# The Elene of Cynewulf/Chapter 9

9. The Speech of Judas.
And there spake before the people one learned in ancient writings and wise of speech (his name was Judas):—‘I know well that she wishes to ask concerning420 that victor-tree whereon suffered the Lord of hosts, God’s own Son, guiltless of all evil, Him whom, unspotted with any sin, our fathers in days425 of yore hung upon the high cross through hate—fearful was that thought! Now is there great need that we steadfastly fortify our minds not to betray that murder, nor declare where the holy tree was hid after the stress of strife, lest thereby the wise430 writings of old be cast aside, and the lore of our fathers forsaken. For if this shall be known, it will not be long that the race of the Israelites and the faith of the Jews shall hold sway over the world.435 Thus once my father’s father, prophet with the wisdom of age and far-famed in victory—his name was Zaccheus—gave like counsel unto my father and spake this word, which in after times he himself told to his son, as he turned him from the world:—“If in440 the days of thy life it happen that thou hear sage men ask of the holy tree and stir up strife concerning the rood of victory whereon the true King was crucified, Lord of heaven and Child of all445 peace, then do thou, my dear son, ere death snatch ​thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom450 shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from age to age, revere and love the crucified King.”’
‘Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the455 aged counselor:—“How came it to pass in the kingdom of the world that with wrathful intent our fathers laid hands on the Holy One to put him to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ,460 the King upon the cross, true Son of the Creator, and Saviour of souls?”’
‘And my parent gave answer unto me, wisely my father spake:—“Recognize, O youth, the surpassing power of God, the name of the Saviour which may not be expressed by any man. No man on465 earth can search it out. Never would I visit the council which this people held, but I ever kept myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame470 unto my soul in any way. Many times I earnestly withstood the unrighteous act when the wise men sat in council, and sought in their heart how they might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark475 of men and Lord of all, of angels and of mortals, the most noble of heroes.”
‘“But these foolish and wretched men could not bring death upon Him as they weened, nor beset Him about with agony, though He, the victorious Son of God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon480 the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode three nights in the tomb, within the place of darkness; and upon the third day He arose living, Light485 of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed him​self unto His followers, the true Prince of victory, resplendent in glory. Then after a little space, Stephen, thy brother, received the bath of baptism,490 the faith of joy, and for the love of the Lord he was stoned. Yet he gave not evil for evil, but in patient suffering made intercession for his ancient foes, and prayed the King of glory that He would not lay to their charge this evil deed, that they495 deprived of life a man innocent and free from guile through hate and the teachings of Saul.
‘“And this Saul in enmity was dooming many a follower of Christ to torture and death, yet the500 Lord showed mercy unto him so that he became a solace for many men. And in after times the God of creation, Redeemer of men, changed his name, and he was called Saint Paul, and of the teachers of505 the law no one of all those, or man or woman born into the world, was ever better than he beneath the span of the heavens, even though upon the hill he bade crush Stephen, thy brother, with stones.510
‘“Now thou canst understand, my dear son, how merciful is the Lord of all, if we straightway purge ourselves of our evil deeds and cease again from the unrighteous act, though many times we transgress515 against Him, and wound Him with our sins. Wherefore I, in sooth, and in after times my dear father, believed that the God of all glory, Giver of life, suffered bitter agony for the surpassing need520 of mankind. And now I counsel thee in secret, my dear son, that thou never offer scorn, nor blasphemy, nor wrathful opposition to the Son of God. Then525 shalt thou deserve that unto thee be granted eternal life in heaven, the best reward of victory.”’
​‘Thus in days of yore, while I was still a youth, my father instructed me, and taught me with these true words, a man wise in sorrow—Simon was his530 name. And now that ye know my heart and mind, ye perceive clearly what ye had best declare if the queen ask us concerning that tree.’535
And the wisest spake together before the assembly in these words:—‘Never heard we any other man save now thee declare thus among this people concerning540 such a hidden thing. Act as thou thinkest, O thou wise in the lore of old, if thou art questioned among the multitude, for there is need of wisdom, of artful words, and the learning of a seer, that shall give answer to this noble woman before such a545 throng met together.’
Then words increased: men thought, reflected, and pondered on either side, some this way and some that. And there came a band of thanes to the assembly; and heralds, messengers of Cæsar,550 trumpeted:—‘O ye counselors, the queen doth summon you unto the royal hall, that ye may show forth rightly the judgments of your synod. Ye have need of prudence in the council, of wisdom in mind.’ And they, the leaders of the people, grieved555 in soul, were ready as they were summoned by the bitter edict, and went unto the palace to show forth the power of craft.
Then the queen spake unto the Hebrews and asked them, their hearts sorely burdened, how once the560 prophets, holy men, sang in the world concerning the Son of God; and where the Lord suffered, true Son of the Creator, for the love of souls. But they were obdurate and mute as stones, nor would they565 show forth the true secret, nor in the hardness of ​their hearts would they give any answer to what she sought of them, but, set in purpose, they withstood each word that she asked, and said that never570 in their lives had they heard, before nor since, one whit of any such thing.
Then Elene spake and answered them in anger:—‘I shall say unto you truly, and never in your life will this be false, that if ye who stand before me575 persist long in this falsehood with lying craft, ye shall be burned upon the hill in the hottest fury of fire, and leaping flames shall consume your flesh, so that for you this lie shall be changed into utter destruction.580 Nor can ye prove those words which now in your guile ye cover up under the cloak of evil. Ye cannot hide the deed, nor conceal its mystic power.’
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