and anger
against our Lord.
Caiphas then arose, and, urged on by Satan, took up the end of his
mantle, pierced it with his knife, and rent it from one end to the
other, exclaiming at the same time, in a loud voice, 'He hath blasphemed,
what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the
blasphemy: what think you?' All who were then present arose, and
exclaimed with astounding malignancy, 'He is guilty of death!'
During the whole of this frightful scene, the devils were in the
most tremendous state of excitement; they appeared to have complete
possession not only of the enemies of Jesus, but likewise of their
partisans and cowardly followers. The powers of darkness seemed to me
to proclaim a triumph over the light, and the few among the spectators
whose hearts still retained a glimmering of light were filled with such
consternation that, covering their heads, they instantly departed. The
witnesses who belonged to the upper classes were less hardened than the
others; their consciences were racked with remorse, and they followed
the example given by the persons mentioned above, and left the room as
quickly as possible, while the rest crowded round the fire in the
vestibule, and ate and drank after receiving full pay for their
services. The High Priest then addressed the archers, and said, 'I
deliver this king up into your hands; render the blasphemer the honours
which are his due.' After these words he retired with the members of his
Council into the round room behind the tribunal, which could not be
seen from the vestibule.
In the midst of the bitter affliction which inundated the heart of
John, his thoughts were with the Mother of Jesus; he feared that the
dreadful news of the condemnation of her Son might be communicated to
her suddenly, or that perhaps some enemy might give the information in
a heartless manner. He therefore looked at Jesus, and saying in a low
voice, 'Lord, thou knowest why I leave thee,' went away quickly to seek the
Blessed Virgin, as if he had been sent by Jesus himself. Peter was
quite overcome between anxiety and sorrow, which, joined to fatigue,
made him chilly; therefore, as the morning was cold, he went up to the
fire where many of the common people were warming themselves. He did
his best to hide his grief in their presence, as he could not make up
his mind to go home and leave his beloved Master.
CHAPTER IX.
The Insults received by Jesus in the Court of Ca
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