A Roman Lawyer in Jerusalem | Page 4

like the sun, swift like the sword, The jagged lightning flashes from the cloud, Shall he be manifest--the living God-- And prostrate all shall on the earth adore!'
"Such was his thought when at the passover The Lord with his disciples met and supped: And Christus saw the trouble in his mind, And said 'Behold, among you here is one That shall betray me--he to whom I give This sop,' and he the sop to Judas gave; And added--'That thou doest, quickly do;' And Judas left him, hearing these last words-- 'Now shall the Son of man be glorified.'
"Ah yes! his master had divined his thought-- His master should be glorified through him.
"Straight unto me and the high priests he came, Filled with this hope, and said, 'Behold me here, Judas, a follower of Christus! Come! I will point out my master whom you seek!' And out at once they sent me with my band; And as we went, I said, rebuking him, 'How, Judas, is it you who thus betray The Lord and master whom you love, to death?' And, smiling, then he answered, 'Fear you not Do you your duty; take no heed of me.' 'Is not this vile?' I said; 'I had not deemed Such baseness in you.' 'Though it seems so now,' Still smiling he replied, 'wait till the end.' Then turning round as to himself he said, 'Now comes the hour that I have prayed to see-- The hour of joy to all who know the truth.'
"'Is this man mad?' I thought, and looked at him; And, in the darkness creeping swiftly on, His face was glowing, almost shone with light; And rapt as if in visionary thought He walked beside me, gazing at the sky.
"Passing at last beyond the Cedron brook We reached a garden on whose open gate Dark vines were loosely swinging. Here we paused And lifted up our torches, and beheld Against the blank white wall a shadowy group, There waiting motionless, without a word; A moment, and with rapid, nervous step Judas alone advanced, and, as he reached The tallest figure lifted quick his head; And crying, 'Master! Master!' kissed his cheek. We, knowing it was Christus, forward pressed. Malchus was at my side, when suddenly A sword flashed out from one among them there, And sheared his ear. At once our swords flashed out, But Christus, lifting up his hand, said, 'Peace, Sheathe thy sword, Peter--I must drink the cup.' And I cried also, 'Peace, and sheathe your swords,' Then on his arm I placed my hand, and said, 'In the law's name.' He nothing said, but reached His arm out, and we bound his hands with cords. This done I turned, but all the rest had fled, And he alone was left to meet his fate.
"My men I ordered then to take and bear Their prisoner to the city; and at once They moved away, I, seeing not our guide, Cried, 'Judas!' but no answer: then a groan So sad and deep it startled me. I turned, And there against the wall, with ghastly face, And eyeballs starting in a frenzied glare, As in a fit, lay Judas; his weak arms Hung lifeless down, his mouth half open twitched, His hands were clutched and clinched into his robes, And now and then his breast heaved with a gasp. Frightened I dashed some water in his face, Spoke to him, lifted him, and rubbed his hands. At last the sense came back into his eyes, Then with a sudden spasm fled again, And to the ground he dropped. I searched him o'er, Fearing some mortal wound, yet none I found. Then with a gasp again the life returned, And stayed, but still with strong convulsion twitched. 'Speak, Judas! Speak!' I cried. What does this mean? No answer! 'Speak, man!' Then at last he groaned. 'Go, leave me, leave me, Lysias. Oh, my God! What have I done? Oh, Christus! Master, Lord. Forgive me, oh, forgive me!' Then a cry Of agony that pierced me to the heart, As groveling on the ground he turned away And hid his face, and shuddered in his robes. Was this the man whose face an hour ago Shone with a joy so strange? What means it all? Is this a sudden madness? 'Speak!' I cried. 'What means this, Judas? Be a man and speak?' Yet there he lay, and neither moved nor spoke. I thought that he had fainted, till at last, Sudden he turned, grasped my arm, and cried, 'Say, Lysias, is this true, or am I mad?' 'What true?' I said. 'True that you seized the Lord! You could not seize him--he is God the Lord! I thought I saw you seize him. Yet I know That was impossible, for he is