Page:The centurion's story (IA centurionsstory00macf).pdf/25

 Herod's orders my own soldiers mocked and jeered at him. Snatching a purple curtain from the wall, they flung it round him like a royal robe and mocked and did obeisance after which Herod ordered him back to Pilate, still with his purple robe upon him. I thought that Pilate would have given in to the people, but I was wrong. He was still determined to save him, and after argument, sought to compromise by scourging.

Now, I have bent the lash over many a back and often with something of compassion since perhaps there is a vein of the woman in me, but by my commission from the Emperor, I swear that never did it seem a thing more pitiful. With a regal sweep of his arms, the Galilean bared his white and glistening flesh to the sting of the lash. His flesh was perhaps not more tender than another's, but the godlike beauty of his torso was such that it seemed a sin to mar it. They flung again the rough and purple robe over his bare and bleeding shoulders and from somewhere came a hastily woven crown of that little thorn bush you have seen by every Syrian roadside. Rude hands jammed it down upon his brow. A reed was placed in his hand to signify a sceptre and again the soldiers had sport with him ere Pilate was satisfied that he had done enough. The shouts and jeers and jibes of the soldiers in the court could be heard by the mob outside and, like Pilate, I would have thought it had pacified them; instead, it only seemed to fire their blood.

These Jews scoff at our gladiatorial combats. But to lash a good man unarmed, helpless, until his tender flesh is in ribbons and his full veins are empty is justice with them and Divine justice at that. Pilate himself went out