human
Stand there, said Selpha,
gpt
Then he added,
human
Venerable fathers, here we bring the prisoner.
gpt
Lead him into the middle.
human
Step forward.
gpt
Jesus of Nazareth, dost thou stand by the words which thou hast pronounced this night before thy judges?
human
If thou be the Christ, tell us!
gpt
If I tell you ye will not believe; if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. But hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Almighty God. A shudder ran through the Sanhedrin, and all cried excitedly,
human
Art thou the Son of God?
gpt
Ye say it and so I am.
human
It is enough; what need have we of any further witnesses?
gpt
We have now heard it out of his own mouth.
human
Fathers of the people of Israel, it is now your duty to come to a final decision as to the guilt and punishment of this man.
gpt
He is guilty of blasphemy. He hath deserved death.
human
We will therefore lead him before the judgment seat of Pilate.
gpt
Yes, away with him. Let him die.
human
Pilate, said Caiaphas,
gpt
Could some one be sent from the council in order to give him timely information?
human
Thou thyself, said Caiaphas,
gpt
This day, then, will save the religion of our fathers, and exalt the honor of the synagogue, so that the echo of our fame shall reach our latest descendants.
human
Men will speak of us centuries hence! and Caiaphas resumed,
gpt
Lead him away; we follow.
human
Down with the Galilean!
gpt
At last we breathe more freely again; we have been insulted long enough.
human
It was indeed high time; his following was becoming very large.
gpt
Now, said the rabbi,
human
How shall we bring our message to Pilate? We dare not enter the house of the Gentile today, as in that case we should become unclean and could not eat the Passover?
gpt
We will send a message through one of his own people,
human
Surely, there is some one there? Yes, there is some one coming,
gpt
Welcome, rabbi, will you not come in?
human
The precepts of the law will not allow us so to do today,
gpt
Is that so? Can I carry your message?
human
The high priest sends us to bring a petition to the viceroy of Caesar to ask if he will allow the council to appear before him and to bring before him a malefactor for the confirmation of his sentence.
gpt
I will deliver the message at once to my lord; wait here in the meantime,
human
It is very sad, said Dariabbas,
gpt
Take courage, said the rabbi,
human
Oh, may I live to see the day which will bring freedom to the children of Israel!
gpt
The governor greets you. You are to inform the high priest that Pilate is ready to receive the petition of the Sanhedrin.
human
Accept our thanks for thy kindness, said the rabbi.
gpt
Now let us hasten to report to the high priest the result of our errand.
human
Pilate will surely agree to the demand of the council.
gpt
He must, said the rabbi,
human
And besides, said Dariabbas,
gpt
Oh, where, where can I go to hide my shame, to escape the torments of conscience? No forest is dark enough! No rocky cavern deep enough! O, earth, open and swallow me up! I can no longer exist. O, my dear Master! Him, best of all men, have I sold, giving him up to ill treatment, to a most painful death of torture. I, detestable betrayer--oh! where is there another man on whom such guilt of blood doth rest? Alas! nevermore can I appear before the face of the brethren. An outcast, hated and abhorred everywhere--branded as a traitor by those who led me astray--I wander about alone with this burning fire in my heart. There is still one left. Oh! might I look on the Master's face once more, I would cling to him as my only anchor. But he lies in prison, has perhaps been already slain by the rage of his enemies, although by my guilt, by my fault. I am the abhorred one who has brought him to prison and to death. Woe to me, the scum of men! There is no hope for me, my crimes can be expiated by no penance. For he is dead--and I, I am his murderer! Thrice unhappy hour in which my mother gave me to the world! Must I still drag on this life of agony and bear these tortures about with me?--as one pest stricken, flee from men, and be despised and shunned by all the world? No! I can bear it no longer! Not one step further! Here, O life accursed, here will I end thee! On these branches let the most disastrous fruit hang! He untwined his girdle and twined it about his neck.
human
Ha, ha! come, thou serpent, entwine my neck and strangle the betrayer!