to step on.  They greeted Him with olive and palm branches, and from hundreds of throats sounded:  “All hail to Thee!  All hail to Thee!  Welcome, Thou long-expected, eagerly desired Saviour!” The police, with their long staves, made a way through the streets that led to the golden house, to the king’s palace.  From all doors and windows they shouted:  “Come into my house!  Take shelter under my roof, Thou Saviour of the people!” The crowd poured forward to the palace.  The disciples, who walked close behind Him and could scarcely control their agitation, were surrounded, overwhelmed, fanned with palm-leaves, pelted with rose-buds.  Simon Peter had been recognised as soon as the Master, and could not prevent the people carrying him on their shoulders; but he bent down and implored them to set him on the ground, for he did not wish to be lifted higher than the Master, and he feared if they held him up like that over the heads of the others many would take him for the Messiah.  John had managed better; bending down and breathing heavily, he led the animal, so that the people only took him for a donkey-driver.  All the rest of the disciples enjoyed the Master’s honours as their own.  Had they not faithfully shared misery with Him!

“Jerusalem, thou art still Jerusalem!” they said, intoxicated and filled with the storm of exultation around Him.  “However well it went with us, it has never gone so well as here in Jerusalem.”

Judas could not congratulate himself enough that, despite the poor procession, the Master was recognised.  “I always said He would work His miracle when the time came.”

“Well, I am full of fears,” said Thomas.  “They shout far too loudly.  The sounds come from the throat, not from the heart.”

“Oh, take yourself off.  You’re always full of foreboding.”

“I understand people a little.  Idle townsfolk are easily pleased; they like to enjoy themselves, and any cause serves their turn.”

“Thomas,” said Matthew reprovingly, “It is not your humility that makes you heedless of the honour.  It is doubt.  See that fat shopkeeper there who brings more faith out of his throat.  Listen!  ’Hail to Thee, Son of David!’ he shouts, and is already hoarse through his loud shrieks of joy.”

Thomas did not answer.  Stooping down in irritation, he hastened through the crowd.  Cries of welcome filled the whole town, and the streets along which the procession took its way were like animated palm groves.  All traffic was at a standstill, windows and roofs were filled with people, all stretching their necks to see the Messiah.

Jesus sat on the animal, both feet on the one side, holding the reins with His right hand.  He looked calmly and earnestly in front of Him, just as if He was riding through the dust clouds of the wilderness.  When the pinnacles of the royal castle towering above the roofs of the houses were in front of Him, He turned the animal into a side street, to the Temple square.  Two guards at the entrance to the Temple signed violently with their arms to the crowd to go away, but the people remained standing there.  The procession stopped, and Jesus got off the ass.