Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/343

Rh heard Him murmur, 'Abba, Father!' Then there was silence, and methought, 'Surely one after another will creep away, for none can look upon that face and still condemn Him'; and methinks, forsooth, they would have let Him go, albeit I know that He needs must die. But Caiaphas, when he did see that all the multitude did waver, did send his false accusers to stand before the Governor; and one said, 'We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ and King.' But, when Pilate heard this, which he well knew was false, he said again to the chief priests and to the people, 'People of Israel and all nations, I find no fault in this Man.' Then Caiaphas grew yet more fierce, and, fearing lest our Master should escape him, he sent another false accuser to say, 'He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. For He is born a Galilean.' And this he said because he knew that, by the law, a Galilean must needs go before Herod, and Herod hateth Pontius Pilate. At this, Pontius Pilate said with a loud voice, 'I wash my hands of this Galilean; take ye Him before Herod.' Then they led Him away, and methought He would have fainted in the crowd that pressed so sore, so weary did He look."

"My Lord, my Lord," the Magdalene murmured.

But Lazarus went on: "And Pilate with a loud voice cried out, 'I am glad that Herod is in Jerusalem at this time, for I see no fault in Him. I cannot condemn Him by the Roman law.' And they do say that for many years hath Herod wished