So Mary, swerved to sudden wonder, said, And question in her look as if for Paul. Paul answered: "Nay, oh, nay, not dread of death; That cup how many, finite like ourselves, Have taken and quaffed with overcoming joy In martyrdom for truth! Some mixture worse, O, unimaginably worse! to Him Embittered His inevitable cup, That He, beyond His human brethren brave, So shrank from drinking it. His was to bear As Lamb of God in sacrifice, the weight Of the world's sin. This crushed Him sinless down Immeasurable abysses into woe, The woe of feeling forsaken by His God. Supported by believing in the joy Far set before Him He endured the cross, Despising the shame, and is in sequel now, We know, and love to know, at the right hand Of God His Father throned forevermore, There waiting--He, inheritor of the name Exalted high above whatever name, The name of King of kings and Lord of lords-- Until His footstool all His foes be made." "Amen!" in fervent chorus, Krishna heard Break, soft and solemn, from the lips of all, With Mary, who then thus her tale renewed: "Before His passion in Gethsemane And on the cross loomed nigh enough to Him To cast its solemn shadow deep and dark Over His prophet mind and over us, We had been walking joyous through the land, Green flowery land it was of hill and dale, With flocks and herds, and villages of men, The land of Galilee, gushing with springs, And spreading fair her lake Gennesaret, Now placid a pure mirror to the sky, Anon tumultuous, if rash wing of wind Swooped down upon it from the mountain shore-- We had been walking through this lovely land With Jesus, He, like sower gone forth to sow, Scattering His gifts of healing everywhere Broadcast about Him as He passed along; Or sometimes feeding the great multitudes That, like to sheep having no shepherd, thronged His way, feeding them freely from a hand That multiplied the bounty it bestowed;-- It was like journeying sphered with journeying spring Created for us where we set our feet; Our hearts were garlanded as for festival, So gladsome was it to behold our King Advancing in such progress through the land And lavishing such largess on His poor. But largess of beneficence from His hand Was nothing to the largess from His lips Of wisdom and of grace and of good news-- To the obedient; the rebellious He Judgments and terrors dire announced against That fastened and kindled like Gehenna fire. I was baptized with shuddering but to hear The woes leap living from those holy lips-- Which then nigh seemed to smoke like Sinai top With indignation--on the Pharisees, The Sadducees, the lawyers, and the scribes, Unworthy found and judged for hypocrites. Most fearful as most fair theophany, He!