A Roman Lawyer in Jerusalem | Page 2

with me if I now avow so much: When next we meet I will expose my mind, But now the subject I must scarcely touch.
How many a time, while sauntering up and down The Forum's space, or pausing 'neath the shade Of some grand temple, arch, or portico, Have we discussed some knotty point of law, Some curious case, whose contradicting facts Looked Janus-faced to innocence and guilt. I see you now arresting me, to note With quiet fervor and uplifted hand Some subtle view or fact by me o'erlooked, And urging me, who always strain my point (Being too much, I know, a partisan), To pause, and press not to the issue so, But more apart, with less impetuous zeal, Survey as from an upper floor the facts.
I need you now to rein me in, too quick To ride a whim beyond the term of Truth, For here a case comes up to which in vain I seek a clue: you could clear up my mind, But you are absent--so I send these notes.
The case is of one Judas, Simon's son, Iscariot called--a Jew--and one of those Who followed Christus, held by some a god, But deemed by others to have preached and taught A superstition vile, of which one point Was worship of an ass; but this is false! Judas, his follower, all the sect declare, Bought by a bribe of thirty silver coins, Basely betrayed his master unto death. The question is--Did Judas, doing this, Act from base motives and commit a crime? Or, all things taken carefully in view, Can he be justified in what he did?
Here on the spot, surrounded by the men Who acted in the drama, I have sought To study out this strange and tragic case. Many are dead--as Herod, Caiaphas, And also Pilate--a most worthy man, Under whose rule, but all without his fault, And, as I fancy, all against his will, Christus was crucified. This I regret: His words with me would have the greatest weight; But Lysias still is living, an old man, The chief of the Centurions, whose report Is to be trusted, as he saw and heard, Not once, but many a time and oft, this man. His look and bearing, Lysias thus describes: "Tall, slender, not erect, a little bent; Brows arched and dark; a high-ridged lofty head; Thin temples, veined and delicate; large eyes, Sad, very serious, seeming as it were To look beyond you, and whene'er he spoke Illumined by an inner lamping light-- At times, too, gleaming with a strange wild fire When taunted by the rabble in the streets; A Jewish face, complexion pale but dark; Thin, high-art nostrils, quivering constantly; Long nose, full lips, hands tapering, full of veins; His movements nervous; as he walked he seemed Scarcely to heed the persons whom he passed, And for the most part gazed upon the ground.
"As for his followers, I knew them all-- A strange mad set and full of fancies wild-- John, Peter, James--and Judas best of all-- All seemed to me good men without offence-- A little crazed--but who is wholly sane? They went about and cured the sick and halt, And gave away their money to the poor, And all their talk was charity and peace. If Christus thought and said he was a god, 'Twas harmless madness, not deserving death. What most aroused the wealthy Rabbis' rage Was that he set the poor against the rich, And cried that rich men all would go to hell, And, worst of all, roundly denounced the priests, With all their rich phylacteries and robes-- Said they were hypocrites who made long prayers, And robbed poor widows and devoured their means; And were at best but whited sepulchres: And this it was that brought him to the Cross.
"Those who went with him and believed in him Were mostly dull, uneducated men, Simple and honest, dazed by what he did, And misconceiving every word he said. He led them with him in a spell-bound awe, And all his cures they called miraculous. They followed him like sheep where'er he went, With feelings mixed of wonder, fear and love. Yes! I suppose they loved him, though they fled Stricken with fear when we arrested him."
"What! all--all fled?" I asked. "Did none remain?" "Not one," he said--"all left him to his fate, Not one dared own he was a follower-- Not one gave witness for him of them all. Stop! When I say not one of them, I mean No one but Judas--Judas whom they call The traitor--who betrayed him to his death. He rushed into the council-hall and cried, ''Tis I have sinned--Christus is innocent.'"
And here I come to what of all I've heard Most touched me--I for this my letter write. Paulus, you know,