"That he was honest, and was so esteemed, Is plain from this--they chose him out of all To bear the common purse, and take and pay. John says he was a thief, because he grudged The price that for some ointment once was paid, And urged 'twere better given to the poor. But did not Christus ever for the poor Lift up his voice--'Give all things to the poor! Sell everything and give all to the poor!' And Judas, who believed, not made believe, Used his own words, and Christus, who excused The gift because of love, rebuked him not. Thief! ay, he 'twas, this very thief, they chose To bear the purse and give alms to the poor. I, for my part, see nothing wrong in this." "But why, if Judas was a man like this, Frank, noble, honest"--here I interposed-- "Why was it that he thus betrayed his Lord?" "This question oft did I revolve," said he, "When all the facts were fresh, and oft revolved In latter days, and with no change of mind; And this is my solution of the case: "Daily he heard his master's voice proclaim, 'I am the Lord! the Father lives in me! Who knoweth me knows the eternal God! He who believes in me shall never die! No! he shall see me with my angels come With power and glory here upon the earth To judge the quick and dead! Among you here Some shall not taste of death before I come God's kingdom to establish on the earth!' "What meant these words? They seethed in Judas' soul. Here is my God--Messias, King of kings, Christus, the Lord--the Saviour of us all. How long shall he be taunted and reviled, And threatened by this crawling scum of men? Oh, who shall urge the coming of that day When he in majesty shall clothe himself And stand before the astounded world its King?' Long brooding over this inflamed his soul, And, ever rash in schemes as wild in thought, At last he said, 'No longer will I bear This ignominy heaped upon my Lord. No man hath power to harm the Almighty One. Ay, let men's hands be lifted, then at once, Effulgent like the sun, swift like the sword, The jagged lightning flashes from the cloud, Shall he be manifest--the living God-- And prostrate all shall on the earth adore!' "Such was his thought when at the passover The Lord with his disciples met and supped: And Christus saw the trouble in his mind, And said 'Behold, among you here is one That shall betray me--he to whom I give This sop,' and he the sop to Judas gave; And added--'That thou doest, quickly do;' And Judas left him, hearing these last words-- 'Now shall the Son of man be glorified.' "Ah yes! his master had divined his thought-- His master should be glorified through him.