and smothered these sacred and
mournful cries, and in their place might be heard the words, 'Put him to
death!' 'Crucify him!' Pilate continued parleying with the people, and when
he demanded silence in order to be able to speak, he was obliged to
proclaim his wishes to the clamorous assembly by the sound of a
trumpet, and at such moments you might again hear the noise of the
scourges, the moans of Jesus, the imprecations of the soldiers, and the
bleating of the Paschal lambs which were being washed in the Probatica
pool, at no great distance from the forum. There was something
peculiarly touching in the plaintive bleating of these lambs: they
alone appeared to unite their lamentations with the suffering moans of
our Lord.

The Jewish mob was gathered together at some distance from the
pillar at which the dreadful punishment was taking place, and Roman
soldiers were stationed in different parts round about. Many persons
were walking to and fro, some in silence, others speaking of Jesus in
the most insulting terms possible, and a few appearing touched, and I
thought I beheld rays of light issuing from our Lord and entering the
hearts of the latter. I saw groups of infamous, bold-looking young men,
who were for the most part busying themselves near the watch-house in
preparing fresh scourges, while others went to seek branches of thorns.
Several of the servants of the High Priests went up to the brutal
executioners and gave them money; as also a large jug filled with a
strong bright red liquid, which quite inebriated them, and increased
their cruelty tenfold towards their innocent Victim. The two ruffians
continued to strike our Lord with unremitting violence for a quarter of
an hour, and were then succeeded by two others. His body was entirely
covered with black, blue, and red marks; the blood was trickling down
on the ground, and yet the furious cries which issued from among the
assembled Jews showed that their cruelty was far from being satiated.

The night had been extremely cold, and the morning was dark and
cloudy; a little hail had fallen, which surprised everyone, but towards
twelve o'clock the day became brighter, and the sun shone forth.

The two fresh executioners commenced scourging Jesus with the
greatest possible fury; they made use of a different kind of rod,--a
species of thorny stick, covered with knots and splinters. The blows
from these sticks tore his flesh to pieces; his blood spouted out so as
to