ou good teacher; never to be forgotten benefactor;
noblest friend of men, thus art thou rewarded. How we pity thee!"
Then they wept.

Christ looking upon them in their tears said: "Daughters of Jerusalem,
weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children. For behold the
days are coming in which they shall say 'Blessed are the barren and the
wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck.' Then shall
they call to the mountains, fall on us and to the hills, cover us. For
if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the
dry?"

The women answered, "Alas, how will it be in the future for us and our
children?"

By this time the patience of the centurion was exhausted, and he cried
out, "Clear out now, these womenfolk."

The third executioner, pushing them roughly away, said, "What use are
your women's tears? Back!" While the other executioners cried as they
pushed Jesus forward, "On with thee to the hill of death!"

The crowd took up the cry and said, "Quick; forward to Calvary!"

"Are we really going forward again?" said the rabbi, and Nathanael
said, shrugging his shoulders, "The centurion is far too mild."

"Do not spare him so much," said a priest.

The long procession was once more in motion when there appeared a
servant from Pilate. The man cried, "Halt!" and the procession
stopped. "By command of the governor the centurion must appear before
him as quickly as possible and receive further orders."

Caiaphas exclaimed, "What does this mean? What new orders are
required? The death sentence is pronounced and must be carried out
without delay."

Then said the centurion bluntly, "No, this will not happen until I have
received the further orders of my lord." Then turning to the soldiers
he said, "Keep watch meanwhile and go with the condemned to Golgotha.
Then dismiss this man (Simon) and await my arrival." The centurion
then went with the servant to Pilate and the procession set forth again.

The people cried wildly, "Up to Golgotha, to the cross with him. Hail
to Israel. The enemy is vanquished. We are free. Long live the
Sanhedrin."

Jesus looked upon his mother as the procession passed the corner of
Annas' street, but spoke not.

Then said John, when the dolorous procession had passed, "Mother, shall
we not go back to Bethany? Thou wilt not be able to bear the sight?"

But Mary answered, "How can a mother leave her child in the last and
bitterest need?"