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Home  »  Complete Poetical Works by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  »  Part I. The Divine Tragedy. The Third Passover. XI. The Two Maries

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.

Christus: A Mystery

Part I. The Divine Tragedy. The Third Passover. XI. The Two Maries

MARY MAGDALENE.
We have arisen early, yet the sun

O’ertakes us ere we reach the sepulchre,

To wrap the body of our blessed Lord

With our sweet spices.

MARY, MOTHER OF JAMES.
Lo, this is the garden,

And yonder is the sepulchre. But who

Shall roll away the stone for us to enter?

MARY MAGDALENE.
It hath been rolled away! The sepulchre

Is open! Ah, who hath been here before us,

When we rose early, wishing to be first?

MARY, MOTHER OF JAMES.
I am affrighted!

MARY MAGDALENE.
Hush! I will stoop down

And look within. There is a young man sitting

On the right side, clothed in a long white garment!

It is an angel!

THE ANGEL.
Fear not; ye are seeking

Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified.

Why do ye seek the living among the dead?

He is no longer here; he is arisen!

Come see the place where the Lord lay! Remember

How He spake unto you in Galilee,

Saying: The Son of Man must be delivered

Into the hands of sinful men; by them

Be crucified, and the third day rise again!

But go your way, and say to his disciples,

He goeth before you into Galilee;

There shall ye see Him as He said to you.

MARY, MOTHER OF JAMES.
I will go swiftly for them.

MARY MAGDALENE, alone, weeping.
They have taken

My Lord away from me, and now I know not

Where they have laid Him! Who is there to tell me?

This is the gardener. Surely he must know.

CHRISTUS.
Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?

MARY MAGDALENE.
They have taken my Lord away; I cannot find Him.

O Sir, if thou have borne him hence, I pray thee

Tell me where thou hast laid Him.

CHRISTUS.
Mary!

MARY MAGDALENE.
Rabboni!