Part 29 (1/2)

_1st Torturer._ Now since it may no better be, Chevithe thee with it for me; Methinks thou art full fain.

_2nd Torturer._ How, fellows, see ye not yon scraw?[389]

It is written yonder within a thraw, Now since that we drew lot.

_3rd Torturer._ There is no man that is alive, Unless Pilate, as I might thrive That durst it there have put.

_4th Torturer._ Go we fast, and let us look What is written on yon book And what it may be, mean.

_1st Torturer._ All the more I look thereon, All the more I think I fon;[390]

All is not worth a bean.

_2nd Torturer._ Yes for sooth, methinks I see Thereon written language three Hebrew and Latn And Greek methinks written thereon, For it is hard for to expoun.

_3rd Torturer._ Thou read, by Apollyon!

_4th Torturer._ Yea, as I am a true knight.

I am the best Latin wright Of this company; I will go withouten delay And tell you what it is to say.

Behold, sirs, verily, Yonder is written--Jesus of Nazarene He is King of Jews, I ween.

_1st Torturer._ Ah, that is written wrong.

_2nd Torturer._ He calls himself so, but he is none.

_3rd Torturer._ Go we to Pilate and make our moan, Have done, and dwell not long. [_They go to Pilate._ Pilate, yonder is a false table, Thereon is written naught but fable, Of Jews he is not king, He calls him so, but he not is, It is falsely written, I wis, This is a wrong-wise thing.

_Pilate._ Boys, I say, what melle ye yon?[391]

As it is written shall it be now, I say certain _Quod scriptum scripsi_,[392]

That same wrote I, What gadlyng[393] grumbles there again.

_4th Torturer._ Since that he is a man of law He must needs have his will; I trow he had not written that saw Without some proper skill.

_1st Torturer._ Yea, let it hang above his head It shall not save him from the dead Naught that he can write.

_2nd Torturer._ Now ill a hale[394] was he born!

_3rd Torturer._ My faith, I tell his life is lorn He shall be slain as tyte.[395]

If thou be Christ, as men thee call Come down now among us all And thole[396] not these missays.[397]

_4th Torturer._ Yea, and help myself that we may see And we shall all believe in thee, Whatsoever thou says.

_1st Torturer._ He calls himself good of might, But I would see him be so wight[398]

To do such a deed.

He raised Lazare out of his delf[399]

But he cannot help himself Now in his great need.

_Jesus._ Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani!

My G.o.d, my G.o.d! wherefor and why Hast thou forsaken me?

_2nd Torturer._ How, hear ye not as well as I How he can upon Eli cry Upon this wise?

_3rd Torturer._ Yea, there is no Eli in this country Shall deliver him from this meneye[400]