Peter. Under this ancient olive-tree, that spreads

Its broad centennial branches like a tent, Let us lie down and rest.

John. What are those torches, That glimmer on Brook Kedron there below us?

James. It is some marriage-feast; the joyful maidens

I am weary.

Christus (as before). If this cup may not pass away from me,

Except I drink of it, thy will be done.

(Returning to the Disciples.)

It is enough! Behold, the Son of Man Hath been betrayed into the hands of

me.

sinners!

going;

Rise up, let us be

Impossible!

Caiaphas.
There is no resurrection of the dead;
This Lazarus should be taken, and put to
death

As an impostor. If this Galilean
Would be content to stay in Galilee,
And preach in country towns, I should not
heed him.

But when he comes up to Jerusalem
Riding in triumph, as I am informed,
And drives the money-changers from the
Temple,

That is another matter.

Pharisees. If we thus Let him alone, all will believe on him, And then the Romans come and take away Our place and nation.

Caiaphas. Ye know nothing at all. Simon Ben Camith, my great predecessor, On whom be peace! would have dealt presently

With such a demagogue. I shall no less. The man must die. Do ye consider not It is expedient that one man should die, Not the whole nation perish? What is

That hath no more to do with Rome and
Cæsar

Than I have with the patriarch Abraham!
Finding this man to be a Galilean,
I sent him straight to Herod, and I hope
That is the last of it; but if it be not,
I still have power to pardon and release
him,

As is the custom at the Passover,

And so accommodate the matter smoothly,
Seeming to yield to them, yet saving him;
A prudent and sagacious policy
For Roman Governors in the Provinces.

Incomprehensible, fanatic people!
Ye have a God, who seemeth like your-
selves

Incomprehensible, dwelling apart, Majestic, cloud-encompassed, clothed in

darkness!

While we of Rome have everywhere around us

Our amiable divinities, that haunt The woodlands, and the waters, and frequent

Our households, with their sweet and gracious presence!

gether

And raised so great a clamour round my

doors,

wrangling,

Read my Ovidius on the Art of Love.

VII.

BARABBAS IN PRISON.

Barabbas (to his fellow-prisoners).
Barabbas is my name,

Barabbas, the Son of Shame,
Is the meaning I suppose;
I'm no better than the best,
And whether worse than the rest
Of my fellow-men, who knows?
I was once, to say it in brief,
A highwayman, a robber chief,
In the open light of day.

EE

So much I am free to confess; But all men, more or less,

Are robbers in their way.

From my cavern in the crags,
From my lair of leaves and flags,
I could see, like ants, below,
The camels with their load
Of merchandise, on the road
That leadeth to Jericho.

And I struck them unaware,
As an eagle from the air

Drops down upon bird or beast; And I had my heart's desire

Of the merchants of Sidon and Tyre, And Damascus and the East.

But it is not for that I fear;
It is not for that I am here
In these iron fetters bound;
Sedition! that is the word
That Pontius Pilate heard,

And he liketh not the sound.

What, think ye, would he care
For a Jew slain here or there,

Or a plundered caravan ?
But Cæsar!-ah, that is a crime,
To the uttermost end of time

Shall not be forgiven to man. Therefore was Herod wroth With Matthias Margaloth,

And burned him for a show! Therefore his wrath did smite Judas the Gaulonite,

And his followers, as ye know.

For that cause, and no more,
Am I here, as I said before;

For one unlucky night,
Jucundus, the captain of horse,
Was upon us with all his force,

And I was caught in the fight.

I might have fled with the rest, But my dagger was in the breast

Of a Roman equerry; As we rolled there in the street, They bound me, hands and feet; And this is the end of me.

Who cares for death? Not I!
A thousand times I would die,
Rather than suffer wrong!
Already those women of mine
Are mixing the myrrh and the wine;
I shall not be with you long.

VIII.

ECCE HOMO.

Pilate (on the Tessellated Pavement in front of his Palace). Ye have brought unto me this man, as one Who doth pervert the people; and behold! I have examined him, and found no fault Touching the things whereof ye do accuse him.

No, nor yet Herod : for I sent you to him, And nothing worthy of death he findeth in him.

Ye have a custom at the Passover, That one condemned to death shall be released.

Whom will ye, then, that I release to you?

Jesus Barabbas, called the Son of Shame, Or Jesus, Son of Joseph, called the Christ?

Pilate.

The People (shouting). Not this man, but Barabbas ! What then will ye That I should do with him that is called Christ?

The People. Crucify him!

Pilate. Why, what evil hath he done? Lo, I have found no cause of death in him; I will chastise him, and then let him go. The People (more vehemently). Crucify him! crucify him!

A Messenger (to Pilate). Thy wife sends This message to thee: Have thou nought to do

With that just man; for I this day in

dreams

Have suffered many things because of him.
Pilate (aside). The Gods speak to us in
our dreams! I tremble
At what I have to do! O Claudia.