PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA.
The son of Herod sate in regal state
Fast by his sister-queen—and 'mid the throng
Of supple courtiers, and of Roman guards,
Gave solemn audience. Summoned to his bar
A prisoner came,—who with no flattering tone
Brought incense to a mortal. Every eye
Questioned his brow, with scowling eagerness,
As there[1] he stood in bonds. But when he spoke
With such majestic earnestness, such grace
Of simple courtesy—with fervent zeal
So boldly reasoned for the truth of God,
The ardour of his heaven-taught eloquence
Wrought in the royal bosom, till its pulse
Responsive trembled with the new-born hope
"Almost to be a Christian."
So, he rose,
And with the courtly train swept forth in pomp.
"Almost;"—and was this all,—thou Jewish prince?
Thou listener to the ambassador of Heaven—
"Almost persuaded!"—Ah! hadst thou exchanged
Thy trappings and thy purple, for his bonds
Who stood before thee—hadst thou drawn his hope
Into thy bosom even with the spear
Of martyrdom—how great had been thy gain.
And ye, who linger while the call of God
Bears witness with your conscience, and would fain
Like king Agrippa follow,—yet draw back
Awhile into the vortex of the world
Perchance to swell the hoard, which Death shall sweep
Like driven chaff away, 'mid stranger hands,
Perchance by Pleasure's deadening opiate lulled
To false security—or by the fear
Of man constrained—or moved to give your sins
A little longer scope, beware!—beware!—
Lest that dread "almost" shut you out from Heaven.