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MANAHEM, THE ESSENIAN. THREE crosses in this noonday night uplifted, | |
| Three human figures that in mortal pain | |
| Gleam white against the supernatural darkness; | |
| Two thieves, that writhe in torture, and between them | |
| The Suffering Messiah, the Son of Joseph, | 5 |
| Ay, the Messiah Triumphant, Son of David! | |
| A crown of thorns on that dishonored head! | |
| Those hands that healed the sick now pierced with nails, | |
| Those feet that wandered homeless through the world | |
| Now crossed and bleeding, and at rest forever! | 10 |
| And the three faithful Maries, over-whelmed | |
| By this great sorrow, kneeling, praying, weeping! | |
| O Joseph Caiaphas, thou great High-Priest, | |
| How wilt thou answer for this deed of blood? | |
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SCRIBES and ELDERS. Thou that destroyest the Temple, and dost build it | 15 |
| In three days, save thyself; and if thou be | |
| The Son of God, come down now from the cross. | |
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CHIEF PRIESTS. Others he saved, himself he cannot save! | |
| Let Christ the King of Israel descend | |
That we may see and believe!
SCRIBES and ELDERS. In God he trusted; | 20 |
| Let Him deliver him, if He will have him, | |
And we will then believe.
CHRISTUS. Father! forgive them; | |
They know not what they do.
THE IMPENITENT THIEF. If thou be Christ, | |
Oh save thyself and us!
THE PENITENT THIEF. Remember me, | |
| Lord, when thou comest into thine own kingdom. | 25 |
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CHRISTUS. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. | |
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MANAHEM. Golgotha! Golgotha! Oh the pain and darkness! | |
| Oh the uplifted cross, that shall forever | |
| Shine through the darkness, and shall conquer pain | |
| By the triumphant memory of this hour! | 30 |
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SIMON MAGUS. O Nazarene! I find thee here at last! | |
| Thou art no more a phantom unto me! | |
| This is the end of one who called himself | |
| The Son of God! Such is the fate of those | |
| Who preach new doctrines, ’T is not what he did, | 35 |
| But what he said, hath brought him unto this. | |
| I will speak evil of no dignitaries. | |
| This is my hour of triumph, Nazarene! | |
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THE YOUNG RULER. This is the end of him who said to me: | |
| Sell that thou hast, and give unto the poor! | 40 |
| This is the treasure in heaven he promised me! | |
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CHRISTUS. Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani! | |
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A SOLDIER, preparing the hyssop. He calleth for Elias!
ANOTHER. Nay, let be! | |
| See if Elias now will come to save him! | |
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CHRISTUS. I thirst.
A SOLDIER. Give him the wormwood!
CHRISTUS, with a loud cry, bowing his head. It is finished! | 45 |
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