CHRISTUS is brought in bound.

SERVANT, in the vestibule. 
Why art thou up so late, my pretty damsel?

DAMSEL. 
Why art thou up so early, pretty man? 
It is not cock-crow yet, and art thou stirring?

SERVANT. 
What brings thee here?

DAMSEL. 
              What brings the rest of you?

SERVANT. 
Come here and warm thy hands.

DAMSEL to PETER. 
                    Art thou not
One of this man’s also disciples?

PETER. 
                                I am not.

DAMSEL. 
Now surely thou art also one of them;
Thou art a Galilean, and thy speech
Betrayeth thee.

PETER. 
Woman, I know him not!

CAIAPHAS to CHRISTUS, in the Hall. 
Who art thou?  Tell us plainly of thyself
And of thy doctrines, and of thy disciples.

CHRISTUS. 
Lo, I have spoken openly to the world,
I have taught ever in the Synagogue,
And in the Temple, where the Jews resort
In secret have said nothing.  Wherefore then
Askest thou me of this?  Ask them that heard me
What I have said to them.  Behold, they know
What I have said!

OFFICER, striking him,
        What, fellow! answerest thou
The High-Priest so?

CHRISTUS. 
                 If I have spoken evil,
Bear witness of the evil; but if well,
Why smitest thou me?

CAIAPHAS. 
             Where are the witnesses? 
Let them say what they know.

THE TWO FALSE WITNESSES. 
                  We heard him say: 
I will destroy this Temple made with hands,
And will within three days build up another
Made without hands.

SCRIBES and PHARISEES. 
        He is o’erwhelmed with shame
And cannot answer!

CAIAPHAS. 
             Dost thou answer nothing? 
What is this thing they witness here against thee?

SCRIBES and PHARISEES. 
He holds his peace.

CAIAPHAS. 
           Tell us, art thou the Christ? 
I do adjure thee by the living God,
Tell us, art thou indeed the Christ?

CHRISTUS. 
                                  I am. 
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man
Sit on the right hand of the power of God,
And come in clouds of heaven!

CAIAPHAS, rending his clothes. 
                         It is enough. 
He hath spoken blasphemy!  What further need
Have we of witnesses?  Now ye have heard
His blasphemy.  What think ye?  Is he guilty?

SCRIBES and PHARISEES. 
Guilty of death!

KINSMAN OF MALCHUS to PETER in the vestibule. 
                Surely I know thy face,
Did I not see thee in the garden with him?

PETER. 
How couldst thou see me?  I swear unto thee
I do not know this man of whom ye speak!

The cock crows.

Hark! the cock crows!  That sorrowful, pale face
Seeks for me in the crowd, and looks at me,
As if He would remind me of those words: 
Ere the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice!