Scaena in hortulo Josephi ab Arinathaea. Voces vigilantium, qui sunt nunc in mundo, audiuntur. Vigilantes.

We thank Thee, God! The morning breaks;
And on his shadowy wings of gray,
The night's away:
Yet if it be, that he forsakes
The dawn's pale entrances,
Fore-knowing what shall follow with the day...
But who are these?

Intrant Maria Magdalene, Joanna, Maria Jacobi, et caeterae mulieres. Maria Magdalene.

Sirs, we are they, that ministered
To Jesus, while His words were heard
Within our land; and we are come
Weeping, each from her weeping home:
And thus, with gums and linen, speed
To tend Him yet; but sore our need,
Being but women, and alone,
For who shall roll away the stone? Prima Vox ad Maria Magdalena.

Nay, why so fast? 'Tis vain;
Thy Lord is dead.
Mary, 'tis done, the grief and pain,
As 'twas foresaid.
Behold! at last
The heart-ache, and the bitterness, is past. Secuda Vox ad.

Wherefore this musk, this myrrh,
This ambergrice? Maria Jacobi.

Can these thy love aver;
Or give Him ease?
No, no, 'tis vain!
Past is the heart-ache, and the bitter pain. Tertia Vox ad Joannam.

Joanna, what avails
Thy substance now?
Look! how himself Love fails
In this, as Thou.
Weep not! at last
The heart-ache, and the bitterness, is past. Maria Jacobi.

Peace, masters, peace! Behold ye not
The wondrous thing, that here is wrought?
Who have the stone thus rolled away
Too soon, against the judgment day?
Oh! who are they, that fain would have
Set free the dead, within the grave?

Discernunt Angetum lucifluum sedentem super lapidem sepulchri. Joana.

But what is he, that sits thereon?
No sun, before, so bright hath shone,
As these his robes, and those his wings;
Even the morning, when she sings
Her hymn to God, though fair to see,
Is not so beautiful as he.
His skirts like clouded crystals seem;
And like bright pearls, his feathers gleam. Maria Magdalene.

Evil of Evils! Shall no end
Come unto sorrow? Can ye lend
To that, ye do, your eyes and ears!
They have robbed Him: here is nothing but tears! Maria Jacobi.

Speak! Art thou Uriel? Joana.
Or hast thou message holier far,
That only Israfel
Can tell,
Whose heart-strings as a cithern are? Maria Magdalene.

Nay, nay, I know thee, Azrail!
Thou, that dost fill
The world with death;
As David saith:
" What living man is there, that shall not know
Thy darkness, and thy sting also? " Vigilantes.

Hush, bow the knee! God, in the garden here,
Is walking with us. Swift is He
To anger: who could lightly bear
Sins, such as ours? Hush, bow the knee! Angelus.

Be not afraid! for whom ye seek,
I know: even He, that hath sufficed
The bond of God, and Death made weak;
Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

Cantus. Vigilantes .

Why wait'st thou here, my heart? Go! seek the Lord
By night, by day, unceasing; and still urge
Onward thy way, although it lead toward
Earth's extreme edge, and to the ocean's verge.
Go, have no fear!
Why wait'st thou here, my heart; why wait'st thou here?

And finding Him, kiss thou His pierced hands.
The hands, that bled for thee; though not so much
As did His heart. Alas! who understands
Love great as this; yea, or the worth of such?
Go, have no fear!
Why wait'st thou here, my heart; why wait'st thou here?

Hic intrat Christus Surrectus. Maria Magdalene ad Christu Surr :

Sir, they have hid Him, whom we loved;
Even Him in whom we lived, and moved,
And had our being. But thou alway
Keepest the garden, from day to day;
And knowest all, that here is done,
And who have rolled away the stone:
Therefore, from out thy charity,
Say in what hidden place may be
Our Master, and our Lord. Christus Surrectus .
Mary! Maria Magdalene .
Rabboni! Omnes .
Alleluia: Amen.