A short, factual report. The 'compelling' of Simon of Cyrene sets the stage for the following aria, where this 'having to' turns into 'wanting to'.
Via Dolorosa
Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten
Recitative
•Evangelist
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No. 53dpart_63
And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
German
English
Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten, zogen sie ihm den Mantel aus und zogen ihm seine Kleider an und führten ihn hin, dass sie ihn kreuzigten.
Und indem sie hinausgingen, funden sie einen Menschen von Kyrene mit Namen Simon; den zwangen sie, dass er ihm sein Kreuz trug.
And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Modern adaptation
After mocking him, they dress him in his own clothes and lead him away to be crucified. On the way, they force Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Jesus.
Did you know?
On the word 'kreuzigten' Bach breaks the Evangelist's sober narrative tone: instead of one note per syllable, he sings a long winding figure across multiple notes (a melisma: stretching one syllable across a melodic line). It is the only moment in this recitative where the word outweighs the story.