hardly support herself. Lower down on the mountain there was a third
group of holy women, and there were a few scattered individuals between
the three groups, who carried messages from one to the other. The
Pharisees on horseback rode to and fro among the people, and the five
entrances were guarded by Roman soldiers. Mary kept her eyes fixed on
the fatal spot, and stood as if entranced,--it was indeed a sight
calculated to appal and rend the heart of a mother. There lay the
terrible cross, the hammers, the ropes, the nails, and alongside of
these frightful instruments to torture stood the brutal executioners,
half drunk, and almost without clothing, swearing and blaspheming,
whilst making their preparations. The sufferings of the Blessed Virgin
were greatly increased by her not being able to see her Son; she knew
that he was still alive, and she felt the most ardent desire once more
to behold him, while the thought of the torments he still had to endure
made her heart ready to burst with grief.

A little hail had been falling at times during the morning, but the
sun came out again after ten o'clock, and a thick red fog began to
obscure it towards twelve.



CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross.



The preparations for the crucifixion being finished four archers
went to the cave where they had confined our Lord and dragged him out