weeping bitterly and suffering anguish of soul. "Oh, my
Master," he cried, "how deeply have I fallen! Oh, woe unto me, weak
and wretched man! I have three times denied my dearest friend and
teacher. I cannot understand how I could so forget myself. A curse
upon my shameful faithlessness! How my heart will repent of it--this
contemptible cowardice. My dearest Lord, hast thou still grace for
me--grace for a faithless, one--oh! send it me! This once more hear
the voice of my repentant heart. Alas! the sin is committed. I cannot
undo it, but ever, ever, will I weep for it and repent of it--and now
nevermore will I leave thee! Oh, thou most loving one! Thou wilt
surely not cast me off! Thou wilt not despise my bitter, repentance.
No! the gentle pitying look which thou didst cast upon thy deeply
fallen disciple promises it--thou wilt forgive me. I have this hope
from thee, best of teachers, and the whole love of my heart shall from
this moment be given to thee. I will cling closely to thee and
nothing, nothing shall ever be able to separate thee from me again!"

And with a face beaming with hope of forgiveness, even for his
threefold denial, he went away.

Hardly had he gone, when John entered at the other end of the street,
asking anxiously, looking on either side, "Where, then, can Peter have
gone? In vain my eyes have sought him in the crowd. Surely nothing
evil can have befallen him. Perhaps I still may meet him upon the
road. I will now go to Bethany. Dearest mother, if I bring thee the
tidings of these terrible things which have happened--the innocent one
ill-treated and condemned by sinners, what wilt thy heart feel? O,
Judas, Judas, what hast thou done?"

Now it came to pass that the soldiers having taken Jesus into the
guardroom of Caiaphas' palace, mocked him and despitefully used him
until it was day. They seated him on a stool with a bandage over his
eyes, and surrounded him mockingly, saying, "Is not this throne too
mean for thee, great king? Hail to thee, thou new-born sovereign! But
sit more firmly," said one, seizing Jesus from behind and pressing him
down on his chair. "Thou mightest otherwise fall down. Thou art
verily also a prophet. So say, O great Elias, say who it is who has
struck thee," and with that he dealt Jesus a blow on the face.

Others came in and also struck him, saying, "Was it I?" but Jesus
answered nothing.

Then one of the band went up to him and shouted, "H