Only this kind and earnest plea Their malice from Him drew: "Father, I pray, forgive them now, They know not what they do." The Mother of Jesus. NOW there stood by that dreadful cross The mother of the Lord, Whose soul with sharpest agony Was pierced, as with a sword. When Jesus therefore saw her near, And His disciple, John, The man whom He loved best, He said: "Woman, behold thy son." Then said to the disciple: "Thy mother here behold!" And John thenceforth his loving care Around her did enfold. The Darkened Sun. NOW 'tis high noon and, solemn sight, The sun withdraws his face, And shadows, over all the land, The beams of day replace. All nature, wrapped in solemn awe, Stood shuddering in dismay, As hours of stern, Almighty wrath, Passed tediously away. Once, from the cross, an anguished voice Came languidly: "I thirst," And then a cry, as though the heart, So full of love, had burst. "Eli, Eli," these were the words, "Lama Sabachthani?" Oh! what acutest agony Wrung forth that mournful cry! Meanwhile a sponge, in vinegar, One standing near Him dips; And, putting it upon a reed, He lifts it to His lips. He then, with exclamation loud, His voice aloft doth send, Saying: "Father, now into Thy hands "My spirit I commend!" And, then, behold! the temple vail From top to bottom rent; An earthquake shook the city's walls, The rocks to pieces went. And the centurian, with his guard, Seeing these signs abroad, Exclaimed in fear: "Now, of a truth, "This was the Son of God." The Burial. NOW a good man, Joseph by name, Of wealth and high renown, In secret a disciple true, Of Rama's ancient town, Besought that Pilate grant to him Permission to remove The body of the Crucified, Whom he had learned to love. And then came Nicodemus, With aloes and with myrrh-- Another who had been of Christ A secret worshipper. And these two men, who ne'er had made Profession, great or small, Prepared the sacred body for An honored burial. They wrapped it, with the spices, In clean, white linen clothes; According to the way in which The Jews their dead dispose. Then reverently laid it down In Joseph's tomb--quite new, Which he had hewn from out the rock, His own last sleep in view. The Resurrection. THE Sabbath passed in sullen calm The Lord of all things slept, And some exulted in their crime, While others mourned and wept. It passed, it ended, and, behold! While darkness veiled the sky, Midst shock of earthquake, there came down An angel from on high. He sought the silent sepulchre, And rolled away the stone-- The heavy stone that filled the door-- And took his seat thereon.