Judas

The Text is given from a thirteenth-century MS. in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge (B. 14, 39): it is thus the earliest text of any ballad that we possess. In the MS. it is written in long lines, four (or six, as in 4, 12, and 14) to the stanza.

As the language in which it is written is not easily intelligible, I have added a paraphrase on the opposite pages.

The Story is of great interest, as it adds to the various legends of Judas a 'swikele' sister. The treachery of Judas has long been popularly explained (from the Gospel of St. John, xii. 3-6) as follows:-- Judas, being accustomed as bearer of the bag to take a tithe of all moneys passing through his hands, considered that he had lost thirty pence on the ointment that might have been sold for three hundred pence, and so took his revenge.

A Wendish ballad makes him lose the thirty pieces of silver, intrusted to him for buying bread, in gambling with certain Jews, who, when he had lost everything, suggested that he should sell his Master. Afterwards, in remorse, he rushes away to hang himself. The fir-tree is soft wood and will not bear him. The aspen is hard wood, and will bear him; so he hangs himself on the aspen. Since when, the aspen always trembles in fear of the Judgement day.

JUDAS

PARAPHRASE

1.
Hit wes upon a Scere-thorsday
that ure loverd aros;
Ful milde were the wordes
he spec to Iudas.

1.
It was upon a Scere-Thursday
That our Lord arose;
Full mild were the words
He spake to Judas.

2.
'Iudas, thou most to Iurselem,
oure mete for to bugge;
Thritti platen of selver
thou bere up othi rugge.

2.
'Judas, thou must to Jerusalem,
Our meat for to buy;
Thirty plates of silver
Bear thou upon thy back.

3.
'Thou comest fer ithe brode stret,
fer ithe brode strete,
Summe of thine tunesmen
ther thou meist i-mete.'

3.
'Come thou far in the broad street,
Far in the broad street,
Some of thy townsmen
Where thou might'st meet.'

4.
Imette wid is soster,
the swikele wimon:
'Iudas, thou were wrthe
me stende the wid ston,
For the false prophete
that tou bilevest upon.'

4.
Being met with his sister,
The treacherous woman:
'Judas, thou wert worthy
One should have stoned thee with stone.
For the false prophet
That thou believest upon.'

5.
'Be stille, leve soster,
thin herte the to-breke!
Wiste min loverd Crist,
ful wel he wolde be wreke.'

5.
'Be still, dear sister,
May thine heart burst thee in twain!
Did my Lord Christ know,
Full well would he be avenged.'

6.
'Iudas, go thou on the roc,
heie up on the ston;
Lei thin heved i my barm,
slep thou the anon.'

6.
'Judas, go thou on the rock,
High up on the stone;
Lay thine head in my bosom,
Sleep thou anon.'

7.
Sone so Iudas
of slepe was awake,
Thritti platen of selver
from hym weren itake.

7.
So soon as Judas
From sleep was awake,
Thirty plates of silver
From him were taken.

8.
He drou hym selve bi the cop
that al it lavede ablode:
The Iewes out of Iurselem
awenden he were wode.

8.
He drew himself by the head
So that it all ran with blood,
The Jews out of Jerusalem
Thought he was mad.

9.
Foret hym com the riche Ieu
that heiste Pilatus:
'Wolte sulle thi loverd
that hette Iesus?'

9.
Forth to him came the rich Jew,
That hight Pilatus;
'Wilt thou sell thy Lord,
That hight Jesus?'

10.
'I nul sulle my loverd
for nones cunnes eiste,
Bote hit be for the thritti platen
that he me bi taiste.'

10.
'I will not sell my Lord
For no kind of goods,
Except it be for the thirty plates
That he entrusted to me.'

11.
'Wolte sulle thi lord Crist
for enes cunnes golde?'
'Nay, bote hit be for the platen
that he habben wolde.'

11.
'Wilt thou sell thy Lord Christ
For any kind of gold?'
'Nay, except it be for the plates
That he wished to have.'

12.
In him com ur lord gon
as is postles seten at mete:
'Wou sitte ye, postles,
ant wi nule ye ete?
Ic am iboust ant isold
today for oure mete.'

12.
In came our Lord walking
As his apostles sat at meat:
'How sit ye, apostles,
And why will ye not eat?
I am bought and sold
To-day for our meat.'

13.
Up stod him Iudas:
'Lord, am I that [frek]?
I nas never othe stude
ther me the evel spec.'

13.
Up stood Judas:
'Lord, am I that man?
I was never in the place
Where I spake evil of thee.'

14.
Up him stod Peter,
ant spec wid al is miste:
'Thau Pilatus him come
wid ten hundred cnistes,
Yet Ic wolde, loverd,
for thi love fiste.'

14.
Up stood Peter,
And spoke with all his might:
'Though Pilate should come
With ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, Lord,
For thy love fight.'

15.
'Still thou be, Peter;
well I the icnowe;
Thou wolt fur sake me thrien
ar the coc him crowe.'

15.
'Still be thou, Peter;
Well I thee know;
Thou wilt forsake me thrice
Ere the cock crow.'

Frank Sidgwick

Frank Sidgwick was an English writer, publisher, and scholarly editor. He was instrumental in popularizing ballad and folklore studies in the early 20th century. Sidgwick co-founded the publishing company Sidgwick & Jackson, which became known for its contributions to literature and scholarship. Though not primarily known as a poet, his editorial and publishing efforts significantly impacted the literary culture of his time, emphasizing the academic study of traditional songs and verses.

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