"They laid Him down limb-weary
They stood at the lifeless head."
that the son might rest once more in the mother's lap.
She clasped in her arms the wounded body of the son born in anguish the second time.
Magdalene knelt beside it. "Let me kiss once more the hand which has so often blessed me." And with chaste fervor the Penitent's lips touched the cold, pierced hand of the corpse.
Another woman flung herself upon Him. "Dearest Master, one more tear upon Thy lifeless body!" And the sobbing whisper of love sounded sweet and soothing like vesper-bells after a furious storm.
But the men stood devoutly silent:
"Gazing at Heaven's Lord,
And He there rests awhile
Weary after his mickle death-fight."
[CHAPTER VIII.]
FREYER
The Play was over. "Christ is risen!" He had burst the sepulchre and hurled the guards in the dust by the sight of His radiant apparition. He had appeared to the Penitent as a simple gardener "early in the morning," as He had promised, and at last had been transfigured and had risen above the world, bearing in His hand the standard of victory.