On Olivet a garden grew–
Gethsemane its name–
And here, in that portentous hour,
The “Man of Sorrows” came.
* * *
The shadows of the midnight fell,
And silence reigned around,
As He and His eleven friends
Trod the familiar ground.
* * *
Then Oh! such heavy agony
Descended on His soul,
That even His strong spirit was
Unable to control.
* * *
He said to them: “Exceeding woe,
Beyond all mortal grief,
O’erwelms my soul; watch here while I
In prayer shall seek relief.”
* * *
Then went a little farther off,
And on His face He fell,
And offered up this earnest prayer:
“If it be possible,
* * *
“My Father–Oh! My Father!–
Let this cup pass from me.
Nevertheless, Thy holy will,
And not my will shall be,”
* * *
Then, coming back to those He left,
A mournful watch to keep,
He found them prone upon the ground,
And wrapped in heavy sleep.
* * *
But Jesus said : “Sleep now and rest,
The hour is close at hand.
Behold the Son fo Man betrayed
To an ungodly band.”
