198 Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 



Meanwhile, Jesus does 'as is the custom at a feast.'i Now he takes four disciples, 

 ascends Mount Olivet, and enacts this scene in the words of the Biblical narrative. The 

 Jews appear, and Jesus asks: "Quern quaeritis?" They reply: "Tesum Nazarenum." 

 Jesus replies : " Eg-o sum," and the crowd falls back. When he is taken, all the apostles 

 except Peter and Judas leave him. Peter forthwith denies him twice. The priests 

 chant appropriate Bible verses. Jesus is led to Pilate, then to Herod who clothes him in 

 white and returns him to Pilate. The action passes on in the fewest words possible till 

 Jesus is led out for scourging,2 when he is clad in purple and crowned with thorns. 

 Pilate says: "Ecce homo," The Jews cry: "Crucifige, crucifige eum." The dialogue 

 in short Bible verses continues until Pilate washes his hands, and Jesus is led away for 

 crucifixion. 



Now Judas comes penitent, weeping, to the priests, who reject him. The devil ap- 

 pears and persuades him to hang himself.s 



The women follow Jesus,^ weeping. He is placed upon the cross and the title aflBxed : 

 "lesus Nazarenus Rex ludseorum." The Jews object, and Pilate answers: "Quod 

 scrips! scripsi." 



The Virgin now enters with John and, lamenting, beholds the crucified. "Awe, awe 

 mich hint unde immer me " begins the lamentation of Mary, so similar to those of 

 earlier date.s This is continued in Latin, as, smiting her breast, she addresses the weep- 

 ing women. She concludes by embracing John and speaking eight lines while holding 

 him in her arms, concluding : 



Immolemus intimas 

 Lacrimorum victimas 

 Christo morienti. 



The direction here reads : " Et per horam quiescat sedendo,"6 after which she again rises, 

 addresses John, and John replies. Jesus now says, while John supports the Virgin : 

 " Mulier, ecce filius tuus," and to John : " Ecce mater tua." 



John and Mary withdraw from the cross. f Jesus thirsts, tastes the vinegar and cries, 

 "It is finished." Longinus appears and pierces Christ's side. Jesus cries: "Eli, Eli, 

 lamma sabacthani," and expires. Longinus gives his testimony in Latin and German, 



Vere filius Dei erat iste. 

 Dirre is des waren Gotes sun, 

 adding, 



Er hat zeichen an mir getan 

 Wan ich min sehen wider han,8 



while the Jews tarry to see whether Elias will come to help him, and one closes the 

 scene with : "Alios salvos fecit, se ipsum non potest salvum facere." 



An epilogue of sixteen German verses closes the play; of these Joseph of Arimathea 

 sings the first eight, and Pilate concludes the song. 



1 Jesus must have returned to the Jerusalem station, adjoining which Mount Olivet 

 was probably situated. This bye-play during the performance of a leading action is 

 very rare in these early plays. 



2 Since the mocking, though brief, is represented, it is probable that the scourging 

 was also. 



3 Compare with the appearance of the devil in the Italian play, p. 195. 



4 In the former play Jesus teaches the women, p. 195. 



5 See p. 145. 



6 This must mean that the play is suspended for a sermon, the priest explaining at 

 once the whole mysterj^ instead of interposing his remarks as in the Italian play. 



7 Does Mary withdraw because of the improbability of her silence during agonizing 

 moments while others carry on the play? In the Italian play she swoons at such 

 moments. 



8 Compare the Italian play, p. 196. 



