194 Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 



to Jerusalem, where He will suffer the death of the cross. He commends to her care 

 His mother, who will be so deeply troubled. She herself is to keep this news a secret 

 until He is taken. i Marj- Mag-daleue promises this, then kisses His feet. He, thereupon, 

 retires and joins the rest of the company, but Marj' Magdalene remains. Mary comes to 

 Mary Magdalene and wishes to know what her Son has said, but Mary Magdalene 

 declines to tell. Both, then, go to Christ. Marj' would kneel to Him, but is prevented 

 by Him. She asks why He is so sad, and shows great anxiety. Christ now tells her that 

 for the redemption of the world He goes to His death. Mary swoons. Reviving, she 

 bewails her fate. " Call me henceforth no more Mary, since I have lost Thee, mj- Son I" 

 At the close of the conversation both fall in a swoon. They lise and embrace. Christ 

 then goes to His seat. 2 



Mary kneels to Judas, begging him not to forsake Jesus, if He should fall into the 

 hands of the people. s Judas permits her to kneel, and replies ambiguously, "It is not 

 necessary to entreat me more, as I know what I have to do." She then kneels to Peter, 

 who will not permit it, and vows that he will protect Christ against the world. Now go 

 Mary, Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Lazarus to Christ, who embraces His mother, and 

 offers to depart. Mary Magdalene prays that they may accompany Him to the gate of 

 the city, to which Christ assents. They proceed together to Jerusalem. When they 

 reach the gate, Mary declares that she is unwilling to leave her Sou. He insists, but 

 promises to send to her the angel Gabriel until John can come. Instantly the angel 

 appears. Mary blesses her Son. Again they swoon. Jesus rises and " steps through 

 another door into Jerusalem." Mary Magdalene and Martha raise and support Mary 

 while she speaks to the people : 



O Figlio mio tanto amoroso 

 O Figlio mio, due se' tu andato ? 

 ******* 

 Ditemi, o done, per amore de Dio, 

 Dov' e andato el Figlio mio ? 



She then turns to the angel, and entreats him to tell her all the sorrows of Christ, that 

 through the hearing she may find death. Mary Magdalene entreats Marj- to return to 

 Bethany and await John's arrival. Marj- beseeches the two sisters not to leave her, 

 kneeling before them. They now return to Bethany, Mai-y speaking touching words 

 to the women by the way.^ All enter Bethany together.^ 



Forthwith, the scene of Christ's prayer upon the Mount of Olives begins. He takes 

 with Him Peter, James, and John, commands them to rest but watch, while He goes to 

 pray. He kneels down, takes the cups in His hand, and. lifting up His eyes, prays. He 

 i-eturns to His followers, as in the Bible narrative. The second time, Christ puts a 

 stone under His head and sleeps a little. After the third prayer an angel appears. 

 Christ now wakens the three young men while, according to the stage direction, 

 the armed men prepare to take Him prisoner, Christ goes to the other apostles. The 

 thief-catchers with Judas come. " Quem qua?ritis?" and the following words of Christ 

 are in Latin. The arrest follows. Fastened by a thong, Christ is led away, while all His 

 followers forsake Him. 



Here ends the play, but there is little break between this and the 

 ' Devozion ' of Good Friday which, beginning when the preacher 

 comes to the passage where Pilate commands that Christ shall be 

 scourged,' is as follows : 



1 Note that Jesus informs His mother soon after, and this requirement of secrecy- 

 seems to be satisfied by Mary Magdalene's refusal to tell Mary. 



» The conventional exit, Cp. Julleville, vol. 1, p. 389. 



3 One of the most artistic touches in the early dramas, 



* This consciousness of an audience appears elsewhere in this play, notably where 

 John reminds the women of their sons. 5 A conventional exit. 



6 The prostrations, kissing, blood, and cup are all liturgical traces.— Ebert, vol. 5, p, 70. 



T The lesson for the day was Chaps. 18 and 19 of John's Gospel, the nineteenth begin- 

 ning, " Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.''— Ebert, vol. 5, p. 67. 



