Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/326

 thou didst  receive  a cruel  stroke  on  thy  face,  most unjustly given  thee  by  a vile  wretch  and  slave.

6. O good  and  gracious  Jesus! who wast  led,  fast bound like  a notorious  malefactor,  from  Annas  to  the house of  Caiphas  the  high  priest,  where  the  Jews most unjustly  accused  thee,  and  with  barbarous insolence spat  upon  thy  meek  and  amiable  face, buffeting thy  cheeks  and  blindfolding  thine  eyes, scornfully mocking,  and  maliciously  affronting  thee with injuries  all  that  night.

7. O good  and  gracious  Jesus! who in  the  morning wast  brought  to  the  presence  of  Pilate,  and  with a most sweet  and  humble  countenance,  casting  thine eyes down,  stoodst  before  him  in  the  judgment-hall; and when  thou  wast  most  falsely  calumniated  by  the Jews, and  many  insults  and  provocations  were  given thee, thou  meekly  heldest  thy  peace,  and  patiently sufferedst their  unjust  proceedings.

8. O good  and  gracious  Jesus! who wast  sent  from Pilate to  Herod; he  out  of  vain  curiosity  coveting  to see  some  miracle  at  thy  hand,  demanded  many  things of thee,  and  the  Jews  continuing  their  perverseness against thee; but  to  all  these  thy  meekness  replied not a word:  wherefore  Herod  and  all  his  court despised thee,  and  putting  on  thee  a white  garment in scorn  and  derision,  sent  thee  thus  back  again  to Pilate. O unspeakable humility  and  obedience  to  the will of  thine  enemies! thou wentest  forth  and returnedst again,  and  wast  led  up  and  down  from place to  place  without  gainsaying,  but  suffering  them to do  whatever  they  would.

9. O good  and  gracious  Jesus! who in  the  judgment-hall wast  stripped  naked,  and  without  any  compassion most  cruelly  scourged. There was  thy  blessed virginal and  tender  flesh  torn  with  stripes,  and