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PHARISEES. WHAT do we? Clearly something must we do, | |
| For this man worketh many miracles. | |
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CAIAPHAS. I am informed that he is a mechanic; | |
| A carpenter’s son; a Galilean peasant, | |
| Keeping disreputable company. | 5 |
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PHARISEES. The people say that here in Bethany | |
| He hath raised up a certain Lazarus, | |
Who had been dead three days.
CAIAPHAS. Impossible! | |
| There is no resurrection of the dead; | |
| This Lazarus should be taken, and put to death | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| 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. | 20 |
| 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, | 25 |
| Not the whole nation perish? What is death? | |
| It differeth from sleep but in duration. | |
| We sleep and wake again; an hour or two | |
| Later or earlier, and it matters not, | |
| And if we never wake it matters not; | 30 |
| When we are in our graves we are at peace, | |
| Nothing can wake us or disturb us more. | |
There is no resurrection.
PHARISEES, aside. O most faithful | |
| Disciple of Hircanus Maccabæus, | |
| Will nothing but complete annihilation | 35 |
Comfort and satisfy thee?
CAIAPHAS. While ye are talking | |
| And plotting, and contriving how to take him, | |
| Fearing the people, and so doing naught, | |
| I, who fear not the people, have been acting; | |
| Have taken this Prophet, this young Nazarene, | 40 |
| Who by Beelzebub the Prince of devils | |
| Casteth out devils, and doth raise the dead, | |
| That might as well be dead, and left in peace. | |
| Annas my father-in-law hath sent him hither. | |
| I hear the guard. Behold your Galilean! HRISTUS is brought in bound. | 45 |
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SERVANT, in the vestibule. Why art thou up so late, my pretty damsel? | |
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DAMSEL. Why art thou up so early, pretty man? | |
| It is not cock-crow yet, and art thou stirring? | |
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SERVANT. What brings thee here?
DAMSEL. What brings the rest of you? | |
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SERVANT. Come here and warm thy hands.
DAMSEL to PETER. Art thou not also | 50 |
One of this man’s disciples?
PETER. I am not. | |
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DAMSEL. Now surely thou art also one of them; | |
| Thou art a Galilean, and thy speech | |
Bewrayeth thee.
PETER. Woman, I know him not! | |
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CAIAPHAS to CHRISTUS, in the Hall. Who art thou? Tell us plainly of thyself | 55 |
| And of thy doctrines, and of thy disciples. | |
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CHRISTUS. Lo, I have spoken openly to the world, | |
| I have taught ever in the Synagogue, | |
| And in the Temple, where the Jews resort; | |
| In secret have said nothing. Wherefore then | 60 |
| Askest thou me of this? Ask them that heard me | |
| What I have said to them. Behold, they know | |
What I have said!
OFFICER, striking him. What, fellow! answerest thou | |
The High-Priest so?
CHRISTUS. If I have spoken evil, | |
| Bear witness of the evil; but if well, | 65 |
Why smitest thou me?
CAIAPHAS. Where are the witnesses? | |
Let them say what they know.
THE TWO FALSE WITNESSES. We heard him say: | |
| I will destroy this Temple made with hands, | |
| And will within three days build up another | |
Made without hands.
SCRIBES and PHARISEES. He is o’erwhelmed with shame | 70 |
And cannot answer!
CAIAPHAS. Dost thou answer nothing? | |
| What is this thing they witness here against thee? | |
| |
SCRIBES and PHARISEES. He holds his peace.
CAIAPHAS. Tell us, art thou the Christ? | |
| I do adjure thee by the living God, | |
Tell us, art thou indeed the Christ?
CHRISTUS. I am. | 75 |
| Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man | |
| Sit on the right hand of the power of God, | |
And come in clouds of heaven!
CAIAPHAS, rending his clothes. It is enough. | |
| He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need | |
| Have we of witnesses? Now ye have heard | 80 |
| His blasphemy. What think ye? Is he guilty? | |
| |
SCRIBES and PHARISEES. Guilty of death!
KINSMAN OF MALCHUS to PETER, in the vestibule. Surely I know thy face, | |
| Did I not see thee in the garden with him? | |
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PETER. How couldst thou see me? I swear unto thee | |
| I do not know this man of whom ye speak! The cock crows. | 85 |
| Hark! the cock crows! That sorrowful, pale face | |
| Seeks for me in the crowd, and looks at me, | |
| As if He would remind me of those words: | |
| Ere the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice! Goes out weeping. CHRISTUS is blindfolded and buffeted. | |
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AN OFFICER, striking him with his palm. Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, thou Prophet! | 90 |
Who is it smote thee?
CAIAPHAS. Lead him unto Pilate! | |
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