Cleophas objected, "But evil might befall thee, if they recognized thee
as his mother."

Mary replied, "I will suffer with him, bear scorn and shame with him;
die with him."

"Only," said John, "if the strength of thy body does not give way."

"Fear not," said Mary. "I have asked strength of God and he has heard
me. Let us go after them."

All answered, "Best of mothers, we follow thee," and they slowly
followed the procession to Calvary.

* * * * * *

And when they reached Golgotha, which is by interpretation the place of
a skull, they crucified him there. But first they hanged the two
thieves on the crosses, the one on the left, the other on the right.
Their arms were tied over the cross at the wrists, and their feet were
tied with cord to the beam. But Jesus was nailed to the central cross
while it yet lay with the head slightly raised upon the ground. One
nail was driven through the palms of each hand, and one through the two
feet, which were placed the one above the other. Jesus lay silent
without moving. On his head was the crown of thorns, from which a
little blood trickled over his brow. His hands and his feet bled a
little, but the rest of his body was pale and colorless, a light cloth
only being cast around his loins.

The centurion who had returned from Pilate, stood on the right of the
cross giving orders. The lictor, mounted on a white horse, stood near
the soldiers, who held on high the Roman standard with the letters S.
P. Q. R. Caiaphas, Annas and all the members of the Sanhedrin stood on
the left exulting. A great crowd of sightseers thronged the place.
Among them, coming from behind the centurion, were the holy women from
Bethany, with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, and Joseph of
Arimathea and Nicodemus.

Then said the executioners to the centurion, "We have finished with
these," pointing to the thieves, "Now must the king of Jews be exalted
upon his throne."

Which, hearing, the priests cried angrily, "Not king! Deceiver,
traitor!"

The centurion, who held in his hand a scroll or escutcheon, said,
"First, by command of the governor, this writing must be fastened to
the cross. Faustus," he added, turning to one of the hangmen named
Faustus, "make fast this title over the cross." Faustus took the
scroll from the centurion, and going to the cross, nailed it with one
hammer stroke over the head of Jesus, saying, "Ah, an escutcheon
displaye