Judas- Trinity College (Cambridge) c.1200s Child A
[Child A is though to be "the earliest surviving ballad in Middle English" dating back to the thirteenth century. There are three translations, below Child's text:
1) Modern orthography, using the original words (Wiki)
2) Roughly translated into modern language (Wiki)
3) Donald G. Schueler in 1976.
Another copy of this ballad, Child B (see Child B) also from Trinity College, groups the stanzas differently. Stanza 4 (Below) should be grouped with stanza 5, making a three line stanza with all three lines rhyming. Stanza 14 should be grouped with Stanza 13 and 16 with 17, making three stanzas with three rhyming lines. There would then be 15 stanzas- see Child B to view that grouping.]
Judas- Child 23; Version A
Manuscript B. 14, 39, of the thirteenth century, library of Trinity College, Cambridge, as printed in Wright & Halliwell's Reliquiae Antiquae, I, 144.
1. Hit wes upon a Scere-thorsday that ure loverd aros;
Ful milde were the wordes he spec to Judas.
2. 'Judas, thou most to Jurselem, oure mete for to bugge;
Thritti platen of selver thou bere up othi rugge.
3 'Thou comest fer ithe brode stret, fer ithe brode strete;
Summe of thine tunesmen ther thou meiht imete.'
4 . . . . .
Immette wid is soster, the swikele wimon.
5 'Judas, thou were wrthe me stende the wid ston,
For the false prophete that tou bilevest upon.'
6 'Be stille, leve soster, thin herte the tobreke!
Wiste min loverd Crist, ful wel he wolde be wreke.'
7 'Judas, go thou on the roc, heie upon the ston;
Lei thin heved imy barm, slep thou the anon.'
8 Sone so Judas of slepe was awake,
Thritti platen of selver from hym weren itake.
9 He drou hymselve bi the cop, that al it lavede a blode;
The Jewes out of Jurselem awenden he were wode.
10 Foret hym com the riche Jeu that heihte Pilatus:
'Wolte sulle thi loverd, that hette Jesus?'
11 'I nul sulle my loverd [for] nones cunnes eihte,
Bote hit be for the thritti platen that he me bitaihte.'
12 'Wolte sulle thi lord Crist for enes cunnes golde?'
'Nay, bote hit be for the platen that he habben wolde.'
13 In him com ur lord Crist gon, as is postles seten at mete:
'Wou sitte ye, postles, ant wi nule ye ete?
14 ['Wou sitte ye, postles, ant wi nule ye ete?]
Ic am ibouht ant isold today for oure mete.'
15 Up stod him Judas: 'Lord, am I that . . .?
'I nas never othe stude ther me the evel spec.'
16 Up him stod Peter, and spec wid al is mihte,
. . . . . .
17 'Thau Pilatus him come wid ten hundred cnihtes,
Yet ic wolde, loverd, for thi love fihte.'
18 'Still thou be, Peter, wel I the icnowe;
Thou wolt fursake me thrien ar the coc him crowe.'
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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:
5. "Judas, thou were worthy men stoned thee with stone,
For the false prophet that thou believest upon."
6. "Be still, beloved sister, thine heart thee to break!
Wist [kneweth] my lord Christ, full well he would be wreke [avenged]."
7. "Judas, go thou on the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay thine head in my barm [lap], sleep thou thee anon."
8. Soon so Judas of sleep was awake,
Thirty platen of silver from him were taken.
9. He drew himself by the top, that all it laved in blood.
The Jews out of Jerusalem thought he was wode [insane].
10. Forth came the rich Jew that called Pilatus:
"Wouldst sell thy lord that called Jesus?"
11. "I would not sell my lord for no kind of eiste [thing],
But it be for the thirty platten that he me betrusted [entrusted]."
12. "Wouldst sell thy lord Christ for any kind of gold?"
"Nay, but it be for the platten that he have would."
13. In him came our lord going [walking] as the apostles sat at meat:
"Why sit ye, apostles, and why will not ye eat?
14. ["Why sit ye, apostles, and why will not ye eat?]
I am bought and sold today for our meat."
15. Up stood him Judas: "Lord, am I that [...]?
I was never of the stude [place] there men thee evil spoke."
16. Up him stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
. . . . . . . .
17. "Though Pilatus he come with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, lord, for thy love fight!"
18. "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:
5. "Judas, you are worthy that men stoned you with stones,
For the false prophet that you believe in."
6. "Be silent, beloved sister, may your heart break!
If my lord Christ knew, he would avenge himself fully."
7. "Judas, go on the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay your head in my lap, sleep for a while."
8. As soon as Judas awakened from sleep,
thirty pieces of silver were from him taken [i.e., missing].
9. He pulled himself by his hair, so that his head was all bathed in blood.
The Jews from Jerusalem thought he was mad.
10. Foth came the powerful Jew called Pilatus:
"Would you sell your lord that is called Jesus?"
11. "I would not sell my lord for any kind of thing,
But for the thirty pieces that he entrusted to me."
12. "Would you sell thy lord for any kind of gold?"
"Nay, only for the pieces that he would want to have [returned]."
13. 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?
14. ["Why do you sit, apostles, and why will you not eat?]
I am bought and sold today for our food."
15. Up stood Judas: "Lord, am I that [person]?
I was never in a place where men spoke evil of you."
16. Up stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
. . . . .
17. "Though Pilatus he comes with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, lord, for the love of you fight!"
18. "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,
5. "Judas, you deserve that men should stone you with stone,
For the false prophet that you believe in."
6. "Be still, dear sister, may your heart break!
If my Lord Christ knew [what you said], full certain he would be avenged."
7. "Judas, go upon the rock, high upon the stone,
Lay your head in my lap. Sleep for awhile."
8. As soon as Judas was awake from sleep,
[He discovered] thirty pieces of silver had been taken from him.
9. He tore his hair until it was bathed in blood;
The Jews from Jerusalem thought he was mad.
10. Forth came the rich Jew who was called Pilate:
"Will you sell your Lord, who is called Jesus?"
11. "I will not sell my Lord for any sort of goods,
Unless it is for the thirty pieces that He entrusted to me."
12. "Will you sell your Lord Christ for any sort of gold?"
"No, unless it is for the pieces that He would have."
13. Our Lord came walking in as his apostles sat at their meal:
"Why do you sit, apostles, and why will you not eat?
14. "Why do you sit, apostles, and why will you not eat?
I am bought and sold today for our food."
15. Up stood Judas: "Lord, is it I?
I was never in the place where men spoke evil of you."
16. Up stood Peter and spoke with all his might:
"Though Pilate comes with ten hundred knights,
17. "Though Pilate comes with ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, Lord, fight for love of you."
18. "Be still, Peter, I know you well.
You will forsake me thrice before the cock crows."