Sylvia J. Eastman BERTRANU *>M. i -<* .-.Efft 01- BO" ** HEAM C GETHSEMANE AND AFTER GETHSEMANE AND AFTER A NEW SETTING OF AN OLD STORY By The Reverend Cyrus Townsend Brady LL.D. Rector of Trinity Church, Toledo, Ohio And Sometime Archdeacon of Kansas, Archdeacon of Pennsylvania, etc. y etc. NEW YORK MOFFAT, YARD & COMPANY 1907 Copyright. 1907. by MOFFAT, YARD & COMPANY NBW YORK Published April, 1907 URL SRLF, TO MY PARISHIONERS IN TOLEDO AND TO MY FRIENDS THERE AND EVERYWHERE I DEDICATE THIS ATTEMPT TO BRING HOME TO HUMANITY THE REALITIES OF OUR LORD'S PASSION PREFATORY NOTE I have written this book with the prayer that it may be read by many to whom the Gospel narratives are as sealed books. The Bible is a volume which everybody respects, which few people read, and which fewer study. I cherish the hope that some into whose hands this little book falls may be inspired by it to examine the Sacred Story to see whether these things be true or not. I have followed closely the order of events so far as I could determine them, only deviating from the record in one instance the futile at- tempt of Judas to exculpate himself. This took place after the second trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin in the morning, and the money was cast down in the Temple, instead of in the High Priest's house as I have arranged it. I did not deem it necessary to repeat the second trial which was practically identical with the fiirst, hence the change noted. C. T. B. Trinity Rectory, Toledo, Ohio Passiontide, 1907 CONTENTS PARTI GETHSEMANE I. The Agony in the Garden . . 13 II. The Betrayal .... 25 PART II THE TRIAL BEFORE THE JEWS I. Peter at the Wicket Gate . . 41 II. Questioned by Annas . . 45 III. The Trial Before Caiaphas . . 51 IV. The Sifting of Peter . . 63 V. The Son of Perdition ... 70 PART I II THE PRAETORIUM I. The Accusation ... 79 II. The Justification .... 89 III. The Acquittal .... 93 IV. The Condemnation ... 97 V. Behold the Man 117 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART IV THE VIA DOLOROSA I. The Crossbearer to the King . 129 II. The Daughters of Jerusalem . 137 PARTV GOLGOTHA I. The Crosses on the Hill ... 143 II. The Hours of Darkness . . 158 III. The New Tomb in the Garden 164 PART VI THE RESURRECTION I. The Testimony of the Soldiers . 175 II. The Testimony of the Women. . 191 III. The Upper Chamber . . 203 IV. The Confession of the Doubter 215 PART I. GETHSEMANE I. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN SCENE: A wooded garden, or olive grove, on the slope of a mountain, within which is an oil press. Time: About an hour after midnight. The moonlight filters through the thick foliage of the olive trees. The air is fragrant with blos- soms of spring-time. The night is very still and calm; over all a brooding silence. Across an in- tervening valley on distant hills the low lights of a sleeping city gleam faintly in the silver radiance of moon and stars. Not far away a mountain brook trickles through the stones on its way down the hills. Enter through the gate THE MAN and His disciples, a little band of eleven men. They halt uncertainly by the gate within the garden. Separating three by a gesture THE MAN motions to the remainder to sit down and wait under the trees. 14 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. JESUS (to the little group) Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. The eight with murmurs and signs of obedience dispose themselves upon the grassy banks while Peter, James and John, the three chosen, atten- tively watch Him, wondering. PETER (impulsively) Lord, what shall we do? JESUS (turning away) Follow Me. He walks slowly some distance into the garden followed by the three chosen disciples. Presently He stops and faces them. JESUS My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death. They press closer to Him to hear the better. He motions to them to stop where they are and to sit down. J ESUS Tarry ye here, and watch with Me. After a moment He turns away again and plunges farther into the deeper shadow of the GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 15 trees, leaving the three disciples on their knees. They pray softly for a little space, but it is late, they are tired, they gradually sink down upon the ground and presently fall asleep. Those nearer the gate have preceded them and are al- ready slumbering. JESUS (kneeling and lifting up His arms after a long period of silent prayer) O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me! He buries His head in His hands and falls for- ward upon His face exhausted. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt. The anguish of His soul racks His body with long shudders of pain. His forehead is beaded with sweat and drops of it fall upon the ground bedewing the grass. There is a longer silence. Presently He lifts His head and gases upward into the heavens as if summoned to look. He is slowly aware of a soft light shining in the dark- ness. It takes shape, and lo, an angel ministers unto Him. He looks long into the bright still face of the heavenly vision, and draws answer and comfort from what He sees. And the light fades away. THE MAN slowly rises and retraces His 16 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. steps till He comes upon the prostrate forms of the three disciples. A short distance beyond them He discerns the larger group farther away. All are sound asleep. JESUS (laying His hand upon Peter, the nearest of the three sleeping figures) What ! Could ye not watch with me one hour ? Simon Peter awakens. He opens his eyes, raises himself upon his hands and then suddenly springs to his feet. He stands before THE MAN in shame and confusion. His hasty movement and startled ejaculation awaken the other two sleep- ers, and they also get to their feet in humiliation and dismay. JESUS (to James and John) What ! Could ye not watch with Me one hour ? The two men stand before Him in deep con- trition and abasement. They know not what to say. PETER Lord I JAMES Master JOHN Rabbi we GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 17 Their voices die envoy in the silence. JESUS Watch and pray, that ye enter not into tempta- tion. PETER (with intense emphasis) Though all my brethren should sleep again, yet will I not sleep while Thou prayest. JESUS The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He again turns from them and goes a second time farther toward the center of the garden. The three disciples stare after Him till His form is lost in the darkness. Peter makes an impetu- ous movement as if to follow Him, but is re- strained by the others after a little struggle. They kneel and pray quietly for a long time, until at last James and John fall asleep and finally Peter, himself, sits down upon the grass with his back against an olive tree, and again he is overcome with slumber. JESUS (kneeling in the profound depth of the gar- den before a huge boulder between two of the 18 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. trees, upon which He outstretches His arms and bows His head upon them) O, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me except I drink it, Thy will be done. After a long pause THE MAN rises and again retraces His steps. He stands amazed before the three sleepers. And as before He stoops down and touches Peter on the shoulder. JESUS Simon, sleepest thou? And once more the three disciples awaken and sit up. In the bewilderment of their sudden arousing they do not fully comprehend t'he situ- ation, but when they realize that they have again failed Him, they gaze painfully at the pale face of THE MAN faintly glowing as if with light supernal where He stands in the shadow of the olive trees and then in shame and despair silently hide their faces in their hands. JESUS Sleep on now and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand. He turns once more into the garden and again kneels down before the great rock at the farther side. The three men do not lift their faces from GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 19 their hands this time. They listen, however, till the footfalls die away. Presently they hear a voice. Peter rises to his feet and leans forward in an attitude of extreme attention. He motions the others to silence. James and John kneel and listen. Although the words are scarcely breathed above a whisper, they still hear the pleading voice with its note of agonised appeal. JESUS (within the garden) Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee ; take away this cup from Me! JOHN (in an agitated whisper to James his brother) What is this that He saith ? JAMES (shaking his head doubtfully) I cannot tell, I PETER (enforcing quiet with a gesture) He speaketh again. Be still. JESUS (within the garden) Nevertheless not what I will, O Father, but what Thou wilt. 20 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The three listen further but no other sound comes to them. JOHN (in painful indecision) What is this cup that He must drink? PETER (impulsively) Let us go to Him. JAMES (laying a restraining hand upon him) He bade us watch here. PETER (in bitter self-reproach) And we have twice failed Him. He leans against a tree and folds his arms. John and James sit closer together at his feet. There is a long silence. Peter nods and recovers himself with a start. PETER (after listening in vain) Perchance He sleeps. JAMES (slowly) It may be so. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 21 JOHN (apprehensively) I hear no sound. A longer pause. John and James hearing noth- ing and tired with listening at last fall asleep again. Peter turns and rests his head on his arms and these in a crotch of the crooked tree which supports him. He prays silently, fighting against sleep until finally he, too, gives way. He awakens a third time to a touch. He straightens himself and opens his eyes and once more confronts THE MAN. The agony and suffering in Jesus' face have disappeared. The sorrow and incertitude have given place to an ineffable calm. It is the Christ of the morning, not of the midnight, of light, not of darkness, who looks at the disciple now. THE MAN'S voice is once more calm, even and steady. The peace of decision has sup- planted the turmoil of the night. Peter opens his mouth to speak words of protestation and ex- cuse. JESUS (silencing him with a gesture and a word) It is enough. (He turns to the other two and awakens them in turn.) Why sleep ye? Rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation. 22 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The three cluster about Him shamefaced and in deep abasement of heart. He turns away. JESUS (to the faithless watchers) Follow Me. He walks toward the gate followed by the three men whom He had chosen and who had failed Him. He stops by the side of the eight who have slept peacefully through all. He looks at them a moment or two in silence. He turns and points outside the garden toward the city. Flickering lights appear in the road below, and are seen intermittently through the trees. Faint noises are heard; a trampling as of footsteps, a subdued murmur of voices, a ring of steel on steel. JESUS The hour is come. He motions the three to awaken the others. They rise to their feet sleepily and all uncompre- hending look uncertainly about them. JESUS (stepping forward into the open and cleared GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 23 space about the gate where the moonlight shines brightest) Let us be going. The tumult outside grows louder. The noise of the approach of a considerable band of men is now plainly heard by all. Lurid flames from smoking torches mingle with the pure radiance of the white moonlight and stream over wall and hedge-row into the garden itself. THE MAN'S figure in the foregrdund is brightly illuminated, projected against the nervous huddle of His fol- lowers in the half light on the edge of the clear- ing, and all rising against the background of im- penetrable darkness of the deeper shade where He had prayed. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (outside the gate) Halt. With a final movement the noise outside ceases abruptly as the moving men come to a sudden stop. The clash of sword against armour which sends a clear, gentle, ringing sound through the night, the fall of the butts of staves, or spears, against the stones of the way bespeak armed men, 24 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. soldiery. Again in the pause the officer's voice is heard but now less sharply. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (questioning) Art sure the Nazarene is here? Another voice which the men at Jesus' back recognize with a start of horror and amazement answers : JUDAS (with confident assurance) It is His custom here to pray. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (still unconvinced) And how shall we know this Galilean? JUDAS (emphatically) Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He. JESUS (turning to the little band and with a sweeping gesture, pointing beyond the gate) Behold, he that betrayeth Me is at hand. II THE BETRAYAL THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (from the roadway without the garden) Out swords. Forward. After a moment he enters the garden, accom- panied by Judas Iscariot and a lieutenant, or under officer, and attended by a number of men in uni- form and armour, soldiers of the temple guard with swords and spears, and a body of constables or civil officers, together with servants in the chief priests' retinue bearing staves and wands of office. A few stragglers follow after, among them a young man evidently just aroused from sleep, for he is naked save for a linen garment hurriedly cast about his loins. As they pass through the narrow gate the escort, at a signal from the officers, opens and fills the space near- est the wall. The men composing it are so many that they extend about the clearing in a circle; THE MAN and His disciples within and to one side. Near them stand the captain of the Temple Guard, the lieutenant, a chief servant of the High Priest, Judas Iscariot and THE MAN. 26 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Jesus, motioning back the eleven, steps for- ward. As the soldiers and servants take their places, Peter, John, James and Thomas press closer to Him than the others as if they would follow Him at all hazards. Not waiting to be interrogated He speaks. JESUS Whom seek ye? THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (curtly) Jesus of Nazareth. JESUS I am He. Such is the nobleness of His aspect and the majesty of His bearing as He steps nearer to the soldiery, widening the distance between Himself and Peter, the nearest of the eleven, that they in- stinctively recoil before the light that seems to radiate from His person. Some of them give backward and fall to the ground. He stops and again addresses them. The Temple Captain nearest to Him gazes at Him in surprise. Judas stares in sickly astonishment as he notes the effect of His approach upon his companions. The Iscariot struggles against the thrill of horror and GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 27 terror that pervades his soul and shakes his body like unto a man with the palsy. Seeing the con- dition of His enemies, THE MAN repeats His question. JESUS Whom seek ye ? VOICES (from the crowd, which, seeing itself confront- ed only by a mild-voiced, unarmed man of peaceful bearing, attended by a terror-palsied little handful of poor men evidently fearful to the verge of panic, regains its composure to a degree at least) Jesus of Nazareth. JESUS I have told you that I am He. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN {turning to Judas and with cutting contempt in his voice and bearing) Man of Kerioth, is this true? JUDAS (in a broken, stammering voice, fawning upon Jesus) Rabbi ! He approaches nearer to THE MAN as he 28 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. speaks and then stops hesitant, afraid, appalled. JESUS Friend, that thou doest do quickly. JUDAS (desperately) Hail, Master ! By a violent effort, assuming an exaggerated air of respect, he steps close to THE MAN and kisses Him. JESUS Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss ? JUDAS (hoarsely, constraining himself to speak to the Temple Captain) This is He : take Him and lead Him away safe- iy. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (quickly) Seize the Nazarene. Two or three of the soldiers advance to lay hands on Jesus. The disciples nearest THE MAN step forward. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 29 PETER and THOMAS (who alone bear arms) Lord, shall we smite with the sword? JESUS Put up again thy sword into his place But even as He speaks, Peter who has moved more quickly than Thomas and has already whip- ped his sword from its sheath, strikes recklessly and furiously with all the force of his powerful arm at the nearest enemy, who happens to be a man named Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. The man, taken by surprise, makes an in- effectual effort to ward off the blow. His staff is beaten aside and the sharp blade falls upon the side of his face nearly severing the ear from his head. He shrieks with pain. There is a roar of. rage from the men. Swords flash in the light. The Temple Captain springs forward with bared blade between THE MAN and the Temple Guard. Peter stands aghast and trembling, star- ing at his bloody sword, his sudden passion hav- ing spent itself. JESUS All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (To Peter He says reprovingly) 30 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Thinkest thou that I can not now pray to My Father and He shall even now give Me more than twelve legions of angels. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (impatiently) Seize Him. JESUS (turning toward the wounded man now being succoured by his companions) Suffer ye thus far. He touches the servant's ear with His finger and heals him of his hurt. MALCHUS (in grateful amazement at the sudden relief) Rabbi, I thank Thee. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (peremptorily) We waste words. Bind Him and let us go hence. JUDAS (to fill the measure of his infamy, pointing to the other Galileans) And what of these, most noble Captain ? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 31 THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (indifferently) Take them all and let us make an end to the business. The soldiers advance at command. The dis- ciples shrink back. Two men lay hands on THE MAN entirely unresisting. He speaks loudly and quickly to attract attention to Himself and give His disciples time to escape. JESUS (questioning the men who hold Him) Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? (The men binding His hands handle Him roughly with mockery while He protests) I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and ye laid no hold on Me ! The Temple Captain laughs harshly and mo- tions to his men to proceed. JESUS (looking at him fixedly and still offering no re- sistance) This is your hour, and the power of darkness. At this moment the eleven as if possessed by a sudden impulse of panic turn and plunge into the darkness beneath the trees. They can be 32 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. heard running and crashing through the vines and undergrowth and leaping over the wall in the background. Some of the soldiers and the lieutenant follow them for a little space. MALCHUS (loudly interrupting) The others fly. JUDAS (urgently to the Captain) They will escape. JESUS (eager to save His followers) If, therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (to his men) Let them go. We have here all that we need. (Turning to Judas) Thou hast done thy work, and earned thy money well. Judas quails before his undisguised sneer and turns to confront Jesus who looks at him in deep commiseration. For a moment Judas boldly strives to sustain that glance. He fails utterly. His own vision is beaten down by the steady, heart searching, pitying glance of his Master and Lord. He shudders, hides his face in his GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 33 hands, turns away reeling and disappears in the night. MALCHUS (to the Captain) Shall we follow him? THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (sardonically) Let him go with his treacheries. We are well rid of him. JESUS All this is come to pass that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. THE LIEUTENANT (returning) We can find none of them but this youth. He drags a certain young man into the center of the group. JESUS (Praying) Father, I thank Thee that of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost none. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (to the young prisoner) Who art thou? 34 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE YOUTH (disregarding the officer and turning to THE MAN and stretching out his hands) Master. Jesus looks kindly upon him and then with a sudden movement the youth wrenches himself free and amid loud laughter leaps away naked in the darkness leaving his linen garment in the hands of his captors. JESUS (while the soldiers lash together his hands be- hind him) I have trodden the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Me MALCHUS (interrupting) What sayest thou, Nazarene? JESUS (continuing) The cup which My Father hath given Me shall I not drink it? THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (to the soldiers) Is He bound? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 35 A SOLDIER (saluting) Safely lashed, sir. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (pointing with his weapon) Forward then. THE LIEUTENANT (stepping to the head of the column which is rapidly forming) Whither, sir? THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (sheathing his sword) Take Him to Annas. They start forward, Jesus in the midst of them, and pour through the gate upon the road. MALCHUS (with half contemptuous pity) Thou shalt drink to the dregs the cup of trem- bling, the cup of the Lord's fury before Thou art through with the High Priest, O Nazarene! JESUS In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world. Malchus laughs with incredulous mockery. 36 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The men, led "by their officers, march down the road with their prisoner, talking and laughing over the events of the night. The sounds die away, the lights disappear. The silence comes again. Out of the darkness creeps stealthily a crouching figure. He peers fearfully about him and listens furtively. Seeing no one, at last he rises and slips cautiously out into the moonlight. Then he kneels down on the ground and lifting his hands to heaven wrestles and writhes in an agony of voiceless prayer and abiding shame. A sound, a breaking twig, startles him. He rises, shrinks back and gathering his garments about him, as if for instant flight, looks fixedly in deep anxiety under the trees. Presently he speaks. PETER (softly and in the trembling voice of fear) Who cometh? JOHN (entering the clearing) It is I. PETER (eagerly grasping him by the shoulder) The Master? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 37 JOHN (answering) He is numbered with the transgressors . . . PETER (taking the words of the other disciple's mouth) The chastisement of our peace is upon Him. JOHN (wringing his hands) All have forsaken Him and fled. PETER (gloomily) The shepherd is smitten, the sheep are scat- tered abroad. JOHN (bowed down with sorrow) Ay, said He not so last night in the upper chamber? PETER (with sudden resolution) Let us go after Him that we may die with Him. The two men clasp hands, stare at each other 38 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. a moment and then, as if moved by a common im- pulse, turn together, plunge through the gate and run down the road over which the Master had walked. The garden is left alone and silent. PART II. THE TRIAL BEFORE THE JEWS I. PETER AT THE WICKET GATE SCENE: An open courtyard enclosed on three sides by low houses of stone. On the right is the dwelling place of Annas; on the left that of his son, Caiaphas, the High Priest. At the back connecting the two are offices and quarters for the extensive retinue, personal and official, of the two households. A wall separates the courtyard from the street in front. The main entrance gate is open and guarded. To the left there is a guard room filled with armed retainers and to the right a similar room with access to the street and to the courtyard through smaller doors. The court, which is paved rvith stone, is filled with a noisy and restless crowd of armed guards, servants, re- tainers, and men and women of Jesusalem, gener- ally of the baser sort. Messengers come and go. The place is full of excitement. But a short time has elapsed since the events in the Garden. It is still dark. The night air is damp. The overcast sky gives promise of rain. At intervals 42 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. the moonlight breaks fitfully through the driving clouds. Groups of people crowd around braziers filled with live coals, placed in the center of the court. Torches and hanging lamps throw a lurid light over the scene. The noise of many voices talking, laughing, questioning, arguing, fills the air. At a wicket gate to the right a man stands entreating entrance. His persistence awakens suspicion in the mind of the maid who acts as portress, and she denies him. THE MAID (impatiently) Why seek ye to enter here? This is a private gate. PETER (avoiding the question) I would fain see this Jesus of Galilee. THE MAID (suspiciously) Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? PETER (with an affectation of indifference) I am not. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 43 THE MAID (still unsatisfied) Why then . . . She is interrupted by the approach of John from within the courtyard. JOHN I pray thee (he lays his hand on her arm) that thou wilt let this man pass. THE MAID (turning and scrutinizing the new-comer) And wherefore? JOHN He is my friend. THE MAID And who art thou ? JOHN (looking about him in some anxiety) The son of Zebedee THE MAID The fishmonger? JOHN (smiling) Of a truth, often have I brought fish to the High Priest. 44 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE MAID (her doubts resolved) I know thee. (To Peter) Enter then. She unlocks the wicket. Peter passes through the gate and crosses the room to the Court, when John turns to him. JOHN I outran thee. PETER Thou hast advantage in thy youth. JOHN But when I missed thee, I sought thee at the gate. PETER (dismissing the matter) Where have they taken Him? JOHN (pointing to the left) To Annas. He turns from Peter and ascends the steps of the portico and peers in through the door. Peter starts to follow, but stops, turns back and ap- proaches one of the groups around the fire. As he stands warming his hands, from some far-off hillside can be heard the faint crowing of a cock, which apparently at that time Peter does not no- tice. II QUESTIONED BY ANNAS SCENE: Within the house to the right. Two men of imposing presence and dignity seated. The great age of one and the respectful deference in the manner of the other indicate that they are closely related. Annas, who had been High priest, and who had been deprived of his office by Roman interference, is the elder; the younger man, already in the prime of life, of majestic and authoritative appearance, is his son-in-law, Caiaphas, who occupies the position and performs the duties of High Priest, although, in the opinion of the orthodox Jew, he is scarcely more than a titular high priest; the dignities, honors and pre- rogatives being still vested in Annas. Before them, with His hands still bound, stands THE MAN. By His side stand the Temple Captain who had brought Him thither, Malchus and one or two others of the household. Two men guard the prisoner, holding the ends of the lashings in their hands. Annas has been plying Jesus with questions. He has vainly endeavored to ascertain who His disciples are, what is the secret of the strange doctrine He has preached, why He had 46 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. allowed Himself to be proclaimed King of the Jews and what were His purposes in life, the mainsprings of His actions. ANNAS (testily, to the attendants) Is this a speechless man ye have brought be- fore me? CAIAPHAS (ironically) As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. ANNAS (trying once again) Nazarene ! Jesus lifts His head and looks him in the face. ANNAS (with all the authority of his age and station striving to impress the prisoner) It hath come to me that on the Sabbath day on the Mount of Olives the rude Galileans in Thy following hailed Thee as King of Israel. Who were they that cried Hosanna? Jesus slightly shakes His head, but answers nothing. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 47 CAIAPHAS (angrily) He answereth not. He half rises to his feet. Annas motions him to his seat. ANNAS (to Caiaphas) Yet once again will I try. ANNAS (to Jesus) I perceive that for a long time Thou hast troubled Israel with strange doctrines. What is it Thou dost teach ? JESUS (calmly) I 'spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort . . . ANNAS But what is the secret purpose of Thy life? JESUS And in secret have I said nothing. ANNAS (impatiently) What is it that Thou hast taught then that they call Thee King of Israel? 48 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. JESUS Why askest thou Me ? Ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold they know what I said. Annas stamps his foot and gnashes his teeth with rage at being thus braved. The Temple Captain, quick to see his lord's anger and ready to take his cue therefrom, steps close to Jesus and strikes Him violently on the face with his open hand. The blood flames into the pale cheek of the Master. As He reels from the heavy blow, the guards roughly jerk Him into an erect position again by the lashings which they hold, and the cruel cords cut into His wrists. THE MAN lifts His eyes, closes them a moment in prayer and then turns to His cowardly assail- ant. JESUS (mildly to the Temple Captain) If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil ; but if well, why smitest thou Me? ANNAS (rising) We will have Him before the Sanhedrin. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 49 CAIAPHAS (also rising) Yea. (to Malchus) Summon the other mem- bers of the council to meet. MALCHUS At what hour, Master? CAIAPHAS Immediately, (to the Temple Captain) Take the Nazarene to the place of meeting in my house across the court. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (to the guards) This way. As they approach the open door giving upon the porch, voices are heard without. A SERVANT Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee? PETER Woman, I know not what thou sayest. THE MAN stops, listens. The guards thrust Him forward. He steps out on the portico into the light. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN Way for the Nazarene! 50 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. VOICES (from those on the portico) Lo! He comes. A GREAT ROAR FROM THE CROWD The King of the Jews ! Peter, unable to meet THE MAN whom he had just denied, forces his way roughly through the crowd toward the entrance gate, where he stands with his back turned to the courtyard. In the thick of the multitude which throngs the court THE MAN passes John, who is white-faced and silent, biting his lips to control his emotion. Jesus and His beloved disciple exchange one glance and are severed. Above the tumult the shrill clarion of a cock heralding the approaching dawn is heard from some neighboring garden. THE MAN, with His escort, climbs the steps of the portico, passes through the colonnade and enters the building on the left, followed by a large num- ber of the people in the courtyard, including John. Ill THE TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS SCENE: The council chamber in the house of Caiaphas. The High Priest sits on a dais. Sur- rounding him in a semi-circle are some thirty venerable and dignified men all seated. Dividing the room is a low stone parapet, with an opening in the middle marked by two stone columns which rise to the roof, emphasising the passage- way into the place reserved for the members of the court. Tall candelabra and swinging oil lamps illuminate the whole scene. THE MAN still guarded as before, stands in the opening between the columns. The space without the parapet is completely filled with a noisy mul- titude. Close against the stone railing, but in the corner of the room, stands John. Far back from the parapet on a bench, looking over the crowd, but hidden from observation by the ob- scurity of the corner, is Judas Iscariot. The room is filled with noise and confusion. It is as unlike a solemn and orderly court of justice as it is possible to conceive. The officers of the court have repeatedly cried for silence, but in vain. The faces of the Sanhedrists express 52 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. various emotions. A few are apparently awed by the passionate outbursts of the mob; one or two survey the prisoner with expressions of min- gled doubt and pity; but the majority look about them with an air of haughty disdain. The hot tempered Caiaphas, in particular, looks from the prisoner to the crowd with fiery and passionate indignation. By his side old Annas nods. At the ends of the semi-circle of the councillors the scribes, who act as recorders of the court, glance nervously about them, with their pens idle. They are the nearest to the parapet which alone re- strains the people. Finally the High Priest him- self rises, convinced that no less authority than his own will avail to still the tumult. CAIAPHAS (lifting his hand) Silence ! (But little attention is paid to him at first and he repeats his command in a voice of thunder) Silence ! Let us have peace, or I will clear the room. Malchus, call the Captain of the Guard. Summoned by Malchus, the Temple Captain, followed by a squad of men, enters through a doorway from the guard room on their right side, GETHSEMANE AND AF^ER. 53 At a sign from Caiaphas, he takes position to the right and rear of the councillors. The noise has gradually subsided. During this entrance Caia- phas resumes his seat. As he does so, one of the councillors rises and interrogates the court. NICODEMUS (deferentially) Are we summoned to try this Nazarene? CAIAPHAS Thou sayest. NICODEMUS (with an effort) It is not lawful to meet for such a purpose, save in the open day, and . . . CAIAPHAS (leaning forward and interrupting) Art thou also a Galilean? Nicodemus hesitates and looks about him. CAIAPHAS (fiercely striking the arm of the bench) Answer ! Nicodemus passes his hand over his face, moist- ens his lips, looks fearfully around him at the mocking faces of his compeers and sinks to his 54 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. seat. Caiaphas 9 lip curls contemptuously and the People burst into a noisy gust of derisive laughter, which he permits to sweep through the hall un- checked for a moment. CAIAPHAS (to the Sanhedrists) We are not here to determine the regularity of this assemblage but to try this man for blasphemy and sedition. Another member of the court rises in his place and challenges the attention of the high priest. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (protestingly) Who brings the charge against the prisoner? CAIAPHAS (defiantly) I do. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (protestingly) But thou art the judge. CAIAPHAS (imperiously) The charge is brought. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (firmly but with deference turning to the others) Brethren GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 55 CAIAPHAS (in a flame of passion at being thus braved) Do you, too, follow the Man of Galilee? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (proudly) I am of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Judah, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. I serve the God of my fathers. CAIAPHAS (peremptorily) That is well said. Sit ye down and do your of- fice. I take the responsibility. ANNAS (with complacent approval) Thou art mine own son. VOICES (from the crowd) A trial ! Judgment ! CAIAPHAS (pointing to the prisoner) This man is accused of sedition in that He in- citeth the people to tumults, riotings and disturb- ances of the peace of Jerusalem. 56 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. A murmur arises from the crowd, which Caia- phas immediately subdues. He continues : CAIAPHAS (pausing a moment to emphasize what follows) And He blasphemes the God of our Fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, in that He announces Himself the Messiah. A roar of jeering execrations bursts from the assemblage. When it is partially quieted Joseph of Arimathaea rises. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (speaking to the councillors) Where are the witnesses? CAIAPHAS (angrily turning toward the people) The witnesses, A number of men crowded against the rail raise their hands. CAIAPHAS (pointing) There, (he turns to the scribes) Question ye the witnesses and take down their answers. Instantly a scene of confusion ensues. The witnesses bring all sorts of impossible and absurd charges against THE MAN. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 57 WITNESSES He worketh on the Sabbath Day. He mingles with the lepers. He will destroy the Temple. Blasphemer. He mocketh at the rulers of Israel. He hath fellowship with publicans. He violateth the Law of Moses. Seditionary. He is a wine bibber and a glutton. With him are harlots. He giveth tribute to Csesar. He will build a new temple in three days. Without hands, ay, without hands! Is He a God to do this? The witnesses all talk at once, contradict one another and in no way agree. When quiet is at last restored, the scribes who have made hasty notes of what has been said, are instructed to read the testimony, which is so absurd and inconsistent as to provoke the laughter even of the crowd. NlCODEMUS {speaking quickly} Is it on testimony like this ye would convict a man? Behold, not one agreeth with another. 58 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Joseph of Arimathaea nods his head in acquies- cence. THE FIRST SCRIBE (rising deferentially) With permission of the brethren here are two in accord. This man (he points to the one near- est him) declareth that he heard this fellow say: I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. THE WITNESS (speaking quickly) Ay, those were His very words. The other scribe rises in response to a motion from Caiaphas. THE SECOND SCRIBE (corroborating his fellow) And I have here record of one who says the same. CAIAPHAS (anxiously) What is his testimony? THE SCRIBE (reading) He declareth that he heard the Nazarene say: I will destroy this temple that is made with GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 59 hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. CAIAPHAS (triumphantly, to Joseph and Nicodemus) Art satisfied now? ANNAS (sententiously nodding) At the mouth of two witnesses shall the matter be established. CAIAPHAS (now addressing THE MAN who has stood absolutely unmoved during the whole of the wild excitement of the riotous and disorderly pro- ceeding) Thou hearest that with which Thou art charged. Answerest Thou nothing? VOICES (from the crowd) Yea, let Him speak ! Let Him speak ! CAIAPHAS (persistently) What is it which these witness against Thee? VOICES (as before) Come ! Declare ! Declare ! 60 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS (severely} Thou wouldst destroy the temple made with hands ; that is sedition : and build it again in three days without hands; that is blasphemy. Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? JESUS (speaking at last) Thou hast said. CAIAPHAS (interrupting) I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God ? JESUS I am. * Once more the crowd bursts into tumult, while Caiaphas stands as one petrified with astonish- ment and horror. The members of the court tak- ing their cue from the head of it stare at THE MAN in terrified amazement. JESUS (raising His voice until the clamor and the shouting die in the curiosity to hear what He would say) Nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter shall ye GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 61 see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Caiaphas springs to his feet. He catches the priestly robe he wears about the neck. With one sweep of his powerful arms, he tears it from seam to seam and throws it aside. CAIAPHAS {crying with all the power of his voice) He hath spoken blasphemy. VOICES (from the crowd) Ay, ay, blasphemy! CAIAPHAS (continuing) What further need have we of witnesses? (He turns to the elders) Behold, now, ye have heard His blasphemy; what think ye? There is a moment's silence. The high thin voice of the oldest man on the bench breaks it. ANNAS (in shrill triumph) Death. 62 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN (rapidly, in great confusion, one after another, with the exception of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, whose protests are howled down and unheeded.) Death! He is guilty of death! CAIAPHAS (in sneering triumph) It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, (to the Temple Captain) Take Him away; keep Him in ward until the morn- ing. Brethren, we will meet at break of day to consider further what is to be done. The session is adjourned. The members rise and cluster about Caiaphas. Nicodemus and Jos- eph of Arimathaea are avoided by the others and stand alone, away from the rest) IV. THE SIFTING OF PETER THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN Way for the convicted. His men clear a passage through the crowd which has now become a ravening mob eager to get at the prisoner. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (roughly) Make way. Fall back. Ye shall have sport enough in the guard room presently. Back, I say. Free passage. Gradually he forces his way through the hall and into the portico. Faint streaks of dawn lace the East. The glow of the fires pales under the light of breaking day. The greater multitude outside which has not been able to get into the smaller place of the trial, surges toward the por- tico as the people pour out of the narrow en- trances, THE MAN led by the Temple Captain and surrounded by the guards in the middle. The prisoner and His escort pause at the top of the steps leading down to the court. 64 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. VOICES (from the courtyard) What of the trial? VOICES (from the portico) He is guilty of blasphemy and condemned to death. VOICES (from the courtyard) Where are the Galileans who cried, Hosanna, now? A kinsman of Malchus who had been with him in the garden, coming out with the rest catches sight of Peter standing before one of the braziers immediately in front of THE MAN. He leaps down the low flight of steps and lays his hand upon Peter. THE KINSMAN OF MALCHUS (loudly) Of a truth this man also was with Him. The crowd surges toward the disciple yelling and gnashing upon him with their teeth. Hands are uplifted to strike him where he stands un- guarded. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 65 PETER (frightened} No, No. THE KINSMAN OF MALCHUS (persisting) Thou art a Galilean. PETER (more and more terrified at the violent dem' onstrations of the mob which is only prevented from seizing him by its many members') No, I am not. I am not, I swear. A BY-STANDER (roaring out) Thy speech betrayeth thee. PETER (desperately) Man, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. A WOMAN (her shrill voice rising above the deeper noise) This man was with Jesus, the Nazarene. PETER (his hands and face working convulsively as he swears and protests) 66 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. I know not the man, I tell thee, I know not the man. THE TEMPLE CAPTAIN (who has been an uninterested spectator of the colloquy, and has delayed his march long enough for such a trifle) Forward. Jesus descends. He passes Peter and looks upon Him. From the roof of an outbuilding again the loud crowing of a cock is heard. Peter stares for a moment. His glance falls. His hand clutches his breast as if to quench the fire of re- morse that suddenly flames in his heart. No more than Judas can the denier sustain that gen- tle, sorrowful, pitying, all merciful glance. He turns away blindly, forces himself through the crowd, which is now interested in the near ap- proach of THE MAN, and disappears without the gate. As he plunges down the dark street, a little band of women and one or two men meet him. A VOICE (in the darkness) It is Peter. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 67 PETER (hoarsely) Who art thou? THE VOICE (gently) Mary of Magdala. Simon, what of the Mas- ter? PETER (in bitter self reproach) Judas hath betrayed Him and I have denied Him thrice ! MARY OF MAGDALA (in grieved amazement) Where are the rest of His Disciples? PETER (answering) John is within. All the others have forsaken Him and fled, but you, blessed among women. ANOTHER VOICE {out of the darkness) What have they done with our Lord? PETER (slowly) They have condemned Him to death. 68 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. A woman's scream is heard. Peter starts and peers at the little band. MARY, THE WIFE OF CLEOP.AS (softly) It is His mother. MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS (lamenting) The sword! The sword! That shall pierce mine own soul. They told me of it in the begin- ning. Peter buries his face in his hands and bursts into tears. MARY OF MAGDALA (gently, laying her hand on his shoulder) He forgave me ; He will forgive thee. PETER (shaking his head) I can not forgive myself. He disengages her hand and disappears stag- gering down the street. The women creep fear- fully, closer to the wall. From within, the noise of hideous outbursts of bitter mockery is heard. Oaths, curses, protestations, jeers, mingle with the sound of blows upon quivering flesh. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 69 VOICES (within) Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee? Pandemonium itself is let loose. Within the guard room, whose windows give upon the street, the horror-struck, heart-broken women see THE MAN, blindfolded, tied to a pillar, beaten, buf- feted, spat upon, stricken, the sport and play of the ribald guard and the lawless mob. The day breaks, the streets ail with people clamoring for admittance at the gates. The little group of women is rudely displaced from the windows and driven to the outskirts of the eager crowd which is pressing forward to participate in the terrible baiting, or at least to see what is going on. V. THE SON OF PERDITION The council room empties itself of the specta- tors; the last to leave it is John. He passes by the remaining person without the parapet, Judas Iscariot. He is completely in Judas Iscariot's power. He knows that the Betrayer has but to say the word and he too will be apprehended, but a new courage has come to John. He draws his garment closer to him as if to avoid the contam- ination of a possible touch, looks the traitor straight in the face with bitter disdain and con- tempt utterly unlike the glance of Jesus at Peter and passes out. The High Priest and his fol- lowing now prepare to leave. CAIAPHAS Brethren, I thank you for the worthy manner in which the most of you (he emphasizes the quali- fying phrase with a fierce look at Joseph and Nicodemus who stand nearest the door separated from the others) have performed your high and holy office. We meet again at daybreak. Tis but a short time. Good night. Judas Iscariot slowly slinks forward through GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 71 the open gate where his Master had stood and stops before the dais. He sways like a drunken man. His eyes are bloodshot; his face is pale; his hands pluck nervously at his ragged beard; sweat bedews his brow beneath his dishevelled hair. JUDAS (in a shrill, racked voice) Wait. ANNAS (sneeringly) Lo, the betrayer. The others turn and group about him, Caiaphas in the center. Judas extends a trembling hand filled with pieces of money. JUDAS (falteringly) Take back that thou gavest me. CAIAPHAS (with cold scorn) And wherefore? JUDAS (gathering strength) I have sinned in that I have betrayed the in- nocent blood. 72 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS (indifferently, looking around to the other mem- bers who nod their heads in confirmation as he speaks) What is that to us? Judas raises his hand and Caiaphas silences him with a threatening gesture. CAIAPHAS (meaningly) See them to that. (Judas again iries to speak. Caiaphas silences him with an imperious com- mand. ) Out of the way. Judas stares from one face to another, meeting nothing but hatred, avoidance and bitter disdain. He covers his face with his hands for a moment and then lifting the money high in the air, he throws it at the feet of the high priest, and as the thirty pieces ring and roll upon the stone he staggers out of the room. CAIAPHAS (frowning at the traitor's presumption, to a scribe) Gather them up. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 73 As they are handed to him, he turns to the others. CAIAPHAS (hesitating) What shall be done with them? ANNAS (a great stickler for the proprieties) It is not lawful for to put them into the treas- ury because they are the price of blood. CAIAPHAS (handing it to Malchus) Take them. Go thou and buy with them the potter's field. We will use it as a burying place for strangers. ANNAS (smiling grimly) Thou hast well said. And that field shall be called Aceldama, the field of blood. After leaving the room Judas steps out on the porch. The noise of those mocking Christ in the guard room is easily heard and the sound cuts him to the heart, He stands uncertainly at the edge of the porch a moment. Someone catches sight of him, the guard room being all too small 74 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. to contain those who would fain participate in the cruel revelry. A bystander springs up be- side him, peers into his face, steps back and points with his hand. THE BYSTANDER. (in noisy contempt) Lo, the betrayer. Judas stumbles down the steps. Upon a nearer view of his convulsed and working countenance, foam-flecked lips and awful eyes, the crowd parts to give him passage. In silence, save for the tumult which rises in the guard room in terrible dissonance and continues unintermittedly over everything, he plunges through the gate and through the crowd outside, unseeing, unknow- ing. His garments brush by a little group of women. Mary of Magdala throws her cloak over the face of the mother of Christ. MARY OF MAGDALA (whispering to the others) Tis Judas Iscariot. Judas reels through the streets until he reaches the nearest gate in the city wall. Outside beyond tht rocky road the slope of the mountain falls abruptly into the narrow ravine of the brook of GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 75 Kidron. From one of the crevices in the rock a low, spreading tree with purple blossoms and dark green leaves, springs far out over the gulf. Judas methodically tests the strength of the tree, hastily unwinds his cincture, carefully knots it about the overhanging limb, makes a slip noose of the other end, clasps it about his neck and swings off over the black abyss. With superhuman resolution he keeps his hands down by his side. Presently, motion ceases and he hangs a dead weight upon the little tree which bends under the heavy downward pull of his inert, lifeless body. The sky is suddenly overcast, a flash of light- ning tears athwart the heavens, a clap of thunder rolls among the mountains. A man staggers up the road. Another flash, just as he reaches the tree, illumines again the face of the ghastly, swinging, lifeless figure. PETER (starting back) Tis Judas, the betrayer, and I, the denier. (Throwing himself upon the rocks, he buries his face in his hands.) O, my God, my God, have mercy on me! 76 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The wind rises, the body of the betrayer sways to and fro by the side of the denier the denier repentant. The rain beats upon the dead and the living, the just and the unjust. But the sudden storm dies as quickly as it came. Peter rises to his feet and looks about him. Half of the tree has gone. No body swings in the wind. It is lighter now. He creeps fearfully to the edge of the cliff and peers over. Below he sees dimly a huddled heap, dark in the ravine. The son of perdition has gone to his account. PART III THE PRAETORIUM THE ACCUSATION SCENE: The Forum or public square, before the royal house of Herod, now used as the resi- dence of the Roman Procurator of Judea. Jut- ting out from the center of the palace fagade is a portico or platform beautifully paved and sur- rounded by marble columns. This pavement is elevated to the height of two or three steps above the street. Windows open upon the Forum and from the front of the palace a small stone bal- cony overlooks the portico and the open space beyond. Time: About six o'clock in the morn- ing. Enter from the street THE MAN bound and guarded by soldiers. He is pale, haggard, ex- hausted, and is led or dragged forward by a rope around His neck. Accompanying Him are Caia- phas, the High Priest, Annas, the venerable mem- bers of the Sanhedrin, other priests, Temple guards, Temple attendants and servants, Scribes, Pharisees, and a constantly growing number of 80 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. people of all sorts and conditions, including many women and not a few children. The chief priests and other ecclesiastics wear the full vestments of their sacred office. Since daybreak there has been a brief session of the Sanhedrin in the Temple, at which the guilt of THE MAN has been reaffirmed upon His own testimony and He has been condemned to death. Inasmuch as the Jews have no longer capital jurisdiction, Jesus must now be delivered to the Roman authorities in order that the death sentence may be carried out. By Caiaphas' direction the cortege comes to a stop before the raised portico and certain of the Temple servants mount the stairs and accost the Roman sentry on guard before the palace. By him they are admitted to the palace whence they presently return followed by the Roman Gov- ernor, Pontius Pilate. He advances to the edge of the portico, and frowning with ill-dissembled hatred and contempt, looks down upon the Forum, now rapidly filling with a vast multitude of restless and disorderly people. Mean- while, Annas, Caiaphas and others in authority, have mounted the steps to the pavement of the platform, and Jesus, with His immediate guard, GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 81 has been roughly forced to accompany them. As they catch sight of THE MAN clearly in view on the edge of the raised portico, a great roar rises from the Forum. THE MULTITUDE (yelling loudly) The Nazarene! Pilate looks curiously at THE MAN, imperi- ously waves the crowd into silence, then turns to the group on the portico. PILATE (with the bluff shortness of a soldier) What seek ye of me? CAIAPHAS (pointing to the bound figure of Jesus) Most noble Roman, the punishment of a man here that is criminal. PILATE (coolly surveying Jesus again and then compre- hending in his disdainful glance the High Priest and his attendants) What accusation bring ye against this Man? Caiaphas hesitates and then takes momentary 82 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. council with Annas and those nearest him. He is evidently reluctant to go into details and hopes to browbeat the Governor into compliance with their demands without unpleasant and inadequate explanations. CAIAPHAS (with a disdain that quite matches that of the Procurator) If this Man were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up unto thee. PILATE (impatient of such evasion) What hath He done? CAIAPHAS (sullenly) We found Him perverting our nation. PILATE (smiling with cruel enjoyment at the High Priest's dilemma) If the offense be against your law, take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law. Caiaphas looks back toward his supporters in further hesitation. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 83 ANNAS (bitterly) We have no longer power of life and death, Oh, Roman! A SCRIBE (nodding his head) Ay, thou knowest. A CHIEF PRIEST (soothingly) It is not lawful for us to put any man to death, lord. PILATE (surprised) Is His crime a capital one, then? CAIAPHAS (with savage and bitter emphasis) Thou sayest. PILATE (with increasing interest) Declare it. CAIAPHAS (triumphantly) He forbade the people to give tribute unto Caesar. 84 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. PILATE (turning to Jesus) Ha! That is rebellion! What sayest Thou to that? Jesus answers him not a word. CAIAPHAS (venomously persistent) Nor is that all, Oh, Governor. PILATE (turning) What more, Oh, Priest? CAIAPHAS (emphatically) He saith that He Himself is Christ, a King ! PILATE (puzzled) A King! Whose King? CAIAPHAS (sneeringly, with a trace of mockery and laughter in his voice) Our King! , A CHIEF PRIEST (loudly, pointing his finger) The King of the Jews ! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 85 The mob, which has been reasonably quiet, breaks into tumult. Shouts and noises mingled with gusts of uproarious laughter arise on every side. THE PEOPLE The King of the Jews! Hail! Hail! All Hail! The King! The King of the Jews. PILATE (signing for silence and turning to Jesus in won- derment not unmixed with contempt) Art Thou the King of the Jews? The High Priest and the members of Sanhed- rin wince under the Procurator's scornful words. The people point and jeer. CAIAPHAS (fiercely) He is a seditionary. VOICES Rebel! Traitor ! A King! Ho, ho! The King of the Jews! 86 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Jesus of Nazareth! 'Hail! All hail! ANNAS (screaming to be heard) Blasphemer ! Accursed ! THE PEOPLE A King, King! Behold Him. (sternly) Silence! (He raises his voice tremendously until he is at last heard and obeyed.) Silence, ye rabble! (The tumult gradually subsides. The Procurator turns again to Jesus) . Hearest Thou not how many things they witness against Thee ? What sayest Thou ? Jesus still remains silent. CAIAPHAS (white and angry) Let Him be anathema. VOICES Amen ! Amen ! Betrayer ! Liar! Blasphemer ! Rebel! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 87 THE MULTITUDE King ! King ! The King of the Jews ! This time the merriment has mainly vanished and the mockery is harsh and terrible. The ex- citement is that of a bitter and unreasoning ha- tred. Through it all Jesus, although broken with the suffering of the long night, stands calmly unmoved, His face and manner expressing chief- ly pity for the ravening mob. PILATE (surprised at the power of the storm of passion so suddenly and inexplicably evoked, turns to THE MAN again and questions Him with great- er urgency than before) Answerest Thou nothing? VOICES Seditionar y ! Drunkard ! Destroyer ! Blasphemer ! THE MULTITUDE Hail! Hail! King of the Jews! 88 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. PILATE (amazed and somewhat alarmed at the passion of the people) Behold how many things they accuse Thee of! Jesus still remains absolutely silent. The For- um is now seething with excitement. The people incited by the priests and others who are circu- lating among them, are crowding nearer and clamoring for they know not what. Pilate mo- tions in vain for silence, and finally directs his guards to take charge of the prisoner and lead Him within the palace. PILATE (to Caiaphas) Wait thou here and I will return to thee when I have had speech with the prisoner. II THE JUSTIFICATION SCENE: Within the Praetorium. A vast hall. A soldier on guard at the door some distance away. Pilate seated alone with Jesus standing bound before him. PILATE (questioning his prisoner with wonderment and some note of pity in his voice} Art Thou the King of the Jews? JESUS (quietly bending upon the Governor a mild yet penetrating gaze) Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or d?d others tell it thee of Me? PILATE (contemptuously) Am I a Jew ? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me. Didst not hear and see ? What hast Thou done ? Jesus slowly shakes His head but says nothing. PILATE And Thy kingdom? 90 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. JESUS (softly) My kingdom is not of this world. THE MAN looks out of the nearest east win- dow toward the far blue of the Oriental sky of morning as if He saw, beyond its void, things un- translatable to other human souls. PILATE (impatient of what he believes an evasion) Where then doth it lie? JESUS (calmly ignoring His questioner's impatience) If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. . . . PILATE (scornfully) What meanest Thou? JESUS (indicating by a movement of His head the mul- titude without whose confused shouts and cries are heard through the open windows) But now is My kingdom not from hence. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 91 PILATE (incredulously) Art Thou a king, then ? JESUS (inclining His head) Thou sayest. . . . PILATE (interrupting swiftly) Not I, but Thy people. JESUS (lifting His head with conscious dignity and looking straight at the puzzled Roman) That I am a King. His voice is now raised until it rings authorita- tively through the great hall. Pilate stares at Him in surprise mingled with contempt. PILATE (impatiently) Thou art mad! King of what? Of where? For what purpose? JESUS (continuing) To this end was I born. 92 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. PILATE (indifferently) To what end? JESUS (with emphasis) And for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. PILATE (questioning) And Thy subjects to whom Thou br ingest this message? JESUS (forcibly but with a note of pleading in His voice) Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice. PILATE ( contemptuously) What is truth? He laughs slightly, and, giving Jesus no time to answer, rises summons the soldier on guard at the door by a gesture, and turns back to the portico. PILATE Follow me. Ill THE ACQUITTAL SCENE: Outside the Praetorium again. The place is now densely packed with people from whom a great confused roar arises as Pilate, fol- lowed by Jesus with the lictors and soldiers, once more appears on the portico. Pilate raises his hand until the noise dies away. PILATE (clearly) Regarding this Man, Jesus, I have examined Him. He pauses. CAIAPHAS (clamorously) Give sentence! THE PEOPLE (echoing him) A sentence! A sentence! PILATE (loudly and emphatically, looking directly at Caiaphas and speaking deliberately) I find no fault in Him at all. 94 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. A VOICE (from the Forum) Accursed. ANOTHER VOICE Traitor ! THE MULTITUDE Away with Him ! Death ! Judgment ! Judgment ! CAIAPHAS (pointing to the seething mob) Behold, how He stirreth up the people. ANNAS (insinuatingly) Thou seest He teacheth rebellion, Oh, Gover- nor! VOICES Traitor! Seditionary ! King ! King ! THE MULTITUDE Sentence! Give Sentence! Blasphemer ! Away with Him! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 95 PILATE (with stern disgust) Silence ! Silence, you dogs ! ( When quiet is in a measure restored, he continues, but now with a little note of uncertainty in his voice.) I find no crime in this Man. CAIAPHAS (raising his voice until it is heard above the roar of the tumult) He would make Himself King ! VOICES Ay, King! King of the Jews! CAIAPHAS (persisting) King throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee ' PILATE (with a relief almost inexpressible in his voice) Is He then a Galilean? CAIAPHAS (wondering) Of Nazareth in Galilee, but what mattereth that? PILATE (quickly) Take Him to Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee. 96 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS (protesting) But, Oh, Roman PILATE (with indignant emphasis) Take Him to Herod! He turns away followed by the lictors, leaving a centurion and the soldiers of the guard in the portico confronting the priests and the mob, and disappears in the palace. After a moment of amazed and indignant silence, Caiaphas motions the Temple Captain to seize the prisoner. He descends the steps followed by THE MAN and all of the other Jews, the crowd giving way as he proceeds. CAIAPHAS (under his breath) Curses on the Roman. To Herod then must it be. The mob singing, yelling, dancing, laughing, follows after, leaving the soldiers alone in the por- tico. The last to leave is a little band of women supported and encouraged by a solitary young man, whose name is John. The centurion looks at them sneeringly and, throwing back his head, breaks into mocking laughter as the Forum is cleared. IV THE CONDEMNATION SCENE: The Praetorium as before. Time: Later in the morning. A blare of trum- pets is heard in the distance. A rabble of boys straggles into the square which has been deserted save for chance passers-by. Down one of the long streets, over the heads of the children, the vivid sunlight gleams on brazen trumpets, on spear points of bright steel, and is flashed back by burnished helmets. A body of soldiers follow the line of trumpeters. After the soldiers walks a man clad in royal raiment, with an air of pride and authority upon his handsome but dis- sipated countenance. Attending him on either side are his officers and courtiers followed by Annas, Caiaphas, and other members of the San- hedrin. Back of them walks THE MAN. A royal robe of spotless white is thrown about His bound person. He is closely and securely guarded by more soldiers who close the rear of the procession. The little procession is followed by an immense number of people of all ranks, conditions and sta- tions. As is usual, the baser sort predominates, 98 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. many of the riffraff of the city having taken ad- vantage of the immunity of numbers to emerge from the haunts in which they were accustomed to secrete themselves. It is a bright and pleasant morning, and the air is filled with jest and laugh- ter. Apparently there is enmity between Herod and the priests who walk after him. When the pro- cession stops before the pavement, with a mockery of courtesy, Herod, Caiaphas and Annas exchange salutations and part. Herod, at- tended by his chosen courtiers and a few of the soldiers, ascends to the pavement and steps to- ward the door of the Praetorium. His soldiers, at a sign from their commander, compel THE MAN to mount the pavement. They close around Him so that the multitude does not get a clear view of Him, and in the attention attracted by the High Priest and other members of the Sandhed- rin who are busily going from man to man, forc- ing their slow way through the people, Jesus is comparatively unnoticed. A Roman soldier at the door of the Praetorium bars the way. SOLDIER (respectfully, but firmly) What would ye? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 99 HEROD ANTIPAS (smiling) Carry word to the Procurator, the most noble Pontius Pilate, that Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, would have speech with him. SOLDIER (turning toward the door and crying loudly) Officer of the guard ! VOICE (from within) What seek ye? The officer appears in the doorway a moment after. SOLDIER (saluting) The Tetrarch of Galilee desires audience with the Procurator. OFFICER OF THE GUARD (bowing toward Herod) A moment, your excellency. He turns and disappears, Herod chats casually with his attendants, from time to time turning back to look curiously at the bound captive. Pres- ently, the officer reappears. 100 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. OFFICER The noble Pilate declares that you honor him in your visit and begs you to enter forthwith. HEROD (speaking to his nearest companion) There hath been enmity of old betwixt our- selves and the Roman. Yet 'tis a courteous mes- sage, perhaps (He disappears through the doorway.) The square has now become packed with peo- ple. The officer who admitted Herod summons a messenger from within. He gives an order, and presently a body of Roman soldiery defiles out upon the pavement. In the guard room to one side of the Praetorium can be seen othej soldiers hastily arming themselves. The open street on the other side of the Praetorium is soon filled with armed men. Above them the sunlight shines upon the Roman eagles. Pilate has called to arms the cohort which he has brought with him as his personal guard on this visit to the city during the Passover Feast. They are ready for any emer- gency. The magnificent legionaries on the porch look scornfully at the soldiers of the Tetrarch, who sustain their gaze uneasily. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 101 Presently there is a sharp command. The Ro- mans on the portico come to attention. Their ex- ample is followed by the Jews guarding THE MAN. In the doorway Pontius Pilate appears and by his side walks Herod. The two are arm in arm. They are chatting together pleasantly with every appearance of amity. Pilate stops by his soldiery. Herod turns, bows to him, and with a word of farewell, passes on to his own guards. One of his men gives an order. The Jewish soldiers re- lease Jesus and form in ranks. The trumpets blare. At a signal the soldiers descend and open a way through the crowd. Herod and his friends follow. Pilate waves them farewell as they dis- appear through the multitude and down the street. At a nod from the Governor, a centurion and four of his own soldiers advance and stand by the bound and white-robed figure of Jesus. The passing of Herod's soldiers discloses THE MAN standing alone with bowed head. A VOICE (shrill, from the crowd) The Nazarene! 102 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE MULTITUDE The King of the Jews! Pilate steps haughtily forward to the edge of the pavement. A number of slaves bring out from the Praetorium a great gilded chair or throne, which they set down in the center of the pavement facing the people. PILATE (looking about and then turning to Jesus) Where are thine accusers? He does not wait for an answer, but speaks to the centurion, whose name is Longinus. The lat- ter steps to the very edge of the platform and raises his hand for silence. LONGINUS (in a loud voice) Let Caiaphas, Annas and those who accuse this Man present themselves before the most noble Procurator. VOICES (from the crowd) The accusers! The High Priest! Caiaphas ! The Sanhedrin! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 103 Show thyselves, Masters ! Forcing their way through the crowd, flushed, panting, indignant at the loss of dignity they are sustaining, Caiaphas, assisting the aged Annas and followed by other members of the Sanhedrin, struggles to the platform. They group themselves near the edge a little distance from Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas in the forefront. Pilate sits down upon the judgment seat which is raised above the pavement. He has Caiaphas and the rest on his right, Jesus on his left. Back of him the portico is now filled with rank upon rank of legionaries who stand at attention in quiet, composed, yet stern menace; exemplify- ing the power, as Pilate the authority, of Rome. The dark building forms a fitting background for the brilliant picture, not without its element of magnificence. The polished armor of the soldiery, the bright gold of the eagles, the imposing ma- jesty of the throne upon which Pilate sits clothed in a toga of spotless white bordered with purple and clasped with gems, Caiaphas in all the golden glory of priestly robes, the rich dresses of Annas and the other Sanhedrists, are all in deep con- trast to the bound figure of Jesus; although He, too, in mockery, is clothed in a robe of royal 104 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. white fastened with a glittering buckle, or brooch, at the neck. His face is terrible to look upon. For the sec- ond time since His betrayal He has endured the mockery, the insults and the physical brutality of His captors; on this occasion from the hands of the soldiers of Herod. Pilate looks from Jesus to Caiaphas and says nothing. He is evidently pon- dering the situation deeply and at last it is the Jew, not the Roman, who breaks the intolerable silence. CAIAPHAS (chafing under the submission of his waiting po- sition) You sent for us, Oh, Roman? Pilate draws a deep breath and turns his head toward them. A sudden wave of silence spreads over the crowd. It is very still in the square. Pilate raises his voice, which is deep and strong, if somewhat harsh the voice of a soldier ac- customed to command so that it may be heard to the confines of the Forum. PILATE 1 (speaking slowly and emphatically) Ye brought this Man unto me (he points to GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 105 Jesus) as one that perverteth the people (he com- prehends in his glance the multitude in the square) and behold I, having examined Him be- fore you, found no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him. CAIAPHAS (interrupting) So thou didst declare yet earlier in the morn- ing. PILATE (continuing) I find no crime in Him. No, nor yet Herod, for he sent Him back unto us and declareth that nothing worthy of death hath been done by Him. (Caiaphas and Annas start forward angrily. A murmur breaks from the crowd.) PILATE (rising and speaking firmly) I will therefore chastise Him and release Him. CAIAPHAS (facing the crowd and including with a sweep of his left arm Pilate and THE MAN) Away with Him! Away with Him! 106 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. ANNAS (shrilly) Let Him be crucified! THE MULTITUDE (repeating) Crucify Him! Crucify Him! PILATE (frowning) Why, what evil hath He done? THE PEOPLE (again) Crucify Him! Crucify Him! PILATE (disdaining the multitude and remonstrating to the priests) I have found no cause of death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go. CAIAPHAS (disregarding Pilate's suggestion and appealing directly to the people) The custom of the Passover. Demand it. PRIESTS A release! A release! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 107 VOICES Freedom for a prisoner! THE MULTITUDE The custom of the Passover! A freedom! PILATE (hopefully) Ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover. VOICES True, Oh, Governor. THE MULTITUDE A release! A release! PILATE (pointing to Jesus) Will ye, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? THE PEOPLE Crucify Him ! Crucify Him ! A LOUD VOICE Barabbas ! PILATE (struck with the sound of that name, gives an order to a soldier and then asks again) 108 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Whom will ye that I release unto you, Bar- abbas or Jesus, which is called the Christ ? ANNAS (shrilly) Barabbas ! VOICES Not this man. THE MULTITUDE Barabbas ! Barabbas ! Pilate stands uncertainly looking over the seeth- ing mob. Annas, his old face convulsed with rage, raises his hand and leads the wild cry for Barab- bas. Caiaphas looks at the Governor with a cold, sneering smile upon his lips. In the midst of the confusion an attendant forces his way through the guards at the back, steps up to Pilate, bows before him and presents a tablet. THE ATTENDANT (speaking loudly to be heard in the noise and confusion) From the most noble lady, thy wife, lord. PILATE (exclaiming in surprise) Claudia ! He takes the tablet and glances at it. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 109 PILATE (reading aloud) "Have thou nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him." He hands the tablet to the attendant. PILATE (speaking) Tis well. Say to thy mistress thou hast dis- charged thine errand. I will do what I may. Meanwhile from the prison behind the Praetori- um a quaternion of the soldiers brings forth a bound man. He is a wild, fierce zealot. Evil is writ largely over his countenance. He is a thief and a murderer and looks it. He is dragged for- ward and shoved close beside THE MAN. Jesus lifts His head, looks upon him and then turns and faces the crowd. Pilate, once again com- manding silence, points to the two who stand side by side. PILATE (loudly) Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you ? 110 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE PEOPLE (with one voice) Barabbas ! The robber throws back his head and laughs. He looks contemptuously at THE MAN by his side. Jesus holds Himslf erect and confronts the mob. There is that in His glance which causes those nearest to quail, but their emotions count for little. Even the Sanhedrin joins in the great cry for Barabbas which rises and throbs and beats about the square and hurls the name of the crim- inal back and forth until it ascends in a mighty wave of sound far into the bright sky of the morning. TH MuLTITUDE Barabbas ! Barabbas ! Give us Barabbas ! PILATE (again endeavoring to effect his purpose, which is the release of THE MAN) What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? VOICES Let Him be crucified! PILATE (vainly trying to still the storm) Why, what evil hath He done? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. Ill THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! Pilate endeavors to speak again, but finds it im- possible to make himself heard. He looks from the mob to the mocking face of Caiaphas, the eager and passion inflamed countenances of An- nas and the other members of the Sanhedrin. Suddenly he turns upon his heel, beckons to the soldiers guarding Jesus and enters the Praetor- ium. THE MAN and His guards follow him. The mob changes it cry from Crucify Him! to Barabbas ! The commander of the cohort to whom Pilate has spoken a word nods to the centurion. The latter gives an order to the soldiers. They unbind the murderer. The centurion points to the crowd as a sign that he may go free. Barabbas straight- ens himself up, stretches out his arms, bows iron- ically to the mob, which is now shouting his name, passes the High Priest, hesitates as if he would fain speak to him, bends low in submis- sion as Caiaphas turns from him in scorn, de- scends to the pavement and is lost in. the crowd 112 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. which closes around him with shouts and cheers of approbation. In the midst of the tumult Pilate again comes upon the portico, followed by Jesus. PILATE (standing at the very edge of the portico and crying in a loud voice) Behold I bring Him forth to you that ye may know that I find no crime in Him. THE PEOPLE Away with Him! PILATE (anxiously) Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? A VOICE We have Barabbas. Tis enough. THE PEOPLE Away with Him! PILATE (against hope) What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews ? THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! Crucify Him! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 113 PILATE (persistent) Why, what evil THE PEOPLE Crucify Him ! Crucify Him ! Pilate confronts them silenced, amazed and dis- mayed at the passion they have displayed. Like every governor, he fears a riot, and wonders if it be worth while to run the risk of it for this Nazarene. He looks again and again from Jesus, to the Chief Priests, to the peo- ple. His glance wanders back to the balcony of the Praetorium where he sees the pale face of Claudia Procula, his wife, regarding him. With clasped hands she stands looking down upon him. The indecision of the Governor is plainly ap- parent. Incited by Caiaphas and the attendant priests the people redouble their demands. It seems as if hell itself has broken loose. The square fairly heaves with convulsed passion. For some moments Pilate stands in deep thought, pondering if it be worth while to run the risk of an uprising for this Galilean. Jesus looks at him, pity for the weakness of the man in His face. Finally, Pilate comes to a con- clusion. He says a word to the nearest soldier. 114 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The man salutes, enters the Praetorium and pres- ently comes out from the portico accompanied by a slave bearing a bronze laver or wash basin. In obedience to a gesture from the soldier, the servant comes forward, kneels down before the Governor and presents the basin. Pilate looks again from Jesus to Caiaphas, to the people. Again he hesitates and is lost. He is afraid to provoke the people further, so he raises his hand and holds it erect until the tumult dies. The atti- tude of the Governor, the advent of the slave with the basin of water, suggest things to the Jews. Caiaphas and Annas exchange glances and nod significantly. They see that they are about to tri- umph. When quiet has been in a measure re- stored, Pilate dips his hands in the water and lifts them up dripping. He goes through the motions of washing them. He rubs them together as if cleansing them. CAIAPHAS (whispering) He washeth his hands. ANNAS (quoting softly) "And all the elders of that city that are next GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 115 unto the slain man shall wash their hands and say . . . Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it." A SCRIBE Rabbi, it is so writ in the law of Moses. PILATE (with deep gravity) I am innocent of the blood of this just Per- son. (He extends his arms and the slave pours the contents of the basin over them. He raises his voice and extends his dripping hand over the multitude) PILATE See ye to it. There is a moment of painful silence in that great Forum. Annas breaks it with his old shrill voice. ANNAS (crying loudly) His blood be on us and upon our children. THE PEOPLE (led by the priests, all repeating with one voice) His blood be upon us and upon our children. 116 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS (approaching Pilate) We thank thee, Roman. PILATE (contemptuously, turning his back upon him and addressing the centurion) They shall have their wish. Go, soldier, make ready the cross. Let Him be crucified. LONGINUS (saluting) When, Oh, Governor ? PILATE To-day, on the instant, but let Him first be scourged. V BEHOLD THE MAN! Not deigning to notice Caiaphas, after one glance at THE MAN, Pilate disappears into the Praetorium. Rising from the level of the square in front of the pavement is a low stone pillar with iron rings at the top. At the command of the cen- turion, the soldiers guarding Jesus take off the white robe in which He had been arrayed by Herod in mockery and remove His other gar- ments, so that he stands naked to the waist. A detachment from the cohort clears a space about the pillar, driving the people back. Two men, each carrying a scourge or flagellum appear. Jesus is dragged down to the pavement; His hands are untied, His arms are lifted up and lashed to the rings of the pillar. The two men armed with the whips step forward. Each im- plement of torture is composed of a number of leather thongs attached to a short handle. At intervals in each thong there are pieces of lead, sharp bits of flint, jagged bones, or rusty nails. There is deep silence in the forum. Those far- ther back climb upon pillars and porches. Little 118 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. ones are lifted to the shoulders of men and wo- men that they may see. The priests look down upon their victim and their people from the pavement. At a sign from the centurion, one of the torturers lifts his scourge and strikes hard and deep. A scream rises from the out- skirts of the crowd as the cruel thongs tear the naked flesh. THE MAN shudders but makes no sound. Nearest in the rank of spectators stands Bar- abbas. As he hears the dreadful crash of the whip he laughs and points his finger. BARABBAS (yelling) The King of the Jews! Ho! Ho! THE MULTITUDE (laughing) The King ! The King of the Jews ! And so amid shouting, jeering, mocking, the dreadful beating is continued until the end. And the Sufferer endures it all in silence. When it is over THE MAN'S hands are unbound. His gar- ments are thrown over His raw and bleeding back. He is half carried, half dragged up to the GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 119 portico and turned over to the soldiers of the cohort in the guard room of the Praetorium. Through the windows the blood-thirsty crowd, waiting outside, catches glimpses of what is going on. Some, in buildings that over- look the windows, tell the story to those farther away. Jesus is stripped of His clothing. A tat- tered old scarlet cloak belonging to a soldier is draped about His person. Some one plaits a crown of thorns and crushes it down upon His head. They throne Him upon a pile of benches. A reed is thrust into His hand. With uproarious mockery, the legionaries kneel before Him and salute Him as "King of the Jews." Their "Hails" and their derisive cries are plainly heard outside to the great annoyance and discomfort of Caiaphas and the rest. Presently their mockery takes on a ruder, fiercer guise. They spit upon Him, beat Him, strike Him with their hands, thrust at Him with the butts of their spears and with mailed hands force the thorny crown more firmly upon His forehead. In the crowd without, John had stood on the outskirts until the scourging. With him were Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the other wo- men, but as the horrible flagellum had fallen, 120 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. he had led the mother away. Now he has come back. He forces his way through the multitude until he reaches a position whence he can see what is going on in the Praetorium. Helpless, he prays and looks with tear-blinded eyes and a breaking heart. JOHN (murmuring) "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." The revelry is interrupted by the entrance of Pilate. He is followed by a servant carrying a board which bears an inscription. PILATE (peremptorily} It is enough. He steps close to the prisoner and looks upon Him a long time. Wiping the blood from His eyes, Jesus returns his glance. The King, blood- crowned, sits upon His throne and the em- purpled Roman stands wondering before Him. There is silence. Pilate at last beckons and turns away. Four soldiers and the centurion close about Jesus. They drag Him from the pile of GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 121 benches and support Him as He stands trembling and swaying upon the floor. Pilate leaves the Praetorium and goes out upon the porch. Jesus and the soldiers follow. Pilate stops outside the door. Caiaphas and the others who have retired into the shade of the portico make a motion to step forward, but Pilate checks them. Alone, followed closely by THE MAN he walks to the very edge of the raised pavement. The sight of Jesus is so terrible that awe and curiosity again bring silence. Pilate and THE MAN stop and look at the people. After a long pause the Governor lifts his finger and points toward Jesus, thorn-crowned, scarlet-robed, blood-stained. PILATE (with a touch of awe in his voice} Behold the Man! Annas and Caiaphas wave their hands at the people from the background. THE MULTITUDE Crucify Him! Crucify Him! PILATE (desperately disappointed} Take ye Him and crucify Him, for I find no crime in Him. 122 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. ANNAS (swiftly) We have a law and by our law He ought to die. THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! Crucify Him! CAIAPHAS (taking the word front Annas' mouth) Because He made Himself the Son of God. THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Pilate turns away and enters the Praetoriutn, once more followed by Jesus and his soldiers. He sits down in his private room. Jesus stands before him. Pilate, with bent head and furrow- ed brow, remains a few moments in deep thought. p JLATE (speaking to himself curiously) The Son of God! (muttering) What meaneth that? (He lifts his head and looks keenly at THE MAN.) Whence art Thou? Jesus returns his glance in silence. PILATE (peremptorily) Speakest Thou not unto me? Knowest Thou GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 123 not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee? JESUS (quietly) Thou couldst have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin. PILATE (wondering) Dost Thou mean Caiaphas? Jesus answers nothing. He looks away. Pilate sits a long time in thought. He rises at last and once more goes upon the portico with Jesus. His mood is changed. Incertitude has given way to decision and with it has come back all his contempt for the Jew. PILATE (sitting down upon the judgment seat and point- ing to Jesus) Behold your King! THE PEOPLE (derisively) Hail, King of the Jews! 124 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS (fiercely) If them let this Man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. THE PEOPLE Hail, King of the Jews! ANNAS (shrewdly following Caiaphas' suggestion) Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar. VOICES Away with Him! THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! PILATE (in withering scorn) Shall I crucify your King? CAIAPHAS, ANNAS, AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS We have no king but Caesar. THE PEOPLE Crucify Him! Crucify Him! PILATE So be it. Let Him be crucified. A detachment of soldiers files out of the Prae- GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 125 torium. They bring -with them two wretched prisoners and wood for three crosses. The two beams which make up each cross are not yet nailed but are loosely tied together. The cen- turion looks at Pilate. He nods his head. The soldiers take off the red cloak which Jesus wears. They bind His hands in front of Him. His own garments are thrown hastily upon Him. The two largest beams are placed upon the shoulders of THE MAN. The other two criminals who are to die with Him are each similarly bur- dened. The centurion, the brief preparations being completed, looks again at Pilate. The Governor stays him by a motion. Immediately, there comes forward a slave bearing the white board upon which Pilate had written something in black letters. There is a sneer on Pilate's face as he directs the slave carrying his board which has been fastened temporarily to a short pole, to lift it up in front of the multitude. On it in Latin, in Greek and in the Aramaic vernacular, are written these words, or that which stands for them, "The King of the Jews." It is as if the stamp of Roman authority and finality had been put upon the claim which had been the basis of the condemnation of Jesus. The multitude laugh 126 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. and cheer, but the High Priest and his atten- dants, keener to detect the insult, crowd around Pilate with remonstrance. CAIAPHAS. (imperiously) Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate turns to the High Priest with loathing as if to revenge himself for all the weaknesses of which he himself has been guilty and to heap the odium that is in his own soul at his own conduct upon the instigator of it. PILATE What I have written, I have written. He goes for the last time into the Praetorium. There is a word of command from the centurion. The soldiers come to attention. They step for- ward followed by the condemned and proceed down the street. After them come the High Priest and his fellow ecclesiastics and after them, around them, and before them, the mob. PART IV THE VIA DOLOROSA I THE CROSSBEARER TO THE KING. SCENE: A street in Jerusalem. Time: Ap- proaching nine in the morning. A short distance to the right is the city wall, through which a gate opens north- ward. Although it is a holy day and the shops are closed and there is no occasion for the ordinary traffic, and it is yet early in the day, the street is filled with people surging along like a great tidal current. Through the gate thousands can be seen spreading over the sur- rounding country. Jews of every land and clime are there. "Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus } and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians." The differ- ences in their clothing bespeak their variety, their characteristic uniformity of face proclaims their race. Most of the crowd are on foot, but some 130 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. are on horseback, on camels, in litters, or in chariots. While Jewish form and feature pre- dominate in the crowd, there are also others there, Greeks and Romans, brown Arabians, black Afri- cans and even blonde Goths from the Hyperbor- ean regions beyond the Rhine. The world is there. These are going out to see an execution. That THE MAN whom many of them had seen and heard during the Passover week has been con- demned to death, has been reported throughout the city. With incredible swiftness the news has travelled and citizens and strangers are assem- bling to witness the crucifixion. The high and the low, the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the noble and the base, are gathered to- gether to see Jesus of Galilee die upon the cross. There is not much noise among the passers-by. These are not those who gathered in the forum. Their appetites for blood have not been whetted by what they have seen. There is a sort of ap- prehensive feeling in the air which is expressed in voice and gesture. Ceaselessly the crowd sweeps by, pours through the narrow gate and spreads widely in the open, wondering upon what spot the crosses will be erected. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 131 Soon the comparative silence gives place to a confused shouting. Down the street the sunlight gleams upon upraised spear points and gilded eagles. The focus of the noisy demonstration is there. Presently, led by a centurion on horse- back, a body of legionary soldiers, brilliant and glorious in full war-panoply of burnished brass and scarlet, marches down the street with the sturdy tread of veterans, indifferent to the yell- ing, shrieking, laughing, mocking rabble which precedes, surrounds and follows them. Immedi- ately following these are a band of slaves carry- ing picks, spades, hammers, nails, provisions and wine. After the slaves comes one who holds aloft on a pole a board bearing an inscription, at sight of which the crowds jeer and cheer de- risively. After him, surrounded by soldiers who shoul- der aside with rude buffetings the mob which would fain attack the prisoner they guard, comes THE MAN. He is a sight terrible to look upon. His blood-stained gown, tattered and soiled with the filth that has been thrown upon it, hangs from His shoulders over a seamless under-tunic. His bare feet make bloody tracks upon the stones of the way. A crown of thorns surmounts His head. 132 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. His bright hair is tangled and clotted with blood. His face is ghastly white. His hands are bound before Him. He is bent almost double by the weight of two huge beams of wood upon His back, steadied there by the soldiers. He reels and staggers as He walks. The soldiers on either side watch Him and prevent Him from falling. He drags Himself forward with incredible slow- ness, constantly urged to hurry by the soldiers. Back of Him, similarly guarded are two others condemned to die, sturdier men, each carrying a cross. Their faces, too, are white, but with fear and terror. There is no fear in the face of THE MAN. His is the pallor of complete, utter physi- cal exhaustion to which is superadded the deso- lating sense of treachery and abandonment. He looks neither to the right nor to the left as He plods wearily on. The accompanying malefac- tors peer eagerly from one side of the street to the other, as if seeking pity or help from that pitiless mob. Back of Jesus and the malefactors marches another band of Roman soldiers. After these stalks Caiaphas surrounded by Temple Guards and attended by Annas, the chief priests and members of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas walks in haughty disdain of the people. His disgust GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 133 a feeling in which all of his retinue share is apparent. Nevertheless he feels it necessary to see that the punishment is carried out to the bit- ter end. And he knows not what untoward event may render his presence necessary. Just as they reach the city gate, the procession is suddenly halted. THE MAN falls prone upon the earth, His face hidden in His bound hands. The weight of the heavy cross beams has crushed Him down. The centurion, Longinus, turns and rides backward. He reins in his horse and looks hard at the prostrate figure. LONGINUS (to a soldier) How now! Touch Him with the butt of thy spear, soldier. The soldier thrusts THE MAN lightly in the side. THE SOLDIER (harshly) Rise, King of the Jews. Your throne awaits you. THE MAN makes an effort but He cannot lift the burden that lies upon His shoulders. 134 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE SOLDIER (to the centurion) I think He hath fainted. LONGINUS (contemptuously) They be weak stuff, these Jews. He looks over the crowd. There is one who seems stronger yonder. He points to a sturdy, middle-aged man, appar- ently a stranger to the city perhaps a visitor for the Passover Feast, who stands wondering and surprised, not comprehending. LONGINUS (quickly) Sirrah, thy name? THE MAN (respectfully) Simon of Cyrene, your worship. LONGINUS (with grim pleasantry) Well, Simon of Cyrene, we appoint you cross- bearer to your king. Come hither. The countryman, who is a sturdy man of mid- dle age, comes slowly forward. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 135 SIMON (bewildered) I do not understand. LONGINUS (laughing) But little understanding is required to bear a cross. SIMON (questioningly) But the king? LONGINUS (pointing) He lieth there. (to the soldiers) Way for the cross-bearer. THE PEOPLE Hail, King of the Jews ! Hail, the cross-bear- er to the King! Urged forward by the soldiers, Simon stops by the side of THE MAN. SIMON (gravely) What is it you would have me do? 136 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. A SOLDIER (pointing) We crucify this man without the walls. He hath fallen under the cross. To you the burden. SIMON (protesting) But ... LONGINUS (interrupting) We waste words. Take up the cross. For- ward! The soldiers lift the cross from THE MAN and lay it upon the shoulders of Simon. They drag Jesus to His feet and the procession moves on. II THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM. Near the city gate a little group of women, strangers to THE MAN, but moved by the terri- ble picture of suffering that He presents, raise their voices in wild lamentation. Tears stream from their eyes and they stretch out their hands to Him. It is not an acknowledgement in any sense of the claims of Jesus. It is simply the natural expression of pity in a few human hearts which are moved by suffering. It is the one touch of kindness that He has received since the day before. He stops, lifts His head and with a sudden access of strength, turns and speaks to them. JESUS Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. VOICES (in the mob, interrupting) Away with Him! Hasten without the walls! JESUS For behold the days are coming in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs 138 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. that never bear, and the paps which never gave suck. LONGINUS (from the head of the procession, looking back) Why halt ye ? Advance ! JESUS (lifting up His bound hands and glancing abroad at the hills which stand round about Jerusalem) Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us. THE MOB. Hail, King of the Jews! VOICES To the place of the cross! LONGINUS (impatiently) Forward! Forward! Silence the Man! The soldiers move toward Jesus, but for the time their hands seem to be holden. JESUS (looking about Him sadly as if for the last time within the Holy City) If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in a dry! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 139 He turns and moves on, passing through the gate to be met by a great cry from the expectant multitude who have been staring impatiently at the entrance. THE PEOPLE Lo, He comes! VOICES The King of the Jews ! Hail ! Hail 1 PART V GOLGOTHA 1 THE CROSSES ON THE HILL SCENE: A bare, rocky hillock, or knoll, whose rounded slopes in shape suggest the upper part of the human skull. Hard by rise the high towering walls of ancient Jerusalem, gray, mossy, forbid- ding. A main highway runs along the base of the hill. The country is rough, stony and broken. Sepulchers and tombs are cut in the craggy hill- sides. Sparse and stunted reeds and bushes grow in ravines and sheltered nooks here and there. But the vegetation is scanty and the nearer aspect of the country is arid and sterile. Farther away, like an oasis in a desert, may be seen the trees and verdure of a thickly-wooded, watered garden nestling against the base of a high cliff. It is a bright spot of greenness in the forlorn and deso- late land. The whole countryside is covered with people, moving to and fro, shifting back and forth, all interested and excited looking toward the city wall and the hill shaped like a skull. The crowd 144 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. is densest about this hill and is with difficulty kept from encroaching upon its crest by a line of Roman soldiers thrown around it, who have trouble in restraining the slow, pushing, converg- ing movement of many people anxious to see what is going on. The line of soldiers is about half way down the slope of the knoll and the little group on the summit is plainly visible to most of the great multitude. On the crest a half dozen slaves are digging three holes; one on the highest point of the hill, the others on either side, a little farther down. The wooden beams borne by the condemned from the Praetorium to the place of execution have been laid upon the ground and the soldiers have rap- idly spiked the two beams securely together in the shape of a so-called Latin Cross. The con- demned, who have been standing during this pro- ceeding, are now unbound and their garments with the exception of a loin cloth are stripped from them and laid in heaps on the ground. A draught of wine mingled with myrrh is now proffered to the condemned. It is gently refused by THE MAN, although the others partake of it greedily. Inasmuch as the actual crucifixion is now to GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 145 take place, through the crowd a murmur runs, which is quickly subdued and the multitude falls into a sudden stillness, every eye strained to the huddle of men on the hill, every ear attuned to listen. SOLDIER (to the centurion") Who first? LONGINUS (sarcastically) None takes precedence of the king. SOLDIER (falling in with his captain's contemptuous hu- mor) Nazarene, thy throne awaits thee! THE MAN turns His back to the cross, gives one glance to the multitude, another glance toward the city. He sinks down upon one knee; His hand seeks the ground behind Him. He reclines with His back upon the cross, stretching His arms out to the extremities of the transverse wooden beams. Four soldiers, each carrying a hammer and spikes, step forward at a signal from the cen- turion and kneel down by the cross; one oppo- 146 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. site each arm, one at the foot and one near the middle of the body. The one near the middle of the body carries a triangular block of wood which he will nail to the upright to make a support for the crucified whose weight would otherwise tear his extremities free. The soldiers at either arm glance at each other and then simultaneously they place the points of the spikes in the palm of each hand of the victim and rain rapid blows upon the heads with heavy hammers. After the first awful thrust through the flesh there is no audible sound but the clinking of iron upon iron. The centurion, Longinus, leans forward and peers down into the face of THE MAN in as- tonishment. A spasm of pain, of agony, flits across it. The lips are compressed tightly to- gether and straighten under the anguish, but not even a moan is wrung from the victim to break the intense stillness. The soldier near the middle now adjusts the block and rapidly nails it to the upright. The man at the foot, with the assist- ance of one of the others who has completed his task, crosses the two feet of the condemned, and with one spike through the insteps fastens them to the tree. THE MAN has been so silent that Longinus GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 147 almost fancies Him dead. As the soldiers com- plete their task and lay aside their hammers, while they are yet kneeling by the victim, He speaks. His voice is low and clear, but endowed with marvelous carrying capacity. It is calm, almost emotionless, in its tone. JESUS Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. The Roman soldiers are visibly astonished at such an utterance. Never have they heard speech like that from a crucified on his cross. A spell is on the people. They look from one to another. The sentence is repeated in whispers by those near at hand to those farther off. The air is filled with the murmur of it. God harkcns to it. Men mar- vel at it. The world remembers it. Caiaphas, Annas and the chief priests shift un- easily. They are about to say something when the quiet is broken by a sudden horrid tumult. On the hill the two malefactors who are ap- pointed to be crucified with Jesus are struggling desperately in the hands of their guards. Amid oaths, imprecations and blasphemies, they are thrown at last and nailed to the crosses by the 148 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. same process as before. Their shrieks and yells of anguish are terrible to hear and in great con- trast to the quiet of the First Sufferer. The noise and tumult break the tension. The multitude sways to and fro. Voices are heard, and here and there a cruel laugh. Annas and Caiaphas greatly relieved are apparently satisfied. At a word from the centurion, four soldiers lift each cross and staggering to the appointed places insert the bases in the holes which have been made ready. The uprights are held steady for a few moments while the slaves, with mat- tocks and shovels, fill in the holes and make the crosses secure. Upon the short projection above the transverse arm of the central cross hangs Pilate's board. The multitude catches sight of it and a great shout bursts from thousands of lips. THE PEOPLE The King of the Jews! Hail, King of the Jews! The soldiers, their labors concluded, draw back from the foot of the crosses and wiping their brows, for the day is warm, proceed to the place where the garments of the condemned had been laid. There are four soldiers to each criminal GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 149 and the scanty clothing is soon apportioned among them, except the seamless under-tunic which Jesus had worn. FIRST SOLDIER (holding it up) What shall we do with this? SECOND SOLDIER (handling it) Tis good cloth and worth something, though it be stained with blood. Divide it with thy sword; to each a part. THIRD SOLDIER (protesting) Nay, let us not rend it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be. FOURTH SOLDIER (doffing his helmet and dropping some marked pebbles into it) Well thought on. We'll try the favor of the gods with these. While they settle the question bending eagerly over the garment, Longinus directs a subordi- nate to form the century, which had comprised the escort to the hill, in ranks and march it 150 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. back to the Praetorium. He himself will remain with four designated soldiers for each crucified, as a guard. THE UNDER OFFICER . (as he transmits the orders to the men holding back the crowd at the foot of the hill) Wouldst them not prefer that I should stay and that thou shouldst go? LONGINUS (meditatively} Nay, I would fain see the end of this Galilean. There is something here that I understand not. Go thou, and tell the Governor we have crucified the men upon the hill according to his order. The officer salutes, steps to the head of his men and they march away through the people. Caiaphas, Annas and the Sanhedrin now come forward and surround the hill, their presence forming as effectual a barrier to the nearer ap- proach of the multitude as if they had been the soldiers. Caiaphas raises his hand and points to the central cross, which is a little higher than the other two. He smiles in significant scorn and derision. The attention of the people has been somewhat distracted by the departure of the soldiers, but it is now fastened upon the hill. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 151 CAIAPHAS (loudly and with unmistakable sarcasm and con- tempt in his voice) He is the King of Israel ! Annas wags his head and laughs. The chief priests and others take up the cry. VOICES (repeating) He is the King of Israel ! THE CHIEF PRIESTS He saved others, Himself He cannot save. THE PEOPLE Hail, King of the Jews ! CAIAPHAS (continuing) Lo, the destroyer of the Temple! THE PRIESTS Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews ! CAIAPHAS (mocking) The Messiah! 152 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE SANHEDRISTS If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews ! A SOLDIER (at the foot of the cross, repeating) Hail, King of the Jews ! Ha, ha ! LONGINUS (curiously, looking upward to the cross) If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thy- self. CAIAPHAS (sneeringly) Ay, let Him now come down from the cross and we will believe Him 1 CERTAIN SCRIBES He saved others, let Him save Himself. THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews! CAIAPHAS (again pointing) He trusted in God. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 153 THE CHIEF PRIESTS Let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him! THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews! CAIAPHAS (continuing) For He said, I am the Son of God. THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews! Caiaphas, Annas and the others stare long and hard at the Crucified. Presently, they turn and withdraw to another hill removed from the im- mediate vicinity of the place of execution, but one whence they can see and hear all that takes place. Attendants provide resting places, upon which those high in dignity and those advanced in years may sit. The people have now unrestrained access to the hill. There is a constant movement through- out the place. In groups, in masses, or singly, they approach the crosses and with gestures of derision, wagging their heads, they give vent to taunts, insults and mockeries. Curses and impre- 154 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. cations are heaped upon the heads of the crucified. Such a crowd is usually impartial in its distribu- tion of abuse and contempt, but in this instance their attention is focussed upon the central figure, and there is even developed by contrast a strange sort of sympathy for those on either side. Among those who approach and take their station at the foot of the central cross is a young man supporting a woman of mature years in an almost fainting condition. She is attended by several other white-faced, horror-stricken sisters. It is the Mother of THE MAN, and he who so tenderly cares for her is the Beloved Disciple, John. The soldiers who are now preparing their mid-day meal look curiously at them, the crowd gases as it passes, but no one molests them. There is an expression, almost of pity, on the hard face of Longinus as he watches them. And there are other wretched women there; wives, sisters, mothers, friends, of the malefactors perhaps. One of the men crucified with Jesus has joined from time to time in the reviling of Christ by the Jews. Toward the noon hour he takes advantage of a brief period of comparative silence to turn his head toward the central cross, as if an idea had suddenly come to him. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 155 FIRST THIEF (loudly, in tones of anguish) Art Thou not the Christ? Save Thyself and us then. The Second Thief, who had at first been as vehement as the other, but who has gradually fallen into silence, staring past the Figure upon the central cross, now speaks to his fellow. SECOND THIEF (in tones of solemn, yet emphatic warning) Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? FIRST THIEF (interrupting with a hideous outbreak of curs- ing) If He be the Son of God, let Him come down from the cross and take us with Him. SECOND THIEF And we indeed are justly condemned for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this Man hath done nothing amiss. THE PEOPLE Hail, King of the Jews ! 156 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. FIRST THIEF (in horrible rage) Let Him now release me from this cross and I will believe on Him. SECOND THIEF (addressing Jesus directly) Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom. FlRST TmEF (sneering) His Kingdom! Ho, ho! THE PEOPLE Hail, King of the Jews! JESUS (calmly to the Second Thief) Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise. THE SCRIBES (mocking) Paradise ! Paradise ! THE PRIESTS (in bitter sarcasm) The kingdom of the King ! THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews ! GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 157 As THE MAN turns His head away from the Second Thief, His glance falls upon the little group nearest the foot of the cross. The woman supported by the young man lifts her head and looks at Him, such love, such heartbreak, such agony, such hopelessness in her eyes as cannot be described. She stretches out her hands to Him in vain but desperate appeal. The young man holding her firmly looks in the same way at the Figure on the cross. JESUS Woman, behold thy son. He pauses a moment and then looks search- ingly at John. JESUS Behold, thy mother. John answers with his eyes. He cannot speak. He turns and half leads, half carries, the woman, faintly protesting, away from the hill. The crowd silently watches the little group pass and disappear through the ancient gate in the city wall. The last sound that greets their ears is a mocking cry. THE MULTITUDE Hail, King of the Jews! II THE HOURS OF DARKNESS It is high noon now, but a strange darkness is in the air. An impalpable mist or grayness has been stealing athwart the heavens for some time. The sun has shone luridly through the ob- scurity. It grows rapidly darker and more dark. Presently, the sun is completely gone. It is not the blackness of midnight, however, that results, but a peculiar deepening shadow in which each man can perhaps see the white face of his nearest neighbor and no farther. Yet all can apprehend clearly the three crosses upon the high hill. Caiaphas and his assessors consult to- gether anxiously from time to time. Strange silences supervene, broken by excited sounds here and there which quickly die away. Many sit down quietly to wait the end. There is nothing to do but wait. The less bold and hardy slink away from the outskirts of the assemblage. Men look from the darkened heavens to the crosses in a strange awe. Only the boldest affect mock- ery and disdain. Here and there a single voice, less timid than the rest, raises the old cry: Hail, King of the Jews! but there is no unanimity in GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 159 the words, no volume of sound in the phrase now. The darkness grows more overpowering as the slow hours drag along. Shrieks of pain and anguish from the First Thief are plainly heard from time to time. The Second Thief has caught something of the heroic resolution of THE MAN and for the most part he is silent save for low moans now and then. Suddenly in the silence, a voice is heard loud and clear from the highest cross. JESUS Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani! LONGINUS (to a Hebrew rabbi standing near) What meaneth He by those words? THE RABBI (answering) They have this significance, Roman: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? VOICES (farther off in the darkness) What is this that He saith? OTHERS This Man calleth for Elijah. 160 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. THE PRIESTS Let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him. VOICES (scattered) Hail, King of the Jews ! Nearly three hours of darkness have dragged on. The afternoon is wearing away when the watchers hear again a voice from the highest cross. JESUS I thirst! LONGINUS (to a soldier) Give Him to drink. The soldier picks up a reed and fastens upon the end of it a sponge. This he dips into a skin of sour wine which they had brought with them, and standing on tiptoe, he lifts it to THE MAN'S lips. It is now the ninth hour of the day, about three of the clock. The darkness has grown thicker un- til it has become a complete obscuration, and yet, though it radiates no light, every spectator is conscious of the highest cross. He sees it as it were in mental vision. There is a strange tremu- GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 161 lousness in the incorporeal air; a tremulousness, which, in the imagination of the beholders, seems to be communicated to the solid and substantial earth upon which they stand. Those who have been sitting, rise to their feet. Hands are stretch- ed out vaguely in the blackness as if to bring a reassuring feeling of companionship by the sense of touch. No voices are raised now. It is so still that the beating of thousands of hearts seems to each man listening to the deep throbs within his own breast, to be distinctly audible in the black vault. JESUS Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. The trembling of the air increases. The ground wavers and shakes. JESUS (with a great and terrible cry) It is finished. The earth heaves like a wave of the sea. The rocks are rent in twain. The tombs on the hills are thrown open. Peals of thunder crash and roll along the black sky. Spectral bodies fill the air. A breath of cold blasts those who yet stand upon the hill. The affrighted people look toward 162 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. the knoll. To their distorted imaginations the crosses are alive. They seem to rise and spread athwart the heavens and extend gigantic arms menacing. A terror as of death is upon the Jews. They turn panic stricken and run in every direction. The Sanhedrists gather timorously around Caiaphas. Even Annas cowers behind the High Priest, white- faced, stern, but compell- ing his trembling body to rise and confront the silent cross. There is an uneasy movement among the soldiers. A hoarse word from the centurion recalls them to their senses. Presently the quaking earth is still; the dark- ness disappears from the sky. Almost instan- taneously, the afternoon sun biases upon the three crosses, the white-faced legionaries, the high priest and the deserted countryside. LONGINUS (wiping the sweat from his brow and looking up at the inert and lifeless figure of Jesus hanging limp and collapsed in death) Certainly, this was a Righteous Man. A SOLDIER (standing near) Ay, a Righteous Man. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 163 ANOTHER SOLDIER (respectfully doffing his casque and standing erect in an attitude of attention and salute look- ing up at Jesus) Hail, King of the Jews ! Longinus stares hard at the huddle of priests grouped about the undaunted Caiaphas. LONGINUS (loudly and with emphasis as if in challenge) Truly, this was the Son of God. Ill THE NEW TOMB IN THE GARDEN A galloping horse is heard. A messenger reins in abruptly before the chief priests, throws him- self to the ground and advances toward Caiaphas. THE MESSENGER (in great agitation) The veil of the temple ... is rent . . . in twain! CAIAPHAS (alarmed, but mastering his emotion) Tell it not in Jerusalem. THE MESSENGER (continuing) The dead have risen and have been seen within the sacred city. CAIAPHAS (imperiously) Silence! (He advances toward the hill and approaches the centurion.) To-morrow is the Sabbath day. It is not lawful that the bodies should remain upon the crosses on the Sabbath day. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 165 LONGINUS (to the soldiers) Kill them and let them be taken down. (The centurion now looks upon life in a different way. His thoughts are turned from cruelty to pity.) It will be mercy in the end (he adds). The soldiers with clubs and hammers approach the malefactors, and finding them still alive, they break their legs and arms and batter them into death and silence. Approaching the central cross, they are about to strike when they discover that THE MAN is already dead. FIRST SOLDIER (lifting his spear) Dead already! I'll make assurance double sure. He drives the broad blade through the side in- to the heart of THE MAN. Water and blood gush out. LO NGINUS (to Caiaphas) They are all dead, sir priest, what now? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (advancing, followed by John, who has returned with some of the women, some other friends and Nicodemus) 166 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. I have begged the body of the Nazarene from Pilate, Oh Centurion! Caiaphas who has withdrawn a little space now comes forward and listens. LONGINUS Thou hast authority for thy saying, Jew? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (presenting an order) Knowest thou the Governor's seal? LONGINUS (taking the paper) I know it. (He reads it.) Have thy wish There He hangs. CAIAPHAS (stepping forward) What wouldst thou do with Him? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (pointing) Yonder in that garden is a new sepulcher wherein hath never man been laid. I shall place Him there. CAIAPHAS (severely) I asked thee before: Art thou also, and thou, Nicodemus, in the following of this dead Naz- GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 167 arene? Neither of you were consenting to His dcEth JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (dauntlessly) Thou shalt know in good time, Oh, Caiaphas. NICODEMUS (boldly) Ay, thou shalt see. Another messenger now comes up the hill. He stops before Caiaphas. The High Priest turns. CAIAPHAS Didst thou have audience with Pilate? MESSENGER I did, Master. CAIAPHAS And my message, didst thou deliver it? THE MESSENGER With thy very word, thus: Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore, that the sepulcher may be made sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first 168 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. CAIAPHAS ( condescendingly ) Thou hast well remembered. And what said the Roman? THE MESSENGER Lo, this is his answer: Ye have a watch. Go your way, make it as sure as ye can. CAIAPHAS (turning) Dost hear, Centurion? LONGINUS (curtly) I am a soldier. I must have more than the word of a hireling for that. THE MESSENGER (producing an order) Behold, the signet of the noble Pilate. LONGINUS (examining it) This order also shall be carried out. (Turn- ing to Joseph of Arimathaea.) Where is this tomb of thine? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA Tis cut in the side of the little hill in yonder garden. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 169 LONGINUS And how closest thou the entrance? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA With a great rock which may be rolled against it. CAIAPHAS (to a scribe) Stay thou here until the Nazarene be entomb- ed. (He hands a ring to the scribe.) See that the stone be sealed with my seal and then come and report to me. Joseph, and thou,Nicodemus (He stops and looks at them in frowning men- ace.) We shall deal with you later on. Look to it ANNAS (grimly pointing to the hill) There are crosses still to be had in Jerusalem. He laughs and shakes his head as they turn away followed by the Priests and Scribes. LONGINUS What shall be done with the two malefactors? JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA There are other tombs where they may be bestowed. 170 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. NICODEMUS They died by the side (he stops and lifts his head) of the King. LONGINUS And one, at least, repentant and in prayer. Assisted by the soldiers and the women, Jos- eph, Nicodemus, their servants, and the others take the bodies dozvn from the crosses. That of Jesus, wrapped in linen and covered with myrrh and aloes, is borne first to the new tomb of Jos- eph of Arimathaea. The women who have tender- ly assisted walk along beside the bearers, weeping, wailing and wringing their hands. The tomb is a cave cut in the rocky hillside. It is empty. Within are shelves or benches of stone cut from the wall, on one of which they place the body. In an adjacent tomb, smaller and more hum- ble, the bodies of the two thieves are also laid decently away. A great stone, requiring the united efforts of the soldiers and of the Jewish attendants of Jos- eph and Nicodemus is then rolled to the mouth of the sepulcher. Tapes are stretched across the joints of the stone and wax is poured upon them, which is then sealed by the scribe with the High GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 171 Priest's signet, so that any movement of the stone will break the seals. It is now late in the evening. Joseph, Nico- demus and the women, with their attendants, re- tire; promising to come back after the Sabbath day has passed and more fittingly prepare the body of Jesus for what they believe will be a last long sleep, than they can do in the brief time which has been at their disposal. Two of the soldiers are set to guard the tomb. The others retire some distance into the garden, and, kindling a fire, partake of their evening meal, while they discuss the strange events of the day. And THE MAN is left alone, shut up in His tomb, which is sealed with the seals of the Church and guarded by the swords of the Empire. The long agony and suffering are over eternally over. PART VI THE RESURRECTION I THE TESTIMONY OF THE SOLDIERS SCENE: A street in Jerusalem leading from the Praetorium to the house of Caiaphas. Time : Very early in the morning of the third day after the crucifixion of THE MAN. It is still dark. A few flickering lights show dimly here and there from windows or walls. It is very quiet. The street is deserted save for a little handful of Roman soldiers who are slow- ly approaching the Praetorium. They shrink together nervously as they walk, starting at each shadow as they pass. They preserve no order. Their faces are downcast, and instead of the bold bearing of sturdy legionaries, they give every evi- dence of extreme agitation. They are, in fact, completely unnerved. As they draw near the Praetorium, their steps falter and slacken; their progress almost ceases. A VOICE (out of the darkness) Halt! Who goes there? 176 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. The approaching soldiers stop suddenly in great confusion. One steps toward them from the entrance to the Praetorium. It is the centurion making his rounds. His sword flashes in a faint gleam of light from a dying torch on the front of the building. LONGINUS (questioning) Whom have we here? (He steps nearer.) Why, 'tis the guard from the tomb of the Naz- arenef (He stares at them in astonishment.) Are ye all here? (He inspects them rapidly.) Ay, every one. Why have ye left your post? FIRST SOLDIER (falteringly) Most noble Captain! His voice dies away. He looks from one to the other of his companions. LONGINUS (sternly) Speak! I command you. For a soldier of the legion to desert his post. . . . (He pauses abruptly.) What is the punishment? SECOND SOLDIER (whispering) Death, lord. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 177 LONGINUS (nodding his head) Thou hast well said, soldier. THIRD SOLDIER (interrupting) We have been as dead men already, Oh Cen- turion ! LONGINUS (turning) Ha! What mean ye by that? FOURTH SOLDIER An hour or so agone my comrade here (point- ing to another soldier) and I had the watch. The others slept by the fire. Ye know the place. All was still. It was the intensest quiet of the night, the hour before the dawn, when . . . He moistens his lips and looks nervously at his comrades. LONGINUS (deeply interested) Proceed. Why halt ye? FOURTH SOLDIER (uncertainly) The story is so incredible. 178 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. LONGINUS (decisively) I will be the judge of that. Speak on (with a look of contempt at the huddle of legionaries) and as becometh men who follow the Eagles of Rome. FOURTH SOLDIER (nerving himself to continue) My fellow and I were awake. We kept care- ful watch albeit there seemed no need, when suddenly the place was filled with light . . . LONGINUS (astonished) Light! FOURTH SOLDIER (earnestly) Tis even so. FIFTH SOLDIER (nodding) May the gods destroy us if it be not true! LONGINUS (questioning) Whence came this light? FOURTH SOLDIER Sir, I know not. It filled the garden. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 179 LONGINUS Flashed it like lightning? FIFTH SOLDIER (interrupting) Nay, it glowed like the sun. LONGINUS (turning to the others) And ye who slept, did ye see it also? FIRST SOLDIER My lord, it awakened us on the instant. SIXTH SOLDIER I found myself on my knees staring dazzled. SECOND SOLDIER I to my feet arose and gazed bewildered. EIGHTH SOLDIER I covered my eyes with my hands. LONGINUS (passing his hand across his brow) Strange ! FOURTH SOLDIER There is more, my lord. For even as we look- ed we were aware of a . . . a presence. 180 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. LONGINUS (eagerly) Was it the Nazarene? FOURTH SOLDIER No. LONGINUS (disappointed) Who then? FOURTH SOLDIER We cannot tell. FIFTH SOLDIER A messenger from the gods belike. LONGINUS How looked he? FOURTH SOLDIER His countenance was like the lightning. FIFTH SOLDIER (his voice sinking to a whisper) His raiment white as snow. LONGINUS (catching his breath and turning to the others) Saw ye this messenger of the gods? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 181 SEVERAL SOLDIERS (together) Ay, even as he saith. LONGINUS What then? FOURTH SOLDIER The earth shook as it did when we crucified the Nazarene. We could not maintain our foot- ing. The messenger of the gods approached the stone closing the tomb, as we fell to the ground. He laid his hand upon it. We saw it move . . . fall The soldier stops abruptly. The legionaries crowd closer together and confront the centurion, their white faces and sweat covered brows show- ing faintly in the dim light from the torch above. LONGINUS (his own voice scarcely audible) What then? Who came forth? The soldiers make no answer. LONGINUS (insisting) What saw ye? FIFTH SOLDIER (in an awestruck voice) 182 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. My lord, we were as dead men. After the moving of the stone we saw nothing. FOURTH SOLDIER y (in a shamefaced way) We had fainted. LONGINUS (with passionate contempt and disappointment) Fainted! Like women? Would I had been there ! FIRST SOLDIER (resentfully) My lord, if thou hadst . . . SEVENTH SOLDIER (interrupting) I fear naught in human shape, nor ravening beast, but this was of the immortal gods. LONGINUS (recovering his composure) Proceed. What next? SECOND SOLDIER (explaining) When our eyes were opened, the place was dark. The fire burned fitfully beneath the trees. One seized a torch GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 183 SIXTH SOLDIER (taking up the tale) 'Twas I, and drawing our swords we approach- ed the cave in the hill. The rock was rolled away. LONGINUS (starting) Away, sayest thou? THIRD SOLDIER (extending his hand) Here are the broken seals. FOURTH SOLDIER Together we peered into the tomb. LONGINUS (eagerly) What saw ye? FIFTH SOLDIER Nothing ! LONGINUS (amazed) Nothing ! FOURTH SOLDIER (firmly) My lord, the tomb was empty. 184 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. LONGINUS (more and more surprised) It was no dream of thine, then ? FIFTH SOLDIER (indignant) Dream? Hadst thou been there . . . LONGINUS (uplifting his hand) Didst search the garden? FIRST SOLDIER At once. LONGINUS (eagerly) And found? FIFTH SOLDIER Nothing. LONGINUS And then ? FIFTH SOLDIER There being naught left to watch, we came here. LONGINUS (severely, looking from one to another) And is this the truth? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 185 VOICES By Jove! j By Hercules ! V We swear ! By all the gods! ) FOURTH SOLDIER (earnestly) Thou knowest us, Longinus. Thou hast led us on many a field. Thou knowest our temper and our courage. We fear not man, but this was something more. LONGINUS What more? FOURTH SOLDIER I know not. LONGINUS (shaking has head and falling into revery) The Son of God! The King of the Jews! Tis passing strange. There is more in this than my Roman brain can grasp. He pauses in deep thought. The Fifth Soldier at last ventures to break the silence. FIFTH SOLDIER What now, my lord? 186 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. LONGINUS (recovering himself by an effort) Go ye to Caiaphas; tell him your story and return hither to me. The soldiers salute, and turn to go down the street. The Fifth Soldier halts them. With a gesture, he turns and faces Longinus. FIFTH SOLDIER (wistfully) Centurion, believest thou that we have spoken true? LONGINUS (hesitating) I believe. FIFTH SOLDIER (relieved) We thank thee. Comrades, forward! As their footsteps die away in the street, Lon- ginus paces the pavement back and forth ponder- ing. The Son of God! This passeth the exper- ience of a soldier and is beyond the ken of man. The King of the Jews ! I heard the noble Pilate ask, What is truth? What, indeed? He remains silent a long time. Presently he sits down upon the edge of the portico, wrapping GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 187 his cloak about him. He is plunged in deep thought. Light softly pervades the East. After a while footfalls are heard again upon the pavement. Arms and armor clash faintly. The soldiers are returning. The centurion rises to his feet as they come to a halt before him. LONGINUS You have discharged your errand quickly. What said the priests? FIRST SOLDIER At first they swore we lied. SECOND SOLDIER (tapping his blade) But we persuaded them we spoke true. THIRD SOLDIER They cnarged us with being cowards. FOURTH SOLDIER And we laughed at them for that. FIFTH SOLDIER The very old one, he of the shrill, cracked laugh .... 188 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. LONGINUS Annas? FIFTH SOLDIER So they called him said at last, what mattered it how, so long as the body of the Nazarene was gone. They said He had declared that He would rise from the dead in three days and lest this should be believed and the people be perverted thereby they told us to declare that while we slept His disciples came and stole Him away. He laughs scornfully at the bare idea of such a dereliction of duty on the part of Roman sol- diers. SIXTH SOLDIER (extending a hand full of bright pieces of gold) Ay, and they gave each of us the price of many slaves to agree to this story. LONGINUS But if it come to the ears of the Governor? SEVENTH SOLDIER They have promised to persuade him to secure us. LONGINUS And what said ye? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 189 EIGHTH SOLDIER (laughing) The gold is good, most noble captain. He jingles his portion lovingly in his palm. It is lighter now and the legionaries are not so fear- ful as they were. LONGINUS (caustically} And ye so agreed? ALL (together) We agreed. FOURTH SOLDIER (insinuatingly) Knowing that if the worst came thou couldst tell the governor the truth, most noble Longinus. So we have the Jews' money and our safety, too. SIXTH SOLDIER (proffering money) A share of ours is thine. LONGINUS (waving him away abruptly) I want none of it. Perhaps the priests have found the easiest way. Go ye to your quarters; 190 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. and, hark ye, say naught of this to any man un- less upon compulsion. SOLDIERS (saluting) We shall obey thee. Health to the Centurion ! Hail and farewell! The gods have thee in their keeping, O most excellent Longinus! LONGINUS (watching them disappear within the barracks and then looking up to the sky) The day breaks. He, too, turns and slowly follows the soldiers. II THE TESTIMONY OF THE WOMEN SCENE: A garden outside the walls of Jeru- salem, at the back of which rises a cliff in whose wall is cut an opening which has been covered or closed by a slab of dressed stone, now lying on the ground at one side. Time: Just before the break of day on the third day after the crucifix- ion. Three naked crosses upon a hill far away from the garden, faintly silhouetted against the almost impalpable grayness that steals above the hori- zon, are grim reminders of the terrible scene of the preceding Friday. A little band of women, Mary Magdalene, Sa- lome, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and perhaps others, are seen on the path branching from the high road and approaching the garden. MARY MAGDALENE (in great distress of mind) Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? SALOME {hesitatingly) Perhaps the Roman soldiers . . . 192 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. JOANNA (interrupting) But they may not permit us access to the tomb. MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES (nodding her head) Ay, it bears the seal of the high priest you recall. JOANNA (explaining) But if we break the seal, it is not the same as if the Lord had done so. MARY MAGDALENE (suddenly) Hush! The little group stops at the entrance to the garden. The women listen. SALOME (whispering) I hear nothing. MARY MAGDALENE (pointing) The fire light dies. The soldiers should be there. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 193 JOANNA (gazing toward the dim light) Perhaps they sleep. MARY MAGDALENE (resolutely) Let us enter. With careful steps the little band of women enters the garden and walks cautiously toward the fire. They stop upon the confines of what had been the camp and look about them in surprise, speaking to one another in low, hushed voices. MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES They are not here. SALOME Where have they gone? MARY MAGDALENE (after a moment's deep thought) Let us go to the sepulcher. She steps forward, followed by the others, when they are suddenly aware of a bright unearthly light through the trees. SALOME (in terror) What is that? 194 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES (affrighted) Tis not the day. SALOME (nervously) The God of our fathers defend us now. JOANNA (peering and pointing) The stone is rolled away! They stop uncertainly and huddle together. MARY MAGDALENE (detaching herself from the others) I go forward. She steps on in the direction of the sepulcher and after a momentary hesitation the other -wo- men follow her closely. She stops in the open doorway. The stone has been rolled away. The place is radiant with a light supernal. Just with- in the entrance upon one of the benches sits a white-robed resplendent figure. Mary Magdalene raises her hand to her face and stares petrified. The other women are close by her side. The little group stands as if rooted to the spot. The light grows brighter. On a GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 195 sudden impulse they veil their heads. A voice comes to them. THE ANGEL Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. There is a little pause in which the women can hear the beating of their own hearts. THE ANGEL He is not here. He is risen as He said. The women, as if constrained, lift their heads and look again. The Angel has risen. He points into the recesses of the sepulcher clearly visible in the supernal light. Come! See the place where the Lord lay. He beckons to them. The women timidly and with faltering steps obeying the heavenly com- mand slowly enter a little farther into the sep- ulcher and look about. THE ANGEL. Why seek ye Him that liveth among the dead ? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, say- ing, The Son of Man must be delivered in- to the hands of sinful men and be crucified . . . and the third day rise again. 196 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. In obedience to a gesture from the Angel, the women withdraw from the sepulcher and stand uncertainly about the entrance. The Angel fol- lows them and pauses before them. THE ANGEL (extending his hand toward the city) Go quickly. Tell His disciples and Peter, He is risen from the dead. And, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see Him. (He pauses again.) Lo, I have told you. He vanishes. The women are left alone in the darkness. SALOME (whispering) Heardest thou? JOANNA (faintly) Sawest thou? MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES (stepping back) Let us go and tell the disciples as we were commanded. They turn away; all but Mary Magdalene. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 197 JOANNA (laying her hand upon Mary Magdalene's shoul- der) Comest thou? Mary Magdalene shakes her head. JOANNA ( understanding ) Wait thou here then and we will return for thee with Peter and the rest. The three turn and go quickly from the gar- den. Mary Magdalene throws herself upon the ground and buries her face in her hands praying and weeping. Presently, she is aware again of the light, the supernal light. She lifts her head and rises to her knees. Within the tomb she sees two figures, one at the foot and the other at the head of the place where they had laid THE MAN. Again there comes to her a voice. THE ANGELS Woman, why weepest thou? MARY MAGDALENE (apparently not having realised the message of the first Angel.) Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him. 198 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. She turns away and staggers through the trees into the depths of the garden. There she kneels down and buries her face in her hands, her whole body shaking with sobs. In the midst of her grief she hears a footstep. She looks up. A Figure may be seen dimly in the darkness, for the sun has not yet risen and the pale light of breaking day has not gathered sufficient power to penetrate beneath the shadow cast by the trees. A VOICE (repeating the angelic question) Woman, why weepest thou? Mary Magdalene makes no answer to this question. THE VOICE (persisting in questioning) Whom seekest thou? MARY MAGDALENE (brushing the tears from her eyes with her hand and speaking to herself) It is the gardener. (Aloud to the speaker.) Sir, I seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was laid there. He is gone. If thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him and I will take Him away. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 199 She bows her head and hides her face in her hands again. There is a little pause. THE VOICE Mary! The woman lowers her hands and looks up. There is a strange and sudden light in the place. Now she sees and believes. MARY MAGDALENE (with a low cry of ecstasy) Rabboni ! Master ! She reaches out her hands to Him as if to touch Him. JESUS (withdrawing slightly and raising His hand clearly marked with the imprint of the nail) Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. He vanishes. Mary Magdalene rises to her feet, supporting herself with her hand upon a tree. MARY MAGDALENE I have seen the Lord ! He is risen ! 200 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. She turns and leaves the garden following the direction of the other women. After a long time footsteps are heard upon the road. A rapidly running figure followed closely by another rushes through the trees and stops abruptly at the mouth of the sepulcher. The space in front of it is slightly clear and in the increasing light of day, for the sun is up at last, every corner is disclosed. The first comer kneels down at the entrance. The second person now arrives before the sepulcher. He does not stop at the door. Passing the first, he enters and stands aghast. After a moment the kneeling man rises and follows the second into the sepul- cher. PETER (in wonder) He is not here. JOHN They laid Him there. PETER (laying his hand upon the cloth) Here is the linen which clothed Him. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 201 JOHN (stooping down) And here the napkin that was about His head. PETER The women have told the truth. JOHN Oh, that some Angel from heaven would speak to us and explain. PETER No voice from heaven will come to me, for I denied my Lord. JOHN (soothingly, putting his arm about the older man) But thou wast terribly tempted and He will forgive thee. I feel it here. He lays his hand upon his breast. PETER Thinkest thou so? JOHN I know it; did He not say unto thee, Until seventy times seven? PETER They have taken Him away. He is gone. If 202 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. He lives I will seek him throughout the world until I find Him to beg His forgiveness. Come, let us tell the others of the story. JOHN (turning with him) And the linen? PETER Leave it there. Let us go to Joseph of Ari- mathaea and Nicodemus and the brethren. They turn and walk quickly away in deep and solemn converse; and the little garden is left empty of angels, of women, of men, and of its Lord, in the bright light of the brilliant April, morning. Ill THE UPPER CHAMBER. SCENE : A large room in the upper story of a house in Jerusalem. Tables are set for the even- ing meal of which most of the company have al- ready partaken, though some late comers are still eating. Time: Evening of the third day after the crucifixion. Ten of the apostles, Judas being dead and Thomas being absent, are assembled here. With the ten are other disciples and among them are the faithful women. They are talking earnestly in low, hushed voices. Peter is the center of one group; Mary Magdalene of another; Salome, Joanna and Mary the Mother of James, of a third. By the side of Mary Magdalene sits Mary the Mother of Jesus. Back of her, his hand laid tenderly upon her shoulder, stands John. There is constant movement to and fro, a shifting from group to group as different voices are heard. MARY MAGDALENE (emphatically') I have seen the Lord. He is risen from the dead. 204 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. SIMON PETER (corroborating her) He is risen indeed and hath appeared unto me. SALOME As we were returning to the garden this morn- ing we met Him in the way. JOHN Spake He unto you? SALOME Yea, He spake. ANDREW What said He? THE WOMEN Hail! All hail! JAMES What did ye then? f SALOME We knelt at His feet to worship Him and He said unto us, Be not afraid, go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee. There shall they see Me. MARY MAGDALENE It is the same message with which He charged me. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 205 NATHANIEL Would that I might see the Lord! JAMES, ANDREW, JOHN AND OTHERS OF THE APOSTLES Would that we all might see Him! There is a low knock on the door. Those with- in the room stop still in surprise not unmingled with terror. Their voices falter and cease. JOHN (timidly) Who can it be? ANDREW (in a frightened whisper) Is it the Lord? PETER (more boldly) I shall open the door. He steps to the door, unbars it and throws it open. PETER (raising his hands in astonishment) Cleopas ! A man enters the room followed by a com- panion. 206 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. PETER Thou art welcome, Cleopas, and thou, too, Luke. He closes and securely bars the door. JOHN (pressing forward) The Lord hath risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon. CELOPAS (gravely) That we know. JAMES (in great surprise) Hast thou, too, seen Him.? CLEOPAS (nodding affirmatively) With Luke, the beloved Physician. LUKE It is even so. VOICES (in great excitement) When? Where? How looked He? What said He? GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 207 CLEOPAS (stilling them with a gesture) Give me leave, brethren, and I will tell thee. This afternoon, I, and Luke, here, set forth from the Holy City for our home at Emmaus, which, as ye know, lieth about three-score fur- longs hence. Our hearts were heavy and we talked together sadly, as men without hope, of all the things that had happened. And it came to pass that while we communed together One drew near, joined Himself to us and went with us. PETER (interrupting) And who was He? LUKE We knew not ; our eyes were holden. He was to us a stranger. JOHN What said He? CLEOPAS He said to us, What manner of communications are these that ye have one with another as ye walk and are sad? 208 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. ANDREW (pressing closer) And what answer madest thou? CLEOPAS I said to Him: Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known these things which are come to pass there in these days? LUKE And He said unto us: What things? CLEOPAS And we said unto Him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and have crucified Him, but we trusted it had been He which should have redeemed Israel. And beside all this, to-day was the third day since those things were done, wherefore we marveled the more that He had not heard. LUKE Yea, we told Him that certain women also of our company made us astonished for they were early at the sepulcher and when they found not His body, they came back saying that they had GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 209 seen a vision of angels which said that He was alive. CLEOPAS And we told Him that certain of them which were with us, thou, John, and thou, Peter, went to the sepulcher and found it empty as the wo- men had said, but Jesus they saw not. Cleopas pauses. The room is very still. Peter breaks the silence. PETER (in a low voice) And what said thy Companion then? CLEOPAS These are His very words : Oh fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory ? PETER (his face lighting) Ay, He said unto us in Galilee ye remember it brethren? that the Son of Man must be de- livered up into the hands of sinful men to be cru- cified and the third day He would rise again. 210 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. MARY MAGDALENE (softly) It was the very message of the angel. JOHN (anxious for more tidings) Say on. CLEOPAS As we walked along, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto us in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. When we drew nigh unto the village, He made as though He would have gone further, but we con- strained Him saying, Abide with us for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. PETER And did He accede to thy request? LUKE Even so. He entered with us into the house and we did set the evening meal before Him (The disciple stops; he looks at Cleopas ) Tell it thou (he adds in a whisper.) CELOPAS And He took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it unto us and our eyes were opened GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 211 there is a long pause And we knew He was the Lord. PETER And what then? CLEOPAS Even in the act He vanished from our sight. I looked to Luke and he to me. We were alone. MARY MAGDALENE He is risen. LUKE Christ is risen, indeed! CLEOPAS (turning to his companion) Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us by the way? LUKE And while He opened to us the Scriptures ? CLEOPAS (addressing the others) And then we came hither with all speed to tell you of what we had seen. PETER (emphatically) Thou hast well done. The Master hath been 212 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. seen of Mary, of the other women, by me who am the least of us all, and by you and . . . He stops abruptly. Standing in the middle of the room is the fig- ure of THE MAN. They all rise to their feet and stand aghast. There is a tendency to avoid Him. No one presumes to speak. Their knees strike together. Their hearts stop beating. Only His Mother stretches out her hand to Him. Peter sinks to his knees and hides his face. The dimly illuminated room is full of irradiant light. JESUS Peace be unto you! They shrink farther away from Him and crowd one another back against the walls, terror evidently getting the mastery of them. JESUS Why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? He steps to them and ex- tends His hands. Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. The stigmata are plainly visible in His palms and in His feet as He thrusts them from beneath the robe of dazzling purity that He wears. GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 213 JESUS Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have. He turns to John. He lays His hand upon the shoulder of Mary, His mother. Mary Mag- dalene falls at His feet. The others, recovering their courage a little now press timidly closer to Him. Whispers run through the apartment. VOICES It is He! He is risen as He said! It is the Lord ! JESUS (as the murmurs die away) Have ye here any meat? James and Nathaniel turn to the table and reverently and humbly present Him with a piece of broiled fish and a morsel of honeycomb. THE MAN partakes of them while they watch in si- lence ' JESUS These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Me. 214 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. He quotes to them the words of the Sacred Books and they listen with bated breath until at last He resumes. Thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. Peace be unto you ! As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. As He speaks thus, He approaches more nearly the ten chosen who have unconsciously gathered together and now stand apart from the rest. JESUS (breathing upon them) Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them and who- soever sins ye retain, they are retained. As He speaks, He vanishes from their sight. JOHN (solemnly) The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father full of grace and truth. IV. THE CONFESSION OF THE DOUBTER. SCENE: The same upper chamber. Time: One week later. Those present are substantially as before. With them, however, is Thomas. PETER (expostulating) But I tell thee we have seen Him. JOHN (earnestly) He was here. JAMES (urgently) He breathed upon us and gave us power. NATHANIEL (pointing) He partook of our evening meal. MARY MAGDALENE (dreamily) I saw Him in the garden. He is risen. 216 GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. .CLEOPAS (nodding his head) He walked with us to Emmaus. LUKE We knew Him in the breaking of the bread. THOMAS (stubbornly) As I told ye before, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. There is a breath of air in the apartment, and although the door is tightly closed and barred, the company are conscious again that THE MAN is visibly in the midst of them. JESUS Peace be unto you ! The Apostles approach Him reverently and surround Him except Thomas, who stands amazed and staring. Jesus turns toward the doubter. The others at once separate to give Thomas access to the Lord. JESUS (exhibiting His palm) Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold GETHSEMANE AND AFTER. 217 My hands; reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side, and be not faithless but believing. THOMAS (falling upon his knees) My Lord and my God! JESUS Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. He vanishes. THOMAS (falling upon his face) My Lord and my God! n'' -7Q7