cely able to support him; his countenance was pale, and
quite altered in appearance, his lips white, and his hair standing on
end. It was about half-past ten o'clock when he arose from his knees,
and, bathed in a cold sweat, directed his trembling, weak footsteps
towards his three Apostles. With difficulty did he ascend the left side
of the cavern, and reach a spot where the ground was level, and where
they were sleeping, exhausted with fatigue, sorrow and anxiety. He came
to them, like a man overwhelmed with bitter sorrow, whom terror urges
to seek his friends, but like also to a good shepherd, who, when warned
of the approach of danger, hastens to visit his flock, the safety of
which is threatened; for he well knew that they also were being tried
by suffering and temptation. The terrible visions never left him, even
while he was thus seeking his disciples. When he found that they were
asleep, he clasped his hands and fell down on his knees beside them,
overcome with sorrow and anxiety, and said: 'Simon, sleepest thou?' They
awoke, and raised him up, and he, in his desolation of spirit, said to
them: 'What? Could you not watch one hour with me?' When they looked at
him, and saw him pale and exhausted, scarcely able to support himself,
bathed in sweat, trembling and shuddering,--when they heard how changed
and almost inaudible his voice had become, they did not know what to
think, and had he not been still surrounded by a well-known halo of
light, they would never have recognised him as Jesus. John said to him:
'Master, what has befallen thee? Must I call the other disciples? Ought
we to take to flight?' Jesus answered him: 'Were I to live, teach, and
perform miracles for thirty-three years longer, that would not suffice
for the accomplishment of what must be fulfilled before this time
tomorrow. Call not the eight; I did not bring them hither, because they
could not see me thus agonising without being scandalised; they would
yield to temptation, forget much of the past, and lose their confidence
in me. But you, who have seen the Son of Man transfigured, may also see
him under a cloud, and in dereliction of spirit; nevertheless, watch
and pray, lest ye fall into temptation, for the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.'

By these words he sought at once to encourage them to persevere,
and to make known to them the combat which his human nature was
sustaining against death, together with the cause of his weakne