Then, with the genial sun, somewhat declined From his steep noon, streaming his golden rays Into the room to qualify the cool; And with, beside, two ample braziers brought Of coals in ruddy glow, one at each end, To cheer the shadowed spaces of no sun, The company, in comfortable wise-- After the fragments of the feast, with due Despatchful ministry of practised hands, Had disappeared, disposed themselves at will And sat attentive to hear Mary's words. But Mary's words hung and she did not speak; Her voice had like a failing fountain failed, And drifts of pallor whitened all her cheek. A doubtful moment, and she swayed to fall In death or death-like swoon upon the floor. But Ruth who sat next quickly stayed her up; Then, letting her sink softly toward supine On her own bosom, held her resting thus. Resourceful ministration soon revived Her spirits to Mary, till she seemed herself Again, and thought that they might trust her now Not to disturb them more with cause for fear. So, with a certain added gentleness In tone and manner marking her, she spoke Thus, while the rest with added reverence heard: "That image of my Lord abides to me; I see Him as I saw Him when I heard 'Behold the man!' The memory of my eyes Is vivid and it seems to dazzle dark The vision that by faith I ought to see. I know and I believe that Jesus now Is glorious in the heaven beyond all reach Of anything to flaw His perfect fair. But what he then was still will swim between, And I perforce see this instead of that. My ears ring with the maddening murderous shout Of the chief priests and rulers with the mob Mingling their voices now, 'Crucify Him!' 'He made himself the Son of God,' they cry. That frightened Pilate, and, 'Whence art thou?' he Asked Jesus, in his palace-hall withdrawn; But Jesus never answered him a word. Pilate was vexed, and tried browbeating Him. 'Speakest thou not to me? Dost thou not know I can release thee if I will,' he said; 'Or, if I will can send thee to the cross?' Then Jesus spoke. He said: 'No power is thine Save as bestowed upon thee from above. Therefore who gave me up to thee, he hath The greater sin.'