Bathed in that agonizing Sweat, stands He
Once more before His followers: 'Rise,' saith He,
'Your sleep is past. Behold the enemy -
Behold the traitor. Now arise and be
Prepared, if so ye will, to stand by Me.'
The Vision changes. Lo, she sees how He
Receives the kiss: 'tis Judas surely; see,
Around Him gather soldiers. Verily,
His Hands they seek to touch, when suddenly,
Prostrate they fall - His Power Divine shows He.
'Whom seek ye?' saith the Master: 'I am He,
Jesus of Nazareth: then take ye Me.
Plainly I tell ye; Jesus, I am He.
Why halt ye trembling? What doth hinder ye? '
Thus speak those well known accents, fearlessly.
The Vision changes. All alone is He
Amongst those soldiers rude: for, cowardly,
Peter and John and James have fled: ah see,
They could not brook the danger, wherefore He
Had bid them watch and pray unceasingly.
The Vision changes. Now on Sion, see,
Before the Court of Caiaphas, stands He.
'Art Thou the Very Son of God?' - cries he,
High Priest in Council - 'I adjure Thee,
Swear by the Living God, if Thou be He.'
Unmoved by vehemence, all tranquilly,
Meekly replieth Jesus: 'I am He.
Cometh the day when, throned in clouds, shall ye
The Son of Man behold, triumphantly
Clothed in the Strength of God's great Majesty.'
Riseth the Prelate fiercely. 'Hearken ye.
Hath He not spoken utter blasphemy?
Hath He not made Him Son of God, to be
Messias called? What think ye? answer me.'
Reply the Elders: 'Worthy of death is He.'
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote