by rough soldiers. The night is damp and cold. A maid has kindled a
fire in the courtyard, and Peter approaches it to warm his hands, and,
if possible, to gain some further news of the Master. He hears the
soldiers talking of Malchus, one of their number who had had his ear
cut off. They boast of what they will do with the culprit, if he
should ever fall into their power. "An ear for an ear," he hears them
say. Suddenly the maid turns towards Peter and says, "Yes, you, surely
you were with the Nazarene Jesus." Peter hesitates. Should he
confess, he would have his own ears cut off, an ear for an ear--and
most likely his head, too, while his body would be thrown out on the
rubbish heap behind the inn. Peter had said that he would die for the
Master; and so he would on the field of battle, or in any way where he
might have a glorious death. He would die for the Master, but not then
and there. The death of a martyr has its pleasures, no doubt, but not
the death of a dog.

While Peter stood thus considering these matters, one and then another
of the servants insisted that he had surely been seen with the Nazarene
Jesus. Again and again Peter refused all knowledge of the Master.
When the cock crew once more he had denied his Master thrice. While
Peter still insisted, the door opened and the Master came forth under
the High Priest's sentence of death. "And the Lord turned and looked
upon Peter, and Peter went out and wept bitterly." "Oh, Master," he
says in the play:

"Oh, Master, how have I fallen!
I have denied thee, how can it be possible?
Three times denied thee! Oh, thou knowest, Lord,
I was resolved to follow thee to death."