Judas- Trinity College (Cambridge) no date, Child B
[Child B is a second copy of Child A. The importance is that it verifies A and also shows the grouping of the stanzas, which should be irregular.
The following notes accompany Child B:
V. 24, *. The word c'st; has here been erased, and should not be inserted. Skeat.
V. 27. Blank space. Read 'frek' (= man). Skeat.
The Manuscript has íí at end of ll. 8, 25, 30. This means that there are here two second lines, i.e., that three lines rime together. Skeat. The long f's of the Manuscript are printed s.
R. Matteson 2012]
Judas- Trinity College (Cambridge) no date, Child B
Trinity College Manuscript B, 14, 39, has been recovered, and Professor Skeat has had the kindness to furnish a copy of the ballad. Wright's text proves to be in all essentials accurate; but, on account of the age and great interest of the poem, Professor Skeat's copy is here reproduced. The ballad has no title in the Manuscript.
Hit wes upon a scere þorsday þat vre louerd aros.
ful milde were þe wordes he spec to iudas.
iudas þou most to iurselem oure mete for to bugge.
þritti platen of seluer þou bere up oþi rugge.
þou comest fer iþe brode stret fer iþe brode strete.
summe of þine tunesmen þer þou meist i mete,
imette wid is soster þe swikele wimon.
iudas þou were wrþe me stende the wid ston.
for the false prophete þat tou bileuest upon.
Be stille leue soster þin herte þe to breke.
wiste min louerd crist ful wel he wolde be wreke.
Iudas go þou on þe roc heie up on þe ston.
lei þin heued i my barm slep þou þe anon.
Sone so iudas of slepe was awake.
þritti platen of seluer from hym weren itake.
He drou hym selue bi þe cop þat al it lauede ablode.
þe iewes out of iurselem awenden he were wode.
Foret hym com þe riche ieu þat heiste pilatus.
wolte sulle þi louerd þat hette iesus.
I nul sulle my louerd for nones cunnes eiste.
bote hit be for þe þritti platen, þat he me bi taiste.
Wolte snlle þi lord crist for enes cunnes golde.
Nay bote hit be for þe platen, þat he habben wolde.
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 to day for oure mete.
Vp stod him iudas lord am i þat
I nas neuer oþe stude þer me þe euel spec.
Vp him stod peter ant spec wid al is miste.
þau pilatus him come wid ten hundred cnistes.
yet ic wolde louerd for þi loue fiste.
Still þou be peter, wel i þe i cnowe.
þou wolt fur sake me þrien. ar þe coc him crowe.
______________
[Since the texts are similar here are three translations, using Child A translations]
Transliteration and translation: In modern orthography, using the original words [annotated where obsolete]:
1. It was upon a Scere [Holy] Thursday that our lord arose,
Full mild were the words he spoke to Judas:
2. 'Judas, thou must to Jerusalem our meat for to buy,
thirty platten [coins] of silver thou bear up on thy rug [back].
3. Thou comest far in the broad street, far in the broad street,
Some of thine kinsmen there thou mightest meet.'
4. He met with his sister, the swikele [treacherous] woman:
"Judas, thou were worthy men stoned thee with stone,
For the false prophet that thou believest upon."
5. "Be still, beloved sister, thine heart thee to break!
Wist [kneweth] my lord Christ, full well he would be wreke [avenged]."
6. "Judas, go thou on the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay thine head in my barm [lap], sleep thou thee anon."
7. Soon so Judas of sleep was awake,
Thirty platen of silver from him were taken.
8. He drew himself by the top, that all it laved in blood.
The Jews out of Jerusalem thought he was wode [insane].
9. Forth came the rich Jew that called Pilatus:
"Wouldst sell thy lord that called Jesus?"
10. "I would not sell my lord for no kind of eiste [thing],
But it be for the thirty platten that he me betrusted [entrusted]."
11. "Wouldst sell thy lord Christ for any kind of gold?"
"Nay, but it be for the platten that he have would."
12. In him came our lord going [walking] as the apostles sat at meat:
"Why sit ye, apostles, and why will not ye eat?
I am bought and sold today for our meat."
13. Up stood him Judas: "Lord, am I that [...]?
I was never of the stude [place] there men thee evil spoke."
14. Up him stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
"Though Pilatus he come with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, lord, for thy love fight!"
15. "Still thou be, Peter, well I thee know.
Thou wilt forsake me thrice before the cock him crow."
Roughly translated into modern language:
1. It was upon a Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) that our lord arose,
Very gentle were the words he spoke to Judas:
2. "Judas, you must go to Jerusalem to buy our food,
Thirty pieces of silver you [should] take up on your back.
3. When you come far in the broad street, far in the broad street,
Some of your kinsmen there you might meet."
4. He came across his sister, the treacherous woman:
"Judas, you are worthy that men stoned you with stones,
For the false prophet that you believe in."
5. "Be silent, beloved sister, may your heart break!
If my lord Christ knew, he would avenge himself fully."
6. "Judas, go on the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay your head in my lap, sleep for a while."
7. As soon as Judas awakened from sleep,
Thirty pieces of silver were from him taken [i.e., missing].
8. He pulled himself by his hair, so that his head was all bathed in blood.
The Jews from Jerusalem thought he was mad.
9. Foth came the powerful Jew called Pilatus:
"Would you sell your lord that is called Jesus?"
10. "I would not sell my lord for any kind of thing,
But for the thirty pieces that he entrusted to me."
11. "Would you sell thy lord for any kind of gold?"
"Nay, only for the pieces that he would want to have [returned]."
12. In came our lord walking as the apostles sat at food [i.e., at the table]:
"Why do you sit, apostles, and why will you not eat?
I am bought and sold today for our food."
13. Up stood Judas: "Lord, am I that [person]?
I was never in a place where men spoke evil of you."
14. Up stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
"Though Pilatus he comes with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, lord, for the love of you fight!"
15. "Be silent, Peter, I know you well.
You will forsake me thrice before the cock crows."
JUDAS- Translation by Donald G. Schueler 1976
1. It was on a Holy Thursday that our Lord arose;
Full mild were the words He spoke to Judas:
2. "Judas, you must go to Jerusalem, our food to buy;
Thirty pieces of silver you bear upon your back.
3. "You will come far in the broad street, far in the broad street;
Some of your kinsmen there you may meet."
4. He met his sister, the treacherous woman:
"Judas, you deserve that men should stone you with stone,
For the false prophet that you believe in."
5. "Be still, dear sister, may your heart break!
If my Lord Christ knew [what you said], full certain he would be avenged."
6. "Judas, go upon the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay your head in my lap. Sleep for awhile."
7. As soon as Judas was awake from sleep,
[He discovered] thirty pieces of silver had been taken from him.
8. He tore his hair until it was bathed in blood;
The Jews from Jerusalem thought he was mad.
9. Forth came the rich Jew who was called Pilate:
"Will you sell your Lord, who is called Jesus?"
10. "I will not sell my Lord for any sort of goods,
Unless it is for the thirty pieces that He entrusted to me."
11. "Will you sell your Lord Christ for any sort of gold?"
"No, unless it is for the pieces that He would have."
12. Our Lord came walking in as his apostles sat at their meal:
"Why do you sit, apostles, and why will you not eat?
I am bought and sold today for our food."
13. Up stood Judas: "Lord, is it I?
I was never in the place where men spoke evil of you."
14. Up stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
"Though Pilate comes with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, Lord, fight for love of you."
15. "Be still, Peter, I know you well.
You will forsake me thrice before the cock crows."