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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Ballads  »  97. Judas

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

97

97. Judas

I

HIT wes upon a Scere-thorsday

that ure loverd aros;

Ful milde were the wordés

he spec to Judas.

II

‘Judas, thou most to Jurselem,

oure mete for to bugge;

Thritti platen of selver

thou bere up othi rugge.

III

‘Thou comest fer ithe brode stret,

fer ithe brode strete,

Summe of thine tunesmen

ther thou meist i-mete.’

IV

Imette wid is soster,

the swikele wimon:

‘Judas, thou were wrthé

me stende the wid ston,

For the false prophete

that tou bilevest upon.’

V

‘Be stille, leve soster,

thin herte the to-breke!

Wiste min loverd Crist,

ful wel he wolde be wreke.’


Scere-thorsday] Thursday before Easter.ure loverd] our lord bugge] buy.platen] plates, i. e. coins, pieces.rugge] ridge, back.tunesmen] townsmen.Imette] being met.swikele] treacherous.wrthe] worthy.me stende, &c.] men stoned thee.