THE CRUCIFIXION
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Rhys, Ernest
4th Torturer. Yea, and help myself that we may see And we shall all believe in thee, Whatsoever thou says.
1st Torturer. He calls himself good of might, But I would see him be so wight398 To do such a deed. He raised Lazare out of his delf399 But he cannot help himself Now in his great need.
Jesus. Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani! My God, my God! wherefor and why Hast thou forsaken me?
2nd Torturer. How, hear ye not as well as I How he can upon Eli cry Upon this wise?
3rd Torturer. Yea, there is no Eli in this country Shall deliver him from this meneye400 No, in no wise.
4th Torturer. I warrant you now at the last That he shall soon yield the ghost For bursten is his gall.
Jesus. Now is my passion brought to end, Father of heaven, into thy hende401 I do commend my soul.
1st Torturer. Let one prick him with a spear, And if it should do him no dere402 Then is his life near past.
2nd Torturer. This blind knight may best do that.
Longeus. Gar me not do, save I wit what.
3rd Torturer. Naught, but strike up fast.
Longeus. Ah! Lord, what may this be? Once I was blind, now I can see; Gode's son, hear me, Jesu! For this trespass on me thou rue403 For, Lord, other men me gart404 That I thee struck unto the heart, I see thou hangest here on high, And dies to fulfil the prophecy.
4th Torturer. Go we hence, and leave him here For I shall be his bail, this year He feels now no more pain; For Eli, ne for none other man All the good that ever he won Gets not his life again. [Exeunt Torturers.
Joseph. Alas, alas, and well a way! That ever I should abide this day To see my master dead; Thus wickedly as he is shent, With so bitter tornament405 Thro' the false Jews' red.406 Nicodeme, I would we yede407 To Sir Pilate, if we might spede His body for to crave; I will strive with all my might For my service to ask that knight, His body for to grave.408
Nicodemus. Joseph, I will wend with thee For to do what is in me For that body to pray; For our good-will and our travail I hope that it may us avail Hereafterward some day.
Joseph. Sir Pilate, God thee save! Grant me what I crave If that it be thy will.
Pilate. Welcome, Joseph, might thou be, What so thou askest, I grant it thee So that it be skill.409
Joseph. For my long service, I thee pray, Grant me the body, say me not nay Of Jesus dead on rood.
Pilate. I grant it well if he dead be, Good leave shalt thou have of me. Do with him what thou think good.
Joseph. Gramercy, sir, of your good grace That you did grant me in this place. Go we our way: Nicodeme, come me forth with, For I myself shall be the smith The nails out for to dray.410
Nicodemus. Joseph, I am ready here To go with thee with full good cheer To help with all my might. Pull forth the nails on either side And I shall hold him up this tide; Ah, Lord, how art thou dight!
[They take down the body.
Joseph. Help now, fellow, with all thy might, That he be wounden411 and well dight, And lay him on this bier: Bear we him forth into the kirk To the tomb that I gar'd412 work Since full many a year.
Nicodemus. It shall be so, withouten nay, He that died on Good Friday, And crownèd was with thorn; Save you all that now here be That Lord that thus would dee, And rose on Paschë413 morn.