human
Now my fearful foreboding has become a terrible certainty. Caiaphas has sentenced the Master to death, and the council has concurred in his sentence. All is over. There is no hope, no way of escape. Had the Master wished to save himself he would have made them feel his might a second time in the garden. As he did not do it then, he will now do so no more. What can I do for him, I, a miserable wretch who have delivered him into their hands? They shall have the money back, that blood money. They must give me my Master back again. I will go at once and make the demand. But, oh, will he be saved by that? Oh, vain, foolish hope. They will mock me, I know it. O cursed synagogue, thou hast tempted me through thy messengers, thou hast hidden from me thy bloody designs until thou hadst him in thy clutches. I will torture thee with bitter reproaches, ye unjust judges. I will have nothing to do with your devilish decision. I will have no share in the blood of this innocent. Oh, what tortures, what pains of hell, tear my inmost soul!
gpt
I thought, fathers, that I could not wait till the morning to send the enemy of the synagogue to death.
human
I could not get a moment's rest for eagerness to hear the sentence pronounced.
gpt
It is pronounced. He shall and must die.
human
I did not wish to trouble all the members of the Sanhedrin to come hither in the night time. But there was present the necessary number of judges to pronounce as the law prescribes. All as with one mouth declared the accused worthy of death, for all had heard with their own ears how this man blasphemed God in the most terrible way, and was impious enough to call himself the Son of God.
gpt
Yea, we bear witness to it. We have ourselves heard the impious blasphemy from his lips.
human
Then, said Caiaphas,
gpt
I will have the criminal brought before you once more, so that you may be convinced of his being worthy of death. Then may the whole council pronounce the just sentence.
human
Is it true? Have you condemned my Master to death?
gpt
Why dost thou force thyself uncalled for in this assembly? Be off. We will call thee if we have need of thee.
human
I must know it, he said.
gpt
Have you condemned him?
human
He must die.
gpt
Woe, woe! said Judas.
human
I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood. Oh, you blood-thirsty judges, to condemn the innocent blood.
gpt
Peace, peace, Judas,
human
There will never, never more be peace for me, said Judas, bitterly,
gpt
What has driven you crazy? Speak, but speak with reverence--thou standest before the Sanhedrin,
human
You are determined to deliver him up to death; him who is free from all guilt. You must not do it. I have a protest to make against it. You have made me a traitor. Your accursed pieces of silver!
gpt
Thou didst propose it thyself and close the bargain.
human
Recollect thyself, Judas, thou hast received what thou didst desire; and if thou behavest thyself decently thou canst still----
gpt
I will have nothing more. I tear up your shameful bargain. Let the innocent go.
human
Be off, madman,
gpt
I demand the release of the innocent. My hands shall be free from his blood.
human
What, said the rabbi,
gpt
He must die.
human
Die? Then I am a traitor. I have given him up to death! He sank down like a man crushed by a blow, and then springing up and breaking out into wild passion, he shouted aloud:
gpt
May ten thousand devils from hell tear me in pieces! Let them grind me to powder! Here, ye bloodhounds, take your accursed blood money!
human
Why didst thou let thyself be made the tool for a transaction which thou didst not weigh beforehand?
gpt
Yes, cried several,
human
May my soul be damned, my body burnt asunder, and ye--
gpt
Silence and out from here,
human
And you, shouted Judas, above them all,
gpt
What a fearful man!
human
I had some foreboding of this,
gpt
It is his own fault,
human
Let him expiate that fault himself. He has betrayed his friend, we pursue our enemy. I remain steadfast by my determination, and if anyone here should be of another opinion, let him stand up.
gpt
No, cried they all with one voice,
human
What shall we do with this money? It is blood money; it can no longer be put into the treasury of God.
gpt
It might be used for some useful purpose under the sanction of the high council.
human
A burying place for strangers is much wanted. With this money a field may be purchased for that purpose.
gpt
Is there such a one in the market?
human
Yes, said a priest,
gpt
Let Saras conclude the purchase,
human
But now we will no longer delay to pronounce the capital sentence upon the prisoner,
gpt
I will have him brought in at once.
human
I shall see, said Annas,