thy gaze, thy silence, they compell’d My own responsive: aw’d I stood Before thee; soften’d, search’d, and quell’d; The evil captive to the good:
Half conscious, half entranc’d, I heard (While the stars mov’d) thy conquering word.
These ears were dull to Grecian speech, This heart more dull to aught but sin;
Yet the great Spirit bade thee reach, Wake, change, exalt, the soul within:
I’ve heard; I know; thy Lord, ev’n He, JESUS, hath look’d from heaven on me.
Thou saw’st me shake, and (spite of pride) Weep on thy hand: so stern thy truth:
I own’d the terrors that abide Dread sequel to a rebel’s youth: But soon I pour’d a happier shower To learn thy Saviour’s dying power.
Ah, speechless, rapt, I bent, to know Each wonder of that fateful day When midst thy zeal’s terrific glow He met thee on the Syrian way:
I saw, I felt, the scene: my soul Drank the new bliss, the new control.
Father, the dawn is risen! the hour Is near, too near, when from this hand Thy chain must fall-from yonder tower Another guard must take my stand: The City stirs: I go, to meet The foe, the world, in camp and street; A Christian-yes, for ever now A Christian: so our Leader keep My faltering heart: to Him I bow, His, whether now I wake or sleep: In peace, in battle, His:-the day Breaks in the east: oh, once more pray!
1869.