Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/274

262 in the prophets and the law threw back their memories till they remembered where indeed those words were written, and the circumstance that had inspired the prophet.

And while they all stood silent, the Nazarene passed by on His lowly steed, the embodiment of appealing meekness and submission, yet with a majesty that seemed to enfold in one the Past, the Present, and Eternity; and, as He passed, some strange thrill hushed the crowd, which prostrated itself to the earth in silent ecstasy of adoration. And, almost as if forced to the ground by some unseen compelling power, Pilate and the little group of Pharisees fell down upon their knees. Caiaphas alone remained erect, with lowering glance and folded hands, looking over the heads of that infatuated little gathering of great men, following with steely eyes, that shone with hellish light, the image of the Messiah, who passed by slowly, the colt's hoofs pattering on the cobble stones with short, sharp thuds.

His last chance had come and gone. The memory of his own prophecy had sought to probe his heart, to wrench away the thick coating of pride and unbelief in which it was enveloped. The Messiah had passed by, and Caiaphas had rejected Him; and Satan, scared from the streets of Jerusalem, had yet found shelter in one soul.

Still the populace cried out: "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel."

And the Pharisees who had met that morning to sign the condemnation of the Nazarene and issue an order for Lazarus's capture, rose from their knees