Classic Poem

“My heart grew firmer; I could doubt no longer;
My tortured soul found infinite content,
And to the grave Sanhedrim, calmer, stronger,
With hurried steps I went.

“And there I asked: ‘What sum will ye give to me,
If I deliver and hand unto you
My Master, who hath chosen to pursue me,
My Master, Christ, the Jew?’

“And they together, in hushed exultation,
Did covenant with me in silent shame
For thirty silver pieces of the nation,
If I should do that same.

“And my sad, timorous soul awoke delighted;
Peace, peace had lulled its tempest at the last;
I saw the daring future unaffrighted;
My doubts, my dreams were past!

“And strengthened by fair Hope's restoring manna,
Seeing the world more beautiful and fair,
I hurried forth with many a glad hosanna
To meet my Mary there!

“Amid a tumult of delight I told her
That night to await me in a secret place,
And was exalted, purified, made bolder
By her divine embrace.

“Then from the town than hunted camels faster,
To Kedron's brook, free from perplexing care,
I followed secretly my pensive Master,
And saw Him kneel in prayer.

“Ay! I, the aspiring Jew, the sad fanatic,
Witnessed the holy silence of the place,
While the attendant moon with beams ecstatic
Silvered His upturned face!

“And by me through the forest-tangles guided
Came eager hundreds of his enemies,
Cravens and priests, who had His word derided,
Elders and Pharisees!

“Officers, hurried from the Temple's porches,
Hirelings, with staves made ready to assail,
Soldiers, with flashing swords, and spears, and torches,
Soldiers of Rome in mail!