"Straight to the high priest's house we hurried on, And Christus in an inner room we placed, Set at his door a guard, and then came out. After a time there crept into the hall Where round the blazing coals we sat, a man, Who in the corner crouched. 'What man are you?' Cried some one; and I turning, looked at him. 'Twas Peter. ''Tis a fellow of that band That followed Christus, and believed in him.' ''Tis false!' cried Peter; and he cursed and swore. 'I know him not--I never saw the man.' But I said nothing. Soon he went away. "That night I saw not Judas. The next day, Ghastly, clay-white, a shadow of a man, With robes all soiled and torn, and tangled beard, Into the chamber where the council sat Came feebly staggering: scarce should I have known 'Twas Judas, with that haggard, blasted face: So had that night's great horror altered him. As one all blindly walking in a dream He to the table came--against it leaned-- Glared wildly round a while; then, stretching forth, from his torn robes, a trembling hand, flung down, As if a snake had stung him, a small purse, That broke and scattered its white coins about, And, with a shrill voice, cried, 'Take back the purse 'Twas not for that foul dross I did the deed-- 'Twas not for that--oh, horror! not for that! But that I did believe he was the Lord; And that he is the Lord I still believe. But oh, the sin!--the sin! I have betrayed The innocent blood, and I am lost!--am lost!' So crying, round his face his robes he threw, And blindly rushed away; and we, aghast, Looked round--and no one for a moment spoke. "Seeing that face, I could but fear the end; For death was in it, looking through his eyes. Nor could I follow to arrest the fate That drove him madly on with scorpion whip.