For Barabbas, the murderer,
Pardon asking, and liberty.

Oh, how otherwise once 'fore the Egyptian folk
Joseph! Around him shouts echoed, and songs of joy
As the Savior of Egypt
He was solemnly shown to them.

But round the world's deliverer rages a nation in wrath,
Blinded, maddened with hate, no man among them will rest
Till the judge all unwilling
Says, "Then take ye and crucify him."

* * * * * *

Ah, see the king that's crowned in scorn,
What monarch such a crown has worn
Or scepter borne, and he so great?
Ye see him decked with purple shreds,
They laugh and jeer and shake their heads,
Is this the royal robe of state?
Ah! what a man!
Where is the trace of deity?
Ah! what a man--
The sport of the rude hangman he.

Caiaphas and Annas and the chief priests and rulers, and the council
and the traders of the temple, and the witnesses accompanied the
soldiers, who once more led Jesus to Pilate's house. Then said
Caiaphas, "Now Pilate must be challenged more imperiously; and if he
does not do according to our will then shall the authority of Caesar
extort the sentence from him."

"Shall I now," said Annas, "in my gray old age see the synagogue
overthrown? No! with stammering tongue I will cry for the blood and
death of this criminal, and then descend to the bosom of my fathers,
when I have seen this evil-doer die upon the cross."

"We would sooner," cried the rabbi, speaking with great animation, "be
buried in the ruins of the temple than to go back upon our resolution.
We shall never leave off until he is dead."

Then proclaimed Caiaphas, "Whosoever goes back on this decision, let
him be cast out of the synagogue."

And Annas added, "Let the cross of the fathers fall upon him."

Then said Caiaphas, "Time presses, the day is advancing; now we must
employ all the means at our disposal in order to carry out our will
before the feast." At this time the Jews and the soldiers leading
Jesus stood once more before the house of Pilate.

Pilate, attended by his servants, soon appeared on the balcony.

"We bring the prisoner once more before thee and earnestly desire his
death," said Caiaphas.

All the priests cried aloud, "We insist upon it, he must die."

Then said Pilate, "Ye brought me this man as an agitator and see, I
have heard your complaints, and I have myself examined him, and have
not