d; this is right royal!" When this was done according to the
command of the governor, the centurion said to the executioners, "Now,
up with the cross! Not carelessly, but lay hold firmly." Then two
hangmen, taking the cross by the arms, lifted it up so that its foot
fell into the hole prepared for it. But as the cross bearing the body
of Jesus was heavy, the third hangman placed his back under it near to
the feet of Jesus, saying, "Come, now, all together," and so helping
raised it on high. The fourth then filled in the hole at the foot
saying when he finished, "All right, the cross stands firm."

Then said the centurion, addressing the chief priests, "The execution
is accomplished."

"Quite admirably so," said Caiaphas with a radiant face. "Thanks and
applause from us all!" "Yea, thanks, and applause from us all," echoed
the Pharisees, looking up at the cross.

Caiaphas then declared, "This shall be a feast day forever."

And the Pharisees said, "Yes, for all time to come it shall be kept
every year with grateful jubilation."

"And now," said the aged Annas, "now gladly will I go down to my
fathers since I have lived to have the joy of seeing this wretch on the
cross." And as he gazed long as if exultingly drinking in the pleasure
of satisfied vengeance, he saw for the first time the writing on the
cross, but his old eyes could not decipher the words. Turning to
Caiaphas he said, "The superscription seems to be very short." Then
the Jews drew nearer to see what was written. The hangmen seated
themselves on the ground at the foot of the cross and looked up at
Jesus.

Then the rabbi, reading the words written by Pilate exclaimed, "That is
an insult, an outrage upon the people and the Sanhedrin!"

Caiaphas, hearing him, asked, "What is written?"

Annas, who had also looked at the inscription, said, "The rabbi is
right. The Sanhedrin cannot allow this to pass."

Then said the rabbi, "It is written, 'Jesus of Nazareth, king of the
Jews!'"

Caiaphas as if incredulous, approached the cross and reading it
himself, started back with indignation. "Verily," he cried, "that is
an affront upon the honor of our nation."

"Down with it at once," cried the priest.

But Caiaphas said, "We dare not touch it ourselves, but do you two,"
addressing the rabbi and Saras, "hasten at once to the governor to
demand from him, in the name of the Sanhedrin and the assembled people
that the superscription shall be altere