Stanzas 46–60
“So, when poor Judas, one whom I had trusted,
One who had shared with me my bread and home,
One whose weak brain for paltry silver lusted,
Sold me to pagan Rome,
“I pitied him, and pardoned him, and waited,
Knowing I would receive celestial aid;
And with strong faith intact and unabated
Unto the Unknown prayed.
“But, shame! oh shame! my enemies and foemen
Dragged me from sweet Gethsemane, and bound,
Before one Pontius Pilate, judge and Roman,
I stood, and no word found!
“Certain that he would haughtily and proudly
Cry: ‘Nazarene, this is my just decree:
Get thee now forth, oh holy man! for loudly
My voice proclaims thee free!’
“But he, a timorous hireling, would not save me,
And to the rabble clamoring at his side
He cried, ‘I give Barrabas,’ and he gave me
There to be crucified!
“Then odious doubt o'erwhelmed me swift and horrid.
Was I abandoned in this dire distress?
The sweats of death oozed chill upon my forehead,
I was all wretchedness.
“For how could he, this God superb and powerful,
Take life like mine, when he had said to me:
‘More great than Kings thou shalt be on the flowerful
Green slopes of Galilee!’
“No, no! my righteous hopes were not prostrated;
Surely, I thought, I can not perish here!
Enoch, Elijah were to Heaven translated,
Why should I foster fear?
“So, blind with doubt and hideous dread repulsive,
I wept not when the crowds that wished my loss
Dragged me forth thorn-crowned, palpitant, convulsive,
To that world-worshiped cross!
“And though the heavy, huge nails rent and tore me,
Although mine eyes in agony grew dim,
I saw the martyr's promise shine before me,
And still believed in Him!
“And there beside me in the gloom, repenting,
A thief called loudly on my worthless name.
I pardoned him, for the last time relenting,
Waited, but no help came.
“Oh man, oh man! I then called out in anguish:
‘God, why forsake me? Now recall Thy words!
“Oh Lama Lama Sabachthani, I languish!”
Hear me!’ But no one stirred!
“Ah! then I knew by lies he was degraded,
And on my cheeks there rose the red of shame;
Disgust resistlessly my mind pervaded,
Like a quick leaping flame!
“And from my lips, like some swift loosened torrent,
A withering curse to Heaven, in my despair,
Unheard of man, rang out supreme, abhorrent,
Upon the deathless air!
“I now can scorn all hatred to dissemble,
But I say to thee, mortal that thou art,
Its utter anguish would have made God tremble,
Had he possessed a heart!
One who had shared with me my bread and home,
One whose weak brain for paltry silver lusted,
Sold me to pagan Rome,
“I pitied him, and pardoned him, and waited,
Knowing I would receive celestial aid;
And with strong faith intact and unabated
Unto the Unknown prayed.
“But, shame! oh shame! my enemies and foemen
Dragged me from sweet Gethsemane, and bound,
Before one Pontius Pilate, judge and Roman,
I stood, and no word found!
“Certain that he would haughtily and proudly
Cry: ‘Nazarene, this is my just decree:
Get thee now forth, oh holy man! for loudly
My voice proclaims thee free!’
“But he, a timorous hireling, would not save me,
And to the rabble clamoring at his side
He cried, ‘I give Barrabas,’ and he gave me
There to be crucified!
“Then odious doubt o'erwhelmed me swift and horrid.
Was I abandoned in this dire distress?
The sweats of death oozed chill upon my forehead,
I was all wretchedness.
“For how could he, this God superb and powerful,
Take life like mine, when he had said to me:
‘More great than Kings thou shalt be on the flowerful
Green slopes of Galilee!’
“No, no! my righteous hopes were not prostrated;
Surely, I thought, I can not perish here!
Enoch, Elijah were to Heaven translated,
Why should I foster fear?
“So, blind with doubt and hideous dread repulsive,
I wept not when the crowds that wished my loss
Dragged me forth thorn-crowned, palpitant, convulsive,
To that world-worshiped cross!
“And though the heavy, huge nails rent and tore me,
Although mine eyes in agony grew dim,
I saw the martyr's promise shine before me,
And still believed in Him!
“And there beside me in the gloom, repenting,
A thief called loudly on my worthless name.
I pardoned him, for the last time relenting,
Waited, but no help came.
“Oh man, oh man! I then called out in anguish:
‘God, why forsake me? Now recall Thy words!
“Oh Lama Lama Sabachthani, I languish!”
Hear me!’ But no one stirred!
“Ah! then I knew by lies he was degraded,
And on my cheeks there rose the red of shame;
Disgust resistlessly my mind pervaded,
Like a quick leaping flame!
“And from my lips, like some swift loosened torrent,
A withering curse to Heaven, in my despair,
Unheard of man, rang out supreme, abhorrent,
Upon the deathless air!
“I now can scorn all hatred to dissemble,
But I say to thee, mortal that thou art,
Its utter anguish would have made God tremble,
Had he possessed a heart!
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